Conrad (D-ND) To Health Care Reformers: You Don't Have A Vote

[babylonsister]

Ryan Grim
[email protected] | HuffPost Reporting

Conrad To Health Care Reformers: You Don't Have A Vote

First Posted: 06-10-09 03:50 PM | Updated: 06-10-09 05:06 PM


Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said Wednesday that he is "frankly not terribly interested" in what the major health care reform coalition thinks and is pushing ahead with a proposal the group rejects.

"I am unaware that HCAN has any votes on the floor of the United States Senate," said Conrad when told that the coalition Health Care for America Now opposed his plan to create regional health care co-ops instead of allowing consumers to have access to a public plan option.

"They have no votes on the floor of the United States Senate. And I am dealing with votes in the finance committee and the floor of the United States Senate. I am frankly not terribly interested in what these myriad groups all think. I am interested in what people who vote think," he said, flailing his arms and knocking a Politico reporter's recorder to the marble floor.

"I don't even respond to that kind of thing. I think it is just chatter. What matters is results, legislative results at the end of the day," he said.

But aren't the "myriad groups" he's referring to the base of the Democratic Party? Shouldn't he give some weight to their position?

Conrad wasn't having it. "What is it that they want to get? Are they interested in the name of something or are they interested in getting a result that delivers on what is behind the name? I am interested in actually achieving a result. Not a label, but an alternative to the delivery model of for-profit insurance companies," he said. "The great thing about democracy is we get to debate. It's healthy. It's good to have a debate."

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/10/conrad-to-health-care-ref_n_213918.html

[villager]

1. I guess we "myriad groups" can stop donating/working for the Democratic Party now

...and finally, at long last, form one of our own?

[sandnsea]

2. My name is Sandy Todd - I'm a voter

So that's how he wants to play is it?

[babylonsister]

3. I know, I'm startled by that reaction, in a bad way. nt

[sandnsea]

6. I just called, demanded an apology

We all should. What a shitty thing to say.

[sandnsea]

13. Organizing For America just called

to check on the Saturday event - I was able to quote him right to her and she agreed that was a terrible thing to say. So maybe she can get that up the DNC chain. What an awesome coinkydink!!

[babylonsister]

14. Great! Boneheaded remark at best. If he doesn't care, he should

find another job.

[liskddksil]

4. Add another one to the list of DINOS to be primaried

[walldude]

5. What I am interested in you pathetic little no nothing fuck is having the same quality

health care that you get for free, and I am willing to pay for it.

I say we take away government sponsored health care from elected officials. See how fast they change the system then.

[Oregone]

7. Next election, the constituents do

[Cleita]

8. Another Finance Committee whore.

I wrote Obama today and told him that any politician with conflicts of interest like Senator Baucus shouldn't be allowed on committees crafting laws that deal with health care reform. Senator Baucus has financed all his campaigns with health insurance and PhRMA money and cannot be unbiased in this issue. It's at the core of corruption and that he should use his influence as President to put a stop to it.

[DJ13]

9. "They have no votes on the floor" translates into

"They dont pay bribe money.....er.... "campaign donations"......like the health care and insurance lobby does."

[BanzaiBonnie]

10. The great debater does not care

what "the People" think. What a friggin' jerk.

[KansDem]

11. Hey, Conrad! Here's one vote...

How many "votes" will it take to change your mind?

[Vinca]

15. At least 65,900. That's what a dialysis company donated to him.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00004613

[Winterblues]

12. "It's good to have a debate" but I'm not interested in what you have to say.

:shrug: What matters to Conrad is votes in the Senate and not what Americans think.. How arrogant can a person be?

[Coyote_Bandit]

16. Remind me again

just exactly what is the difference between Dems and Pukes? From where I'm sitting there ain't a whole hell of a lot of difference between the various scumbags.

Looks like healthcare reform is going to give me reason NOT to vote for some Dems to retain their seats when they are up for re-election.

[hootinholler]

17. This arrogant prick's comments need to be on the greatest

:grr:

-Hoot

[Swede Atlanta]

18. OK....no more money or support

My wallet and computer are no longer available to support any Democratic initiatives. When these fuckers realize the owe their positions and incomes to us, the people, then I'll start engaging again. Until then if they loose every election and are thrown out on their ears I will be cheering on the sidelines. At some point these people need to understand that people vote (with corporate influence) but corporations haven't YET been given the vote.

[cascadiance]

19. Translated: "people who vote" = "people who give me MONEY"!

He's lost track of what the voters REALLY want! Has he indicated WHERE he gets this notion that the people don't want what these reformer groups want?

I think he's missing that essential point of democracy being him representing regular people, not "Korporate People"!

Konrad, if you think the only difference is in "the name", then why are YOU so worried about looking at what they are proposing is! If it's the same otherwise, you shouldn't be giving a hoot about it!

Quit taking us for suckers, or YOU will be the sucker we target to get rid of next election!!!!

[seafan]

20. Digby's take on Kent ('Who cares what you think') Conrad:

She has a way with words.

.....

He's obviously interested in what Republican voters think. They are the control group. And never let it be said that your Democratic leaders are elites who would prefer to listen to health industry lobbyists (who you can bet are pounding down the doors and crowding the hallways) than their own constituents. They figure we'll take whatever scraps they feed us and be thankful for them.

You know what is so amazing about that? Apparently, they think that eight years is ancient history? After all, it was only that long ago that a large enough chunk of the left found a voice in Ralph Nader that it effectively gave an election to the Republicans. That shit does happen.

They can play games with health care and pretend that the details don't matter and that nobody will figure out that they're selling out the people on behalf of their owners once again and health care reform turns into yet another bail out for big business. But you can bet that the right will be right there "explaining" why things didn't work out. (And the left will probably be demobilized if not actively looking elsewhere for leadership.)

Let's be clear here. Conrad's brilliant idea for "health care co-ops" is meaningless. There are already a bunch of non-profits in the marketplace and it's done absolutely nothing to control costs. The only thing that will (short of single payer which was written out of the debate by the presidential candidates) is for millions of people to sign up for a public plan that has the clout to influence pricing and efficiency. Anything short of that is a gift to the insurance companies who are undoubtedly ecstatic that Conrad has put this "compromise" on the table.

The only people who are engaged in the details of the health care debate on the merits are liberal interest groups and the activists. The great stressed out middle is too confused to believe anything will ever change and the right and the Medical Industrial Complex (for various reasons) are determined to defeat reform by any means possible. Why do the Democrats think it's a good idea to dismiss and deride their only allies in a situation like this? Is it too cynical to entertain the thought that they are actively courting failure?

Kent Conrad is up for re-election in 2012.