The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : At Summit, Sen. Alexander Calls on Obama, Dems to Renounce Reconciliation

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The Spectacle Blog

At Summit, Sen. Alexander Calls on Obama, Dems to Renounce Reconciliation

By Philip Klein on 2.25.10 @ 10:38AM

Sen. Lamar Alexander, during his opening remarks at the White House health care summit, called on President Obama and Democrats to renounce the use of reconciliation to ram through a bill on a purely partisan basis. Alexander said it was important first step toward Obama's stated goal of having Republicans and Democrats work together on legislation.

President Obama did not respond to Alexander's request, but instead called on Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to make their opening statements.

Americans oppose the use of reconciliation to pass a health care bill by a 52 percent to 39 percent margin, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll.

UPDATE: Harry Reid says, "Nobody is talking about reconciliation," but then makes the case that it's done all the time.

Obama's response: "Rather than at the outset start talking about legislative process, and what's going to happen in the Senate and the House, and this and that, what I suggest is let's talk about the substance, how we might help the American people deal with cost, coverage, insurance, these other issues, and we might surprise ourselves and find out that we agree more than we disagree. And that would then help to dictate how we move forward. It may turn out on the other hand that there's just too big of a gulf, and then we'll have to figure out how we proceed from there."

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Oldefarte| 2.25.10 @ 11:27AM

This summit is just a ruse/cover for Democrats to say, HEY WE TRIED TO GET REPUBLICANS COORPORATION BUT FAILED, NOW WE'LL USE RECONCILIATION AND PASS IT; and Republicans are stupid to even attend/show up at this farsical meeting!!!!!

Margie| 2.25.10 @ 1:21PM

Yes but look at it this way, Olde Farte, the American people get to watch these good men in action! (Republicans, of course). They get to see before their very eyes the HUGE difference between the 2 parties. THAT is a hopeful thing.
No one can say there is no difference. It is a good witness to the country, and indeed the world.
I'm looking on the bright side.
"As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good" Gen. 50:20.
To paraphrase: The Democrats meant this "show" for evil, but God has used it for good."
It gives the people a clear view and choice of where to place their votes in the upcoming elections.
I thank the Republicans for doing it, and I thank God.