Mystery Solved: How Pelosi and the WH got Loretta Sanchez' vote...

[Clio the Leo]

Sanchez in cross-hairs of health endgame

What it took this week for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama to get the health care bill passed on Sunday night went way beyond making sausage.

About 12 hours before the vote, Democratic leaders began going on the Sunday talk shows to tell us that they had the 216 votes they needed to pass the Senate bill and the fixes to it that House lawmakers were insisting upon.

But based on Pelosi's body language on the floor – she was corralling people and did not look happy - the deal wasn't really done until several hours later.

One member who said she felt the pressure and agonized over her vote was Rep. Loretta Sanchez, who voted yes Saturday, just as she voted yes on the health bill the House passed last summer.
Those who know Sanchez fully expected her to vote yes. But Sanchez let it be known that her vote wasn't a gimme, that she had questions, issues with the bill and that she needed to be convinced.

<snip>

By week's end Sanchez was still on the fence. Out came the big guns.

Obama called her on Friday. He told her he was working very hard to find the votes and how important this was to him.

"When I hung up I said, 'Barack I'm going to vote on the merits of the bill and I'm still trying to ascertain if this is a good thing,'' Sanchez said.

Well then the really heavy hitter for Sanchez was brought in. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Sanchez backed Clinton for president. Until she began jet-setting around the world, health care was the issue Clinton cared about more than any other, dating back to her days as heath czar for her husband, President Bill Clinton.

"She gave me some things to think about,'' said Sanchez. "She's definitely for it (the bill). She said 'We're not going to get everything we want. I think this is as good as it gets today.' ''

<snip>

Sanchez wouldn't tell any of us in the press how she was going to vote up until the end.

She left town Friday for personal business in Florida.

One Hill publication quoted Democratic aides as saying they didn't know if she'd even be back for the vote. Said she was going to a campaign fundraiser.

Not so, she said. She was in Florida on personal business and always intended to be back for the vote.

By late Friday Sanchez knew how she was going to vote.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sanchez-240322-vote-bill.html

..... and, also 'cause Frenchie sent a fax. :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=233744

[Jennicut]

1. Thank you to Hillary! Sanchez supported her for President and I think Hillary made

a very convincing argument. Also, big thanks to Frenchie!

[democrattotheend]

26. Agreed. She and Bill probably deserve some credit

I heard that she helped with Sanchez and possibly some other House members, and I heard Saturday that Bill was busy calling members of the House. So kudos to both of them for helping to get to 216.

[LiberalFighter]

2. I do wish the Democrats do a better job of explaining the details and answering questions

via their caucuses or one on one.

[SoFlaJet]

3. Frenchie Cat

is one tough lady-I ALWAYS look for her threads. She was an ally during the presidential primaries and we fought in the same fox holes together. I'm probably just another name that she has no recollection about doing that with but I know her and I truly RESPECT her. So to Babylon Sis, Pro Sense, Grant and so many of the others that I share ideology with and shared the fox holes with-THANK YOU fellow democrats-you guys keep this place sane and keep it the way it's SUPPOSED to be; DEMOCRATIC Underground.

[Dappleganger]

5. You don't wanna be on FrenchieCat's fax list!

She'll nail your ass to the floor until you cry 'Momma!'

[SoFlaJet]

9. Hey Dap

there are a LOT of us who sent dozens of emails and made calls. I'll tell you, George W Bush really brought this democratic party together. By disenfranchising me and my right to vote in the 2000 "election" down here in Palm Beach County they unleashed a storm and drove this once independent voter (who actually voted for his father in 1988) so far to the left with a vow to never let that happen again and to NEVER ever ever vote for a republican again.

[Dappleganger]

14. Thanks for letting me know!

We moved down here to FL in 2001 just after that fiasco...what a bloody travesty of justice!

THANK YOU for fighting the good fight...to ALL of you who know how to walk the walk!

[Cha]

10. Love seeing your name, SoFlaJet!

Thank you for all your support for our Prez~

Frenchie!:bounce: goes and gets it done~

[SoFlaJet]

11. Thank you Cha

that made my heart feel good

[FrenchieCat]

28. I appreciate the shout out, SoFlaJet!

and I, in turn, appreciate you. Really I do!
From one Democratic Lady to another! :toast:

[SoFlaJet]

32. SoFlaJet is a dude

still love ya anyway

[dkf]

4. Hillary says this is as good as it gets.

[Cha]

12. Hillary is a smart woman and knows

this is a good start. She doesn't go around whining for what isn't happening.

[dkf]

17. Like the public option.

Yeah I don't think we'll get it either under Obama. He's bought and paid for. Game over.

Guess he saved your ass.

[Cha]

18. You're so delusional..not even worth reading..you just spit out

crap and hope someone feels sorry for you.

[dkf]

19. Don't feel sorry for me

I'm fine. Feel sorry for the true unfortunates that still are stuck with this system.

[Cha]

22. As much as you work on getting sympathy..I just can't do it.

[dkf]

24. I'm in really good shape.

Seriously. I just want to make everyone elses situation better because I've got no worries of my own for now just concerns for this country.

Of course I'm not as good as a health insurance executive. Should have bought stock earlier but couldn't do it in all good conscience.

[madmom]

20. NO, she said it's as good as it gets TODAY!!! There is a difference.

[dkf]

21. For now.

Question is what needs to change to get more done.

[madmom]

30. Well that remains to be seen, But that's a far cry from

saying "That's as good as it gets" period, end of discussion. I think you were being a little disingenuous.

[Dappleganger]

6. Good to hear that Hillary was in on this...

but as usual, she is a behind-the-scenes woman doing it with grace and style.

[SoFlaJet]

13. She's an amazing woman

I'm so glad she put her ego aside and went to work with the Obama admin.. One thing you gotta say about the democratic party; we got some great and VERY strong women on our side. I love our Dem ladies.

[Dappleganger]

15. Both elected...

and in the trenches!

:hug:

[SoFlaJet]

16. absolutely

It's a great day to be a democrat isn't it?

[BeyondGeography]

7. Awesome...I was hoping that would happen

:thumbsup: :patriot:

[Cha]

8. Absolutely,

Also, 'cause Frenchie sent a fax.:)

See how rumors get started.."campaign fundraiser"?

Good for Hillary! My blue chicken dog got elected on the coat of Obama in 2008 and voted for the HRC the first time but the teabaggers got to him.

[Sanity Claws]

23. Loretta Sanchez calls the President "Barack?"

I thought she would address him as Mister President. I'm serious.

Maybe if Obama required Congress people to use his title instead of addressing him by his first name, he might get the Democrats in Congress to toe the party line better. It's a matter of respect.

[liberalpragmatist]

25. Ha! I actually suggested that.

Though I won't claim credit. :)



No, seriously, good thing Loretta Sanchez got some sense knocked into her. She's an uber-PUMA, but at least she came around in the end.

[FrenchieCat]

27. Haha! 'cause Frenchie send a fax!

:rofl:

Well, I actually sent 3 different ones to the same number from my 2 fax machines which makes 6! :rofl:

[PopSixSquish]

29. Nicely Done Madam Secretary!

Sounds like this was an all-hands on deck effort.

[vaberella]

31. Who needs Obama...We got Frenchie!!!

:rofl: I'm glad she changed her mind and supported the bill.

[butterfly77]

33. I still don't like the fact that..

the Dems seem to want to make Obama beg them for their votes who in the fuck are they for...