I can’t remember an issue that has generated more passionate opposition than the current health care proposal. The overwhelming majority of messages I’ve received have asked me to do everything I can to defeat the bill.
Of course, I’ve also gotten plenty of advice as to how to do that. Some say we should yell a lot louder about how terrible this bill really is. Others say we should stop offering or voting on amendments to “fix” the bill because we ought to be focused on killing it altogether.
With those suggestions in mind, I thought I’d spend a moment to provide an inside look as to what the real strategy is on how we hope to defeat the health care bill.
Believe me, we’re more than happy to turn up the volume in telling the world what’s wrong with this bill, and public opinion has definitely soured on Obamacare as a result. Every poll demonstrates clearly that the American people don’t want this, and the American people are absolutely right.
But public opposition isn’t enough. We may have the voters on our side on this issue, but we still don’t have the votes in Congress to prevail, even with unanimous Republican opposition.
The goal, then, is to convince a single senate Democrat – just one – to vote to kill this bill.
That can’t be accomplished by screaming at them. They’re not going to suddenly stop being liberals. Instead, what we’re doing is trying to receive votes on amendments that will be difficult for some moderate Democrats to oppose. We are trying to include a poison pill in the health care bill that will make it impossible for at least one Democrat to vote for it. We’ll take any Democrat. We’re not picky. We just need at least one.
We also recognize that they’re feeling a tremendous amount of heat from their side. This president has been in office for almost a year with no successes to show for it. For him, it’s no longer about solving the health care problem; it’s about scoring a political victory. He wants new momentum to expand government into every aspect of our lives. A defeat would be a devastating blow to the Democrats, and they know it.
That’s why I don’t want to “fix” Obamacare. It’s a disaster from start to finish. I want to kill it, bury it, and drive a stake through its heart so it never rises again.
What can Republicans in Utah do to influence Democratic leaders in other states?
I can’t believe that the democrats are trying to ram thjis bill through against the will of the majority of Americans who they are supposed to represent. This just proves the democratic philosophy that government should rule the people not serve the people. I am so angry about this that I can’t see straight.
Give us the name of one of the Democrats that may be persuaded in changing his vote if a slew of voters show him what the American people want. I’m sure if he gets his mailbox full of persuading emails to change his mind…who knows what might happen!
How much more can we the people take? Our money, not congress’s is being spent faster than we and our children’s children can earn it. Stop this insanity!
The tactics being used to ram this bill through Congress with such little regard for public sentiment speaks volumes about the state of Congress. Both parties bear responsibility. This is such a mess!
How is it that government “by the people and for the people” is suddenly controled by politicians bent on their own agenda without regard to the “voice” they are supposed to be listening to? Nothing in our history, or the history of any other country I’m aware of, suggests we can spend our way to prosperity. What on earth can a little guy like me do to fight back before it’s everlastingly too late???
The Democrats ought to be ashamed of themselves for putting money, power and control before the will of their own people that they represent.
Senator, thanks for “standing in the gap” on this issue as well all of the other crazy things this president is trying to do. Maybe we should fight for more representation from Utah based on our demographics and our missionaries. At least we can have solace in the fact that our representatives and senators have a voice of reason and we can count on them to vote with solidarity against the socialism the democrats are trying to foist off on us. Let’s campaign for a swing in control in 2010 and 2012. Let’s not have short memories concerning the way they are spending us into oblivion and totally disregarding the will of the people.
I am against Obama care please let my feelings be known to the president and any one else involved with it.
My wife and I are against the Healthcare bill as best we unstand it. We did receive a call about a survey but I can’t find it on your website.
How do we let the democrats know how we feel? I haven’t ever gotten involved in politics but I feel so strongly about our ability to choose that I will fight for it now. If it is not too late! Thanks for your hard work.
I know this might not be the most appropriate place to post this but for other readers living in the USA are you concerned about the debt? It just seems like it is getting to the point where the country is going to go bankrupt and my husband and I are just a little concerned that our kids and grandkids are going to have some big problems in a few years. Thanks for letting me vent, Sara