Dean: GOP Tactics Are Bad for America

[cal04]

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/22/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6128419.shtml
video at link

In the wake of the Republican candidate's victory in Massachusetts in what GOP strategists are describing as a "no" vote on the Democrats' health care reform bill, Howard Dean said today that he still believes a bill can pass before November — and disputed Republicans' claims that they have been shut out of the process so far.

Dr. Dean, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and governor of Vermont, told "Early Show" anchor Harry Smith that the movement to reform health care is not dead, because the American people want it. "What they didn't want was something that was written by the insurance industries," he said, "and this is a very Washington-centered proposal that finally came over to the House.

"So I think they'll try again, put something in there that the American people want. The American people really do want us to do something about this."

Dr. Dean said he backs running the House and Senate bills through reconciliation, rather than starting from scratch, but he was not optimistic that Republicans would contribute to the process. "John Boehner, the minority leader, that they weren't going to vote for anything that we proposed," he said. "Republicans are using this as a tactic to kill health care to embarrass the president. That's not the right thing to do for America — America does need some real insurance reforms.

[w4rma]

1. Why can't Obama say things like this? (nt)