Dodd: "Maybe Teddy's Passing" Will Spur GOP To Act On Health Care

Senator Ted Kennedy's closest friend and ally in the Senate urged Republican lawmakers on Wednesday to take a renewed and sincere interest in passing health care legislation in light of Kennedy's death.

A sorrowful Senator Chris Dodd, (D-Conn.) who is recovering from cancer himself, said that Kennedy's loss would have "tremendous" reverberations throughout the Senate. He said he hoped that one consequence would be to remind lawmakers that work needs to be done to fulfill Kennedy's lifelong goal of passing comprehensive health care reform.

"If you had a Republican president and a Republican-dominated House and Senate, they would have to deal with this issue. Their solutions might vary a little bit, but you cannot avoid this issue. And I think our Republican friends recognize and understand that. So I'm still optimistic that if temperatures can cool and maybe Teddy's passing will remind people once again that we are there to get a job done as he would do," Dodd said.

"Bring your passions to the debate. But then also remind people that you got elected in order to get a job done. And this is a job that needs to get done."

Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Dodd said that Kennedy had remained actively engaged in the current heath care debate even as he was physically failing.

"It was hard at some points for him to talk," Dodd said. "But he always knew what was going on. Every time you were with him, if he had a hard time communicating -- and he did the last month or two -- nevertheless the lights were on. He knew exactly what was going on. Two weeks ago, when he called, it was like he had never been sick. It was the darndest conversation. It was down to the details on quality and how to deal with costs. It was one of the best conversations in the past six to eight months."

Dodd said that while Kennedy "would have loved to have seen the bill enacted," he "felt confident that we are on track."

"Even though there is a lot of ranting and raving going on right now, I think things will calm down," Dodd said. "And [Kennedy's] spirit will be very much a part of it. it certainly has been over the last couple of months."

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Comments

[mtracy9]

I just signed a petition demanding that the U.S. Congress allow a public option.

Click here to sign: http://bit.ly/1MOpFS

[WalidMaaytah]

I couldn't agree more. It's perplexing to me the breadth of corruption we are seeing manifested with its ugliest form among the Republicans, and some Democrats, in the congress. It's the worst kind of corruption, where true values, morality and ethics seem to have taken a back seat and been replaced completely with greed, self-interest, hypocrisy and amorality,

It's not like it takes a genius to conclude that Obama's healthcare reform bill is best for the hanging-by-a thread, 50 million uninsured, the elderly, the veterans, while obviously being worst for the insurance companies and their hypocritical, bought-and sold congressmen, who care least about what's really is best for America.

The formula is old and very effective: spread baseless fear, with repeated-over-and over- distortions and lies, to create hard-to-understand hysteria, among the scared, uneducated, unsavvy Americans who are easily swayed by fearmongerers, and the poor slobs are sadly swallowing the bait. They just can't realize that it's not Obama who needs this bill, it's they who need it most, and if he fails, it will be their loss, and America will live to regret that they ever listened to the Republicans.

[Jj]

Sometimes stepping up means drawing a line. If the Dems can't pass healthcare reform with Obama and 60 senate seats, one way or another, they're useless.

[creolechild]

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.

[sweetnessandlight]

I'm for single payer healthcare.

The patient/consumer should be responsible for payment.

End of story , so simple even maxine waters could understand it.

[gadflypat]

It's the "dirty dog" DEMOCRATS" that must shape up. The DEMOCRATS are ALL copping out to their owners/contributors and not representing the voters who want SINGLE PAYER INSURANCE. It works for retirees and will for everybody- as long as they put the funds into a LOCKED ACCOUNT and not the GENERAL FUND.

[RealTimeHistory]

I repeat a response to a previous thread:

Hey, in an ideal world, the GOP would be watch-dogging the Health Care Reform to make sure that its provisions would address each of their objections, and to make sure the Democrats didn't give away the store. Instead, they blindly oppose a needed reform with ideological illogic and politicized scare tactics.

I'm not against the idea of a conservative philosophy... It is needed to keep us idealists grounded to reality. After all, there IS no free lunch! However, what I observe in this debate is NOT conservatism, it is obstructionist demagoguery, born of the agenda corporate- controlled , bought-and-paid-for Congress. Members of Congress need to reflect on who puts them into office, and we voters need to exercise our responsibility to be continually involved in how our government runs. The voters have given away the store by not insisting on campaign finance reforms that bar corporate contributions to campaigns.

[Principaldad]

Absolutely true. Excellent comment.

[JRsNana]

No. They aren't going to come on board for a public option or even a strong insurance reform bill. They just aren't. It's time to put together the strongest language possible in a progressive bill, pass it with 51 votes, let it happen without their intrusion, er, input. THEY AREN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR ANY REFORM BILL. How many ways and how many times do they have to tell you that? Forget the "bipartisan" bill idea. It wasn't ever going to happen.

[jeff90125]

Good plan! Ram it down everyone's throat. Let's just see how angry people will get. You think the town halls were/are a disgrace? Just wait.

It's going to be fun to watch.

[Principaldad]

You are correct. The town halls were a discrace. It has been decades since political operatives have used the kind of tactics to influence public opinion that the insurance companies and far right wing used at the town halls. I have to admit, it was a well executed amb.ush.

It reminds me of the movies "Meet John Doe" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" where the corporate interests shout down honest people and influence public opinion with strongarm tactics.

Of course, the tactics are working, just like in those movies. Just 5 months ago 70% of Americans wanted major changes to the health care system. That number has now dropped to 60%. Significant numbers of people now believe things that are proveably untrue.

Congratulations, the ultra right wing political machine still has the ability to mangIe.

Regarding "ramming things down everyone's throat", I would like to point out that "ramming" is EXACTLY what the Republicans did for 8 years.

[kebkeb]

Yes, yes, yes...the Republicans are all things bad and Democrats are pure, holy, compassionate, wonderful, empathetic, smart, capable, patriotic, etc., etc., etc.. I do have one question though (and many of my Democratic frends are asking it as well), with a majority in both houses AND their man occupying the White House, why haven't they passed health care reform? No one is stopping them? Seems to me like they're just not that confident in themselves and won't make a move without Republicans sharing the blame should something go wrong. You've got the power, SO SHUT UP AND DO SOMETHING WITH IT ALREADY - YOU COWARDS!

[1mickey1]

Senator Kennedy continually reached across the aisle to Republicans. He had close friends and allies on both sides. This is exactly what I want from our elected officials. Right now it is pitiful how the Republicans are acting. From the get go they've wanted our President to fail. They've wanted the stimulus to fail, they didn't support the most qualified appointment to the Supreme Court, and they want HC Reform to be Obama's Waterloo. Politics at its worst. It's time to reform our HC system and in so doing honor Senator Kennedy and his years of public service.

[QuietLightTraveler]

You have to realize that the psyche of the GOP is driven by fear and insecurity. They are afraid of loosing their affluence and want to protect their property- to hell with others.. They are afraid of change and hence cling to tradition. They are afraid of diversity because diversity is change and not them. They are afraid that other countries will take advantage of us or that we will loose our status as the world's superpower, hence they are military hawks. They are afraid we are not the best, hence they always make the case for American exceptionalism and never admit America could make a mistake. Doesn't it basically sound a little like cowardice ?

[SarcasticFringehead]

Great comment, QLT.
Why don't you get an avatar and post more often?

[QuietLightTraveler]

What a laugh. If the GOP is not moved by the fact that millions go without health care why does he think they would be moved by Kennedy.s death. This guy must be smoking some strong stuff when he made that comment.

[sweetnessandlight]

Conservative advocates of the free market are the REAL purveyors of compassion.

[JRsNana]

And just look where all that glorious free market activity got us! In the crapper! How that converts into compassion of any kind is beyond me.
It must be opposite day again. Lord help us.

[rxvette]

I really hope that Senator Kennedy's seat can be filled quickly with a fellow pro healthcare reform minded individual. It would be a great honor to have his name on a meaningful and successful health care bill later this year.

As a medical professional myself I've dedicated my life to trying to make people healthier and happier. I fully support the public option along with many other ideas that you can read in my article here - http://bit.ly/9QLV8

[sweetnessandlight]

It's hard to believe any medical professional advocates more govt intrusion without some sort of undisclosed payola for doing so.

[Tizhimslf]

Oh, Sweetness, there are thousands! My son's a doctor and his office has to maintain 6 staffers who do nothing but deal with unpaid insurance claims. you think this reform will result in government intusion? What do you think insurance companies do on a daily basis, and they do it for profit, i.e., deny coverage. Death panels? That is what we already have?

Furthermore, Sweetness, without some reform, our companies and our country will not be competitive in the world markets, because the U.S. is the ONLY major industrial country left with a national health care system. that in itself in absurd!

[lambdin1]

Nice if it happens. But the GOP is a closed minded, small minded, bigoted party. NEVER HAPPEN!

[Harpo1129]

It is not the Republicans but the so called Blue Dog Democrats that need to step up to the plate. We have a 60 seat majority and do not need any Republican support to get this done. Senator Dodd, you need to arm twist the Blue Dogs to get this done. The Republicans will never give the people what they need or deserve anywhy so don't waste anymore time with them.