Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Norm Coleman – the former senator from Minnesota and a prominent advisor for Mitt Romney – suggested over the weekend in an interview that no matter who the Republican nominee is, they are unlikely to fully repeal Obamacare.
"We’re not going to do repeal. You’re not going to repeal Obamacare… It’s not a total repeal... You will not repeal the act in its entirety, but you will see major changes, particularly if there is a Republican president... You can't whole-cloth throw it out. But you can substantially change what's been done."
He goes on to say: "The Supreme Court first of all will have to deal with it. If you get rid of the individual mandate, then this whole thing may collapse." Asked by the moderator whether this means other provisions will go away as well, Coleman says: "I don’t think they will go away, because I don’t think the Act works financially, it simply doesn’t work, if you have severability." Coleman maintains that Republicans still "need to do health care reform" and suggests that he supports the approach put forward by Paul Ryan and Ron Wyden.
Coleman's remarks are remarkable because every Republican candidate — including Romney — has vowed to make repealing the law a priority. Coleman is also the chairman of the American Action Network, which has urged the courts to strike down the law's individual mandate and its Medicaid expansion.
There are a number of takeaways from this, but this is a meaningful takeaway in large part because Coleman remains on the short list for a cabinet position in the next administration, and he’s almost assured a position there if he wants it (perhaps even at HHS).
In other words, he’s not your average political pundit.
If Coleman is correct—and I think it’s possible he is—the next Republican president is likely to go through an experience along these lines: an attempt to repeal the whole bill will be made, passing the House but being filibustered in the Senate. Reconciliation can only go so far, and in the wake of a Supreme Court decision knocking down the individual mandate, the right’s political push to repeal the whole of Obamacare is likely to become less pressing (ironically, the Court’s getting rid of the worst part of the law from the public’s perspective may undercut these efforts). The Senate is likely to force instead a compromise position, in which Obamacare is “fixed,” not repealed – made “more market friendly”, as Coleman suggests.
This may be a good end result for many of the stakeholders and the politicians involved. As for the American people, well, that’s a different story.
(Edited because originally that second blockquote didn't take.)
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Comments:
Mar '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Senators run for reelection, no? Make them own the filibuster, or rather filibusters, because we just bring it back over and over and over. Hang it around their necks at every opportunity.
John Quincy Adams broke the Gag Rule by being the single most annoying person in the history of Congress.
Mar '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Double Post.
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 8:40pmJul '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Norm Coleman is the death wheeze of the tax collectors for the welfare state. His candidate is done, and he is trying to save him by promising the survival of ObomneyCare. What matter lives or patients' rights when there is an entire industry to be extorted for massive campaign donations and worse.
Obama said it. Americans are spending too much on health care. If we kill off the sick ones, the rest can focus more of their money to progressive tax and spend initiatives. Better to reduce the surplus population.
Feb '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
No need for the left to fight. Their opposition comes to the arena already beaten. All they need to do is accept the surrender.
The Democrats are blessed to have opposition in the form of the GOP.
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Mitt Romney has an opportunity. If Norm Coleman really is one of his chief advisors, he could ostentatiously ditch the man now.
It would not prove that Romney could be trusted on Obamacare, but it would lend credence to the presumption.
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Newt Gingrich has an opportunity. He should ask Romney if Norman Coleman speaks for his campaign. And if the answer is no, he can ask Romney why he has not dumped Norm Coleman as an advisor.
Keep the heat on!
Sep '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Paul A. Rahe: Newt Gingrich has an opportunity. He should ask Romney if Norman Coleman speaks for his campaign. And if the answer is no, he can ask Romney why he has not dumped Norm Coleman as an advisor.
Keep the heat on! · 2 minutes ago
At some point I wonder if these people need to be repeatedly tasered to do the right thing. I said we need Newt to come into Romney's office every 3 hours and holler at him. I'm thinking now he might need to pack extra batteries.
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
There is an alternative. Junk the filibuster!
Have you ever noticed that the Dems are not reluctant to change the rules of the game in order to get what they want -- while our guys enter the fight with their hands tied behind their backs.
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 9:13pmAug '11
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
In one of last week's debates, Romney said, for the first time I recall, that he would repeal all of Obamacare. (Whereas before he would say "keep the good, get rid of the bad. Several people in the live chat confirmed that "repeal it all" was a new thing from the Romney campaign.)
So . . . what I take from this is that Romney was, at best, saying what he thought we wanted to hear, or at worst, being completely disingenuous.
No thank you.
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 9:14pmNov '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Percival: Mitt, do you want to shore up your shaky provenance as a conservative? Prove your bona fides?
Fire Norm. Now. Publicly. Remorselessly. Extra credit if you appear to enjoy it.
Of all the boneheaded things for anyone associated with a campaign to say...
[The rest of this comment has been deleted. I'm having 3rd Commandment issues, never mind the CoC.] · 1 hour ago
Percival, I agree with you. The only trouble is that Romney is unlikely to rebuke Norm Coleman when he was the one who told him to say it.
Dec '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
This just kills me. The most unpopular piece of legislation of all time and the campaign "best suited to win over the moderates" isn't prepared to repeal it??! This would be darkly humorous if it weren't so damn dark.
If Romney wants to salvage his campaign, he needs to do two things today:
1) Fire Norm Coleman (tragically),
2) Repudiate Romneycare*.
That's it. All I got. But hey, at least it's free advice instead of that pricey cr--stuff Romney's buying.
*Don't give me that "he'll be called a flip-flopper" junk. He's already been labeled. Now he needs to show he's bold, and truly conservative. Distinguish yourself, Mitt. Last chance.
May '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
The thing was passed with Reconciliation, it can be killed with it too. One Congress cannot bind the hands of another.
The Republicans need to fight and do it, and stop playing nice with the other side.
Time to step it up. See the speech about the Chicago Way in The Untouchables
Sep '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
This quote from Coleman only reinforces my impression of Romney - a Republican who believes that the problem with the Federal government is that it needs better management. Romney seeks to streamline and modernize inefficiencies, maybe drop or downsize a few departments on the edges here and there, not dramatically reduce the size and scope of power of the the Federal government.
As to the direct point Coleman makes about not dismantling wholesale Obamacare, I quote Mark Steyn:
Apparently we have crossed over the Rubicon and Coleman has announced Team Romney has brought no steel.
Sep '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
I'm getting seasick. Is this the same Norm Coleman that said this in November 2011?
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
So the Democrats in the Senate will filibuster the repeal of ObamaCare. So what?
Instead of wringing our hands and giving up, we should do what liberals do and dig in. After all, in Harry Reid's hands the apocalyptic confrontation is just a handy cudgel wielded to win continuing resolutions, debt ceiling increases, class warfare payroll tax cut extensions, welfare-style eternal unemployment benefits--pretty much anything and everything on the statist to do list.
Nothing is more popular than repealing ObamaCare. The bill fundamentally alters the relationship between citizen and government. Republicans should stress the point early and often and use every instrumentality at their disposal to kill the bill.
This is why I lean toward Newt. Say what you will about his erratic nature, the man knows how to stage a fight...and prevail.
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 9:56pmSep '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Charlie Crist. Charlie Crist. Charlie Crist. His advisors' fingerprints are all over Romney's campaign.
To quote Ezra Levant when Mark Steyn and him were battling the Canadian Human Rights Commissions:
Fire. Them. All.
Sep '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
This is where I lean toward Newt. Say what you will about his erratic nature, but the man knows how to stage a fight...and prevail.
Release the Kraaken.
Aug '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
First we find out that Charlie Crist's advisors work for Romney and now Norman Coleman ? The guy let Al Franken beat him in a crooked race ! He knew he won and didn't take it all the way. What a weinie !! I always suspected that Minnesota Republican was an oxymoron (Sorry Mr Lileks, my grandfather was the only other Republican in Mpls-StP).
I mean we went thru this whole damned thing on Powerline ( well you guys rock) during the elections and I was astounded that someone didn't start shooting or something. I mean steal their lefsa for lands sakes! Something. They let Soros roll right over them and put Stewart Little in the Senate.
Now Norman is getting airtime and the obvious nod from Romney to be the stalking horse ?
Arrggghhhhh--------------------
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
With respect, the thing which is wrong with Obamacare is that it is not among the enumerated powers permitted to the federal government in the Constitution.
Jul '10
Re: Norm Coleman: We're Not Going to Repeal Obamacare
Obamacare has to go.
That's all.