Sen. Grassley: GOP Support For My Plan More Important Than What's In The Plan

In an interview today On MSNBC Senate Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley -- of recent Death Panel fame -- laid out what was most important in the upcoming health care reform bill: Republican Support.

"I am negotiating for Republicans," he said. "If I can't negotiate something that gets more than four Republicans, I'm not a good negotiator." When Chuck Todd pressed him on whether he'd vote for health care reform if he got a "good deal", Grassley emphasized again: "It isn't a good deal if I can't sell my product to more Republicans."

During the interview, he also dug into the public option, calling the government a "predator": "When you have the government running something, the government is not a fair competitor," he said. "The government is a predator, not a competitor."

Comments

[creolechild]

04:51 PM on 08/27/2009

If you are concerned about receiving "real" health care reform in this country, please take the time to watch a video on our current system. The video was created by Oregon physicians who are advocating for the single-payer option. The video is very informative and helped me to gain a better understanding of various aspect of health care, as we know now it.

https://www.madashelldoctorstour.com/Mad_as_Hell_Video.html

These Oregon physicians are in the process of organizing a caravan designed to inform the public about the benefits of the single-payer option. At last count they will be stopping in approximately 23 states, on their way to demonstrate in Washington. They need volunteers and our support. Please spread the word.

[usefulidiotsontheleft]

12:51 AM on 08/23/2009

Why would you want to destroy the health care system rather than fix it? ,There is and has been a much better Republican Health Care Plan that doesn't tear the country apart. It isn't discussed on this site because, well, let's just say this site has a pretty narrow view of the real world. I read theirs in a fraction of the time it took me to get through the incomprehensible mess of HR3200 whose main objective is a government power grab and nothing about health care or reform. For people that want an honest debate, they should really do some research for themselves. I found a great deal of information at:
http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/HealthCare.htm

Some of the basics are Portability so my health care belongs to me!

They have a provision to protect providers from frivolous lawsuites

Interstate competition so I can buy the coverage I want from a different state, just like I can with auto and home owner's insurance.

Medicaid idea of allowing real choice insurance plans is a good idea.

Medicare improved with coordinated care.

All in all, I could completely accept "health care reform, as outlined in the Republican Plan. I'm and Independent so I look at both sides of an issue.

[ReedYoung]

01:45 PM on 08/19/2009

If the Republican Party was anything other than corporate shills, Grassley would be talking about how to negotiate a deal that pursues the stated will of 75% of Americans for a strong public option, including 50% of Republican voters. He should be talking about how his and his Republican colleagues' alternative *ideas* for health care reform will better accomplish the People's will, not how to appease GOP Senators against the clear will of the People.

[derekw007]

12:09 AM on 08/18/2009

If the Republicans were serious about health care reform - why wasn't a plan proposed from 1969 to 1976? Or from 1981 to 1993? Or from 2001 to 2009?

Please tell me this senator. Why hasn't a single Republican Administration made an effort to insure the 45 million Americans without insurance?

[LightningJoe]

12:06 AM on 08/18/2009

The government is a "predator" for creating competition that would force insurance companies to actually compete, for a change?

They are NOT competing now, or their shareholders wouldn't be getting 20% dividends, on our pockets!

---
stop watching tv. stop believing the lies.

[unite4change]

11:29 AM on 08/18/2009

Exactly. I just save Savannah Guthrie, MSNBC reporter for the White House, and she said "Obama has always been clear on his support for a Public Option".

The MSM took a few words and make their interpretation, as usual, on what was said to create news and run with it.

When Obama talks about the cable news chatter, he's right, the MSM is always creating stories.

[spacecreep]

10:12 PM on 08/17/2009

i heard the new reason why the republicans will not support obamas health care reform.
he plan to eliminate waste out of medicare and medicaid to help pay for plan. republicans now say it will decrease health care for seniors and bankrupt the system.... i quess they are now for socialize medicine..
on saturday, obama explained that medicare will be bankrupt in 8 years because the republican paseed increases in plan withou ways to pay for it which is part of deficit each year... congress will have to vote additional monies to keep it afloat. also the republcan engaged in 2 wars with not way to pay for them because the gave the money away to the rich in a tax break... that adds to the budget deficit each year until we find a way to pay for it..... we borrowed money from the chinese to fight the muslims.,

[Ozarks]

09:36 PM on 08/17/2009

Negotiating for the Republican Party!! What a laugh, Grassley is so pwned by Big Pharma and the Insurance Companies he has contradicted himself repeatedly on the so called death panels> He voted for the same identical almost word for word Living will phrases in a Medicare Bill passed in 2004. What a lying , low down, hypocrite , sycophant, toadie of his corporate providers.

[emmasvoice]

09:34 PM on 08/17/2009

This old man is purely self serving. He doesn't give a damn about the American people. He is a disgrace.

[mikerobjohn]

09:17 PM on 08/17/2009

Obama is disappointing me now. He is not tough enough.

[unite4change]

11:31 AM on 08/18/2009

Why is Obama not tough enough? Because he doesn't do things the way you would? Let me suggest you watch and learn.


You never let everyone know what you're thinking.

[LeeCalif]

09:03 PM on 08/17/2009

Capitalism is predatory. So what ?! That's how Grassley became a millionaire.

[mikerobjohn]

08:48 PM on 08/17/2009

I want Medicare and Medicad for all.

Stop discriminating against people who are under 65. I'm going to sue the government for age discrimination.

I am looking for a lawyer to help me with my lawsuit against the govt for age discrimination in Medicare!

[HoneyRyder]

08:31 PM on 08/17/2009

Look at how old and beaten down this guy looks. They need to check him into Shady Pines

[bzb]

08:09 PM on 08/17/2009

It's time for Grassley to retire.

[unite4change]

11:33 AM on 08/18/2009

Why do they keep electing him? He was born in 1933, so he's well past the age of retirement. Why to we keep holding on to these old white men? It's obvious, they have no new ideas and just keep maintaining the status quo. Most have been in Washington so long, they feel they own the place.

[trisha08]

12:03 PM on 08/18/2009

They keep reelecting him because of the money he brings in for Iowa and those farmers know it. He has been in Washington so long and is so well connected---he can bring home the moneylike nobody else!!!!

So, while Grassley talks about smaller goverment, take a look at the federal money that he brings to Iowa.

[mharg11]

07:57 PM on 08/17/2009

The insurance companies haven't done anything fair for the consumer, so what is it that the repubs. think is so bad about giving these guys some good competition. If private insurance co. had our best interest at heart, we would have lower rates, coverage that will pay, and no pre-exiting illnesses not covered. Someone would have done it already.

[mcmchugh99]

07:47 PM on 08/17/2009

Here's one way of contacting him.

http://grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm


If I could suggest a campaign slogan, it would be "Pull the plug on Grassley"

[unite4change]

11:35 AM on 08/18/2009

It appears he only accepts mail from Iowa voters.