VP Biden Says Health Care Summit ‘Could Be Pure Theater’
EmailABC News' Karen Travers reports:
President Obama said last week that he does not want to see today’s bipartisan health care summit turn into "political theater, with each side simply reciting talking points and trying to score political points."
In an exclusive interview with the Wilmington News Journal on Wednesday, Biden said today’s meeting could be exactly that.
Biden told the News Journal that the six-hour meeting “could be pure theater.”
"This could end up not being good," Biden said in the interview. "But I know of no other way than to just keep pushing, saying, 'Guys, OK, this is our idea. What's your idea?'"
Did Biden not get the Obama talking points?
A Biden spokesman clarifies and says the vice president was saying the summit would be theater if Republicans do not take it seriously and are unwilling to negotiate.*
Biden said that Democrats are ready to work with Republicans today if there are good ideas on the table.
“Literally, if they come up with an idea that bends that (cost) curve, we’ll compromise,” Biden said of Republicans.
Biden has a seat at the table for today’s bipartisan summit, right next to President Obama.
ABC News spoke to political strategists from both parties to get their take on whether the summit can actually accomplish a bipartisan compromise or will just be hours of politicians pandering to live television cameras.
– Karen Travers
*This blog was updated.
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LOL no dog biscuit for Joey today. Not surprised though considering the source. Axleboob is gonna fire someone for letting Joey out of his cage without his muzzle.
Posted by: formerdem | February 25, 2010, 8:30 am 8:30 am
There it is again. I thought they’d stopped using that ‘cost curve’ hocus pocus. Some of them realized the public saw through that as quickly as they saw through that ‘deficit neutral’ garbage.
Posted by: smartlillena | February 25, 2010, 8:52 am 8:52 am
START OVER! We don’t want government-run health care reform. We need insurance reform. One thing seems certain … a “blame fest” would not serve the country. Mr. President, members of Congress, the American people are watching closely. May rational, cool minds win the day.
N0 to tax increases.
N0 to economy-desroying deficits.
N0 to back door bribes to buy votes.
N0 to passing bills without reading them.
N0 to erosion of our personal freedoms.
N0 to government takeover of our health care system.
N0 to government takeover of private business.
NO TO SOCIALISM.
Posted by: Proud American | February 25, 2010, 9:01 am 9:01 am
Fits with Obama perfectly……he is an actor on a stage.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | February 25, 2010, 9:14 am 9:14 am
Test Test 7 – 8 – 9
“Biden said that Democrats are ready to work with Republicans today if there are good ideas on the table.
“Literally, if they come up with an idea that bends that curve, we’ll compromise,” Biden said of Republicans.” – ABC News
Posted by: Noz | February 25, 2010, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Posted by: Proud American | Feb 25, 2010 9:01:19 AM
Proud American, I just read a post at Matthew Yglesias’s blog about spending. It turns out that conservatives and Republicans CLAIM to hate spending, but also hate spending cuts.
” In 2008, the American National Election Study asked a national sample whether federal spending on 12 different programs should be increased, decreased or kept about the same.
As the graph above illustrates [see post], the respondents who identified themselves as “conservative” or “extremely conservative” had little appetite for specific spending cuts.”
As Yglesias put it, “Even I’m more spending-averse than this!”
Ditto.
Posted by: progressive mama | February 25, 2010, 9:23 am 9:23 am
496,000
Posted by: For The Record | February 25, 2010, 9:41 am 9:41 am
“I pray God when the Democrats take back control we don’t make the kind of naked power grab you are doing.” -Joe Biden
Posted by: For The Record | February 25, 2010, 9:47 am 9:47 am
Pure theater alright.
Obama has spent the first 15 minutes talking about himself–tearjerkers about his family struggles, how he reads 10 letters a night from the 40,000 he gets everyday, how rough a year it has been.
Why is he wasting important time on things we have all heard 400 times?
He loves hearing himself talk.
Posted by: millie | February 25, 2010, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Pure theater.
Isn’t that how Obama ended up in the White House?
With the MSM producing the whole Obama Story.
Posted by: greg | February 25, 2010, 10:20 am 10:20 am
Obama has some nerve talking about “what the American people want”.
When has he listened to us?
The majority don’t want his bill.
Posted by: hank | February 25, 2010, 10:21 am 10:21 am
This is not going to go well for Obama.
The Repubs are going to force Obama to face the reality that Obamacare stinks royally.
The backdoor deals, the kickbacks, the costs, more taxes, doesn’t go into effect until 2014.
What’s he going to do deny it on live TV?
Obama is going to look like he is totally disingenuous and out of touch with reality.
Which he is.
Posted by: larry | February 25, 2010, 10:27 am 10:27 am
The first Republican–Alexander, is putting it all out there right away.
Obama is trying to look cool, but I bet he’s seething inside.
Posted by: ollie | February 25, 2010, 10:31 am 10:31 am
No theater from Nancy, Reid, Obama.
Just sob stories and Nancy fighting back tears.
Nancy says health care cannot wait.
We don’t have time to start over.
Harry says 40,000 die a year.
But their bill doesn’t go into effect for 3-4 years!!!!
The taxes however start now.
That’s how concerned Nacy, Barry, and Harry really are.
Posted by: greg | February 25, 2010, 10:54 am 10:54 am
It’s been almost an hour.
One Republican has spoken.
Obama twice at length.
Reid and Pelosi.
I’m guessing Obama will stall as long as possible to avoid the harsh reality coming from the republicans, for all to see.
Posted by: millie | February 25, 2010, 10:59 am 10:59 am
Barry is stuttering and stammering.
No wonder he didn’t want his crappy HC bill on C-Span.
The people don’t want this!
He knows it.
Posted by: mick | February 25, 2010, 11:01 am 11:01 am
Oh my God.
Did Harry Reid just say “no one is talking about using reconciliation?”
They really do think Americans are stupid.
Posted by: ollie | February 25, 2010, 11:05 am 11:05 am
One of the many disappointing things I have learned about this administration is that it is ALL about theater. President Obama is the Circus Ringmaster, the Carnival King.
Whatever is in the spotlight is what you are supposed to see, never mind what is going on backstage. (Watch your wallet).
Posted by: Carol | February 25, 2010, 11:07 am 11:07 am
“Literally, if they come up with an idea that bends that (cost) curve, we’ll compromise,” Biden said of Republicans.
What a crock of male cow droppings!
Dearest Joe, if that were true then the Democrats would have already included Tort Reform, the number cost curve reducer, in the current Bill.
Then again, perhaps there’s Ice and Snow in Hades and you’ll announce a retooling of the Bill to include liability limits today.
I rather doubt it as you have said Mr. Biden, it’s just a show for political entertainment purposes.
Posted by: Noz | February 25, 2010, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
From the mouth of babes.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | February 25, 2010, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
Quick print somemore money. We need to pay for something. We’re not sure what it is yet but we’ll think of something. Call Ben over at the Fed and tell him to fire up the presses. We’re on our way to get some cash. This is the group that’s been talking about controlling the planets wheather via Global warming. Only one thing besides healthcare they need to leave alone and that’s the weather. Them in control of the weather will turn out bad, just like healthcare will. I’m convinced that the big O’s (and don’t mean orgasam) ecomnomic plan is just print money. That would be his understanding of the government. Like ask a kid where eggs come from and they say “the store”
Obama has no clue what he’s doing. Kinda like the dog chasing the truck. Once he caught it he has no clue what to do with it, That’s Obama!
Posted by: cance | February 26, 2010, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm