Tim Kaine: Those Who Back Reform Will Be Rewarded

Speaking shortly after sitting down for lunch with President Obama, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine offered one of the more explicit carrots yet to Democratic lawmakers still undecided about whether to support health care reform.

Cast a "yes" vote, Kaine said, and lawmakers will be rewarded by the activists in the party and even (he hinted) by the national Democratic groups

"The [Organizing for America] activists are incredibly engaged," Kaine told a group of reporters outside the White House. "They want to see reform happen. Maybe the way to say it is I think they will energetically respond and work very hard for those who were part of this reform effort."

Addressing the topic later, Kaine added: "The volunteers we have out there working, they are working on this because they care about health care. They care deeply about it ... That's why our activists are engaged. They want to solve a problem and they are clearly going to be very excited to work with those who they see as part of the solution."

The former Virginia Governor declined to say whether he or others would be deploying any political sticks to go along with the carrots. Instead, he offered a warning to his fellow Democrats: failure to pass legislation could seriously damage the party politically.

"I think it is a much more difficult situation for us," he said. "I think people want to see the governing party govern and with the majorities that we have and with the kind of leadership that we have I think again they are going to reward us for being problem solvers."

Asked about a growing sentiment that those lawmakers who defeat the health care should face a primary challenge in the next election -- a sentiment shared by Democratic strategist Donna Brazile -- Kaine pivoted to the observation that passing legislation would be "the right thing to do from a policy standpoint but it is also politically smart."

"I think this is going to be a positive," he said. "I think the American public rewards problem solvers. The American public rewards people who are not afraid to do the heavy lift. This isn't a little bill or a minor little thing. It is a big important one... And so I think the passage with the bill...right away the American public is going to see that and I think that is going to be very politically strong."

Comments

[Patrick Shaw]

04:52 AM on 03/18/2010

The governing in representative or parliamentary systems has always been in the form of political parties or factions. Always.

Parties are made up of individuals which share a common held set of beliefs. But they are still individuals. Even more so in this last 'Century of Me'.

A political party is a living, breathing entity...it will act in concert with those allied elements that act within the bounds of its political and social goals....it will cast out or isolate those same elements which act against its will.

Frankly I am sick of the talk of bi-partisanship.

Blue Dog Democrats....go join the Republican Party & Teabaggers and see how well you are treated in thier fantasy world.

Moderate Republicans....join the Democratic Party. You will be listened to.

Lets have a good old political fight for the future of our country.

It is only my belief but I think that the Democratic Party's belief that as Americans we aspire to live in a civilized, caring, lawful society will succeed over the Republican Party's belief that a 'free' scoiety of every man for himself is the best. Thats just swell for the corporations, insurance companies and Wall Street.

That 'free' every man for himself view of society is the policy that ended up we us giving hundreds of billions to the blood sucking banks and financial firms on Wall Street.

I want a better definition between the parties...its time for a smack down.

[research]

02:56 PM on 03/18/2010

Conservatism is the problem.

We need to return to the Liberal values of the founding fathers, both democrat, and republican.

"America, the first modern liberal state was founded, without a monarch or a hereditary aristocracy.[8"

"Liberalism first became a powerful force in the Age of Enlightenment, rejecting many foundational assumptions that dominated most earlier theories of government, "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

The US founders loved " The Enlightenment" of the people. that's part of the general welfare. You need to feed cloth and shelter people before you can educate them, and hopefully Enlighten them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism

Bush, Cheney, the GOP, the very flower of the conservative movement, shredded the constitution, bankrupted the economy, abused the truth, tortured, war mongered, let the poor die.

Obama's admin is NOT Liberal,

The DLC is conservative: "The model on which the Democratic Leadership Council was built was the Coalition for a Democratic Majority. Founded by "Scoop" Jackson Democrats in response to George McGovern's massive loss to Richard Nixon in 1972, the CDM was dismayed by two presidential election losses and the organization's

goal was to steer the party away from the New Left

influence that had permeated the Democratic party since the late 1960s and back to the policies that made the FDR coalition electorally successful for close to 40 years. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Leadership_Council

DLC is Anti FDR.

[MrCicero]

12:00 AM on 03/18/2010

This is total garbage. Okay so he basically admits that those who do no get in line will be ousted AND he says promoting this is basically a political move. THIS POLICY SUCKS!!! If you look at the number of people without healthcare it really boils down to less than 10 million who dont have it and even then it is questionable as to whether they have sought coverage or truly need it. Look up Dr. Nowicki (sorry on spelling) Texas State University Healthcare Administration Professor----he has done all the research on the coverage needers and the economic reprecussions of this bill or medicare, medicaid anything like it on the our economy. His research on the baby boomer population's effect on these systems is extremely important to decision making---yet is completely ignored.

[keepemhonest]

01:34 AM on 03/18/2010

Mr.
YUP! That is correct ... fake dems who vote AGAINST the 65 year old Democrat platform have NO BUSINESS being democrats and people like ME will NOT reward them.

So what ... it is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS who democrats support... moveon now & support your teabagger

[Aerows]

01:47 AM on 03/18/2010

Wait a second, keepem.... "the 65-year-old" Democrat platform? Are you 78 years old, or are you so invested in seeing the Democrats "win" that it is irrelevant whether it is genuinely good legislation or not?

See, that is what scares me. It's easy to claim that suddenly it is the fault of the evil "progressives", the fault of the "liberals" and the fault of the "moderates", that we lose sight on why we are pushing for reform in the first place.

When you start blaming everyone in sight for not supporting the plan, it is because the plan isn't doing the majority any good. Let's not fragment the Democratic party over this, and let's not call everyone who disagrees a traitor to the Democratic party - let's call it what it is - there are some fundamental flaws in the legislation, that even though they get passed, aren't going to even begin to address the problem.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

10:38 PM on 03/17/2010

That is so mafia. Those who go along with it will be rewarded, yeah, I have heard that one before, from mafia heads. Let me guess, they will suddenly get raises, under the table payola, financial backing should they keep siding with the crimminals? And if they don't what? They going to suddenly be found in cement? This is the most disgusting, disturbing, totally ammoral thing they could say and do. What ever happened to doing the right thing for the people because its what you agreed to so when you were elected? Time to clean house and senate totally out, start over and put into office those who remember its about the people, thier families, jobs, health and well being. Its not about greed and corruption. Hell, why not just become made men and get it over with? They are doing the same thing anyhow.

[keepemhonest]

01:35 AM on 03/18/2010

Puppy,

Like I told Mr who posted above you ... YUP! That is correct ... fake dems who vote AGAINST the 65 year old Democrat platform have NO BUSINESS being democrats and people like ME will NOT reward them.

So what ... it is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS who democrats support... moveon now & support your teabagger

[research]

08:19 PM on 03/17/2010

50 year olds are the largest voting block.

Let's Charge old people 36,000$.

This bills allow raising premiums based on age.

Double, 26,000$ based on age
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/09/nation/na-health-age9

The numbers running around for average premiums is about 13k per year

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2009-09-15-insurance-costs_N.htm

"Allows insurance companies to charge people who are older 300% more than others."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/top-10-reasons-to-kill-th_b_399245.html

You really think we won't notice??????

[Aerows]

04:22 PM on 03/17/2010

Why do I get the feeling that he isn't referring to the people of the US when he says that?

[keepemhonest]

01:36 AM on 03/18/2010

perhaps you are paranoid? take off your tinfoil hat.

[Aerows]

01:41 AM on 03/18/2010

I'd be less concerned with the tinfoil hat, and more concerned with the large quantities of books and research on what the bill actually *says* that leads people to doubt the legislation.

I guess information is easily dismissed as "conspiracy theory" and "the wrong way" when you fervently believe in symbols instead of looking at the facts.

I say that with kindness, keepem, because you and I tend to agree on a lot of things, but I am not a fervent believer in this particular piece of legislation. It isn't that I don't want reform, it's that this isn't reform.

[Aerows]

01:42 AM on 03/18/2010

In fact, I'm one of your fans.

[WordPlaya]

02:29 PM on 03/17/2010

The only way to end NO is to vote YES

Why are you people too blind to see that?

By the way....how soon does the RepubNOcan bill kick in?

[take10]

12:57 PM on 03/17/2010

As well they should be! That reward will come from democratic voters who will have reason, once again, to believe that those they elect will have the guts to stand up to recalcitrant rethugs and pass legislation that benefits all Americans. I know this gets redundant, but, you gotta ask yourself, why is it that republicans say, under one hand, that health care reform will be the undoing of dems in November, and the turn around and cry fire in a crowded theater because they don't want it to pass. It appearts that, when Reagan dumped the psych patients on to the streets, he sought out all who had previous republican affiliations, including Michelle Bachmann, Steven Kind and John Boehner. Running as a rethug evidently does not require anything that resembles intelligence. Frankly, being as ignorant as your base is a plus for them! They have the moral integrity of common street gangs. Even, calling for street gang violence against our government. Patriots, my arse!

[Joan Jacobs]

11:49 AM on 03/17/2010

I keep hoping that the day will come when Members of Congress will read through bills that are presented and vote on them based on two criteria. The first: does the Member agree/disagree with the bill in total/in part and the second: what is best for the member's constituancy and the country as a whole. When I went to school we were told that the House was elected every two years - this was to keep them in touch with their constituancy and to lead them to vote in a way that would help those at home. The Senate, with it's six year terms - were then free to look a the bigger picture of how a bill would affect the entire country.

Sadly, these days everyone on Capitol Hill is looking at bills from somewhat different points of view - 1. What do the lobbyists (who pass around the wealth) want me to do?
2. How will this vote affect me and my party at election time?

Personal gain, followed by party gain, should not be - and almost always seems to be - the primary concerns of the elected. Mr. Kaine's attempts to bribe his party members to vote his way is just one more example of this. And it should have done so quietly, subtley - not publically, so that after the vote is counted people would not start questioning whether their elected official acted out of principal or for the carrot.

[larmarch5]

11:34 AM on 03/17/2010

From NYTimes:
The coalition of groups opposing the legislation, led by the United States Chamber of Commerce, is singling out 27 Democrats who supported the health care bill last year and 13 who opposed it. The organizations have already spent $11 million this month focusing on these lawmakers, with more spending to come before an expected vote next weekend.

I hope these Democrats realize that the CofC et.al. will NOT be supporting them against Republican challengers regardless of how they vote. In other words, being a coward seldom leads to a winning outcome.

[DuPageDem]

11:34 AM on 03/17/2010

And utterly ignoring the party's left wing, who get nothing out of this bill, ensures they will stop contributing money and shoe leather. This helps the party . . . how?

[Aerows]

04:24 PM on 03/17/2010

They will just make sure that whoever runs against them is more horrific than they are. It won't be hard, considering how the Republican party is looking these days, but I wish we had some viable third party candidates. I also hope that some of the Republidems get primaried.

[keepemhonest]

01:37 AM on 03/18/2010

By donating to people who DO support the 65 year old Democrat platform ... that's how.

[jazabelz]

11:21 AM on 03/17/2010

Message to Kaine -- I will not be donating to the Democratic National Committee since my contribution will be divied up and those so-called Democrats who voted against passage of health care would be receiving the benefit of my donation. I will only be donating to specific candidates who supported at the very least a strong public option! I will also be sending my campaign contributions to progressive democratic challengers of those Democrats in name only. If they want to think and vote like Republicans, then they can get their campaign donations from the RNC!

[chicagurl]

12:50 PM on 03/17/2010

Ditto this big time! Kaine's done nothing for the DNC except lose races, I'm not trusting him with my money to begin with. Bring back someone who knows how to run the DNC. I'm still angry about the way they've treated Dr. Dean after he got so many Democrats into power. Not happy with Obama and Rahm over that, so I'll send money to Alan Grayson and those individuals who stick up for me and my issues.

[keepemhonest]

01:38 AM on 03/18/2010

Good point ... Mass was his pick - NOT MINE!

[GeorgeP922]

11:02 AM on 03/17/2010

Ok so you guys got Kucinich.

I assume I will see Rahm stumping for him.

And what about the sticks for those will vote no, like my congressmen Frank Kratovil?

Or Bart Stupak who brought outside theocracy into Washington.

[larmarch5]

11:13 AM on 03/17/2010

I've already sent contributions to Connie Saltonstall and Bill Halter. This is from Frank Kratovil's web page:
Our health care system is in critical condition, and few issues are as far-reaching or as important to the future of American families, small businesses, and rural communities. We need broad reform that gets costs under control, expands coverage to more Americans, and preserves consumer choice. As Congress prepares to debate comprehensive health care reform, here are the guiding principles I will bring the table:

•I believe that any reform plan must begin with an understanding that any individual must be allowed to keep the coverage they have now if they so choose. I will not support any reform plan that forces consumers to give up a plan with which they are currently happy.
•I believe that a public option may help reduce costs by increasing competition and expanding consumer choice, but it is important that any public option be forced to compete on a level playing field with private insurers.
•I oppose taxing health benefits as income.
•I believe we must protect small businesses and entrepreneurs from unreasonably burdensome mandates that could limit their ability to create new jobs.
While the broad debate about reform has national implications, I am also particularly concerned about the provider shortage here in our part of Maryland. Low Medicare reimbursement rates and a concentrated private insurance market have led to a shortage of doctors, which is particularly acute on the Eastern Shore.

[GeorgeP922]

11:53 AM on 03/17/2010

He's a liar.

He represents Baltimore County (liberal and normal) and the Eastern Shore (area where having a confederate flag won't get you killed).

This guy needs to just switch parties.

If he votes no I will actively try to disuade Dems in my district from voting for him.

Obama, the DNC, and even the activist groups and the Maryland Democratic party gave him a pass, I am not.

Maryland is one of the most liberal states in the land, but the laziest.

[Musiker]

09:56 AM on 03/17/2010

Sorry, Tim. Reward this weak-tea piece of legislation with no Public Option and no real meat to drive down costs? You're trippin', pal!

[RSKaz]

09:46 AM on 03/17/2010

The "reward" is in the Dems reelection. Unlike the Republics whose only platform is telling their constituents they don't "deserve" health care. Good luck with that, suckers.

[Okieborn]

07:51 AM on 03/17/2010

Rewarded, Rewarded, Rewarded !
The American citizenry needs and deserves Public Option and Single Payer, instead we are being given a ride down the river of NO RETURNS !!

[Political Conservative]

09:04 AM on 03/17/2010

Agreed. Both the right and the left don't like this bill. They are trying to pass one of the biggest pieces of legislation in our generation when the public support is against it. Their reward will be seen at the ballot box when they are replaced with people who represent our ideologies and vote for what we want. It's a disgrace that the public option isn't the key feature of this legislation.

[billw8017]

11:07 AM on 03/17/2010

I am partial to "free enterprise" where it might work. I do not favor a public option for the sake of a public option. Some countries do use the insurance companies as non profit utilities. Our Blue Cross/Blue Shield used to somewhat work as non profits and medical care was more affordable. Now, every profit only indicates a chance to increase it, and record setting corporate profits are greeted with rate raises.

This program -- which has drawn down the rage of right and left as a challenge to the survival of our great republic and the meaning of life -- is a tiny step in several possible right directions. Sort of like getting into your car in your driveway. By itself, it may save thousands of American lives, some with provisos that take effect immediately.