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Senator Hatch: Healthcare reform bills threaten survival of two-party system

By Michael O'Brien - 11/02/09 11:15 AM ET

The healthcare reform proposals before Congress threaten the existence of the two-party system, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) told reporters Monday morning.

Hatch asserted that the health bills, which he believes represent a "step-by-step approach to socialized medicine," will lead to Americans' dependence on Democrats for their health and other issues.

"And if they get there, of course, you're going to have a very rough time having a two-party system in this country, because almost everybody's going to say, 'All we ever were, all we ever are, all we ever hope to be depends on the Democratic Party,' " Hatch said during an interview with the conservative CNSNews.com.

"That's their goal," Hatch added. "That's what keeps Democrats in power."

That claim led Hatch to suggest that some Democrats are "diabolical" in their pursuit of health reform.

"Do I believe they're that diabolical? I don't believe most of them are, but I think some of them are," Hatch said. "Maybe diabolical's too harsh of a word, but the fact is, they really, really believe in socialized medicine."

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During the interview, the Utah Republican worried about the health bill's provisions on public funding for abortion as well as the potential unconstitutionality of the individual mandate conservatives have argued.


Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65853-hatch-health-bills-threaten-two-party-system
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Comments (99)

I agree. there are many things that can be done to improve our current system that don't cost money that should be done first; before doing a whole sale restructure when 85% of people are covered and happy with their care.BY PamPorter on 11/02/2009 at 11:40
I agree but not for the same reasons… I think the two party system SHOULD go…"White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that the rise of a Conservative Party challenger in a closely watched upstate New York House election shows that the Republican Party leadership is “becoming more and more extreme, and more and more marginalized.""Extreme? Of course they are, WE ARE ALL FED UP with CENTRIST COWARDS on both sides who are most likely to be bribed, lobbied, to cave in and backstab. More power to 'em. Have you talked to the liberals lately/ Oh, I forgot, you really don't care about left liberals either.Marginalized? No, they are GROWING thanks to the frustration THE DEMOCRATIC party, the party in power, has managed to foment on BOTH sides of the aisle.Voters on both sides are GETTING RID OF THEIR MODERATES. The public has NOW decided that this is where a lot of the damage comes from. There is JUST AS STRONG of a movement in the Democrats to get rid of their middle-roaders.FOR EXAMPLE: All anyone wanted in the HEALTH CARER EFORM, was an expansion of Medicare, to those at high risk, or wanted or needed it, and LEAVE EVERYONE ELSE ALONE. You people had to turn it into some kind of Waterworld scenario, with Dr. Death and Horseshack accountants.WE ARE LOOKING FOR LEADERS WITH GUTS ON BOTH SIDES. And CENTRIST Democrats nor Republicans don't fit the bill right now.BY tropicgirl on 11/02/2009 at 12:13
That's rich. So, Senator: We can't make people's lives better because people will look at who made their lives better and vote for them. You're admitting this will leave Republicans out in the cold because once people realize Democrats are taking care of them, Republicans won't win elections anymore.Rich!BY arnold1888 on 11/02/2009 at 12:26
What an idiot Hatch is. Such hyperbolic ranting sounds like Hatch increasingly fears being primaried by the rabid hillbilly teabagger brigade! LMAO at extremist wingnut fools!BY Joe Six on 11/02/2009 at 12:38
Gee Hatch maybe if republicans did something other than fund wasteful military spending, promote a rape culture in contractors, and weren't obviously bought and paid for corporate shills then people would be interested in what they have to offer. You had 8 years with GWB you could of pretended to care then.BY matt on 11/02/2009 at 12:40
Not sure whats so wrong with having a third party enter the fray, especially a hardcore conservative party that will split Republican votes.Sounds pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty goodBY tweetivism on 11/02/2009 at 12:44
That's a statement much like his reason for not supporting a public option. It will be too cheap and too popular!We dasterdly Democrats! Out to make folks vote for us by doing good by the people. Sounds like a conspiracy!BY Lynn on 11/02/2009 at 12:45
So, taking the converse of Hatch's words, the Republicans are leading us ultimately to anarchy? I mean, that's the logical endpoint of less and less governance, and it's as intellectually honest as the Senator's statement.BY JB on 11/02/2009 at 12:46
Right on Senator! Having lived in Canada for 10 years and experienced socialized medicine up close and personal you are very correct. People DO turn into gov't leeches and forget personal responsibility. Look at New Orleans after Katrina. Half the pop was whining for the gov't to fix things instead of doing it themselves. I work in medicine. We DO need changes but throwing it out for this democratic boondogle is nuts!!!BY fivegreatkids on 11/02/2009 at 12:47
Senator Hatch, If the best you can do is worry about the future of the two party system you probably don't belong in public life. At the very least you should be aware that the end of one of the major parties does not guarantee the end of the two party system. Twice before in our country's history a party has gone extinct, yet we still have two parties. If the GOP goes extinct because it argues so intensely for a position that in the future becomes so intensely unpopular it causes the party to vanish so be it. I'm sure another party will rise to take its place, just as has occurred twice before. Grow up.BY Pa/Ma on 11/02/2009 at 12:57

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