Liberal and Conservative Democrats Brawl Over Bill

[undeterred]

Source: The Washington Post

House Democrats feuded openly over health care Friday before shaking hands on a deal that guaranteed only that they would keep negotiating, wrapping up a week in which consensus on a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health-care system seemed to diminish by the day.

White House aides announced a week ago that President Obama was ready to "take the baton" for his biggest domestic campaign initiative, and indeed Obama campaigned for his proposals virtually nonstop this week, including taking an hour of prime-time television to make his case directly to the American public. But despite the president's attentions, Congress was further away Friday from passing health-care legislation than it was on Monday, with only days left before lawmakers leave Washington for their August recess.

Senate Democrats announced a day after the news conference that they could not meet Obama's deadline for passing a health-care bill, while the House has been hung up by differences between liberals and more conservative members of the party.

Tensions in the House over the issue reached a boiling point Friday, when, during a back-and-forth day of private huddles, Democrats emerged at times to accuse one another of lying or "empowering the Republicans." Despite the acrimony, House Democratic leaders left town holding out hope that they could reach an agreement with seven conservative members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the last hurdle to clear before the legislation can be brought to the House floor.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/24/AR2009072403651.html

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I don't think we have a "brawl" icon.

[DJ13]

1. Every time I see a video of an Asian country's legislature in a fist fight

I keep thinking its a shame our representatives arent just as passionate.

[proteus_lives]

6. Yeah.

Right or wrong, it would be nice to see some passion.

There used to duels right on the congress floor! President Jackson would chase people around with his cane!

[earcandle]

2. Fighting is healthy in a democracy. Just let the people and their happiness, health and well being

be the goal, not the use of our funds to murder people around
the globe and at home as well.
These people are sicko.

[Frank Booth]

3. The "Democrats" blocking health care reform deserve to have their asses beat.

[ProudDad]

4. Hell, the freakin' blue-dogs ARE republicans

Most of the other Dems are just corporate tools...

[No Elephants]

5. How do you unseat a fellow Republicant? Run as Blue Dog.

No, there's no punchline. It's no joke.