Barney Frank Sees Brown Win as Reason to Change Course on Health Care (It's DEAD, Jim!)

Wizbang ^ | 1-20-10 | Lori Byrd

[tcrlaf]

Barney Frank (D-MA) released this statement following Brown's win tonight. (Transcribed by me from MSNBC):

"I have two reactions to the election in Massachusetts. One, I am disappointed. Two, I feel strongly that the Democratic majority in Congress must respect the process and make no effort to bypass the electoral results.

If Martha Coakley had won, I believe we could have worked out a reasonable compromise between the House and Senate health care bills. But since Scott Brown has won and the Republicans now have 41 votes in the Senate, that approach is no longer appropriate.

I am hopeful that some Republican senators will be willing to discuss a revised version of health care reform because I do not think that the country would be well served by the healthcare status quo.

But our respect for democratic procedures must rule out any effort to pass a health care bill as if the Massachusetts election had not happened.

Going forward, I hope there will be a serious effort to change the Senate rule which means that 59 votes are not enough to pass major legislation, but those are the rules by which the health care bill was considered, and it would be wrong to change them in the middle of this process."

I don't know if Frank has said anything similar before, but this is the first I am hearing it. It sounds to me like at least some Democrats have gotten the message and don't want to own this stinker of a health care bill.

[tcrlaf]

This is HUGE!! Even Barney Frank is going in to a panicked CYA mode!!

Watch the roaches scurry for cover, now.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!!!

Is a HUGE Snow/Collins bribe attempt coming???

[Senator Goldwater]

Steny Hoyer just threw up in his tea cup.

[Gene Eric]

With unemployment over 10%, Frank is no doubt concerned about his job.

[Bernard]

There's been a lot of talk about whether the Democrats will continue down the left-leading path and ignore potential disaster in November. My prediction - that lefty path continues only if Nancy Pelosi remains as Speaker of the House. If the Blue-Dog Democrats rise up and replace her with an actual moderate, they stand a chance of re-election...maybe.

If Pelosi remains Speaker, the Dems lose 50-60 seats in the House. And based on Tuesday's result, which Democrat in the Senate is now a safe bet sure-thing for re-election in this November? Name one.

[Persevero]

Just wow. I am shocked.

[ncalburt]

Hello
Collins is the former Head of MA insurance and she has never supported the Obamacare crap.
Snowe has deep MD ties and is a no go too.
The only reason bill made it this far is ted’s former aide who is a lobbyist for the NHIP and now with this election she is dead meat.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Lets hope she stays speaker.

[carolina71]

Barney needs to go. Tomorrow.

I don’t care that he’s “suddenly” seen the light. He’s a huge part of the machine that has done nothing but hurt productive Americans.

Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, Frankfor starters — get them out.

That’s my current list, I’m standing by it and reserve the right to add more stumble bums.

[Brugmansian]

[o_zarkman44]

“I am hopeful that some Republican senators will be willing to discuss a revised version of health care reform because I do not think that the country would be well served by the healthcare status quo.”

So now he needs Republicans to come to the table on health control? I don’t think so Barney.

He acts like closed door politics never happened and suddenly he got some soul. Go to hell Barney.

[Safrguns]

The only thing more dangerous than a powerful liberal,
is a powerful liberal with half a brain.

[Cyman]

Geez, is somebody missing a gerbil?

[TCH]

TRANSLATION: “We’ll have to find another method to shove our socialist tyranny down their throats, and make the people believe we’re doing the opposite of what we’re actually doing. How many Republicans can we suck into our net? Oh, BTW... note to self: Got to get rid of that pesky 2/3 majority rule... Damn that stinking Constitution... I’ll sure be glad when we can finally burn that piece of capitalist trash.”

[Lost Highway]

Barney Frank - CYA.....nevermind.

[Magic Fingers]

“This is HUGE!! Even Barney Frank is going in to a panicked CYA mode!!”

And we know how rare it is for Barney to C his A!

[Kimberly GG]

It’s dead? I think not. Progressives (both Dem and Republican) WILL stop at nothing.

[FrankR]

It would be nice if the folks in Mass - armed with their newfound awareness of how the democrats are screwing America, would begin to rid themselves of any association with them.

The next two to go should be John Eff'n Kerry and Bwany Fwank.

Bwaney is scared...he sees the home-folk turning on this administrations agenda, and he's been a big part of it.

[bamahead]

First Webb, now Frank. We should start a SURRENDER meat pole, it will be stacked by morning.

[ksm1]

Big development. It’s also interesting since looking at some liberal blogs, they’re complaining that they lost...since they weren’t being liberal enough!! I am not making this up.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

Is a HUGE Snow/Collins bribe attempt coming???

That is the first thing I thought about when Pelosi stated that a HC bill will pass no matter what happens in Massachusetts. But if either RINO votes for it, she might as well switch parties.