Posted on 11/10/2009 10:17:30 AM PST by freespirited
Former president Bill Clinton planned a rare visit to the US Senate Tuesday to unite Democrats divided on President Barack Obama's push for a sweeping overhaul of US health care.
Fifteen years after his own dramatic push to remake the US system went down in flames after a strong start, Clinton was to address Democrats behind closed doors at their weekly policy luncheon to give Obama's plans a shot in the arm.
The former president "is going to help energize our caucus to accomplish the three goals" of bringing health care costs down and covering every American without breaking the federal budget, said Democratic Senator Ben Cardin....
The visit could also underscore the political peril Democrats may face: Republicans energized by wrecking Clinton's health care push went on to a landslide victory in the 1994 mid-term elections.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel came up with the idea of having the savvy two-term Democratic president address Senate Democrats, according to a Democratic Senate aide.
The visit was "something that Senator Reid and Rahm thought of," said the aide, who requested anonymity.
Clinton's appearance came as Reid and Emanuel worked to rally the 60 votes needed in the Senate to overcome any parliamentary delaying tactics and pass the legislation, which Obama has said he wants to sign this year.
A handful of swing-vote Democrats, as well as Independent Senator Joe Lieberman, have signalled strong opposition to a White House-championed approach that includes the creation of a government-backed health insurance plan to compete with private insurers.
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Doofus comment of the day.
When you think back on it, Clinton was as self centered as Obama. What’s with these Dems?
*sigh*
Clinton . . . . . . . AGAIN!!!!
Didn’t he campaign for Deeds in VA and Corzine in NJ?
The “borderline” “moderate” Dems had better pay attention. Clinton isn’t necessarily a good luck charm.
Oh so one mans voice can over step our Congressman’s constituents since this is what he wants, so everyone should step aside from their own opinion. Well Clinton says so....
Gosh I hate my state - there is no talking to my Frankenstein Senator. ugh
Let’s call it what it is, Clinton is conspiring with Democrats behind closed doors AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!
How long until they cross the line of not supporting the Constitution and participating in a coup? They know without a doubt that the American people don’t want this, they know they’re bankrupting the country beyond our ability to recover, they know they’re infringing on our personal freedoms.
How long?
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