The one reason that the draconian bill that mandates a government takeover of healthcare was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives late last evening was to save face for Barack Obama, who had put his entire Presidency and credibility on the line.
(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
Even so, the bill barely squeaked by with a vote of 220-215...far from any sort of 'mandate.'
Obama has defined his Presidency solely in terms of passing such a so-called 'healthcare reform' measure, which actually has nothing to do with improving healthcare at all but everything to do with the government seizure of fully one-sixth of the U.S. economy.
Given that the 2 biggest problems Americans face with regard to healthcare are the 5-8 million or so who want insurance but can't afford it, and the 'preexisting conditions' clause that most insurance providers include in their plans, the ObamaCare-PelosiCare bill seemed to be a case of drastic overkill....sort of like dismantling an entire auto just to fix a loose wire or replace a filter.
It doesn't take dismantling the entire U.S. Healthcare System or a government seizure of the entire healthcare industry to correct a few problems that can be solved using free-market solutions.
Yet the House was under enormous pressure to approve this monstrosity of a bill, initiated by the Leftwing, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama, to help the President save face, knowing that if the 'reform' measure had failed in the House there would be no further 'hope' for 'change.' And Obama would essentially be a lame duck.
He may well turn out to be a lame duck anyway once the Senate gets hold of the measure.
Cooler heads prevail in the Senate on this issue than in the House. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, has already stated that at present the Senate lacks the votes to approve a healthcare bill and that negotiations on such a bill may well extend far into 2010.
This is a clear indication that Reid knows he didn't have the votes and that Senators are leery of ANY healthcare legislation that bears the marks of the House version, namely, covering abortions and illegal aliens with tax dollars, rationing of care for the elderly, a 'public option' that would drive private insurers out of business, fines and jail time for those who fail to purchase health insurance, heavy taxes on businesses, and 'death panels' that give 'end of life' counseling to seniors.
Moderate Democrats in the Senate have already indicated to Reid that they will not support any bill that includes such provisions.
Thus, the battle is far from over, and the notion of 'healthcare reform' is far less of a priority in the Senate than it was in the House. The bill may well die once it gets to the Senate, as have other bills passed by the House under pressure from Pelosi's extremist Leftwing minions.
As for the citizens who fought long and hard to defeat the measure in the House, it is important to note that this government attack on individual liberty and free enterprise has only heightened the vigilance of these stalwart Patriots. They are angry, even livid, that their representatives would betray them in this manner, and they are determined not to allow their Senators to do the same thing.
A word to the wise...
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Comments
This is encouraging to hear... Hopefully senators will be more likely to vote based on the national consensus rather than the whims of small pockets of leftists in San Francisco.
That remains to be seen Joel. Although I do have higher hopes there for some sense of rationality.
I think this was a last ditch effort by the statist's to keep their Messiah from becoming a lame duck this soon. It will not work though if that indeed is their strategy. It is, as they say, transparent?
I just pray this does not give the bill some kind of weird momentum. I'm ready to hear the last of ObummerCare.
BTW no way will I ever believe that ANY bill they put up for a vote will disinclude federal funding of abortion. Any federal healthcare bill WILL include taxpayer funding of abortion, and why not? Federal monies already fund abortions both foreign and domestic ... to our great shame.
Not a done deal for sure! Still we have to prepare for the passing of this bill by examining the record of public health care that's already in place. cli.gs/ 23yYaM/
Is it time yet, Claire Wolfe?
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I pray this is true, I don't believe my nerves can take much more. I must tell you, Mr. Martin that you are an excellent writer. I just read one of your old articles, "Morning Again in America" (forgive me, there were a couple I missed and just getting back to) A person commented that you should run in 2012 - well if you can't you can't, but you express and articulate the values and truths so unbelievably well. I do wish you could get the point across to candidates that as you said Reagan "communicated and connected with the average citizens on a deep emotional level, expressing his ultimate confidence in their ability to do absolutely anything they set their minds to do." This is REALLY important. I KNOW this will resonate with people if it is said by someone like Palin, or Mike Pence. It will touch people, I KNOW it will. I say it to people all the time,"Don't you think you can decide these things for yourself?" Their answer is always Yes. Take your message to the top people.
Peggy,
I am very humbled and deeply appreciative of your moving words. Thank-you for saying all of those nice things, which to me are extremely encouraging.
While running for public office is not something I have seriously considered, I will always be involved in politics because of my love for liberty and my country. Plus, I owe a debt of gratitude to people such as Ronald Reagan and William F. Buckley, who taught me so many wonderful principles and who held up the standard of the Founders which MUST be protected and defended.
Thanks again,
Anthony
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