Kennedy's Return Compelled 9 Republicans To Switch Medicare Votes

Regarding yesterday's passage of the Democrats' Medicare bill: If there was ever question about what force of nature compelled nine Republicans to switch their "no" votes of last month to "yes" votes yesterday, they've been put to rest. Here's a hint: It wasn't because they like the legislation.

There was some early speculation that ads run by seniors groups the physicians' lobby over the July Fourth recess might have convinced the Republicans to join 129 of their House colleagues and support the bill. But according to today's New York Times, all nine flip-floppers voted against the bill yesterday in the early stages of the vote. (Senators have a 15-minute window in which to vote, and change votes if necessary.) It was only after the surprise arrival of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), who hasn't visited the Capitol since being diagnosed with brain cancer nearly eight weeks ago, that the Republicans recognized the bill had the final vote it needed for passage. Rather than going down with the ship, the nine switched their nays to yeahs.

So, technically, these nine supported the bill. But if they think the physicians' lobby didn't watch the process closely, they should probably think again.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[UnbiasView]

Thanks again Ted, the new Medicare plan included a nice clause that would make it possible to save billions with competitive bidding . . . looks like we'll still be wasting money on products 10x the market cost if they put them up for a bid.

[Janney]

Thank you Ted Kennedy for being the voice of the American poor, the afflicted and us Seniors. You show compassion, unselfishness and determination to help the less fortunate. I pray God will grant you good health and a long, long life. We appreciate you and admire your strength. Take care and God bless you and your family.

[UnbiasView]

LOL, now you are drinking the kool aid.

[Zoolie]

McCain should look up the word "HERO", where he would see a picture of Kennedy. A true hero puts the needs of others first. If he votes, at all, McCain votes against everything benefiting veterans, elderly, women's issues, education, or anything that doesn't benefit the "upper class".

[beboy]

Did he threaten to drive them over a bridge?

[Susanfrom29]

Had to go back forty years to find something to criticize? Pretty pathetic.

[beboy]

Death is kind of permanent.

[Brillig]

"Conservatism" today means:

- selfishness
- uncaring of people poorer, uglier, older
- abuse of the poor, the widowed, the orphan
- a lack of charity

In short, the Conservative today is sending every one to HELL via the evangelicals, or sending ABORTIONISTS to hell, or reserving the right to KILL others ( who are immigrants)!

This is Christianity? Give me the SINNING democrats like Tedddy, any day!

[oldwiseone]

Liberal is for people

Conservativism is for business

Liberal regulates business

Conservative regulates people

[UnbiasView]

Conservatives regulate people?

[Senella]

As a disabled American that worked for the State of Florida for 26 years prior to becoming disabled and one who relies on Medicare, thank you Sen. Kennedy for all you do !

[lovethesinner]

It's still possible that in that moment, faced with an example of their own mortality, they were forced through that Republican bubble of indifference to humanity and decided to do the right thing.

Unlikely, I admit, but... Ted Kennedy is like a force of nature in that room.

[brendanm]

I haven't been able to find a list of the nine who switched their votes. Does anyone know who they are or where I can find a list?

[DaOne]

9 blind rats, see how they run.

[soithoni]

I am so proud of this man.

None of us is perfect.
We all fall short in the eyes of God. We are not the Diety, we are just human.
And none of us is perfect.

But some men rise above others, and bend down, and take the hands of those less gifted, less endowed with brains or wealth, less healthy, and these men put those less fortunate on their shoulders to give them a boost... and let them see what they themselves see, let them see the possibilities of their lives, let them loose of the binds of sickness or poverty or ignorance... they are the freers of the souls. And in so doing, they free all of us to live our lives freer.

I am so proud of this man.
He makes my heart sing.

[orangepetal]

Get Well Senator Kennedy. Thank you for caring about the needs of Americas seniors.

[kellygrrrl]

"Rather than going down with the ship, the nine switched their nays to yeahs."

The RNC Rats will be scrambling soon

[ErnestineBass]

Listen closely and you can hear the sound of their tiny claws skittering across the Titanic's deck.

[wm1066]

The filter tells me I already posted this so will see if this gets in.
"Loved your visual"

[kellygrrrl]

you can also smell their urine-soaked nests

[loax]

Too bad the rest of the communistic Republicans couldn't do the same and stand up to the lobbiests.

[Grunty1]

Don't misunderstand their change. It wasn't because they suddenly saw the light.
It was the the bill was going to pass WITHOUT them, and they didn't want to be tallied on the NAY side of a good bill that actually passed.

[Meggie]

American "whiners" must pay attention to what happened yesterday! The Republican party was going to slash medicare, and doctors were going to avoid treating Americans who use medicare as they cannot pay their medical bills and would have no support from this "government entitlement" program.

They owe their ability to find a doctor today to a Democrat who came to work from his sick bed to see that they had assistance if they become ill and need a doctor.

They need to vote accordingly in November. The Republicans do not have your best interests in mind, voters, and you'd be smart not to buy into any of their distractions and nonsense. Otherwise you won't be just whiners, you'll be ignorant easily led whiners.

[olivia]

Thank you Senator Kennedy.

I hope we have you around a long time. America needs you.