Boehner Claims Mandate to Nix Health Care Bill

[sabra]

Source: CBS News/AP

House Speaker-in-Waiting Says Election Proves Voters Want Health Care "Monstrosity" Rolled Back; Exit Polls Less Conclusive

(CBS/AP) House Republican Leader John Boehner on Wednesday claimed a voter mandate to roll back the Obama administration's health care overhaul, calling it a "monstrosity."

The presumptive next speaker of the House told reporters Wednesday morning the Republican takeover of the House and its success in narrowing the Democratic Senate majority was proof that "the Obama-Pelosi agenda" was rejected by the American people.

"I think that it's a mandate for Washington to reduce the size of government and continue our fight for smaller, less costly and more accountable government," Boehner said.

While the Ohio Republican spoke of popular opposition to the health care law, a CBS News exit poll found that voters were split on the issue, with nearly half calling for its repeal and a roughly equal number saying it should either be expanded or left as is.

"We have a big job ahead of us and that's why you'll see us roll up our sleeves and go to work today," Boehner said, adding that Republicans will take the next several months, before the new session begins in January, to map out their agenda.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/03/politics/main7018035.shtml?tag=cbsContentWrap;cbsContent

[Deep13]

1. That didn't take long.

With most of its provisions not taking effect until two years after Obama loses the next election, he will probably succeed in repealing it.

[gratuitous]

10. Not at all

While Democrats dithered for years about just why they were handed overwhelming majorities, the Republicans will ride a razor thin edge in one house of Congress to claim mandate after mandate, and bull ahead with their ruinous policies. They are not going to care what Democrats or the people think. This may be the only way in which I wish Democrats were more like Republicans, but it's a significant way.

When you get back into power, Democrats, remember that you're there for a reason.

[Deep13]

14. I figured Ds would have learned that the last time they were back in power.

:-(

[gratuitous]

18. The instructions are true

Welcome to Life 101. Here are your instructions:

1. As the course proceeds, certain lessons will be presented to be learned.

2. Lessons not learned will be presented again until mastered.

I think we're kind of stuck on number 2. We were doing pretty good while we had Howard Dean as party chairman. Maybe it's time to go back to that 50 state strategy, where them that has help out them that needs.

[humblebum]

40. They had better come up with a viable good plan to replace it

within 2 years, otherwise they will be gone - is my prediction. The healthcare mandate was a priority issue that brought Obama into office.

[Joe Bacon]

17. This is 1989 all over again

Enough spineless Democrats will join with Republicans to override Obama's veto. The bill will be repealed and the blame can be laid right at the feet of a President who sold us out to PhRMA and the pimps who run the health insurance rackets.

[vduhr]

22. Did you expect anything less?

Welcome to the great Democrat voter fuck up!

[HughBeaumont]

2. Does BOH-ner think HCR = Single Payer?

Is he high on burnt umber? This bill is so corporate friendly, it's ridiculous. Speaking of deficits, I want to know where the revenue is going to come from for his plans to extend the still-not-paid-for Bewsh II tax cuts. Don't worry about HCR until you've solved THAT problem, Slappy.

[elleng]

5. Thats the big question, for those who really DO care, of course.

[thecrow]

6. I think he's more of a raw sienna kind of guy

but what do I know?

[HughBeaumont]

13. A RUST-ic kind of fellow, if you will.

:rofl:

[gtar100]

9. No, it's all politics for that asshole. It has nothing to do with truth.

If the healthcare bill would have been passed by republicans, word-for-word, he would have been praising it to no end.

As for paying for tax cuts - that's a non-compute for republicans. They don't think there's any consequence to them other than manna from heaven.

Modus operandi: anything bad that happens - blame the democrats.

BOH-ner is a nothing but a skilled repuke politician. Sincerity, integrity and acting as a representative of the people are the least of his concerns.

[killbotfactory]

21. It helps out regular people along with some corporate interests

They want a health care bill that leaves out any help to the poor or middle class.

[andym]

33. Insurers would be happy to roll the entire bill back (except for the mandates)

Almost all of the bill is unpleasant to them, because it forces them to provide care and limits their profits (via the medical cost ratio). The only thing they really like is the mandate to buy. They'll call on the GOP to help get rid of everything but that.

[defendandprotect]

42. No -- his corporate sponsors understand the THREAT any modification of

PRIVATE health care is to Big Pharma and Health Care Industry ....

for them an inch is as good as a mile --!!

It's the DIRECTION they want to stop --

[elleng]

3. Lets watch them 'map out their agenda' with their new little teabags.

Have fun, guys!

[mazzarro]

4. See How Audacious Rethugs Can Be About Mandates?

And when it comes to Dems they are left fidgeting about what to do with winning an election. Aaaaaaah - I just cannot stand that anymore!

[Betty]

7. reduce the size of government, but not of war spending

that will go up forever. And yet they want to balance the budget.

[Roland99]

8. I love how the "liberal" media allowed the right-wingnuts to equate the HCR w/Gov't Run Healthcare

when all it did was give PRIVATE insurance companies millions more in captive customers.

[Edweird]

11. The funny part is that what was passed WAS the republican plan.

But since it was passed by Dems they are against it.

[area51]

36. +1

Indeed, what was passed was a republinazi wet dream.

Republinazi '93 plan:

"Subtitle F: Universal Coverage - Requires each citizen or lawful permanent resident to be covered under a qualified health plan or equivalent health care program by January 1, 2005."

"We will never have real reform until people's health stops being treated as a financial opportunity for corporations."

"Any proposal that sticks with our current dependence on for-profit private insurers ... will not be sustainable. And the new law will not get us to universal coverage ...." -- T.R. Reid, The Healing of America

[Edweird]

37. How 'bout some Newt from 2008?

http://health.newamerica.net/blogposts/2008/reform_newt_gingrich_on_free_riders_and_the_individual_mandate-18127

"The reality of an individual mandate (when coupled with subsidies so that insurance is affordable and market reforms so that coverage is accessible), is that it would not only address the "free rider" problem, but also serve as a tool to enhance insurance market competition. When combined with market reforms and subsidies, the mandate would help move insurers away from a business model that relies on marketing and underwriting and towards a strategy that involves competing for customers based on performance and price. This is a good thing...and something those in favor of market competition could get behind."

When you consider that Newt's mandate was for people making $75,000 and up, his plan sounds less RW than the one we got. How sad is that?

[Zambero]

12. Hey John Boy, why not do an "opt out" for folks to choose?

Ask if seniors want to opt out of ending doughnut hole for prescription drugs.
Ask if insured individuals want to opt out of pre-existing condition protections
Ask if parents want to opt out of allowing their adult children to stay on their policies longer
Ask small businesses if they wish to opt out of tax credits for extending insurance benefits

As far as insurance mandates for folks who can afford it but prefer to milk the system via the emergency room route, let them also opt out with full understanding that conscientious citizens will pick up the tab for them, provided these generous taxpayers voluntarily "opt in" to provide this service. Who said freedom isn't free?!?

This is just a few "opts ins & outs" and there would be others, but let's get that big bad gov't Obamacare off people's backs -- they demand it y'know!

[Iliyah]

16. Most wanted

the ecomony fixed not HRC, plus Obama will veto it if it passes the Senate. So therefore, no mention about the jobs, huh???

[Divine Discontent]

15. Boehner needs to Opt Out of the tanning bed, or whatever orange goo he slathers on

what a weird man that one is...

oh, and they'll try to gut everything they can, but it won't go anywhere with the Senate in our hands, and a presidential veto!

they really didn't do THAT good last night... just here in FL, and a few other states did they take everything.

[killbotfactory]

19. A lot of progressives agree it was a bunk bill

I'm sure they will be happy about this development.

[Politicub]

20. Does everyone else roll their eyes like me whenever a republican says "mandate?"

Good luck with that, Tangerine.

:eyes:

[florida08]

23. Big talk for a small mind

I have a map I'd like to show him.

[Wednesdays]

24. Republicans promise an era of limited government

Source: Yahoo News

WASHINGTON – Emboldened by a commanding House majority and Senate gains, Republican leaders vowed Wednesday to deliver on their "golden opportunity" to roll back the size of government and President Barack Obama's signature health care law.

"Change course we will," said Ohio Rep. John Boehner, the speaker-in-waiting, describing Tuesday's midterm elections as a mandate to shrink the government. That echoed the unrelenting demand of tea party activists whose energy and votes helped to fuel the largest turnover in the House in more than 70 years.

The capital awoke — if it ever slept — to a new political order. With their lopsided win, Republicans are ushering in a new era of divided government and dethroning Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a prime target of their campaign.

Repealing the health care law, with its mandates and subsidies to extend health insurance to nearly all Americans, has been a Republican rallying cry for months but Obama, with his veto power, and the Democrats still in control of the Senate stand in the way. Several Republicans indicated their challenge to the law won't happen overnight when they take power. "I think it is important for us to lay the groundwork before we begin to repeal this monstrosity," Boehner said.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101103/ap_on_el_ge/us_election_rdp

---

Time to grab your barf bags. For strong stomachs only! :puke: The pictures are particularly revolting.

This is what the voters selected last night. They'd just as soon hand the 'pugs knives, to cut their own throats.

[ixion]

25. Except, you know, if

You make a phone call, or drive somewhere or send an email, or smoke a joint, or do anything else besides, apparently, walking around with a firearm strapped to your leg.

[emulatorloo]

26. Last I heard Mitch McConnell was still minority leader. Am I missing something?

What's with the negative language in the "news" story.

"Dethroning" Nancy Pelosi? Nancy never had a throne. Does this mean Boehner is going to buy a throne and a crown for himself?

[MadMaddie]

28. It means that a woman shouldn't hold a position of such power

We need to get to the root of what they are really saying. The obscene hatred of Nancy Pelosi is not what she has done it is what her gender is.

[Warren Stupidity]

27. Fucking liars. nt.

[PfcHammer]

29. We go thru this every couple of years and it always ends with repub fail

[KansDem]

31. And whopping corporatism!

"Mandate" bought and paid for...with American sacrifice.

[krabigirl]

32. Well, since there will be gridlock, govt won't be able to do much, except start more war$.

Since the corporate Dems and the GOP both love doing that.

[Javaman]

49. while at the same time collecting bigger salaries!

that saved money has to go somewhere, right?

[Guilded Lilly]

30. The only reason he would roll up his sleeves is to make

sure the self tanning oil covered evenly.

[yellowcanine]

34. Boehner you are entitled to your opinion but not your own facts.

Health care was not on the ballot and you won a slim majority in 1/2 of ONE branch of government in a year when the party controlling the WH almost always loses seats. And you gained less seats back than your party lost in 2006 and 2008. So you got no mandate to do anything except to try and work with President Obama and the Democratic Senate.

[sakabatou]

35. So Boner, what do you have instead that's supposedly better?

[CBHagman]

38. Ask Boehner if it's okay to bar people for pre-existing conditions.

How about overturning the provision that lets young adults stay on their parents' insurance policy till age 26? Think Boehner will get a round of applause for that?

People, the 'cans won a majority in the House, not super powers. Any legislation still has to pass both houses and get past the veto pen. So stop acting as though Boehner's already got precisely what he wanted and Obama has been voted out of office. Write to newspapers, your elected representatives, and hang this round Boehner's neck.

[JaneQPublic]

39. How's he gonna do that with the Senate and President voting against him?

He can't even count on the Dems in red districts voting with the GOPers anymore, since most of them lost their seats Tuesday.

He still may get something through the House to repeal Health Care, but we all know there's no chance of their getting 60 votes in the Senate. Even if they did by some miracle, Obama would veto it.

So here we have a GOP leader FINALLY presenting a plan to do something, but its chance of ever going anywhere is a big zilch. The whole party is all talk and no action, even when they win a bit of power.

[defendandprotect]

41. Okay ... NOW will Dem Party call Democrats out to demonstrate for Medicare for All?

THAT'S WHERE THE MANDATE IS ....!!

Let's stop this rw propaganda!!

[chelsea0011]

43. Jeesh! I thought two years ago the mandate was for health reform.

[HughMoran]

44. Go for it dude

:rofl:

[ProfessionalLeftist]

45. You'll nix nothing Orange Ceasar...Obama will veto

your bullshit.

Yes. Get to work further destroying the country. The likes of you are the reason it's in the mess it's in.

[Devil_Fish]

46. Why is it that when dems win it's a call for bi-partisanship, but when repubs win it's a mandate?NT

[tinymontgomery]

47. I know this won't be popular

take away all government health care, no part d, no buying those electric wheel chairs, no meds, no money for college and guess what dem senate, dem house, dem pres and bring it all back and we are in for a long time. Sometimes it takes pain to see what you did. This would affect me and my family but sometimes you have to use the shock doctrine.

[barb162]

48. The Republicans were not given a mandate; they were given a gift.

They will be wise to not interpret these election results as a mandate. They're already getting pretty arrogant today. Just wait til they introduce more tax breaks for the multi-millionaires, go after Social Security, etc. Their support will evaporate fast.