Kerry: Kennedy Would Compromise If Necessary

WASHINGTON — A leading Democratic senator says the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy would have been ready to compromise on overhauling health care, but negotiations had not yet reached that point.

Sen. John Kerry says Kennedy would have fought for a public option in President Barack Obama's attempt to reform the health care system, but would opt for compromise if and when Democrats got to that point.

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah says there is no disagreement between Democrats and Republicans over reforming health insurance regulation. However, Hatch says that the people of the United States have been clear that they do not want a "government-run" health system.

The senators appeared Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

Comments

[RTIII]

THisIsBullSHIT - as we already know that Kennedy turned down capitulation with Nixon.

Oh, you think you said "compromise"? Not capitulation? ...Tell us what you REALLY mean!

No, we are not falling for it - the !diot who wrote the piece means capitulation as there is presently no one to _negotiate_ with - they are all - the Republicans are all - trying to extract concessions _without_ giving anything in return, and thus, it's NOT negotiation. (How Stup!d do you have to be, anyway, to think that what's going on is _negotiation?!_ Oh, Ooops! Sorry, the Pres - Mr. Obama - thinks it's Negotiation! Oh, sorry then!)
.

[Freemind42]

Here's the kicker, IT'S NOT NECESSARY! If the Democratic leadership could get the party in line we wouldn't have to compromise with any of the conservatives (both Republican and DINO's).

[Gregory Kauffman]

Don't start that DINO nonsense. The Democratic Party is the big tent party these days and it's what makes us stronger. There have ALWAYS been multiple factions within the party, whether it's the Dixiecrats or the Blue Dogs. Either way, I'd rather have the majority than a smaller, ideologically homogeneous party.

[gschear]

Were that it were true that it was only ideological difference.
I tend to the cynical view that money is power and that both "parties" serve a single corporate constituency as nobles in a corporate feudal system in which you and I are merely serfs.
When we act up and seek redress of grievances our lords saddle up in full armor and ride out to meet "Longshanks" and his lieutenants. Pleasantries are exchanged, @sss's are properly kissed and the nobles ride back to their constituents loudly assuring them (us) that the day is won! For only a slight increase in tribute protection will be provide for all. If we refuse penalties and interest will apply. Offer cannot be refused and is valid and required in all 50 states.

[BBackSoon]

If by compromise we are talking at what income levels the specifics kicked in, sure we should compromise. But what the Republicans are asking for is gutting any real kind of reform.

See Rachel Maddow’s Pizza Order analogy. It was spot on. I want pizza but not with any toppings and no cheese and no crust and no sauce, but I want pizza.

[lightningbolt]

So now everyone gets to say what Kennedy would have said or done? Kerry is working for the insurance companies trying to get the public option out of the picture.

[rosiebond007]

I don't think so for a minute - and nor do many others.

He would ask for everything he wanted and might come down a little to compromise.

The trouble is .... the DEMS need to ask for the whole deal and only change much later.

Why do we even need the Republikans - lets vote in a cast iron KennedyCare bill and make it work within a few years. Get automated medical charts and meds up and running on a personal card.
Enforce hospitals and doc to have "readers" to use the correct info.

Let's get going here .....

[logicalchoice]

I watched "In his own words" about Ted Kennedy and i didn't see him once shout about our need to "compromise". I saw him fighting tooth and nail for "medicare for all". The false represenatatives are starting to come out of the woodwork. Thanks for letting us know who you are, Kerry!

[Level7]

Exactly!

[Areyoume2]

I think Kerry would have to prove that Kennedy would have 'accommodated' the powers pushing back. . A way to achieve that is to get a Memorial Band of Democratic Brothers (Dodd, Biden, Feinstein, the Clintons, Kennedy Family Members, etc) to decide what the American people could live with. ( I want to say Obama, but he's BUSY with every other thing just now). We've already been bulldozed by the Republican Family (mob) - America relies on our courageously taking that bull by the horns.

Nobody (Joe Public) is pretending to even KNOW what's in the Health Care Bill. That''s YOUR job (as oru spokespeople and legislators). By voting, we trust you to take care of us (we don't mind that you take lobbyist money - but we always expect yo9u to do right by US first, them secondly., while taking care of business. We trusted Kennedy to do that for us. Can we trustr YOU?

[Deruist]

Kerry. Sigh. I wish he would just shut up.
I don't believe for a moment that Kennedy would have compromised something so important to him.

[mongoose63124]

apparently you knew him better right?

[maggienow]

Both the Dem and the Repugs are going to use the same reason for passing their healthcare bill and that is 'it's what Teddy would have done'. Listen to those closest to Ted Kennedy if you want to know what Teddy would have done!

[Yurdelite]

Time to write the WH again. I do not believe Ted Kennedy would negotiate away the public option. His committee (HELP) chaired for him by Chris Dodd has a bill that includes the public option. I do not believe these Democrats will not stand up to the ridiculous lies the republican.ts are spreading. President Obama needs to understand that the republican.ts do not want him to succeed at anything especially health care. Does he not see that they are a bunch of pitiful lying schemers who will do and say anything to bring down his presidency.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

[anothervoice2]

The question is did Obama really want strong health care reform? Why did the Dems take single payer off the table up front ?- a poor bargaining tactic. Why did Obama call the public option a sliver of reform right in the midst of the media drama of the rethug mobs at the town halls? That was a poor message, and showed that he was at least waffling on the compromise position. Then he praises Grassley right after Grassley mischaracterizes the bill as having death panels. And he seems to depend entirely on the gang of six - representing about 3% of the US population - to define the bill. Why weren't the Progressives in Congress given a stronger cheer by the President?

It may be that Obama himself is bought, and this whole charade was an excuse, to point fingers at failed bipartisanship (absurd notion when one party just says no to everything) and the GOP mobs. Hopefully this is incorrect - but the facts all add up and point to diluted health care reform - that will include a mandate (windfall for HMOs) - and little cost relief for the US public.

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=H03&cycle=All&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U

Here is hoping that the tide will change, and that the voices of the electorate will register with Congress and the WH next month, and that we get true health care reform.

[RRoadrunner]

DONE!

[brooklyncitizen]

Kerry is full of it.

Obama's base, the progressives are getting doubly screwed- We called for universal single payer health care and an end to the war.All because he and the Democrats lack sufficient spine to get anything of merit done. We will simply stall for the next 3 years rather than thrive .

[mongoose63124]

ding ding ding!!!

[RRoadrunner]

This is a bunch of BS. Are the Democrats now going to use Ted Kenney’s death as an excuse to back pedal on HCR? I saw Bill Moyer’s give a very insightful interview to Bill Maher in which he suggested that the democrates get some “backbone’ and fight for unviversal health care or loose the fight in the process. I agree with him, this idea that we need to compromise is nonsense. If they want to honor Senatoor Kennedy then do what he fought so hard to get true “Healyh Care for All”.

[nick1936]

Just because Kerry has no spine and is a wimp he thinks everyone else is like him god when are the Dem's going to get some leaders

[dmsdzinr]

WATCH! As always the Democrats will CAVE into the Republicans, even though the Dems are in POWER
(they have NO spines) And Americans will get a bill SO WATERED DOWN, that it, in essence, will be meaningless!!! Kennedy would have STOOD HIS GROUND!

[batguano]

Kerry had a chance to fight for ideals and justice when his election was stolen but, alas, he apparently did not have the integrity or gumption, and it seems he still does not. Teddy Kennedy fought for health care, among other things, for all Americans all his career, and for Kerry to sell his dream out in this manner is shameful but par for quisling Dems.

We ALREADY have compromised on single payer, and the "public option" is the compromise; we won't "compromise" (capitulate) any further! Big Pharma, the Insurance Industry and the billing "industry" parasites are working day and night to see that our nation will not get true reform and join every other industrialized nation on Earth, but continue with business as usual and sky-high medical costs for Americans. We must keep fighting as Teddy would have, for single payer HR676, and cross the public option compromise bridge when we get to it, not now John!. We have the entire Repub machine along with the industry lobbyists and the wing-nuts; we don't need any more weak-kneed Dem sellouts telling us to give up and that Teddy would have! We still have the voice of conscience working for us in the person of Dennis Kucinich, among many others, who will not sell us out. HR3200 is a sell-out! Work for HR676!

http://www.hr676.org/5.html

http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/legislation/hr-676-conyers/united-states-national-health-insurance-act