Key Republican: We can't count on Blue Dogs on healthcare

[Joanne98]

Republicans cannot count on centrist Blue Dogs to side against Democratic leaders on healthcare reform, a top House conservative argued Friday.

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, said that for as much as Republicans would like to count on Democratic centrists, the GOP would have to likely close ranks to block health reform proposals.

"Every single Blue Dog voted for Nancy Pelosi to be the speaker of the House," Price emphasized during a speech at the Value Voters Summit. "At every single turn, our hopes have been dashed."

Some Republicans have said they're exploring partnering with Blue Dogs, who have been somewhat reluctant to sign onto the healthcare reform legislation favored by House Democratic leaders.

But Price asserted that if legislative maneuvers are used to force through health reform this year, Republicans would be poised to make those Blue Dogs irrelevant, and take back Congress.

"If they strongarm it through -- if they 'Rahm' it through -- not only will the American people make sure the House is run by responsible Republicans...but the Senate will be run by Republicans, too," he said.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/59369-gop-leader-we-cant-count-on-blue-dogs-on-healthcare

Yeah right!

[robinlynne]

1. wish he were correct.... or rather, Obama, make those blue dogs vote Dem!

[liberal N proud]

2. Lets hope that this is true

And the Democrats (if they want to be called that) will all vote for Health Care for all.

[Kermitt Gribble]

3. Lol! Those same 'responsible republicans' that ran the house up until 3 years ago??? n/t

[redqueen]

9. Remember how Bush said you have to focus on the people you can fool all the time?

They're lucky that their supporters are so willfully ignorant.

[Warpy]

4. A few blue dogs are reliably hostile

but no, the Democrats have enough votes for a simple majority. The sticking point for most of the blue dogs in the Senate was the rebursement rate of a public option. They didn't want the automatically low Medicare rates, but wanted a public plan to negotiate rates on the same basis as for profit plans. While this is bad for the consumer in the short run, it will allow our hospitals to survive in the long run. I reluctantly agree with them about this.

What needs to be remembered is that the blue dogs have no stake in defeating a Democratic plan just because it's a Democratic plan, something their philosophical brethren on the other side of the aisle just can't understand. Passing a Democratic plan is an advantage to every Democrat seeking re election, and trust me, they all want to be re elected to the cushiest job they've ever held.

The Republicans, as usual, are completely missing the mood of the country.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. Big words ! Tough man!

:eyes:

Well, I guess I'm glad to hear that he doesn't think that the Blue Dogs are going to revolt en masse against HCR (which I don't believe they will do anyway).

I don't buy his electoral predictions and his apparent belief that running against HCR in 2010, which is widely supported by the public, is a sound electoral strategy but, hey, I'M not going to stand in their way.
:evilgrin:

[Old and In the Way]

6. Back when sanity prevailed in the Republican caucus, they'd have jumped on the Baucus plan.

Unfortunately for them, they are frozen out of any legislation that has the words "healthcare reform" in them. Their base is simply too stupid to understand pragmatic politics and they'll primary out anyone Republican that dares to do anything in their best interests. Oh well.

That said, if there is any crumblings, it's going to come from the Republican side where a "no" vote could seal their fate in the next GE. A real Hobb's choice...vote yes and lose in the primary or vote no and lose in the GE.

[DJ13]

7. We cant count on them either

Hey MSM, when will you stop lying about the Blue Dogs being "centrist"?

They are conservatives in this party.

[jannyk]

11. oooh Snap!

[emulatorloo]

8. "the American people [will] make sure the House is run by responsible Republicans"

Haven't most or all of the special elections since Nov 2008 been won by Democrats?

[dajoki]

10. If it were only true n/t