Feinstein: “slow down” on health reform; Mass election part of a “sweep across the country.”
EmailABC’s Z. Byron Wolf reports: Somber Senate Democrats are going into their weekly caucus meeting just off the Senate floor to take stock of their new reality. And the message for some is that they should completely retool their message. California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, for one, said the election of Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts shows the fundamental political landscape has shifted and Democrats across the country have to take note, focusing on how to create jobs and keep people in their homes instead of trying to explain the need for sweeping social programs. “I can tell you the situation has changed dramatically. And I think it’s a sweep across the country and I think that the (White House Economic Adviser) Larry Summers’s of the world have to see it, the administration has to see it and we have to see it. And Therefore everything is jobs and the economy and education. People are worried about education,” she said. “You see anger. People are worried. And when they’re worried they don’t want to take on a broad new responsibility,” like health care reform, she said. Feinstein said it is clear that attempts to pass sweeping legislation to address climate change by capping carbon emissions cannot pass this Congress. And on health reform, she implied it might be an issue more easily passed in a better economy. More Feinstein: “I think we do go slower n health care. People do not understand it. it is so big it is beyond their comprehension. And if you don’t understand it when somebody tells you it does this or it does that and It’s not true, you tend to believe it, even though it isn’t true. It’s hard to debunk all of the myths that are out there.” “In my view when people are earning, when their home is secure, when their children are going to school, and they are relatively satisfied with their life and there’s a problem like health care – they want it solved. It doesn’t threaten them. The size of this bill threatens them. And that’s one of the problems that’s got to be straightened out.”
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
THANK GOD FOR SCOTT BROWN AND THE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS. WE DON’T WANT HC JAMMED DOWN OUR THROATS.
The corrupt administration in Washington cost Coakley the election in Massachusetts — plain and simple. The lies, the health care, the lack of transparency, the arrogance were all against her. Throw in the LA purchase and the Nebraska bribe and that is when her poll numbers starting turning sour. But when Obama said Unions are exempt from the tax and other taxpayers would pay it, that did it. Obama came down and stumped for her. That was like pouring salt on a wound. They did it to themselves.
They are so totally out of touch with the voters. They don’t listen to us.
WASHINGTON: ARE YOU LISTENING? CAN YOU HEAR US YET? NO? MAYBE YOU WILL IN NOVEMBER!
Posted by: 1CAROLINAUNC | January 20, 2010, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Work on energy independence since each and every American uses energy each and every day of their lives. They should ramp up a program in the same vein as the race to the moon to get students and scientists working to solve this goal of plentiful and inexpensive energy. It would put people to work and would allow consumers to save money to spend elsewhere. McCain was on the right track when he proposed prizes for developing efficient storage batteries.
I’m glad Feinstein is beginning to realize that there are other things that are important.
Posted by: tiredtoo | January 20, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Obama is the best thing that ever happened to the Republican party. If he took a lession from Bill Clinton and was brave enough to take the best ideas from the other side, and bring them into his legislation, he would have similar results.
But he has chosen to rule as an island unto himself, ignore the other party, and the will of the people.
He keeps this up, the GOP wins in ’10, and he will get a second chance to change his ways. If he STILL doesn’t take it, he’s a one term Jimmy Carter clone. The choice is ultimately his. I’d listen to Bill rather than Jimmy, if I was you Barack. Unless your like Coakley and don’t want the job in the 1st place…
Posted by: jafo | January 20, 2010, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Ok now Obama said he doesn’t want to the healthcare bill to pass until Scott Brown takes his seat. Now that’s bipartisanship at it’s best. I bet the right will find something wrong with that too. That’s something that Bush and Cheney would’ve never did.
Posted by: justayreal74 | January 20, 2010, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
What a huge joke Obama is…
Now he says no vote until Brown takes his seat…
Duh.. didn’t someone already say that way before Obama did.
All he does is copy other people.. can he not come up with his own words or is he just too used to having his words written for him and now he can even say the most obvious.
Obama= fraud in a empty suit.
Posted by: abc is going down the tubes | January 20, 2010, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
If your house is on fire, you don’t sit out front pulling weeds, no matter how bad the yard may need it. The DEMS have taken on healthcare as if every single American has stage 4 cancer! Healthcare reform is needed, but unemployment is an emergency!!
Posted by: cindy | January 20, 2010, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
Mrs. Feinstein it is not the size of this monstrocity its what is in it Bribes for Nebraska, Louisiana, Unions, and other special interest groups, and billions in pork, seems it has nothing to do with health care for four years but the taxes start on passing, that is a veiled attempt to make it look like it wont add to the deficit we are not stupid.
Posted by: earl | January 20, 2010, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
Senator Feinstein speaks with tremendous political and philosophical courage the morning after a sweeping landslide by a heretofore unheard of political neophyte named Scott Brown of Massachusetts.
This political courage would have been transformative if she had stepped up and spoke against the health care reform she voted to pass.
Those of us who live in her district will not soon forget the political climate of back door deals and sweet policy shell games that the Washington elite and Senator Feinstein helped establish.
I will NOT vote for her again.
Posted by: Robert | January 20, 2010, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
Stop.
Listen.
Don’t just follow the script that a party or a politician has given you.
Stop.
Listen.
Posted by: TheSkyKing | January 20, 2010, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
Thankyou Massachusetts. Ohioans are set to vote for John Kasich / Mary Taylor in Nov. Time to take our states and country back.
Posted by: ohiocitizen | January 20, 2010, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
It’s all about energy. I run two vehicles on veg oil. If I can, if my “solar” friend can stay off the grid these past 10 years, then there’s no sense being beholden to Arab oil. Drill and pump … oil and natural gas. Go with the Pickens Plan. Use American steel … revitalize that important industry. Shore up our electrical grid, our water and sewer plants, our bridges. Start a new CCC and pay 18-26 year olds to learn a trade … put them in camps like in the 30′s and have well-paid union members train them. Make these young men journeymen. Reinstate a 2-year draft, regardless of college plans. Let’s learn to give back. Let’s become the NEXT GREATEST GENERATION!
Posted by: MikeG1959 | January 21, 2010, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm