John King to Dems: Is ObamaCare Important Enough to Buy Votes?

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In the wake of Saturday's Senate vote to move forward with debate on controversial healthcare reform legislation, CNN's John King may have posed one of the best questions asked on any of Sunday's political talk shows:

To get Senator [Mary] Landrieu's vote, just to proceed, just to go across the starting line, language was inserted in the bill that gives her state up to $300 million. To get Senator [Ben] Nelson's vote, [Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid] agreed to drop a request that you take away the antitrust exemptions for insurance companies...[Is healthcare reform] important enough to buy votes?

This marvelous question was asked on Sunday's "State of the Union." In attendance were Democrat Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Michael Bennet of Colorado, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

Better still, King pointed a finger at President Obama who promised during the campaign "to change the way Washington works" (video embedded below the fold with partial transcript, h/t Breitbart TV):

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JOHN KING, HOST: Well, let me talk to you about the process a little bit. If you look at the front page of The Washington Post today, "Sweeteners for the South." To get Senator Landrieu's vote, just to proceed, just to go across the starting line, language was inserted in the bill that gives her state up to $300 million. To get Senator Nelson's vote, the leader agreed to drop a request that you take away the antitrust exemptions for insurance companies.

This got us to day one of the debate. Is this the way to do things? The central promise of the Obama campaign was to change the way Washington works. That's Washington as usual, is it not?

SENATOR SHERROD BROWN, (D-Ohio): It is and it isn't. I mean, I -- this bill is extraordinarily complicated. This legislation is -- you know, as Jeanne said at the outset of the show, 50 years, you could maybe even say 75 years -- Franklin Roosevelt attempted it, Harry Truman really attempted it in earnest...

KING: But is it important enough to buy votes?

BROWN: I don't say it that way. I think there are a lot of things that we all go to the leader and talk about things in our state. And news reports sometimes aren't accurate about what might have been done for somebody or what might not have been done for somebody.

I want to see this bill pass. Nobody likes these kinds of -- any kinds of deals. I think anything that's done needs to be in the best -- in the best interest of those states and this country. I think those probably helped, if that, in fact, really happened -- I have no way of really knowing if it did. I suppose that helped a lot of people in Louisiana that don't have insurance, and so I think we move forward.

We do what we need to do, within ethical bounds. We do what we need to do within practical bounds. Keeping this, as we've all said, keeping this bill, keeping the costs down and keeping this bill budget-neutral or better, as Jeanne points out.

KING: Does it make it harder to do that? Does it create a climate if you're on the fence, legitimately on the fence, you think, all right, well, maybe I want to be a good Democrat and swallow my pride or swallow an issue or two and vote for this in the end, but I'm going to get something for it, and that's going to cost money?

SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN, (D-N.H.): Listen, in the end, this is going to be a compromise. It's not going to be a perfect bill, but it's going to be a very important starting point. And I think it's important to point out that this bill is not just about how do we deliver health care in a way that is more cost-effective, because families can't afford it anymore, business can't afford it anymore, and the economy can't afford it.

But it's also about how do we do it in a way that improves people's health and their lives. And, unfortunately, we're spending more money right now on health care in this country than any other industrialized nation. And yet, we're not healthier. And so we've got to change the way we do things. And that's what this legislation is about.

Readers are reminded that Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) claimed Saturday "very partisan Republican bloggers" were making the case that she voted for cloture as a result of the provision added to the bill giving her state additional healthcare funds.

I guess we can now add John King to the list of "very partisan Republican bloggers," correct Senator? 

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.


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Turning

First Helen Thomas, Saturday Night Live, and now even CNN are beginning to question the Saviours plans. When it turns the corner into full blown criticism, Obama will go ballistic and get really dangerous. Obama is a child that has never been told "NO" before. I anticipate Federal harassment, persecution and street thug, SEIU style violence protected by Federal prosecutorial discretion. Holder/Himmler will protect the purple shirts.

I worry about complete

I worry about complete attempt at Chavez style tactics with our communications in all venues...I do my best to keep up with it all, Seton Motley has some of the best updates as to what they are doing behind the scenes...and it's spooky....as we all that have been paying attention to this know.

'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart

Pretty frightening when the POTUS

dictates to his AG who to go after and not go after. Himmler is quite apt. Then the biggest union thug in the country is the #1 visitor to the WH who gives Obama his marching orders. God help us.

Obama is a Nazi...

Damn, Obama really might be a Nazi. He's got Holder, now being referred to as Himmler, and I've been calling Keith Olbermann "Olbergoebbels" for years. When Olbergoebbels and Butch Maddow were summoned to the White House, that sealed it for me. Official White House involvement with GE's propaganda outlet. All I want to know is when are these communists leaving with their heads hanging in shame for trying to destroy America.....

Guests of the Dear Leader

Olbermann and Maddow were invited to that special meeting with the President because they are two of the most loyal mouthpieces of this Administration.  They re-pledged their allegiance, received their marching orders, and returned to their studio to execute the plan.

All I want to know is when

All I want to know is when are these communists leaving with their heads hanging in shame for trying to destroy America.....

Actually, I am rather hoping these hideous commies all will very soon be fleeing for their pathetic lives in all directions, with pitchforks protruding from their behinds, and millions of seriously pissed-off, torch-bearing citizens hot on their heels.

-Dave

Our elected representatives have failed us.  

I was tickled with King's

I was tickled with King's words this morning, as I was when I saw this on Breitbart as well....really happy this information is on NBs now...for a variety of reasons.

Fair and Balanced comes to mind.

Dkos and ilk can't be happy-campers.

If King isn't careful he will go the way of Beck and Dobbs....then again, he may be aiming for that... just in case in down the line.

'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart

  So what's the deal

  So what's the deal here?  Is King trying to ask important questions just to get ratings and a bigger audience?  He's on CNN. That's not suppose to be the purpose of his show.

MA... I've always kind of

MA...

I've always kind of liked King OK...CNN won't keep him for long if he keeps being the best he can be to stay 'fair and balanced' ...they can't have that, Soros crowd/umbrella group will see to that.

It will be one more to add to their list of 'doubling down on stupid' they bowed to their masters for.

Unless they are going to hold him out as the 'shining example on the hill' for CNN...either way, I personally think King is smart enough to know this and he's played the game well over the years...and years, he seems to be the kind of guy who is keeping his powder dry.

Just my two cents. 

'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart

  I agree.  I remember

  I agree.  I remember when King started.  He seemed like a young and ambitious reporter who wanted opportunities for the big stories.  It's sad when the idea of someone wanting to be an actual reporter is an anomaly. 

it's really obvious now

Mary Landrieu wasn't able to fool anyone!

True enough

She's got to demonstrate some sort of altruistic pension for social justice to assuage her Leftist critics, but even the liberal MSM calls it what it is. 

And Mr. "Change We Can Believe In" Obama ain't about to wag his finger at these shenanigans; he needs every vote he can buy regardless how much it increases the debt burden on our progeny.

This is the problem with our

This is the problem with our government. The Congress is full of gutless people without integrity. They are spending our money to buy votes so that they can spend even more of our money on something that most Americans do not want. Civil disobedience is around the corner.

The response of the

The response of the senators is disgusting.. always from D side is we "can't do" anything..

I am sooo sick of them its beyond description anymore.

 

They are like cockroaches.. 

 

 

And they say Republicans are

And they say Republicans are the party of no! Fantastic question on King's part.

Starting Point

"SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN, (D-N.H.): Listen, in the end, this is going to be a compromise. It's not going to be a perfect bill, but it's going to be a very important starting point."

I don't think the senators, reps are dims either, got the memo, we don't want a compromise and we dam sure don't want this to be a starting point. We want the gov. out of our business and at least one of their greedy grubby hands out of our hip pocket. We don't want this bill period.!!~~!! We the people are going to have to teach these congresspeople a lesson(and the media) and the sooner the better.

kilrod 

If an unborn child cannot trust you, why should I,?? 

I don't say it that way

That's hilarious. When Sherrod Brown answered King with that, I knew the game was over.

Years ago, I was debating one of our salesmen about our product (I was on the IT team). I said it had defect A, defect B, and we should improve it before we sell it. He answered, "I don't want you to think about it that way ..." and then proceeded to explain how we could hide the defects and still sell it.

Ever since, I've been sensitive to similar examples. You'd be surprised how many people make arguments that are nothing but "I don't want you to look at the arguments your way, because you're seeing the weaknesses in my argument." They say it without any sense of remorse or irony ... they want you to swallow their spin nstead of your own lying eyes.

 

I think it's just precious

I think it's just precious when someone from the state-run media actually does their job.  I mean someone actually doing their job from the state-run media?  Wow!  This is stupendous!!!  It is a cataclysmic shift, by golly.  Strike up the band!!!  Democracy is saved!!!

OK, state-run media, you fulfilled your quota.  Go back to sleep.  That's it.  See you after obamacare passes the Congress.  <wink> <wink>  Night . . . night . . .

All this is well and

All this is well and good.  It should have been happening long before now. 

You think this is going to ruffle some feathers?  Are you surprised that Landrieu is a high priced call girl disguised as a senator?  You ain't seen nothing yet!

Wait till all of these Obamaniacs realize they isn't a job to be found when this take over really kicks in.  When this socialistic grab of medicine pushes a lot of small businesses out.  Then you will see rioting in the streets.  They think they've won something now.  Just wait.  The bloom will be off this rose pretty damn quick.  All I can say is keep your powder dry.  Literally.

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Wasn't it in a report cited

Wasn't it in a report cited on NewsBusters that someone described the Senate as "100 Blanche DuBois" (from "A Streetcar Named Desire")?

States, dust off your nullification votes, 'cuz you're gonna need 'em.

‘When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.’ - Edmund Burke, 1770

Huh?

That's Washington as usual, is it not?

SENATOR SHERROD BROWN, (D-Ohio): It is and it isn't.

Depending, I guess on what the meaning of 'is' is.

 I think those probably helped, if that, in fact, really happened -- I have no way of really knowing if it did.

He's in the senate and admits that he hasn't got a clue and doesn't know how to get one. We are in some deep stuff now.

We do what we need to do, within ethical bounds.

They have no bounds.

We need a new capital city. Close down DC and turn it all into a museum. Start by firing everybody who pretends to work there now.

 

 

 

So, Mr. President, is this

So, Mr. President, is this the "new kind of politics" you said Americans were hungry for?

I asked my Dim Senator

I asked my Dim Senator (Hagel, NC) why she gave Harry her vote for nothing?  I'm glad more of my money wasn't spent on this BS but maybe it will gt under her skin a bit.  

Landrieu got $300 million...,

and all we 59 other Senators got was this lousy T shirt

Says who?

Jeanne Shaheen, "And, unfortunately, we're spending more money right now on health care
in this country than any other industrialized nation. And yet, we're
not healthier." Says who?

Then again too, when the United States is the third largest country in the world, by population, you are going to spend more money than most other countries on most everything.

At least they didn't say they weren't as bad as the Republicans or blame Bush policies that forced them to bribe people.

Jeanne Shaheen, "And,

Jeanne Shaheen, "And, unfortunately, we're spending more money right now on health care
in this country than any other industrialized nation. And yet, we're
not healthier."

That quote caught my eye to.  Isn't the life expectancy in the US one of the highest of the industrialized nations?

 

Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.

Yes

"According to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), life expectancy in the US reached an all time high of
nearly 78 years in 2007, while the age-adjusted death rate reached a
new all time low of 760.3 deaths per 100,000 population."

Also : "The report shows that life expectancy rose from 77.7 in 2006 to 77.9 in
2009. This continues a trend that has risen steadily by an overall 1.4
years since 1997 when life expectancy was estimated at 76.5 years."

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161247.php

Mary Landrieu

Mary Landrieu arrived at the Senate with Harry Reid's mattress attached to her back! She is now Harry's Ho!

I love how this payoff is

I love how this payoff is so blatent that the Democrats are now on the defensive with their own water carriers in the formerly mainstream media (Broduer, Erbe, King, ABC).  Reid is doing everything in his power to convince his own skittish members that this is not as bad as it is being reported.

Reminds me of a great line from Spinal Tap..."oh yeah, the Boston gig has been cancelled but don't worry it is not a big college town".

Shove it down our throats in '09 and we will shove it up your a** in '10.

Perfect Logic

Buying votes to pass a measure who's sole purpose . . . is to buy votes.  The perfect circular "logic" of the left.

Questions of morals.

Is this health care bill important enough to bribe congressmembers?

Does the end justify the means?

Is it justified to start dealing drugs or robbing banks because you lost your job?

Are people's lives valuable enough to use waterboarding?

If this bill is so important, why do seniors and women have to live with "rationing" of care? Do women have less value than  KSM?

If this bill is so important, how do we justify the power the IRS will have to put people in jail for not having health insurance?

Who from the white house will answer my questions?

This bill is not about people, its about power to control our lives. It 's not about "social justice", its about declining morality in this country and a mockery of our constitution and legislative process.

 

I Was Wondering What Nelson's Thirty Pieces of Silver Were....

Shaheen and Landreiu were no surprise, though.

They'd have whored themselves out for a lot less.

Ummmmmm....

Where was the Republican or conservative?

Fine to say it was a good question, but he asked three dumocrats... 

The big question in my mind

The big question in my mind is, if Harry Reid was willing to pay Mary $300 million for a quickie, how the heck much is he going to pay for the all-nighter?

"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me

$300 mil dangled in front of Landrieu is mere chicken feed

These commies would sell their grandmothers if they thought it would get them a congressional vote or two.

They will do whatever it takes to complete the takeover, as they still have the blessings of nearly half the population, and have two huge piles of cash just sitting there, waiting to be disbursed to just the right people at just the right time.

I can't wait to see what sort of bribes the congressional "leadership" is going to start throwing around once Crap & Tax comes to the floor.

Somehow I don't think we are going to have to wait very long to find out.

-Dave

Our elected representatives have failed us.  

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