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Tough talk comes after Obama exits
The Hill ^ | February 3, 2010 | Alexander Bolton

Posted on 02/03/2010 6:32:12 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Senate Democrats held back from asking President Barack Obama about healthcare reform during a carefully scripted question-and-answer session in front of television cameras.

With the cameras rolling, a group of senators selected in advance by the Democratic leadership asked questions about such topics as partisan gridlock and GOP obstruction.

But once the president left and reporters were escorted out of the room, senators pressed White House officials about healthcare reform, according to those at the meeting.

Democrats expressed their frustration with the lack of a clear plan for passing healthcare reform, according to one person in the room.

One Democratic senator even grew heated in his remarks, according to the source.

“It wasn’t a discussion about how to get from Point A to Point B; it was a discussion about the lack of a plan to get from Point A to Point B,” said a person who attended the meeting. “Many of the members were frustrated, but one person really expressed his frustration.”

Senators did not want to press Obama on healthcare reform in front of television cameras for fear of putting him in an awkward spot.

“There was a vigorous discussion about that afterward with some of his top advisers and others,” Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) said regarding the healthcare discussion.

“I think people were probably aware that there was no easy answer and this is being broadcast on live national television and didn’t want to put him on the spot,” Bayh said.

Democratic leaders planned their question time with Obama well in advance, discussing during a meeting earlier in the week who would get to ask questions.

“In the leadership meeting we talked about it,” said Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who was called on for a question and is among the most endangered Democratic senators up for reelection this year. “I think the majority leader did take a list early on.”

Obama met with the senators at a Democratic retreat held Wednesday at the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue. He took several questions from lawmakers facing tough reelections, such as Sens. Lincoln, Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).

During his introductory remarks, the president urged lawmakers not to give up on healthcare reform.

“And so as we think about moving forward, I hope we don’t lose sight of why we’re here. We’ve got to finish the job on healthcare,” Obama said.

But lawmakers said after the meeting that White House officials did not provide any clear roadmap.

Democratic leaders have discussed a complicated plan that would have the Senate use special budgetary rules known as reconciliation to pass changes to the healthcare legislation — which the chamber passed last year — with only 51 votes.

The auxiliary bill would solve an impasse with House Democrats, who have refused to pass the Senate healthcare bill without substantial changes.

But some Democrats in the Senate have balked at using reconciliation rules to pass healthcare reform.

“I’m not for using reconciliation for healthcare — I’m just not.” said Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.). “If we couldn’t get a bill through the Congress that had broad support, I said we shouldn’t have a bill.”

Another Democratic senator said that using reconciliation to pass healthcare reform in the next few months would be very difficult and that the best solution is for the House to pass the Senate bill.

During their televised time with the president, Democrats chose to focus on other issues.

Lincoln asked Obama if he would be willing to push back against liberals and “look for that common ground that we need to work with Republicans.”

Obama said he would attempt to convince his party’s left wing to take a less ideological approach to economic challenges.

“We’ve got to make sure that our party understands that, like it or not, we have to have a financial system that is healthy and functioning, so we can’t be demonizing every bank out there,” Obama said. “We’ve got to be the party of business, small business and large business, because they produce jobs.”

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) asked about retooling the nation’s manufacturing sector to become a world leader in clean- and renewable-energy technology.

Obama noted that China threatened to eclipse the U.S. in clean-energy expertise.

“I continue to believe, and I’m not alone in this, that the country that figures out most rapidly new forms of energy and can commercialize new ideas is going to lead the 21st-century economy,” Obama said to applause. “I think that is our growth model.”

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said Obama was not to blame for the setbacks Democrats suffered on healthcare reform and in the Massachusetts special election last month, which cost the party its filibuster-proof Senate majority.

Baucus said the backlash of voters in Massachusetts, which elected a Republican to the Senate for the first time in more than three decades, was due to the fact that “people are financially in tough shape.”


TOPICS: Issues; Parties; Polls; U.S. Congress
KEYWORDS: congress; democrats; obama; obamacare
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This man child is on tv every single day. I’ve never seen anyone so in your face in my life. Does he have anything else to do besides campaign, whine, and blame everyone else for his failures?


21 posted on 02/03/2010 7:15:36 PM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Better fire up the DeathStar, Barry. The Imperial Senate is murmuring.


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

22 posted on 02/03/2010 7:28:22 PM PST by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“He [Obama] took several questions from lawmakers facing tough reelections, such as Sens. Lincoln, Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).”

Gee...Arlen...is membership in the Democrat party beginning to be a little bit uncomfortable?

You can always just SWITCH political parties, AGAIN!!!!!

What a nitwit...I trust Arlen Benedict Arnold Specter will be booted out in the REPUBLICAN Revolution in Nov. 2010!!!

For your perusal:

Longtime GOP Sen. Arlen Specter becomes Democrat
April 28, 2009

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/28/specter.party.switch/index.html


23 posted on 02/03/2010 7:28:44 PM PST by BIOCHEMKY (I love liberty more than I hate war.)
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To: Reaganwuzthebest

Neil Cavuto ended his show today with a rant against Obama for his incessant blaming of the Bush administration for all of his problems (pointing out some of the problems Bush inherited from the Clinton administration).


24 posted on 02/03/2010 7:30:26 PM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: Verginius Rufus

“Neil Cavuto ended his show today with a rant against Obama...”

I saw the rant, it was REALLY impressive.

I remember thinking: WOW, go Cavuto! Who knew you had such a strong backbone?!


25 posted on 02/03/2010 7:35:51 PM PST by BIOCHEMKY (I love liberty more than I hate war.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Socialized Med Thread
26 posted on 02/03/2010 7:36:35 PM PST by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, disabled,seniors & retired Military)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

gutless wonders.

Hussein has failed to deliver for three big candidates in BLUE STATES.

You liberal staffers, trolling FR for your bosses, better tell ‘em the truth: get away from the communist in the White House. Defy him. Openly. It JUST MIGHT save their job. He cannot deliver the votes, because his magic rhetoric has been exposed for the shell that it is.


27 posted on 02/03/2010 7:39:04 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat
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To: Verginius Rufus

Wish I’d seen it. Obama needs to be called out for acting so immature and for his constant campaigning.


28 posted on 02/03/2010 7:48:12 PM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"...Senators did not want to press Obama on healthcare reform in front of television cameras for fear of putting him in an awkward spot..."

Heaven forbid Obama is pressed with any tough questions regarding his plot to takeover the American Health Care System. Obama is an infantile egomaniac, and a danger to this great nation. He wouldn't be such a danger but for all the traitorous Americans enabling him, such as these worthless Senators who don't want to "press" him in front of TV cameras. A pox on them all.

29 posted on 02/03/2010 8:04:51 PM PST by smedley64 (Sun Tzu trumps Alinsky.)
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To: Doogle

Our nation is about to go into default and he wants to talk Healthcare!!!!


30 posted on 02/03/2010 8:07:53 PM PST by onyx (BE A MONTHLY DONOR - I AM)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m not for using reconciliation for healthcare — I’m just not.” said Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.). “If we couldn’t get a bill through the Congress that had broad support, I said we shouldn’t have a bill.”
Translation - If I can’t get the same goodies for my state as was in the Senate bill I don’t want any bill at all.


31 posted on 02/03/2010 8:18:49 PM PST by ODDITHER (HAT)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
...With the cameras rolling, a group of senators selected in advance by the Democratic leadership asked questions about such topics as partisan gridlock and GOP obstruction...

Another stinking Obama fraud.

32 posted on 02/04/2010 10:16:46 AM PST by pabianice
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