How They Passed Health Care: The Power Of Obama And What Olympia Snowe Really Wanted

The New Republic:

Barack Obama, the law professor, was acting like a prosecutor. He'd invited Grassley to the Oval Office, to talk about the senator's concerns. But he was using the occasion to confront Grassley about his latest statements. "Tell me what amendment you want, tell me what language you want," one administration official recalls the president saying. And then, when Grassley couldn't point to anything, the official says the president reminded Grassley that the amendment on end-of-life counseling had come from a Republican, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, and simply paid for professional advice when people wanted it. But Obama's mind was already wandering to the new strategy he'd have to adopt. The first seven months of his presidency had been a test of his belief in civility and bipartisan cooperation. Now, he had the results. They were not encouraging.

Read the whole story: The New Republic

Comments

[SirSlappy]

08:28 PM on 05/25/2010

Hooray. Let's relive a middling 'success' from month's ago because Obama is so pitiful as a leader.

[cincinnati]

06:40 PM on 05/25/2010

Snow and the other Republican Phony from Maine are clowns.
How did the intelligent people in Maine elect them,
how is that possible ?

The other one can't even speak well, how was she elected
anything higher than small town mayor is amazing; she
should be in a comedy show with Phony Palin.

[higherstrategy]

06:42 PM on 05/25/2010

how many Broken Promises By Obama and Dems?

Still waiting for the Details on Health Care reform Pelosi Promised .

[cincinnati]

02:13 AM on 05/26/2010

It would help if at least a few GOP considered what's best
for the US instead of narrow partisan politics.

To compare what Obama and Dem's have done to Bush/Cheney
is a no-brainer, much, much better !

[springsm]

03:54 PM on 05/25/2010

Gosh I don't give a rat's patooty what Senator Snowe wants or wanted. I used to like this woman..but when she started chasing McConnell's edicts it was over. No the health reform isn't perfect and will have no chance to be corrected...but darn it..snowe you could have cooperated.

[H321]

08:05 PM on 05/25/2010

Exactly. Especially considering the bill veered more to the right by the time the vote was taken.

[GeorgeP922]

02:53 PM on 05/25/2010

How much would it cost to have my blog post up here for 4 days.

Folks IGNORE these white washing stories that try to make Rahm Emanuel and Max Baucus out to be some kind of hard working heroes.

[springsm]

03:54 PM on 05/25/2010

well we know that they are not.

[PJay1]

02:29 PM on 05/25/2010

And yet Snowe voted no.

[siamao]

01:18 PM on 05/25/2010

TRUTH OR FAUX
This excellent article from "The National Review" reveals that it was not President Obama,
but the GOP, that initiated the option for end-of-life counseling in the health care reform
package. Then, those skallywags began a campaign of hysteria, launched by none other
than Faux News Commentator, Sarah Palin who began scaring seniors about "death panels."

There was an even worse scenario of abuse. When the prominent bioethicist and oncologist,
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel (yes, Rahms brother) was advising Peter Orzag at the Office of Management and Budget, the "Right-wingers pulled out some stray quotes, mashed them
together with the end-of-life counseling controversy, and decided that Emanuel was 'Dr. Death,' intent upon forcing doctor-assisted suicide on the sick." In fact, the highly respected Emanuel had argued against euthanasia, even writing a famous piece against it for "The Atlantic."

The despicable label of a "Dr. Death" moniker could not be erased even after a reputable
McCain policy adviser challenged the association as untrue and not at all applicable
to Dr. Emanuel. According to the TNR article, regrettably, "Nobody could hear her above the screams of the Fox News pundits."

[higherstrategy]

06:44 PM on 05/25/2010

lol!
Still waiting for those Details about health Care Pelosi Promised!
WE are already PAYING for this "Institute" but don't know ANYTHING about it?

Do you buy a Custom Built Home without Looking at it in DETAIL FIRST?

[hrc04]

11:54 AM on 05/25/2010

These behind the scenes accounts just continue to show how clueless the TV talking heads are about what's going on. The narrative was that Obama was hopelessly clinging to bipartisanship to the end, while the story seems to show that Obama was much more practical than that. And also, while Chris Matthews went on and on about "why won't Obama call in those Republicans like Grassley and ask them what they want in exchange for their vote," it appears that he did just that. A lot of posters on here knew that while Obama would prefer bipartisanship, most of it was just for show after he realized the GOP wouldn't come along.

[jeff90125]

12:57 PM on 05/25/2010

What Obama was doing could hardly be considered bipartisanship. He was merely trying to placate some republicans by putting some of their ideas into the 2kplus page monstrosity in the hopes of garnering a few votes. That failed as well.

What they should have specified was to do this "instead" of but not "in addition to" what was already there.

What really amazes me is that my biggest complaint about health insurance is the cost of premiums. This new law will only increase the cost just as RomneyCare did here in Massachusetts.

[CTtransplant]

05:16 PM on 05/25/2010

Agree and fanned!

[Scentedflower]

11:49 AM on 05/25/2010

"Either you Idi ot congress do your job collectively or I will do it myself."
That is precisely what President says and does. Good for Mr. President

[jeff90125]

12:59 PM on 05/25/2010

He might have done that but that is not his job. He seems to like to do things that aren't his job such as what you just said. Then he doesn't do things that are his job (like illegal aliens). So the states have to step in and do it for him.

[siamao]

01:57 PM on 05/25/2010

Where was George Bush all those years that illegal immigration was getting out of hand. Who had to "step in and do it for him?" Oh, I forgot! He was fighting in another country which he'd invaded, a country that never attacked the US, not even once. And that was a
full time job, so who could expect him to do immigration?

[thepoliticalcat]

04:25 PM on 05/25/2010

Let me guess. You're one of those te@g@gger m@r00nz who howls like a b@nshee about "govt interference with your (government-funded) benefits" but when the fit hits the shan, you whine like a wounded puppy about how the govt isn't saving your overfed, avoirdupoid, lardy, unhealthy, obese re@r end.

[higherstrategy]

06:46 PM on 05/25/2010

that is called DICTATOR FOOL!

balance of POWER? Presidents do not write Laws, Acts, Treaties or Legislation!

America was Designed that way to keep KINGS and DICTATORS from ruling!

[jeff90125]

07:55 PM on 05/25/2010

As the head of the executive branch of government he is in charge of enforcing the laws that congress passes. The White house has stated they will NOT handle the illegal immigrants that AZ catches.

[sunshine14]

11:29 AM on 05/25/2010

Why repubs conservatives who are all working for big business want Pres Obama out in 2012 when health care reform takes full effect and takes a big bite out of insurance industry massive excessive profits and saves money for all in their health care.

[jeff90125]

01:14 PM on 05/25/2010

Please tell me where to sign up. I'm a conservative and I'm not working for big business. I want my share of the pie too! I'm sitting here destitute and you tell me we're all working for big business? Where do i sign up?

[siamao]

01:58 PM on 05/25/2010

You're destitute--yet you vote for the Republican Party? Makes a lot of sense!

[higherstrategy]

06:48 PM on 05/25/2010

LMAO!!

How is being FORCED to pay a Mandate for the Privilege of living in America saving money for YOU? If you don't BUY a product from a private Monopoly you get FINED till JAIL?

You can look yourself in the mirror?

[justsayno]

11:05 AM on 05/25/2010

He’s Commander in Chief. You’d think President Obama would go to Arlington National Cemetery to observe Memorial Day. Or he could set his priorities and head down to the Gulf Coast to get a first hand look at the damage the oil spill is causing. But no, Mr. Obama has decided to take his family home to Chicago for a weekend of R and R.

[sunshine14]

11:22 AM on 05/25/2010

funny has the $34 million dollar man who took big oil money once in office to look the other way and give all power and control to BP go down yet to the gulf and see, what his self interest only has done to the Nation as a whole yet? No? Has Liz?

Has Palin and McCain also gone down to the Gulf also, Palin McCain got the largest ever $2.4 million dollars in their campaign at election time, from big oil? Palin McCain to are responsible, for they to have joined themselves with big oil, where are Palin McCain now, are they speaking out against big oil? No? why? what is Palin McCains solution on this crises? Oh have none? Nor does the world experts, right now know how to solve this oil crises. tea baggers have been bamboozell?

[jeff90125]

12:43 PM on 05/25/2010

Palin and McCain did not get elected. Palin is now, no longer a public servant. McCain is a Senator from Arizona. Neither of them has any reason to tour the oil spill.

Who is at fault?

BP for not following the rules
The Federal Government for not sufficiently enforcing the rules.

[DredLockRasta]

11:38 AM on 05/25/2010

You forgot to beef about his flag pin, or lack there of.

[Matrsnot]

10:37 AM on 05/25/2010

How they got government controlled healthcare was to circumvent the Constitution. Don't mind the fact that 80% of citizens were against it. Have to please you minorities

[centsable]

10:57 AM on 05/25/2010

Your facts are obviously FAUX based. 75 % were for health care reform.

[Solja]

11:01 AM on 05/25/2010

Cut the racist remarks, m0r0nlc teabagger.

[mylittlepwny]

11:51 AM on 05/25/2010

I don't see the racism.

[higherstrategy]

06:51 PM on 05/25/2010

he isn't a Tea Partier, he is a GOP!

Funny how the GOP was always the racists until this Corporate Monopoly over American politics is threatened by REAL AMERICANS!

Now GOP is Full of NON RACISTS Suddenly? Don't Be Gullible

[iceage7]

10:35 AM on 05/25/2010

Snowe was willing to go with a trigger..Obama was trying to convince dems to go with the trigger...Dems wanting everything refused to go with the trigger thinking they could get much more..Oh well they should have listened to Obama

[CTtransplant]

05:35 PM on 05/25/2010

Exactly!

[higherstrategy]

06:55 PM on 05/25/2010

was the Debate on C-SPAN? NO? How many LIES and Broken Promises Obama given US in the first year?

yeah, This Article is 'trustworthy'

Don't be Gullible, Forcing a MANDATE for the Privilege of living in America is Unconstitutional

[AnotherMcIntosh]

10:25 AM on 05/25/2010

What are the odds that those who voted for the mandatory payment of health insurance premiums, instead of voting for meaningful health care reform, obtained stock or options to obtain stock in health insurance companies prior to the vote?

What are the odds that those related to those who voted for the mandatory payment of health insurance premiums obtained stock or options to obtain stock in health insurance companies prior to the vote?

[bornd]

10:23 AM on 05/25/2010

unfortunatley, i do not think any health care reform will work. Due to lawsuits, our countries health providers over test to protect themselves from lawsuits. We, as a country are used to it. We will not give that up. Our health and mortality rates are close to, and in some cases, a little lower than canada, who perform much less tests on patients. Maybe torte reform will help, ( i doubt this will happen since, according to open secrets . org, lawyers and law firms are the largest lobbiests and contributors to both parties) but it will probably be too little to late. We will not give up our tests, which cost a lot of money, health care providers will still have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for insurance to protect themselves from lawsuits, and the costs of these will be reflected in our health insurance premiums. We will still have the most expensive health insurance in the world. This is another cautionary tale. Once something is given (alcohol/prohibition, greece/bennies and pensions, entitlements) you cannot take them away. So we really have to be very careful about what is given, we really have to think about the affects it will have to us, as a people, culture and country, down the road.

[LastStar]

10:29 AM on 05/25/2010

Government health care plans in developed countries worldwide provide pretty solid information how they work and what to expect.

[bornd]

10:36 AM on 05/25/2010

yes, they do not offer the amount of tests we do. my point is, i do not think that we will give up all our tests. if we do not give up our tests and do not have torte reform, we can never be like canada or the other developed countries in our health care plan. if those to things do not change, our costs will not go down. even if it is completley socialized, it will cost too much money.

[fuppedup]

10:16 AM on 05/25/2010

Let’s stop beating around the bush and call this health care reform bill what it truly is: ideological reform. It is all about wealth redistribution and government control.

Though not perfect and in need of some reform out health care system is the best in the world. While this bill was being debated proponents of the bill threw around the number of 45,000 people die each year without healthcare. According to the 2006 National Vital Statistics Report 2,400,000 people die every year in the United States. If we assume that the 45,000 figure is true that means that 98.1% of Americans that die every year have health insurance. And some believe we have the worst system in the world.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of U.S. voters now favor repeal of the plan passed by congressional Democrats and signed into law by President Obama in March.

[Americanium]

10:25 AM on 05/25/2010

You can take your Rasmussen Poll and stuff it up your !##&$^@*(

[Abo]

10:29 AM on 05/25/2010

Except if you look into the poll- most people felt the bill didn't go far enough. They preferred something like medicare for all or the public option since corporate controlled administration wouldn't even entertain the popular single payer.
Face it, you are the one blinded by your failed ideology exposed as a fraud.
It is really a no-brainer. Either people pool their resources and get something on their investment like public libraries(advocated by Ben Franklin) or Social Security to benefit the common good--or their investment is transferred to the one percent who dominate all resources and control government, offshore jobs, profit off of war, cause environmental disasters, etc,etc., while the country slides down.

Really, you need to get up to speed

[WordPlaya]

03:43 PM on 05/25/2010

B I N G O Abo! NO use letting the RepubNOklans learn the truth...they won't listen anyway.