Michael Steele On Why GOP Didn't Pursue Health Care Reform In The Past: 'We Tripped Ourselves Up" (VIDEO)

Michael Steele admitted on Tuesday night that Republican lawmakers failed to do anything about reforming the health care system when they were in control of Congress and the White House.

Asked by Fox News' Greta Van Susteren why nothing was done when the GOP "owned the House, the Senate, the White House," Steele answered simply:

"I don't have an idea... That's one of the flaws of the past, that we tripped ourselves up . We had a perfect opportunity even when we didn't have control of the House and Senate during the early days of Bush first term to at least put in place our imprimatur on the health care debate But that's the past."

Steele also said that he applauded the administration for "putting this on the table" but that he disagreed with the particulars put forward by the administration.

WATCH:

The question has become a bit of a theme for Van Susteren - on Monday night, she asked Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn the same question.

Coburn also blamed his own party for not taking the initiative:

"Now, I don't know why the leadership -- I came to the Senate in 2005. I can't account for the five years before that. But the fact is, is they didn't take advantage of any of the opportunities they had to make big changes, and they could have done this and they should have, but they didn't."

Comments

[sandboxreport]

Breaking: Michael Steele's Violent Past - http://sandboxreport.com/?p=457

[sippewissett]

The GOP didn't do anything about health care while they were in power of the House and Senate and Presidency because they were otherwise distracted by six forces:
1. They thought they'd be in power forever and could do 'something' when they got around to it.
2. They don't care if Middle America has affordable insurance. They know they have one for life from having been elected. That's all that counts.
3. They were busy arguing for and then fighting a war they invented.
4. They had no health care vision...e­xcept cost-cutting.
5. They were busy pushing the pharmaceutical plan to please the lobbyists who wrote it.
6. They were busy wooing insurance and pharma industry monies for their re-election.

[DestinationsUnknown]

Report Reveals Cheney Misled About "Trained Interrogators"

This is what they like- this is what they were doing for our country

[skullman]

"I don't have an idea..", finally a republican speaks the truth.

[LiberalForever]

They DID do something.

They required the drug companies to NOT EVEN HAVE TO BID on drugs used by Medicare.
They forbid Medicare to get drugs from Canada at 1/10 the price.
They cost Medicare billion and billions more dollars.

That's doing something. The repugnancy way.

[peacegurl48]

Flaws of the "PAST", is he kidding?

[bazokbros]

The reason Steele is admitting that Republicans didn't do anything is because he and most Republicans don't care.

[glorysong]

you are so right.

[piadog]

They didn't do anything to reform Healthcare because the don't care about healthcare.
They care only about profits and power.

[Veratruth]

I thought they did do something. Seniors are now paying for DRUG Insurance which began in 2006 ... 2006. My premiums have increased 66.5% for DRUG Insurance ALONE.

[dawlishgal]

And Republicans prevented Medicare from bargaining with drug companies for bulk rates. Other countries who have single payer can and do do this. We are forced pay way more for American drugs and for medical insurance than other countries do, and we get less for our money. How "unAmerican is that!" And Republicans have the gall to call Democrats 'traitors" or "Anti-Amer­ican."

[oldngrumpy]

Republicans can't focus on issues and facts because they will be exposed if they do. They have no choice but to deal in lies and misrepresentations. If their "base" ever caught on to the unAmerican motives of the party they would do much worse than switch. They would storm the castles with torches and pitchforks and M-15s.

[warlover]

Republicans, At least half of the American people want healthcare reform with a public option, the private healthcare insurance companies don't, So theres your choice Americans or insurance companies and if you pick insurance companies than you can just kiss my big 1 2 "

[John Horner]

And should the GOP ever regain power, they would still do bupkis!

[mech126]

but you must admit that they are good at lining their pockets with our money, they are good at that

[Rope-A-Dope]

GOP still has an opportunity to add to the debate. Well...we'­re waiting.

[mech126]

and waiting and waiting and waiting, well you get right!

[Omentum]

Steele

Doesnt he remind you of Fiddla in the movie Roots.

Looks like he's playing the role for the GOP.

Pluck away Fiddla. Make em happy

[AtheistVegGirl]

Yep, everyone wishes the Bush gubment fixed healthcare when they had the chance (myself included), but since they didn't, now we're doomed to what this administration has up its ruinous sleeve.
Is it too late to impeach Obama? Let's hope not.

[SatinPanties]

Oh, how cute.

[bruin1954]

On what grounds?

[Veratruth]

They didn't because they didn't want to NOT doom us.

[oldngrumpy]

This post certainly doesn't mesh with your profile. Are you p 1$$e d off at Obama for not promoting single payer, or have you gone over to the dark side?