On Thursday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith introduced a segment on the future of ObamaCare in the wake of Scott Brown becoming the 41st Republican senator: “Democrats are trying to figure out their next move after Tuesday’s stunning loss of Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat. The big question continues to be what will it mean for President Obama’s agenda? Especially health care reform.”
In the report that followed, White House correspondent Chip Reid described how: “The President says he still wants Congress to move forward with reform, but in an orderly way.” Citing political analyst and executive editor of The Hotline, John Mercurio, Reid declared that: “not passing health care would be devastating for Democrats.” Mercurio added: “I think without that, they satisfy no one and they discourage a lot of their base voters from turning out in November.”
Following Reid’s report, Smith conducted an exclusive interview with Senator John McCain, asking: “Is health care...as the Democrats understand it right now, is it dead?” The headline on-screen read: “Capitol Hill Chaos; GOP Victory Could Halt Health Care Reform.”
McCain encouraged the demise of the unpopular legislation: “Well, certainly I think the product and the process hopefully is dead. The process of buying votes through bribery and special deals should – behind closed doors – should stop. And the product, obviously, rejected by the majority of the American people if you look at polling data.”
Smith followed up by wondering: “Do you think this was the major miscalculation of President Obama’s first year in his administration?” McCain agreed: “I think it was a major miscalculation, not only the way they went about trying to get this legislation passed on a strictly partisan basis, but also neglecting what’s the majority of Americans’ concern, and that is jobs and the economy.”
Later, Smith pointed out: “Your pal, Nicole Wallace said the real reason Scott Brown was elected was his appeal to independents. Is there a warning here in both President Obama’s election and in Scott Brown’s election that attention only to orthodoxy comes at its peril?” McCain replied: “No I agree....Independents are still out there and they’re going to make a decision issue by issue, election by election. And they’re the – as you know, they’re the largest growth voting bloc in America.”
Here is a full transcript of the McCain interview:
7:03AM
HARRY SMITH: We want to go to Capitol Hill now and talk to Republican Senator John McCain. Senator, good morning.
JOHN MCCAIN: Good morning, Harry.
SMITH: First off, is health care as the Democratics – as the Democrats understand it right now, is it dead?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Capitol Hill Chaos; GOP Victory Could Halt Health Care Reform]
MCCAIN: Well, certainly I think the product and the process hopefully is dead. The process of buying votes through bribery and special deals should – behind closed doors – should stop. And the product, obviously, has been rejected by the majority of the American people if you look at polling data. So we are more than happy to sit down and start over. Not scale back, but start over in a true negotiating process rather than the Democrats going back to try and pick off one or two Republicans.
SMITH: Do you think this was the major miscalculation of President Obama’s first year in his administration?
MCCAIN: I think it was a major miscalculation, not only the way they went about trying to get this legislation passed on a strictly partisan basis, but also neglecting what’s the majority of Americans’ concern, and that is jobs and the economy.
SMITH: Let’s talk for a moment about the election of Scott Brown. What do you think it means? We just heard President Obama say he thought he was swept into office on the same sort of sentiment of anger and dissatisfaction of the American people. Was it the same?
MCCAIN: I think I can say from experience I think there was anger and dissatisfaction in the 2008 election, but I think the dissatisfaction and anger is focused on the process and the lack of change that would bring the American people into a more transparent process and instead it’s the old time Chicago style sausage making, which is very unsavory. Again, at my town hall meetings around Arizona, people are as angry about the ‘Cornhusker Kickback’ and the ‘Louisiana Purchase’ and all the stuff behind closed doors where the President promised C-SPAN in the room and total transparency. So the process they’re as mad at as the product.
SMITH: Do you ever wish the clock could be turned back 14 months or so?
MCCAIN: No. That’s behind me. I’ve moved on and I’m a happy man, Harry.
SMITH: Your pal, Nicole Wallace said the real reason Scott Brown was elected was his appeal to independents. Is there a warning here in both President Obama’s election and in Scott Brown’s election that attention only to orthodoxy comes at its peril?
MCCAIN: No I agree. And, also, I think we were punished in 2008 because we Republicans allowed spending to go get completely out of control and we betrayed independents and part of our base. So, yes, independents have not come over to Republicans yet. Independents are still out there and they’re going to make a decision issue by issue, election by election. And they’re the – as you know, they’re the largest growth voting bloc in America.
SMITH: Last but not least, I watched you yesterday in some of the hearings on Capitol Hill on the – hearings on the Delta flight terrorist attack. You want somebody held accountable. Do you think it will happen?
MCCAIN: If it’s business as usual in Washington, everyone will be responsible, so no one will be held responsible. It’s very disappointing.
SMITH: Senator John McCain, pleasure to see you, sir. Thanks for your time this morning.
MCCAIN: Thank you, Harry.
