Report: Democrats "Confounded" GOP Opposes Insurance Mandates

Who could have predicted this? The White House and Senate Democrats apparently believed they could win two or three Republican votes with the introduction of Sen. Max Baucus' health care "reform" bill that is super-friendly to big insurance and PhRMA. After saying nothing for eight months, the Republicans have launched an assault on the "most obvious provision" of HCR: The individual mandate. Read it, weep and prepare to laugh at the sheer political stupidity of the Democrats.

Democrats are bracing themselves for a new line of conservative attack against a provision in the health care legislation once considered so non-controversial that it was endorsed by several major Republican officials. On Tuesday, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) described the health care legislation being considered by the Senate Finance Committee as a "stunning assault on liberty" due to a provision that would require individuals to buy insurance.

The attacks have confounded Democrats in and out of government, who noted quickly that mandating coverage was, until recently, a relative given when it came to health care reform."It's f--ing ludicrous," said one health care reform activist, who noted that when Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) asked committee members to air their disagreements with an individual mandate during a meeting on May 5, no one chimed in.

The White House and the Senate Democrats seriously believed the Republicans would stop bullying them once they were forced to giving up the public option. Guess it's time to jettison the mandates, too. And this is the three-dimensional, eleven-level grand master chess strategy we keep hearing about? LOLz

Comments

[M. Mark]

"The attacks have confounded Democrats in and out of government, who noted quickly that mandating coverage was, until recently, a relative given when it came to health care reform"

Or so they thought.
This is stunning. The White House and senate Dems actually believed the GOP would accept mandates? Just because they've been quiet about it? Maybe the Dems will throw those under the bus too.

"Health care" reform will be like a pie without a crust or filling.

[Jim]

M. Mark asked: The White House and senate Dems actually believed the GOP would accept mandates?

Not unless they are stupid. Does anyone really think they’re stupid?

If this is really a “three-dimensional, eleven-level grand master chess strategy,” then plainly the Republicans have more brain cells than the Democrats.

If, on the other hand, most Democratic Congressmen care more about their campaign contributions than they do about the lives of their constituents, then none of this is a surprise because there was really no desire to pass a meaningful health care bill in the first place.

So, tell me: Which explanation of what has happened is more likely? The Republicans are strategic geniuses, or the Democrats only pretend to be on our side?

[mjolnir202]

I think I have to take a hiatus from even following this anymore. It's making me too angry. Most of these people have degrees from some of the best schools in this country, but not a lick of common sense. No emotional intelligence whatsoever.

I don't understand why the Democrats are acting surprised by the Republicans' nonsense. It's just maddening. I don't like the Republicans, but watching this mess for the last few months have made me HATE the Democrats. Again, we need a third and a fourth party. This is NOT the best this country can do.

[Jim]

mjolnir202, I adore most of your posts. If you asked me to marry you, I would consider it, sight unseen.

But surely, you’ve got to understand this. When you say: “I don't understand why the Democrats are acting surprised by the Republicans' nonsense,” you’re practically explaining the situation to yourself. The operative word is acting.

The Democrats are not really “surprised by the Republicans’ nonsense.” They are just acting surprised, because they need for their constituents to believe that they were pursuing health care reform in good faith.

Most of them never were. They are not surprised. And they do not care that their “efforts” are being stymied.

Anyone in the House who might actually be concerned for the welfare of the people of this country signed up as co-sponsor of John Conyers's bill, HR 676. You can see the list here. There are 93 of them, out of a total of 256 Democrats in the House.