Lieberman On Health Care: “I Don’t Think Anybody Thinks This Bill Will Pass”

by Joe Coscarelli | 4:34 pm, November 22nd, 2009

Senator Joe Lieberman appeared today on Meet the Press to ruin the weekend of liberals everywhere. Or, you know, to discuss health care like the rest of the nation’s politicians and thinkers. “Are you a ‘no’ vote on this bill?” host David Gregory asked the Senator plainly.

Lieberman noted that he did vote, along with 59 others, to go ahead with the debate because he wants “to begin not only debating health care, but doing something about health care reform.” That said, “I don’t think anybody feels this bill, as Senator Reid put it down, though he made a lot of progress in blending bills together, I don’t think anybody thinks this bill will pass as it is,” said Lieberman.

He continued to reiterate his problems will the public option and support the possibility of a filibuster. ”There will be others who feel exactly the way I do about the public option,” he promised. “We’ve got to make choices,” said Lieberman. ”I don’t want to fix the problems in our hc system in a way that creates more of an economic crisis.”

“It won’t get one poor person insurance,” he said of the public option — “a government run insurance company.” And if “we create a government run insurance company, it’s gonna run a deficit.” You can see the rest of the Senators comments and a response by Senate assistant majority leader Dick Durbin in the video below:

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9 comments

Jim R says:

November 22, 2009 at 5:18 pm

Yes, Senator Lieberman, even allowing 3-4 million access to a “public option” is an absolute no-no in the insurance state; we get it.

If Obama wants to be a hero he should submit a one page bill for consideration, Medicare Part E for everyone that wants it.This HCR monstrosity of corporate insurance capitulation deserves to fail anyway, might as well get some traction from the aftermath.

germ says:

November 22, 2009 at 6:19 pm

Jim,

I agree. Why can’t they just expand the current MedicAid system instead of this Trillion $$, 2000 page dog-and-pony show.

Fidoohki says:

November 22, 2009 at 9:17 pm

Not enough goverment control in those ideas…

tjl says:

November 23, 2009 at 1:24 am

Yawn. It’s not about government control. That’s fear-mongering. That’s what you’ve been told to say. It’s a baseball game. One team needs to win, one needs to lose. In the end, though, we’re all stuck watching a five hour game of baseball, one team wins, one team losses, and all we get out of it is a sick feeling that we watched five hours worth of baseball and have nothing to show for it.

The “government control” talking points are getting old. May I say this, with all due respect, Republicans used to be tough on foreign affairs (i.e. fighting wars overseas) yet when it comes to national affairs they are a giant woman’s private parts. They are so fearful about everything. It’s quite amusing. Fear Fear Fear Fear Fear! Everything is so scary. Why? What’s wrong with expanding Medicare/Medicaid? You get to keep your guns in both of those health plans! There’s nothing to be afraid of.

Tater Salad says:

November 23, 2009 at 1:40 pm

The United States Constitution is found in a dumpster behind the White House:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=UZkvkLmkYVg

ImNotBlue says:

November 23, 2009 at 1:54 pm

tjl says:
November 23, 2009 at 1:24 am
Yawn. It’s not about government control. That’s fear-mongering.

Why is it fear-mongering to connect the dots? Was it “fear-mongering” to say that the government was “spying on everyone,” even when that wasn’t the facts… and then not to say anything when “your guys” decided to do the same thing? “Fear-mongering” is the defense, when there is no other defense. Instead of hitting the issue, just say, “You’re fear-mongering,” and then go away. These are real concerns here… a logical look at evidence and facts… and the only way to dismiss it (without actually talking about it), is to try to brand it. It’s not “fear-mongering” to be skeptical about this plan and the government’s goals… find another slogan.

Jim R says:

November 23, 2009 at 4:11 pm

ImNotBlue,

I’m with you on the spying on Americans, torture, and any number of other issues Bush/Cheney were eviscerated for and Obama continues.

Granted, the excuse is they can only take baby incremental steps, but that’s not “change we can believe in”!

ImNotBlue says:

November 23, 2009 at 5:34 pm

Jim R says:
November 23, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Maybe it’s “change you can” “hope for?” You could mush together the slogans to get something more true to point!

Jim R says:

November 23, 2009 at 6:54 pm

I rushed that last one off before leaving work. They’re not continuing torture, just refusing to indict Yoo & Addington for creating a justification for it out of whole cloth.

Suffice it to say there’s a slew of issues I wish they’d move faster and more aggressively towards resolving and stopping.

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