Repealing Obamacare and the Myth of the Moderate Democrat
Seven weeks ago, I reported on Heritage Action for America's effort to convince House members to sign onto a discharge petition forcing a floor vote to repeal the entire tottering edifice that is Obamacare.
How are we doing?
96 percent of House Republicans have signed Discharge Petition #11. Yet, not one Democrat has done so, including the 34 Dems who voted against Obamacare's passage. Heritage Action CEO Mike Needham comments in the Daily Caller:
There are two explanations as to why no Democrats have signed the discharge petition. They may have genuinely changed their mind on the merits of Obamacare and now support the law. If this is the case, they owe it to their constituents to say so and explain what new information caused them to change their position.
Alternatively, they have always supported Obamacare, but publicly opposed the measure to avoid political pain. Now, they are afraid of having another health care debate as they are aware the American people overwhelmingly oppose Obamacare. This means that they are implicitly endorsing the government’s takeover of the health care industry – 1/6th of the United States economy – which they claim to oppose. This scenario is why so many Americans are cynical about Washington.
Seems like the "Blue Dog" should be renamed the "Chameleon." It's good to have a bright-line difference between the two parties again.
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Comments :
Aug '10
Re: Repealing Obamacare and the Myth of the Moderate Democrat
I think there's a third possible reason Democrats who opposed the bill might not want to sign on for repeal:
They don't like ObamaCare but don't want the responsibility of having supported its repeal (the voters might like repeal, but their higher-ups in the party won't). That is to say, they are yellow.
"Chameleons" sounds like a pretty good name.
Aug '10
Re: Repealing Obamacare and the Myth of the Moderate Democrat
follow the money
they're all up for re-election and few dollars are coming from the right for the 34
finally, a gentleman's "D", means they'll pass, but just once
Aug '10
Re: Repealing Obamacare and the Myth of the Moderate Democrat
flownover: follow the money
Aug 23 at 4:36pm
Good point. How many big Democrat donors wouldn't be appalled by repeal?
Edited on Aug 23, 2010 at 4:43pmMay '10
Re: Repealing Obamacare and the Myth of the Moderate Democrat
What's terrific is that so few Republicans are being useless squishes on this issue. Sure, it's easy to be tough when the wind is at your back - but not so easy that I'd expect this kind of conservative unity.
Let's see if they do what must be done when it really matters!
May '10
Re: Repealing Obamacare and the Myth of the Moderate Democrat
I need a civics lesson. Can a discharge petition be used after the new Congress is sworn in, or can that only be used by the Congress that enacted the original bill?
Re: Repealing Obamacare and the Myth of the Moderate Democrat
Tom, I'm not sure on that one. However, if there's a new Republican speaker, a discharge petition will be unnecessary.
Re: Repealing Obamacare and the Myth of the Moderate Democrat
MFR, I absolutely love it: the Blue Dog is henceforth the Blue Chameleon.
May '10
Re: Repealing Obamacare and the Myth of the Moderate Democrat
Bills expire at the end of the Congress in which they were introduced. So any resolution not acted upon would have to be reintroduced in January.
Source: http://clerk.house.gov/legislative/legfaq.html