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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I'm disappointed Senator Webb.
As though the GOP would give the dems the same courtesy?
Jim Webb, I'm sending my $552 per month health insurance premium bill to YOUR office.
It's "fair and prudent" to help thousands of Americans avoid bankruptcy and financial ruin not to mention death by passing some sort of health care reform while we still can. Otherwise, you have hung us out to dry. AGAIN. You have health insurance. I dare you to cancel it and go out and try to get it on your own for you and your family. Even you would gasp at the cost.
This man deserves some respect. The fact that a politician can look at this and realize that democrats are on the wrong track and they need to take a step back and change what they are doing. Webb is a smart politican. Reid's statement demonstrated bitterness and an unwillingness to say the dems are wrong right now. Time for a change. The fact is people can keep pointing fingers, or they can swallow their pride and make things work. No more yapping. Repubs may have been saying "no", but the fact is dems are pushing one sided legislation through. Time for REAL change.
I agree with Senator Webb. We have to consider our priorities and now have each party with with each other or our system will be doomed.
I commend Senator Webb for coming out and saying this. It's good for democracy versus shutting out Senator-elect Brown and his fellow Dems should heed his warning about taking a step back, or they too will join the unemployment line.
One state does not control the destiny of the US. The obstructionist Republicans have taken what was respectfully a majority rule system, and an "up or down" vote mentality allowed for by the Dems under Bush and made everything a 60 vote requirement to even get to vote on legislation. The Dems better start playing the game the way the Repubs do and ramming home their agenda or we will be right back to the corrupt, favor the rich and Corporations mentality of the Bush years aka the Lost Decade!
Indeed suspend further talks on health care unless you want the voters to suspend you forever from your Senate or House seat. If the elected congress cannot function in a fair and representative manner we will replace every one of you with someone that can.
That is a wise statement that he made! The American people will not stand for any under-handed ways for healthcare to be passed, that directly affect them and their lives. Do it right-or NOT AT ALL. Yes, there are plenty of tricks that Congress can play to get healthcare passed-but
We the People expect there to be fair play involved. Include both sides of the aisle, as we are a country of TWO parties. Let the Legislative process work, as it should. Then we will have a healthcare bill that is fair AND supported by The People.
Democrats are widely known to be tools....just not the sharpest tools. After all the warning signs for months now, at least one democrat(Webb) has finally seen the political Grim Reaper at his door and is trying to salvage his career. This is what happens when you hitch your wagon to a socialist community organizer like Barry Obama.
AGREED! Senator Webb is a good man, and well reflects the leadership lessons he learned as an Officer of the United States Marine Corps. We need good people to step up and LEAD, in both parties! It is the only way to get our government back on track. Vote OUT the hacks, and vote IN the best and the brightest!!!
Bravo sir! You Dems may be starting to get it. The American people wanted change, but got change in the wrong direction. The Obama Administration was elected partially on being a more open, transparent administration, but they have been less open than the Bush Administration. Elected officials have people to answer to, and the people of Massachusetts said resoundingly, "You will listen!"
Maybe, somebody in the House of Representatives and the Senate are 'beginning' to listen to the people. Democratic Party.., you better start listening to the people, your constituents. This is a 'wake-up' call.. The people just don't like the 'new' health care reform legislation bill as it stands and politics as usual and behind closed doors. President Obama and the Democratic Party.., this is a 'wake-up' call.. The people want 'affordable' health care insurance for "all" Americans'. Mike in Montana
No, it's not a referendum on healthcare... if it were a referendum on healthcare, we all would have gotten to vote. The people of Massachussets already have universal healthcare... their rejection of my friends getting the same options theirs have is not a referendum, it's a bunch of selfish kids looking to shut down government since they already got their slice of pie.
Finally someone might stand up to the White house, Reid, and Pelosi and force some of the transparency and change that Obama promised. Independents, such as myself, now see him as a left leaning politician that is no different than all those on both sides of the aisle that we dislike and not what he eloquently said he was during his campaign.
OMG!....Of all the things Sen. Webb has stood for and proposed in the past regarding the Iraq war, Afghanistan, I do believe we have a Senator that is hearing the "VOICES OF AMERICA"!!! I bet his favorite beverage now is TEA as in "TEA PARTY"!
Here is a voice of reason. No doubt he has sabotaged his political future in the best interests of the nation
Jim Webb is a shameful example of a politician who is afraid that he will not get reelected.
Senator Webb is wise and correct. All of the underhanded moves in Washington so far have caused the people of Massachusetts today, to put up a STOP Sign and President Obama had better pay attention.
He should ask Jimmy Carter just how easy it is to wind up as a ONE term president.
I would also advise the Obama family to NOT be photographed while playing on the beaches of Hawaii during a severe recession and a cold winter. Staying in a $4000 per night compound is not the best way to earn respect during hard times.
What a bunch of, well, typical politicians. They finally understand how mad the American people really are and now they aren't as committed to something they all said a week ago was the most important legislation since the New Deal. Weanies! Let's vote out ALL incumbents.
Wow, this is impressive. I have a lot more respect for Sen Webb now. For him to say that his party's government had lost the respect of voters and lost it's integrity must be difficult to say.
how ironic that the guy replacing Kennedy, who's entire career was spent trying to pass health care, is the guy who is going to kill it.
Of course it takes a Democrat from the Old Dominon to make some sense. Obama should take Webb's advice immediately.
Senator Jim Webb will be a force to reckon with in the future. I can see him running for President for either Party. I am sure Harry Reid & President Obama are not happy with him tonight. We need more Senators like Jim Webb. We need to vote out the likes of Harry Reid and Robert Byrd.
Thank you Sir.
I agree. The economy is # 1. We have most the entire 2009 on Health care reform and not on the issues most important to working class Americans. I can tell you right now that if the price of gas is still above 2 and half bucks and few jobs are created by November, then Democrats will lose even more seats. You have to listen to the will of the people or else we vote you out, period.