DeMint: GOP Should Vote Against Bill Without Public Option (AUDIO)

Even if a public option is removed from the Senate's health care legislation, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is urging all Republicans to kill the bill -- lest they help "create a monster."

The South Carolina Republican, famous for referring to health care reform as President Obama's "Waterloo," told conservative radio host John Gambling that the GOP would be foolish to agree to even major concessions in exchange for support.

"[The Senate] may pass something that's much more benign, that doesn't have a government-run plan in it, and they say they fixed it," DeMint said. "The problem is that bill will meet Nancy Pelosi in a conference where they really rewrite the whole bill. We can't let anything pass in the Senate, otherwise we're going to create a monster."

DeMint notably put the odds of health care's passage at 50 percent and predicted that, at this current juncture, only one or two Democrats "might help [the Republicans."

"Sen.] Joe Lieberman is speaking up," DeMint said. "He is not going to accept a government option."

The radio interview was picked up initially by the progressive watchdog group, Media Matters.

In one telling exchange, the conservative South Carolinian offered an implicit rebuke of House Republicans for aiding legislation's passage by allowing an anti-abortion amendment to be added to the bill.

"We have got to be careful not to do what the pro lifers did in the House," said DeMint. "The pro life Democrats said, 'O.K., if you fix this we will vote for it.' And then the Republicans went along and helped them pass a pro-life amendment and that helped them pass a bill."

"We have got to make sure we don't say the whole game is the public option and if they take it out in the Senate then five or ten Republicans jump on it and vote for it," he added. "There is a lot more wrong with this bill than just a government run plan [being] in it."

The senator's political calculus, at least as it pertains to the last point, does seem flawed. While a handful of moderate Republican senators may, in fact, jump on board a reform package that was purged of a government-run option, the likelihood is be that it wouldn't help chances of passage. Several progressive Democrats have indicated that they would vote against legislation that didn't include a public plan.

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Comments

[rickkkkk]

They used to call them lawmakers. What do you call these speedbumps on the road to progress? Look at it this way, all the Repug seats could be filled with monkeys and the result would be the same only more civilized.

[ncmom54]

elephantshit... and too much of the country is covered in it.

[annie g]

I can't for the life of me understand why the Right is so adamant about the abortion issue in the healthcare bill. It seems to be another excuse not to pass healthcare. The pro life agenda is only concerned about the fetus and not the child after it is birthed. It is as if these people seem to think that a fetus and an infant are two separate entities.
Besides, If the taxpayer can pay the salaries of people like DeMint, I do believe abortion should be covered by the government.

[ncmom54]

I don't understand it either... DeMint & GOP, Catholic Bishops, Stupak & blue dogs are pretty much saying to the thousands of Americans who die every year (including veterans) due to lack of health care...that their lives are not significant.

I'd really like to hear them explain their position on how they can hold moral convictions for one group while deeming the rest to be dispensable.

[ilse]

DeMint,

Bend over so I can give you a good hard kick in the --- and then turn around so I can give you a good hard kick in the -----. Republicans have been in office doing "nothing" and they're getting paid for it. Republicans opposing a public healthcare plan certainly is not going to make them more popular. Opposing healthcare just in hopes of breaking president Obama and making it his Waterloo is idiotic. They need to think about the people they represent instead of being selfish and self absorbed.

[Vetinari]

Don't confuse the GOPers now, just stick to the plan and tell them to oppose anything. Its definitely the best way to solve all the problems in the country!

[Cil]

I am just hoping and praying, that a few Republican Senators will follow
the example set by Congressman Cao...........Won't it be great, if just a
few Republican Senators were to come to their senses, and display a
bit of HUMAN COMPASSION, and vote according to the WISHES OF
THEIR CONSTITUENTS instead of the NO MENTALITY of their party??

[zest]

Time for the senate to cut the repubs free and get on with the peoples business.

[ByersL]

He's cwazy. Why do we report what he says anymore?

[SFPD]

Yeah, you are right. We all should stick our fingers in our ears and yell la la la la when anyone does not follow the Obama/Eman­uel/Axelro­d party line talking points.

[CarolinaYankee]

He is just afraid if he does not ACT real conservative, S.C. GOP will censure him too.

[Fotios]

He doesn't even follow GOP logic anymore. He's jumped onto the Limbaugh/Beck/Palin bandwagon and is supporting candidates to run against moderate GOPers.

I'm going to ignore him, but I'm glad he's in the GOP helping to drive the party into the hardliner fringe ditch.

[Safire]

And why would anyone with a brain want you and your kind back in power? You have absolutely nothing to offer. Are you a thinking reasoning adult, or a high school bully? You are a disgrace.

[gray375]

Safire you answered your own question. He's from SOUTH CAROLINA

[Safire]

Hey Gray... I know. Sometimes it just feels good to let it out. I am so sick and tired of their narrow point of view. I would welcome their participation in forging a solution, but today is like yesterday, and yesterday like the day before. I once believed that our system is the greatest in the world. It has been hijacked in a very corrupt way. :-)

[FoonTheElder]

The party of no solutions has a solution for health care. It is to continue the same failed system that we have had for decades.

These fiscal conservatives think it's fine for Americans to pay the highest health care tax in the world as long as the $1 trillion in annual waste keeps going towards their big corporate buddies who pay for their campaigns.

The party of the 21st century robber barons is out there to assure that being 50 years behind the rest of the world in health care isn't enough. They won't be happy until we are back in the 19th century.

The party of right to life has no problem with 45,000 people dead each year from a lack of health insurance.

[Patriot86]

He knows this would kill the Democratic majority and it would...no matter how many Americans die, the GOP has only one goal...retake power so they can do what...nothing as usual.

[Cil]

"the GOP has only one goal...retake power so they can do what...nothing as usual".

One suggested change in your statement.­.....subst­itute.....­........"d­o what"?............
Continue TO LINE THE POCKETS of the WEALTHY. TAKE FROM the MIDDLE
CLASS and the POOR,TO MAKE THE ALREADY RICH EVEN RICHER!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!

These republicans are without a doubt, the worse examples of (in) human beings
ever!!!!!!!!!!!! They are without COMPASSION and MORALS, and these are only a
of the human qualities that they are completely lacking in.......I have absolutely no
idea why Americans tolerate this radical selfishness of their lawmakers!!!!!

[Safire]

Correct. They really could not care less. Their world of yatchs, country clubs, secret societies, and wealth is all they care about. With dems also associated with the "family, I have lost all trust in both parties. They have learned how to collude and game the system. The dem party has been infiltrated with rethug moles.

They are now so overt in their corrupt ways, it is a jaw-dropping experience. Men and women without honor. Fanned!

[Vetinari]

Well they are complaining that the US have strayed from the intent of the founding fathers... bringing us back to 19th century isn't enough...

I think they should lead the way by stop taking penicillin or other antibiotics... the founding fathers didn't have them...

[rickkkkk]

They just want their slaves back.

[babyboomerorig]

DeMint's theory is so convoluted, it might work.

Right up the intelligence level of some.

[Paisano]

This guy is the downfall of the republican party... The more he spews this nonsense...the better for dems... Wouldn't you love to run agaist him!

[gray375]

the rabid christians in SC love him

[CarolinaYankee]

Unfortunately, you are sooo right, they love this guy. Why I do not know?

[gray375]

Free my posts!

[timberdoodle]

This is what happens when the country you live in is a theocracy and not a democracy. It is difficult to understand why any sane and sensible American would want to raise their family in such an intolerant and uncaring society.

[MOCONSERVATIVE]

or why Canadians have nothing better to do than bash America

[Peter007]

I watched the program on PBS last night ( again) where they examined the nationalized health care system of other countries. Those systems appeared to work better than the American system. Some differences....A MRI in Japan costs $50. with insurance compared to $1,200 in the US. . A doctor can only charge $10. to sew up a small cut. But, 50% of hospitals in Japan are facing bankruptcy. One major point. The US spends about $600 billion a year on our military. The other countries spend less than 100 billion together. Its guns or butter. You can't have both. WE can't borrow to spend for health care because our credit card is maxed out. Guns or Butter?

[Guitar63]

Butter goes well with toast. Careful, Beck might convince them that We are toast if we go for butter!

[BillyPilgram57]

Jim DimWit stands on his convictions........ How about a rousing
golf-clap for this misguided mellon-head.