The Missing Senator
Email ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: Over the weekend, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn said “the American people ought to pray that somebody can’t make the vote” on health care. Well, it seems Coburn’s prayers may have been answered, although not in the way he had in mind. Since yesterday, there has been a single senator missing every vote the health care bill: James Inhofe, Coburn’s fellow Oklahoma Republican. Calls and emails to Inhofe’s press office have not been returned, but it appears that Inhofe has left town for the holiday. Sources say Inhofe has told his colleagues simply that he went home “to be with his family.” It’s safe to say, however, that this is not what Coburn had in mind. He was hoping for a Democrat not to show up. “His clear intent was to see the bill delayed so the American people would have more to understand a bill that rations, cuts Medicare and funds abortion,” says Coburn spokesman John Hart. Inhofe’s absence affects nothing except, perhaps, his relationship with his 99 colleagues who have all delayed their holiday and cancelled plans to be with their families to vote on the bill. Says one Republican Senate source, “people are disappointed, very disappointed because it reflects badly on the opposition.”
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Way to skirt the issue that Coburn is really asking people to pray for his colleagues to die or fall ill.
Posted by: cmc | December 23, 2009, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
This bill is the worst thing ever for all of us Americans. Extremely costly for all of us, poor poor health care, cuts in medicare which is EVIL in itselF and the worst of worst paying for abortions. This is true moral decay brought on by evil liberals, Yes, we had better pray………….
Posted by: Ann | December 23, 2009, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
You are a candidate for a future stay in a mental institution if you think Coburn was praying for someone to die. Get real!
Posted by: Ron | December 23, 2009, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
I pray every night for my Country and my President. I also read Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper. And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.”
I’m a cancer survivor – I pray for this bill to pass and protect people like me from unscrupulous insurance company practices.
Posted by: frazzled | December 23, 2009, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
Wow, now conservatives are equating health care with moral decay?
Posted by: gary | December 23, 2009, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
Ann….say You. This bill will be good for me and the majority of Americans that doesn’t have a political agenda. Sorry! Who will be paying for abortions…do you know that it was “strictly amended” so NO Tax moneys pay for abortions…and cuts to Medicare is money we will save by unscrupulours doctors “bilking” the system. Talk to my 85 year old father in law in Florida. He’ll tell you how Many test he takes that DOES NOTHING for his well being. Typical Republican…has to lie and make things up. America is hip to the Republicans, but I see they still have you as their sucker.
Posted by: sara | December 23, 2009, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm
The underlying issue here people is that Insurance is just that…you paying someone to pay for you if you get sick…It is not a right…It si a business and as a Business they have a right to choose who they accept…Just as Bob’s diner down the road can choose to refuse service to you when you walk in the door. The issue has been mucked up by those who say that it is your right for a private company to have to take your business regardless of the financial risk you are to them…We see what happens when banks are forced to make loans to individuals who are the worst credit risked…they don’t pay back and the banks fail on massive levels…Should the Credit cards be required by law to now have to issue credit cards to everyone no matter their credit history? Nowhere in the Constitution does it say the Federal Government has the right to force an individual to buy a service or product…and a law requiring such violates multiple stions of our free-will based founding. Shame on those who have turned this into a class debate, a race debate, and another project to give give give to those who are not willing to earn or provide for themselves.
Posted by: Chris | December 28, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am