"Ed Show" Panel Discusses How Democrats Are Blocking Democrats On Health Care Reform (VIDEO)

Ryan Lizza of the New Yorker, A.B. Stoddard of The Hill, and Christina Ballantani of The Washington Times, appeared as panelists on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" tonight. One of the issues they addressed was the difficulty in passing health care reform, particularly one that includes a public option.

While Republicans are pretty much uniformly against a public option, despite a recent poll showing that a solid majority of Americans favor some kind of government-run plan, the panel honed in on two key problems for proponents of a public option.

The first is that the uninsured, who would benefit the most from a government-run plan, are not a very powerful and vocal constituency, and despite a majority of Americans favoring a public plan, they are also afraid of losing their coverage.

The second, and more important, problem is that the Democrats themselves are divided on the issue. If, Ballantani notes, they decided to really play hardball (and could keep all their members in line), they have the votes to do what the Republicans did during the Bush administration and push a plan through Congress without Republican support.

Watch the panel debate on health care reform below.

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Comments

[patrickgarret]

I swear to God Democrats. NOT ANOTHER DIME LEAVES MY WALLET UNTIL HEALTH CARE IS REFORMED. ALL TALK. Grow a freakin' pair.

[ncmom54]

Well Said! The Democratic Party could be more persuasive but obviously it receives enough support from the Corporate Health Industry to stay quiet.

They'll not receive another donation from me if this reform isn't substantia­l...

http://www.democrats.org/contact.html

[patrickgarret]

Well thank God Republicans taught us about "RECONCILIATION". Obama will use it. Trust me. Let's hope we have 50.

[GolfingDevil05]

As was said on West Wing, Democrats don't need an opposition party. We do fine all by ourselves.

How much more courage do you need when a poll tells you that 3 out of 4 Americans (and nearly 9 out of 10 Democrats) are behind a public option? This is ridiculous, and it's another sign that Harry Reid has to go.

[Freesia2]

Preach it.

I'm an Independent and this is one of the reasons why. I'll swear, the Democrats have everything right now. Majority, a popular President, a political system that been shot full of adrenaline and an opposition party that makes fools of themselves daily when they're not just flat out revolting people.

And here we go again. I sweated bullets during the election because I figured Obama didn't have to worry about the GOP. It would be his own party bringing him down.

Throw Harry to the dogs and speaking of which drag some blue dogs into a back room and scare the pants off of them and get on with this. It's like they're afraid of success. Get them some therapy or a shot of Dutch courage or a hickory switch. But get them in line.

[patrickgarret]

Time for some real hard core politics. The DNC needs to threaten to cut them off. They need thousands of phone calls. They need to conform to public opinion since we are a Republic and they REPRESENT us. 75% want a public option. NOW.

[ncmom54]

My husband left the Democratic Party when W won a second term... He likes being an Independen­t... gets to choose which primary to vote in.

Health Care ... is the Democrats' to loose. & if they do, they'll loose their base.

[x4faith]

The time has come for a Senate overhaul! Those old rags MUST GO!

It's up to us...

[x4faith]

Keith Olberman was right on tonight by stating that if the dems don't have the votes needed to pass health care. WE NEED NEW DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION!

[TJCole]

A Faux Health Care Reform could be worse than no reform at this time, since we could be stuck with it for decades...­!

We need to Nationalize Health Care..

Major Energy

Our Corrupt Banks and AIG

Our Major Airlines

The High Speed fiber optic cable network would be a good idea was well..we are paying way too much for such a vital asset..and it is still way too slow compared to other more advanced nations...

[DesertRat09]

If the US nationalizes health care, then where will the Canadians be able to go for those things not covered by their nationalized plan? You ought to ask the 60 year olds in Britain with cancer, heart disease, etc., and are deemed "too old" to qualify for treatment how much they like socialized medicine..­.......

[Melissa]

If US nationalizes health care where will we go for those things not covered by our nationalized plan? No thanks, they need to find a better plan and not rush it through congress so we won't know the details until it is too late..

[socalgal38]

what's the matter getting a little bored on buzz up? We don't give thumbs up for stupid comments here. LOL

[patrickgarret]

Nice Republican talking point. Yah, every country in the industrialized WORLD does it this way because it sucks. Do you know a Canadian? An englishman? I DO. They wouldn't trade our system FOR THE WORLD. ASK THEM.

[kylie]

From most sources, the Canadians are happy with their health care.
The "Scare Tactic Squad" is out in droves.
People need to let their Senators and Reps know we do not want any watered-down, Republican/Blue Dog Democrat pumped up excuses and lame "nothing accomplished legislation", that has been going on for the past twenty-nine years.
When Obama said, "The American people are going to have to actively participate in political campaigns to achieve sweeping change", he was Not Kidding.
Call/write/e-mail your state's politicians!

[Rharte]

This is getting ridiculous. These "Dems" are getting a bit too comfy and LAZY. They definitely want to see Obama sweat and do the heavy lifting.

Republicans seem to have more power as a minority than Dems controlling both house and senate. Even the white house...

[kylie]

Unfortunately, The Republicans have pushed through the most horrendous "legislation" that always favors profits over people.
They removed the caps from health care, the quality from health care and made it "A For Profit" venture that has given us the unfair, expensive, elitist "system" we are now burdened with.
It is now up to the people who voted some of these political "permanent vacationers" into office, to make sure they know they will have no help in primaries unless they start representing the people who put them in office and not the corrupt "dollars for favors" insurance companies!
Vote out the Compromised Democrats.
The Republican Party has already been infiltrated and bought--that, too, needs to be cleaned up.

[zyxt]

lets have an Iran type of protest for Health Care.
Take it to the streets in every city.
We don't have to go the French way and cut off their heads but we can vote out
BOTH sides of the debate-- these people all have good health care that we pay for but will not give us the same--
'let them use cake for their health care'

[x4faith]

As I stated over the weekend...­Let's do this! Should we PROTEST THE DAY OF THE VOTE or THE DAY AFTER THE RESULTS? I say the day of the vote. AND we should BLOCK them in until they delivery for the people!

[ECB]

Big ED - MY MAN !

[Lilith33]

And we were expecting maybe lassie?
Moderate dems are repug light.....­...see bill Clinton and Nafta...Hi­llary and walmart...­Chealsey works for a hedge fund for gods sake and Bill is pallin around with the Bushs.Libs are the only ones who care for working people and yet people keep voting for the corporate harlets.Bu­t libs also want to help the poor....on­e mustnt do that.For all you "dems" who voted for Reagan ....you really showed those welfare queens huh?

[FTP]

Eddie is a real - Idio - He wants Indian-Health-Care for everybody - Doesn't he think there is enough killing's across these place already - now he wants to bring the masses to them - Right they give yopu pancriantits - with massive doses of metforman - then turn around call you a drunk and leave you in pain for over a month - Guess they was overwelmed why didn't die.

[ECB]

You sound like you are on DR*UGS.

[jlab]

I agree: guess they was overwhelmed why didn't die. Guess they was overwhelmed why didn't die, indeed.

[Grannyover70]

Under no circumstance will we accept "the Democrats don't have the votes". So they may
as well quit throwing that out there and they better start saying "we can get the votes with or without the Republicans". The Senate Democrats better begin to understand that getting the money to run for office is only part of the battle, they have to get the votes of Democrats, not the corporations. The poll shows that 89% of Democrats want a health plan with a Public Option, but we know that single payer would be even better. We need brave fighting Democratic Senators, not whiners.

[LemonMeringue]

Write Ed here: nbcuni.combcuni.com

[lazercat2008]

I am a fan of Lemon Meringue.

[LemonMeringue]

Ditto

[LemonMeringue]

I would like to send every member of the House and the Senate the wonderful movie

The Girl in the Cafe

But I'll bet their Netflix bill is paid for by my tax dollars too, somehow, so they can rent it themselves.

Watch it though, it is EXTREMELY relevant right now and good watching besides.

[Garybot]

One of my favorite movies - but, sorry, I don't understand why is it so relevant right now?

[LemonMeringue]

The G8 year after year protected special interests for their countries and ignored poverty and starvation, but somehow that girl made them see. Remember how it ended?

[LemonMeringue]

Democrats have the chance to do something good for everyone, something right, and in so doing to buy themselves a permanent majority.

They are squandering it for contributions amounting to about half a million apiece.

[MMJones]

There'll be revolt if Dems do not vote in a public option. Keep emailing your senators and the White House, repeatedly. Obama has to have an iron fist, because the Senate is not getting the message...