Bill Clinton to Rally Senators on Health Care Reform
EmailABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: Former President Bill Clinton will travel to Capitol Hill Tuesday to rally Democratic senators on health reform.
The House passed its sweeping health reform package on Saturday, but efforts have stalled in the Senate.
A cost assessment process has delayed introduction of a bill in the Senate and internal Democratic squabbles of whether to include a public option have brought into question whether Democratic leaders can cobble together the 60 votes they will need to bypass a Republican filibuster.
Clinton, whose own attempt to pass a health reform package fifteen years ago did not pass either House of Congress, was asked by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to make the pep talk, according to an aide familiar with the discussion. Clinton is expected to speak to Democratic senators at a closed caucus meeting, urging them to see past differences to pass compromise legislation, according to Democratic staffers.
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
It all depends on what “reform” is.
Posted by: grizzlybare | November 10, 2009, 12:12 am 12:12 am
>> Bill Clinton to Rally Senators on Health Care Reform << Well if it was not DOA in the senate then this assure its demise.
Posted by: Lewis Balentine | November 10, 2009, 12:15 am 12:15 am
When will somebody stand up to these elites and tell them no more! IRS Enforced health care with criminal penalties for those that choose not to participate. Whenever I am back in the states it makes me laugh to see those “Live Free or Die” license plates. America, land of the free, home of the largest number of housed prisoners in the world has become the new East Germany with policies that reward your neighbors and busineses to spy on you and now they want your doctors too. Freedom or catchy slogan? Cradle to grave serfdom? No, it is just another way to feed the war machine. Bill Clinton is just out crusin for babes and other issues near and dear to his personal wealth.
Posted by: rick go | November 10, 2009, 12:58 am 12:58 am
I disagree that this makes it DOA. President Clinton is very popular among old school Democrats and he helped elect many of those Senators. Republicans are a non-factor. They were opposing this even if it included apple pie, football, and little children.
Posted by: az_prof | November 10, 2009, 1:01 am 1:01 am
If Clinton is selling it, I AIN’T buying!!!
Posted by: Laughin_All_The_Way | November 10, 2009, 1:04 am 1:04 am
Go Bill!!! Bravo!
Posted by: mshare | November 10, 2009, 1:10 am 1:10 am
Yup, I sure see the change. We still have Clinton and a bunch of Clinton retreads still running the Government. That sure is change I can believe in.
Does Slick Willie have any pull with Lieberman? The Dems need Lieberman more than Lieberman needs the Dems.
Posted by: freaksloan | November 10, 2009, 1:14 am 1:14 am
Miley Cyrus should stop singing the song called “Party USA”. There is no party here! Just keep working as hard as you can. Every sweat you shed would eventually nourish the prosperity of America. Our grand and grand parents worked so hard for this country. We have no idea.
Posted by: lalaga | November 10, 2009, 1:14 am 1:14 am
Kiss of Death… Lieberman won’t even let it come to the floor… Clinton is just pouring cement on the grave.
Posted by: jafo | November 10, 2009, 1:28 am 1:28 am
I want real reform not an underhanded way to control the healthcare system giving the parental government elites the power to decide who gets what treatment, when, and how much. Crap, that is tryanny.
Posted by: No To Nanny State | November 10, 2009, 2:42 am 2:42 am
No one trusts you “Slick Willy.” You’re a liar just like Pelosi, Reid, and Obama.
Posted by: No To Nanny State | November 10, 2009, 2:44 am 2:44 am
Economic reality is this. Pass universal healthcare now or much like the financial collapse it will be forced upon everyone but only it will be single payer. You can bet your life on it.
Posted by: bob | November 10, 2009, 3:00 am 3:00 am
If the dems really want this to pass they can use reconciliation to prevent filerbuster.
Posted by: bob | November 10, 2009, 3:02 am 3:02 am
In case anyone is wondering Haddash Leiberman Joe’s wife worked for healthcare lobbyists making obscence profit. Did you also know that Joe Libebermans state of Connecticut has the highest concentration of insurance companies. hmmmmm
Posted by: bob | November 10, 2009, 3:16 am 3:16 am
Thank you Mr. Clinton for fighting for affordable and ACCESSIBLE health care for all. The majority of Americans favor this bill, no matter how loud the lunatic fringe yells.
Posted by: Ryan Leaderguy | November 10, 2009, 5:05 am 5:05 am
they dont get it as most up until now didnt get it. America is about We the People that gave government permission to be in limited power. Health care, marriage, a house, credit ( and that is a mess) to start is not a constitutional right. all that has gone on in the left state has moved into DC it has destroyed them with budget and educational it is failed and money isnt the answer as is proven. those that think health company’s make killing in profit look at the laws.. one said they cant loose it… as the state tells them what they can or cant charge. open the doors let them be in true competition… but the alarm is they that have power to sit and tell us they know better you will do as told and you will deal with it. ring any bells in history?:
Posted by: ed | November 10, 2009, 5:12 am 5:12 am
Obama proves he can walk on water with passage of the healthcare bill. The GOP can bark like dogs and throw all the tantrum like kids in dirty diapers, Americans have won this time. To hell with the health insurance companies that fleeced America for decades.
Posted by: what667 | November 10, 2009, 5:19 am 5:19 am
Yeah as soon as Bill and Hillary and Bammy and Mad Michelle accept this kind of health care then talk to us..Until then – forget it !!!
Posted by: jimbo | November 10, 2009, 6:46 am 6:46 am
Just wait and see, my friends; wait and see!!!
Posted by: Arbuckle Doc | November 10, 2009, 7:20 am 7:20 am
It’s pretty odd that some are calling this bill ‘affordable health care’.
The public option it contains will likely have HIGHER premiums than private plans , according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Great way to help the poor.
Pocket change we can believe in.
Fortunately Bill Clinton will help solidify opposition to it.
Posted by: Joe White | November 10, 2009, 8:04 am 8:04 am
Yay! Democrats should listen to Bill Clinton, he’s a gifted politician and a very bright man. If he can rally the Democrats to pass healthcare, his legacy will be assured and the country will be much better off.
Happy days are here again!
Posted by: Amy in Maine | November 10, 2009, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Who said Healthcare was for the Poor!..Who are the Poor…YOU, ME!…All working Americans are POOR with low-wage jobs that was left to us by DEREGULATION and OUTSOURCING beginning in the REAGAN ERA….Why do you think he is the “hero” of the Republicans. Small Business cannot handle the Billions of Americans that want to earn a LIVING WAGE! With their family and friends being employed, then what IS left for the rest of us….This bill will indeed give Huge TAX CUTS to these businesses to insure their Family, Friends and who has landed a “lucky” jobe within these businesses….At Will states allows employees to “fire” at their will….SO WOULD YOU CALL THESE EMPLOYEES “POOR” WHEN THEY ARE SHOWN THE DOOR WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE???? GET A GRIP
Posted by: sara | November 10, 2009, 10:07 am 10:07 am
Furthermore, My great-grandparents and grandparents “worked” for free in building this nation….”were they POOR? Or was this the “systematic foundation” that this nation was built upon….and how long did the forefathers think this would last….Everything changes, and to be strong as a nation, change must be recognized….for decades taxes has risen higher and higher, wages has become lower and lower and the American people got Sicker and Sicker leading to the TAKEOVER of the health insurance companies that has gotten so powerful with their “infiltration” of Washington, that they HAVE DEATH Panels…in which THEY decides who get the best care, although you’re paying through the nose for what YOU THOUGHT was healthcare. WHEN A DOCTOR HAS TO CALL THE INSURANCE NETWORK THAT THEY WORK FOR, FOR PERMISSION TO TREAT “YOU”, THEN WHO DO YOU THINK IS BETWEEN “YOUR DOCTOR AND YOU”….THE INSURANCE COMPANIES!!!!! GROW A BRAIN
Posted by: sara | November 10, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am
What’s wrong with America…..it has “PITTED” ITSELF AGAINST one America and the other, starting with race, now it’s economic warfare within it’s own nation….the “poor” comment is a prime example of this..and the sad part about it is the ones commenting and believing this nonsense are working low-wage jobs, and is either NOT going to the doctor (getting sicker and sicker), because they can’t afford to choose between a “roof” and their “health”, or they uses the American ER system for their care….of which all of us, including MY grandchildren will be paying for for a Long time….One Nation Under God and with any divided Country, it will FAIL…maybe not today, not tomorrow, But it will.
Posted by: sara | November 10, 2009, 10:24 am 10:24 am
This bill will pass!! Thanks to Pres Clinton for his help. Sen Lieberman please move to the Repub party. Take the Chairmanship from him!!
Why do the insurance companies &their supporters hate the public option? They won’t be able to swindle the consumers any more. The public option will be non-profit so they will keep premiums low. Let them compete. I am healthy and my cost will be little. I am happy to pay my premiums so that all can get care. It will not be easy but the Dems will win this one. All you liars,and truth twisters, the cat is out of the bag. Except for your 20-25% who don’t want change, Americans are believing the truth about the Health Reform on its way to being a reality.
Posted by: Ants | November 10, 2009, 11:30 am 11:30 am
I pray that Former President Clinton will also rally the signing and passage of the UNEMPLOYMENT stimulus while he is on Capital Hill today.
Posted by: godhearus | November 10, 2009, 11:54 am 11:54 am
Bill returns to the Hill to twist some
arms….and check out the new intern pool.
Posted by: grizzlybare | November 10, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
It ought to be possible to exchange ideas, views, without merely resorting to venomous name calling, which does nothing whatsoever.
If govt is not the way for health care, then tell the millions who get health care from their govt:
1. ALL govt employees
2. ALL in our military
3. All in congress
4. ALL in Medicare
5. All in Medicaid
they seem to prefer what they have with our govt than with private insureance companies.
Posted by: fred lapides | December 16, 2009, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm