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Kennedy, Baucus affirm commitment to health bill, urge Obama to swiftly replace Daschle

Posted by Lisa Wangsness, Political Reporter February 5, 2009 05:06 PM

WASHINGTON -- Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Max Baucus, in a public letter to President Obama this afternoon, affirmed their commitment to passing a major health care bill this year and urged the new president to move with dispatch to find a replacement for Tom Daschle, who would have been the White House's point-person on that issue.

Daschle, Obama's nominee for Health and Human Services, withdrew his name this week after acknowledging he had failed to pay $128,000 in taxes on a private car and driver lent to him by a Democratic donor. Since he lost his reelection bid in 2004, he had also earned large speaking fees from health care interests whose activities are regulated by HHS.

"We have a moral duty to ensure that every American can get quality health care," the senators' letter said. "Incremental efforts will no longer suffice and we cannot afford to wait any longer. With your continued leadership and commitment, we remain certain that our goal of enacting comprehensive health care reform can be accomplished this year.

Daschle's departure devastated health advocates, who viewed him as uniquely qualified to guide the White House reform effort. A veteran former senator with a low-key demeanor who had won respect on both sides of the aisle, Dashle had recently authored a book on health reform and had the full confidence of the president.

Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Kennedy, the chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, have been working steadily since last summer to prepare the way for a bill they hoped to send to the floor in the first 100 days of the new administration.

In their letter, they expressed disappointment about the Daschle situation but said the circumstances demanded immediate bold action.

"As you have emphasized we must act now," the letter said. "The ranks of the uninsured grow larger each day. The cost of health care to families, businesses and government are crippling and, although we spend more on health care than any other country, the quality of care provided by America's health care system is often uneven compared to other industrialized nations."

Health care advocates do not agree on who would the best person to replace Daschle, or whether Obama should have two people take his place -- one to head the department and one to work on the health bill.

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I AM SO ANGRY!

Tom Daschle, and Nancy Killefer are two of the finest, and most competent public servants you could possibly hope for in these appointments. They have been assassinated by the Washington healthcare lobby through their paid Bush Republican henchmen in congress. These Bush republicans are the same people blocking the economic recovery plan put forth by the Obama administration.

I am BURNING MAD America. And you should be too. Tome Daschle and Nancy Killefer were exactly what we needed to help turn this country around and fix our economy, and catastrophic healthcare crisis.

If I were their boss I would tell them to get right back to Washington. And dare congress to not approve them. How ridiculous is it to reject highly qualified people that this country needs just because they made a mistake on their taxes. Don't stand for that anymore America. They apologized, and paid their taxes, and that should be it. Their country needs them. But President Obama has to do what he thinks is best. I understand that. I'M JUST SO MAD at the anti American Bush Republicans.

Like many of you I have been trying to enjoy the after glow of this Beautiful historic election. But I see that the republicans in congress and their cohorts aren't going to be good sports, and LOSER'S!

SO BE IT!

In spite of President Obama's repeated offers, and gestures of collegiality to Republicans. Bush Republicans have seized upon every opportunity to stab President Obama in the back. And by doing so they are stabbing you, and the rest of the American people in the back. Well, you don't have to put up with that. And you shouldn't put up with that. President Obama has only been on the job two weeks. And he inherited two wars, and the worst economy since the great depression.

We had an election. And president Obama, and the democrats won BIG. And Bush Republicans lost miserably!

The Bush Republicans are the ones responsible for the worst economic crisis since the great depression. And the Bush Republicans are responsible for the worst healthcare crisis in American history. A healthcare crisis that is killing hundreds of thousands of you every year. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured, and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies.

President Obama, and the Democrats should take back all the concessions they granted the Bush Republicans, and tell them to put up! or shut up!

Everyone, start calling and contacting these Bush Republicans and tell them to stop blocking President Obama, and the Democrats recovery plan. And stop trying to block, and corrupt healthcare reform. Tell them to get on board with President Obama and the Democrats, or GET OUT!!

If these Bush Republicans refuse to cooperate I want all of you to immediately begin the process of removing them from office by every legal means possible. Including impeachment, and recall. I want you to bring the full weight and power of the movement down on their heads that swept President Obama, and the Democrats into control of the whitehouse, and congress. Take no prisoners. Use all the techniques you learned over this past historic election. Be flexible, creative, adaptable, and relentless like you were in the past.

To my cyber warriors I call on you again. You are among the best and the brightest. I call on you to move this fight from the cyber world to the living rooms, dens, and work places of the voters these Bush Republicans misrepresent. I know I can count on you. This is a fight worth fighting.

To my fellow World citizens. As an American I invite, and welcome you and your advise, input, and help. By delaying Americas recovery, and healthcare reform, these Bush Republicans are delaying our commitment to your recovery, and to being the better America for you that we aspire too.

I had hoped it would not come to this after our historic election. I had hoped that the Bush Republicans would respect the overpowering will of the people, and the World. But I guess not. All the Bush Republicans really care about is them-selves. Well, SO BE IT! Lets finish the job.

Sincerely

jacksmith --- Working Class :-)

Posted by jacksmith February 5, 09 06:49 PM
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