Axelrod, Grassley Spar Over Bipartisan Health Care

One of Barack Obama's chief advisers and one of the key Republicans in the Senate jousted on Sunday over what constitutes bipartisanship when it comes to health care legislation.

Appearing on ABC's "This Week," David Axelrod, the president's chief strategist, sought to allay criticism that the health care reform being pushed by the White House and Democrats on the Hill was being constructed without GOP support.

"The bill will be bipartisan by definition," said Axelrod. "The Senate health committee accepted 82 Republican amendments. Republican ideas will be included with this process, we hope it will come with Republican votes as well."

Host George Stephanopoulos followed the remark by noting: "That seems to be the new White House definition of bipartisanship." He appeared to be referencing the administration's approach to the stimulus package, which passed with no Republican support in the House but contained various GOP policy proposals.

"I don't think we should get consumed by process at a time when health care costs are -- you know they've doubled in this decade?" Axelrod responded. "Ultimately we'll bring the federal budget down. We have to act. We can't afford to get consumed in these types of Washington discussions."

That position was attacked in a latter segment on the same show when Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, scoffed at Axelrod's definition of bipartisanship.

"He said they put in 83 amendments," responded the Iowa Republican, missing the number Axelrod used by one. "Let me assure you, those were not changes in policy. Those were strictly technical. And Republicans are not going to hoodwinked into calling that a bipartisan bill."

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Comments

[mtnyogini]

Republicans had eight years during which they could have implememnted their idea of health care reform. I don't care about bipartisanship. In fact I hope the bill is totally paritisan and strong and actually starts working for the people. I am tired of govenment that panders to big business.

[goodkahuna]

Most Republican politicians got o church and listen to the teaching of Jesus. Over 50,000,000 people without health care are the Republicans full of hate, anger they cannot control. YOU BET YA

[Dystopic]

Jesus was a shill for the money changers, and has nohting to do with morality.

[magic3400]

I agree, I would even go as far as saying that without a public option I hope nothing passes.

I would rather have no bill than to have one watered down with bad Repub ideas for the sake of bipartisanship.

I don't want Repub ideas in the bill, I don't like anything that they have advocated to date.

[Progress08]

How much of this is inside baseball? Grassley has no reason to bloviate so much. Obama won Iowa hands down. During the caucus 973 people showed up in my precinct to participate. Our precinct chair stated that 4 years ago only 93 had shown up. I almost wonder if Axelrod is telling the moderate republicans (all 10 of them) to sit down and wait to defy your party.

How possibly could the Republicans handle this worse short of burning a cross on the floor of Congress.

[Bumpkins]

Forcing an up or down vote will garner more then 60 votes.....­watch the fence sitters scramble to get on board for MAIN STREET.

[goodkahuna]

Please those working for Barak Obama explain what this health care package is that i support.

I have spoken to many people, businessman, lawyers and everyone i know and they have NO clue what the hell this is about.

Please make this simple and say A.---- B.------C,­-----D. ----etc. Not 1000 pages plus it is not fair and proves that you have no way of explaining it which means you are foolish if you think any of us are going to read a1000 page plan.

Please someone take this plan and make it easy for us to understand.

[Melizzy]

The d@mn republicans won't do anything for this administration so who cares what they want? The dems need to fight tooth and nail to keep any republican amendments from being included. Screw them.

[frappe]

They're not stupid. They know, already. They just want to use the Republicans as cover so that they can cave to the special interests and lobbyists who are really the ones who are running our government and country (into the ground).

[Bumpkins]

CORRECT - that is the plan - zip for Main Street.

[wall1969]

I think the Republicans have chosen a political strategy to oppose President Obama and the Democrats no matter how beneficial the legislation might be to the country. I believe health care, with a strong public option, will tremendously benefit this nation. I think the Republicans know this and are very afraid that it will impact on their chances in future elections because one of the most important laws of our time, health care reform, will always be associated with the Democratic Party, just as Social Security is. The Republicans would rather harm our great nation then perhaps weaken their chances of future political control by supporting health care reform. That is why Limbaugh says he hopes President Obama fails.

[Bumpkins]

CORRECT - good post - look at the legislation passed, from the useless clunker bill, and the "stop the foreclosur­es........­.UP OR DOWN VOTE... we will see the true Democrats.

[frappe]

Then you have to ask, "Why are the Democrats so insistent upon being "bipartisan" when that they know that the Republicans are dead set against any sort of public option? I think the Democrats fully understand this dynamic. The problem is that many of these same Democrats, like the Republicans, have taken enormous sums of money from the associated special interests. This has, in reality, corrupted the system to such an extent that it is so very, very difficult to get any sort of real reform or solutions passed through congress. The special interests only want the perpetuate the "status quo". They, in effect, are locking the steering mechanism of the U.S. government in one direction only, making it impossible for our system of government to change and adapt to new situations or realities.­..This is very, very bad, indeed.

[jolebo]

I think you are absolutly correct.

[Budokan]

excellent point

[littlechuckie]

Why is it that the rest of the world in those country's that have public option, single payer, or some flavor of public health care; are completely satisfied with their systems? While all the while, 75% of our population are not satified with our insurance company controlled coverage (and representation) and the billions that they throw at keeping it in place?

[uperko]

Those who successfully pass good health care reform legislation will be the ones who go down in history with a positive legacy. The opposing will only be remembered as dysfunctional obstructionists.
We would like their help but we don't need it.

[jolebo]

I really don't care if it's bipartisan or not, just get it passed.

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

We don't need "their help" on anything
There are enough Vichy Dems to do their work for them.

[Bumpkins]

REMEMBER UP OR DOWN>>>>>START DEMANDING THAT ROUTE ENOUGH ALREADY.

[magic3400]

Vichy Dems, I like that description - very accurate.

Mind if I use it?

[Jamie Kowalski]

If a senator gets his amendment accepted but votes against the bill, their amendment should be stripped out. I know it can't really work that way, but why should we allow these amendments in the first place if this is what ultimately happens?

[RRoadrunner]

Hoodwinked? I think he meant Horn-swaggled (Yosemite Sam) :>)

[mouselion]

The president who gave the opposition what they wanted, but they didn't vote in favor because they knew it would pass anyway and they could pretend to be be against it for that element of their base they can sell their rhetoric to. Why do these GOPers make everything so convolutedly twisted?

[Lauralics]

Why should it matter? If it's great legislation then Democrat's should be eager beaver to "own it" completely. It would be high fives all around for Democrats, looking like the party of success, while Republicans would be perceived as missing the boat. Could it be they aren't confident of success? Offering Republicans a place in legislation in name only so that if the policy fails all the fingers are not pointed at Democrats only?

[Tkevan]

Having the non-union workers pay for healthcare reform, while the union workers get a free ride is hardly "great legislation", but it's to be expected from the left.

[MacQ]

Bingo!

[magic3400]

The election results have been completely misread by the White House. Democrats did not vote to give Republicans the power to veto OUR ideas after having wrecked the country for the last eight years.

Why the President continues trying to squeeze blood from the Repub turnip is beyond me. I don't care that Repubs don't agree with Democratic priorities, Repub positions are completely meaningless because so few people are even listening to them anymore.

When a coach is fired the new coach doesn't say that the old coach is going to continue have input and he doesn't ask the old coach for approval to make changes that will get the team back in the winners circle. Why in the world would any self-respecting Democratic give Repubs ANY power at all to shape this debate...t­hey didn't ask out opinion when they were in charge and they don't much care about whats best for the country now.

Repubs had their chance and blew it, it's time for Obama to lead like he is in charge and not worry about the other side of the aisle.

[frappe]

My feelings exactly. Well said!

[ginny1920]

I agree. I don't think Obama should stop listening to ideas from all points of view, but I don't think he should compromise simply in the name of bipartisanship, either.

[littlechuckie]

Well said...

[Lauralics]

Yep, that's right, let Democrats own their policies completely.

[magic3400]

You say that like we are scared of OUR policies..­.not!

Unlike Repubs, we have a model and track record for success (remember a guy named Clinton). Repubs have a track record for failure and job loss, so who in their right mind would listen to them.

Would you put your money in the hands of a financial planner that had filed for bankruptcy? Well, that is the Repub Party, bankrupt financial planners trying to tell us how to invest our money.

[Dystopic]

yup, which will lead to permanent wilderness status for the rethugs.

[MacQ]

They don't want their votes. They don't need them. They want them to share the blame.

[timberdoodle]

When elected officials make public speeches about the health care systems in other countries and lie in these speeches to scare the American public then they should be brought down by the people.

Every civilized country in the world has universal health care for their citizens as a human right.

All of these latter nations are ranked ahead of America on all but 3 issues world wide.

America is the richest country in the world although less than 5% have all the money.
America has the highest infant mortality rate in the world of any industrialized nation.
America has the strongest and most expensive military in the world where the bulk of the tax dollars go rather than going to help Americans.

[Tkevan]

Infant mortality is not a good indicator of healthcare. There is no standard for reporting, so an infant in distress who's allowed to die during birth may not get reported, where one who is treated, but still dies is reported.

[JuliaRain]

"lie in these speeches to scare the American public then they should be brought down by the people."

They didn't with the non existent W MDs. And the vilifying of Canada is worrisome.

[sueinmn]

The bipartisan support Obama has in not with the senate, it is with the people themselves. Thats all that matters! The party of no will sit on the sidelines obstructing regardless of what Bill comes to the vote. They want no part of this administration or the process. They need to be elected OUT OF OFFICE and republican voters need to get serious about their representation. Repubs along with Dems voted for Obama because the alternative was dangerous to this country. If we have a super majority in the Dems, then take the power and FIX THIS COUNTRY! The only change that needs the most assertion presently is the lobbying from big corps and pharma. They are the ones ruining this country with the help of the GOP. Past present and future, this needs to end. The lobbying has carries over to Dems and these people need to be ELECTED OUT OF OFFICE ALSO! We need our country back, the people need representation, no more corporatism that continues to control government regardless of party!

[anothervoice2]

What is the MSM's obsession with bipartisanship? The term implies compromise. The GOP has become the party of No. They are unwilling to even be at the negotiating table. Why should the Dems be asked to defend bipartisanship when the other party is not interested in talking? Get the people's work done.

[nellie]

It part of the false equivalency campaign that the media is always waging against information. They are so eager for a "debate" that they have little respect for the ideas of correct vs incorrect, or lies vs truth. They just want this illusion of "balance" that has nothing to do with reality.

The media and the congress seem to be hung up on this ideas, as if a bad idea is valid just because it is the opposite of a good idea. We all need to leave that mindset behind.

[rockyb26]

spot on

[Firbolg]

Well said. Deadly accurate.