History may be calling but time's running out to act by Christmas, so Senate Democrats are trying to come to terms with the idea they won't get everything they want from a health care overhaul.
Should they listen to former Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean, slamming the Senate bill as an insurance industry bailout? Or should they pay attention to President Barack Obama, saying the legislation achieves most of what he wants? With each day that senators churn on, the public's doubts about the legislation only seem to grow, polls indicate.
Obama cajoled restive Democrats on Tuesday, urging them not to lose perspective amid intense intraparty battles over government's role and reach in health care. The public plan liberals hoped for appeared dead in the Senate, as did a Medicare buy-in scheme offered as a fallback.
"The president and vice president pointed out that you take your victories when you can and nothing prevents you from fighting on for the things you believe should have been achieved," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. "But why spurn a victory in hand?"
"There was frustration and angst," Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., a leading liberal, said after the meeting at the White House. "Everybody has things they want, and they didn't all get what they want and that includes me, big-time."
But Obama got their attention, said Rockefeller, describing a health care remake to cover tens of millions now uninsured as "the biggest thing since Social Security."
"It's hard to ignore that," Rockefeller said.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., a moderate who had been on the fence, said Tuesday night it's time to pass the bill.
But Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was still scrambling to secure the 60 votes he needs to overcome a Republican filibuster. One holdout — Connecticut independent Sen. Joe Lieberman — was coming around fast. Another — Nebraska moderate Sen. Ben Nelson — was still uncommitted, criticizing the bill's restrictions on abortion funding as too lax, even after a private meeting with the president Tuesday...
SOURCE: Associated Press > Yahoo News
