Democrat: Suspend health care reform until Brown is seated
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/08/15/senator.visits.myanmar/art.myanmar.webb.afp.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia said it would be 'fair and prudent' to suspend health care reform legislation."]Washington (CNN) - A moderate Democratic senator is calling on his colleagues to shelve health care reform legislation until Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown takes his seat in the United States Senate.
"In many ways the campaign in Massachusetts became a referendum not only on health care reform but also on the openness and integrity of our government process, Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia said in a statement Tuesday after Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley in the special election for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat.
"It is vital that we restore the respect of the American people in our system of government and in our leaders. To that end, I believe it would only be fair and prudent that we suspend further votes on health care legislation until Senator-elect Brown is seated."
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a voice of reason, hopefully those in control will listen.
Bravo! It sounds like the Washington politicians may have heard the voice of the people of Massachusetts tonight.
Smart man, Senator Jim Webb. I'm impressed that you saw first the opportunity for Democratic politicians in Washington. You listened.
Jump meet ship.....LOL,LOL
Yes, I support Sen. Webb's idea.
Finally, a democrat for whom I can have a little respect. If Obama and company do ANYTHING to either delay the swearing in of Brown or accelerate the vote before he gets there, I believe that the stench will be more than the American people can stand.
Please stop your commentators and others referring to PRESIDENT OBAMA, as Barack Obama............He is and will be the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA for the next three years. Give him the respect he is due by referencing him as "President Obama"!!
WOW this is almost like a scene out of the Stars Wars or another, CORRUPT Senate that takes so many nefarious twists & turns that you cant believe how bizzare these people are. Except it's real.
Obama you need to stop being Mr. Nice guy and crack some heads and GET IT DONE.
I am a Blue Dog Dem who supported Webb in his VA Senate run while living there, I am sure some would call him (and me) a DINO.. but this makes sense and would probably staunch the bleeding right now. I wonder how much backlash was caused by the parliamentary move to allow the Gov to appoint the interim Senator Kirk? We really mishandled the MA situation and we need to take control now.
I'm kind of shocked that a Democratic Senator would call on his fellow Democratic Senators to do this. While I applaud Senator Webb on his insight, I don't think very many other Democratic Senators will follow his lead. They are going to do everything they can to pass ANY version of healthcare that they can!
Supermajorities are hazardous to a party's political health. They lead to an arrogance that is simply egregious against those they govern.
The Democrats should have known better. Particularly after watching the Republicans, without said supermajority, fall into the big government trap.
Problem is, these hippies never grew up to admit they, and their ideas, are wrong.
Expect more of the same, Dems come November.
Then, maybe the Democrat Party will stand for the people again instead of big government.
If our politicians try to rush the health care bill in, it will be like signing their own pink slips.
This guy is reading the cards right.........Good on yah, Senator Webb.
Why in the world would we hold up the whole united states for one senator? we voted for our president and his agenda. the republicans have been trying to hack the presidency of Obama since he moved into the whitehouse... im fed up! none of them are going to vote for health care anyway because it was not their agenda... Lets get our presidents agenda(the peoples agenda) passed and quit playing party lines... this is getting childish!! Democrats, RAM IT THRU OR U WILL SUFFER IN FUTURE ELECTIONS! THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ALREADY!!!!!
whaaaaaaaaaaatttt?????? a democrat with integrity???
Brown's victory says one thing about Americans, loud and clear. People who have healthcare don't care one bit about people who don't. The people of MA have a state healthcare plan so they voted to protect theirs and too bad about anyone less fortunate.
People listen to sound bytes and theology of victimization. Make them fearful and paranoid enough and they will vote against their own self-interest every time. It's such a shame. Healthcare reform will die and our economy will continue to sink like a rock under the weight of healthcare costs. It's unfortunate.
Honorable statement – but words are cheap. Congress and the WH has betrayed us over and over the past year. I'll believe TRUE change when I see lawmakers forgo the backroom deals - and start taking their oath to serve the people seriously.
In other words, give up on health care. The Party of No will now use their veto power to carry out their "rule or ruin" strategy.
wait until 2010.
Why? Get done what you can get done and move one.
*is exactly what Senator Ted Kennedy DIDN'T intend for Health Care Reform*- Senator Ted Kennedy always pushed for Health Care reform, and the fact that his seat has been filled by a Republican obstructionist is deplorable. I don't think I'll ever forgive the Common Wealth of Mass if Health Care Reform is defeated because of this. This isn't to say that I absolutely feel that the so called "blue dogs" are somewhat accountable to Americans if Health Care Reform fails, and trying to water down a great House bill- and giving Republican obstructionists more leverage when they deserve NONE. This isn't about Democrats and Republicans- it's about Conservatives and Liberals. It always has been. There are too many closet conservatives hiding in the Democratic Party.
Shelve Health Care, period! If the Democrats are going to continue to shove this piece of crap down our throats there are going to be a lot more Democrats looking for new jobs come next election.
It is a good idea to postpone further heathcare reform until Brown is in office to speak the voice of the people. Unfortunately, I am from Michigan, and my voice seems to no longer matter.
Lisa
Wow, someone is listening!
Gutless coward.