Anthony Weiner was just bluffing on Morning Joe.

[BzaDem]

Anthony Weiner was asked point blank whether he would vote for the Senate bill as it stands if Coakley lost (widely considered to be the only way for the Democrats to enact heatlhcare reform, possibly with a side reconciliation bill later to make some changes).

He said that he would have a "very hard time" voting for it.

That is the language of someone who knows he is going to vote for the bill if his vote was decisive. It is very little different than saying "yes."

If he wasn't going to vote for it, there is a very simple answer to the question that was asked him. "No." There is no ambiguity; the Senate bill was passed a month ago and every word has been online since then. He knew exactly what was in the bill, so his hedging can't be due to not knowing how future events will unfold. He was given a chance to say "No" on an unambiguous question, and he explicitly refused to say that.

This is not to say that he won't vote no if his vote isn't needed to pass, or if it is clear that it won't pass regardless. But if his vote is decisive, I think he would definitely vote for it. I think this will apply to all Progressives who voted for the original House bill.

It remains to be seen if the Blue Dogs who voted for the House bill will also do this. But I don't foresee a problem from the Progressive caucus.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Or He Hasn't Made Up His Mind nt

[BzaDem]

2. The bill has been online a month and the potential situation has been clear for at least a week.

Anthony Weiner is a smart guy. He knows what's in the Senate bill and he knows how he feels about its relative benefits vs. the status quo. I highly doubt he is still thinking about this.

[Imajika]

3. No, he is not..

If Brown wins, healthcare reform is dead.

It's not just that the House doesn't like the Senate bill as is at all, it is that a loss in Mass will so frighten moderate and conservative Democrats that they will scatter like roaches when a bright light is suddenly turned on.

People don't seem to understand the demoralizing effect a Coakley loss would cause. Losing the "Kennedy" seat in deep blue Mass? Every democrat whom feels even the slightest bit endangered is going to back away from HCR reform.

No, Weiner is not bluffing. Not at all.

[BzaDem]

4. I am talking about whether or not Weiner (and other progressives) will vote for it

if it came down to them.

Obviously, conservative Democrats might kill the bill. It probably wouldn't be in their political interests to do so, since they already voted on the bill once, but they might.

But my point is, if it came down to the progressives, they will vote for it. (If it is going to lose due to conservatives anyway, maybe not.)

[CTyankee]

5. I am not sure. He made a pretty definitive statement about health care being dead

if Brown gets in.

Here's my thinking: perhaps this is an opportunity to pass a seemingly small reform bill for which there is support across the board. I don't know what that might be...perhaps the provision of the old HCR bill that covers children from the day it is signed. And then adding on little by little. It's very incremental but it might be the way.

OR, killing the old bill and passing by simple majority the expansion of Medicare to cover people age 55 to 64. Once people in that age get Medicare they will never give it up. And maybe going from there...

[daa]

6. "very hard time" voting for it. he caved before nt