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Pence: 'Democrats didn't get the message'

By Bridget Johnson and Eric Zimmermann - 11/08/09 11:53 AM ET

Leading Democrats and Republicans differed sharply Sunday on the message sent by the slim passage of the healthcare reform bill late Saturday night by the House.

"The message was clear -- it's time to fix what has been a broken healthcare system for millions of Americans," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) said on "Fox News Sunday."

But chairman of the House Republican Conference Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), referencing Tuesday's elections and August town hall protests, said Satuday night's "narrow partisan vote" -- only one Republican voting in favor of the bill -- showed that Democrats were out of touch with Americans.

"I think the message from last night is that the Democrats didn't get the message," Pence said on "Fox News Sunday."

Pence referenced Speaker Nancy Pelosi's contention that Democrats were "making history" with the bill's passage.

"If the Democrats keep ignoring the American people, their party is going to be history in less than a year," Pence said.

"There's no perfect bill out there, but this bill is what we need," Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.) said on "Meet the Press," adding that the lack of bipartisanship is "something we just have to look beyond."

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, responding on "This Week" to the argument that fight for healthcare has stretched back to Teddy Roosevelt, said, "This [bill] would have been one of the things he'd have hunted on the big range and shot dead."

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/66867-pence-democrats-didnt-get-the-message

Comments (36)

Hopefully the Senate will cool the rabid passions of the out-of-control House and fundamentally change or kill this terribly flawed bill. As the CNN poll just released shows, Americans oppose this bill.BY Steve on 11/08/2009 at 12:40
Don't forget that despite the fact that polling shows 80% of voters oppose illegal aliens partaking in any health care reform— and despite the fact that Obama promised illegals would not be covered — Pelosi with Obama's help rammed this bill through which would allow illegal aliens to access benefits. Thus, Joe Wilson was correct when he shouted at Obama: "YOU LIE."BY Joe on 11/08/2009 at 12:50
WHAT PART ONF "NO " DOSEN'T PELOSE HER ( DUMB ) DEMS , UNDERSTAND ??BY MORGAN on 11/08/2009 at 12:54
When asked about the bill's Constitutionali ty, Pelosi replied, "ARE YOU SERIOUS????"Well, Madam, we ARE serious. The Constitution, not your gavel, is the supreme law of the land. There are millions of Americans who have sworn an oath to "uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." Our enlistments may have had expiration dates, but that oath does NOT!BY The Crawfish on 11/08/2009 at 13:21
What part of NO the American people said was mis-understood?BY Robert on 11/08/2009 at 13:55
talk about double standards: its all ok for repubs to spend billions on wars and no bid contractors, but when it comes saving lives of middle class americans their principles are more important than the majority . they only represent corporate interests, I guess the cost of saving lives is just too great. republcans- the party of we really dont give a damn about you ,BY rodney on 11/08/2009 at 15:21
Tyranny is when career politicians tell the People to go to hell and then gloat about it on TV.BY Farnsworth on 11/08/2009 at 15:33
It was bipartisan..afterall Cao voted for it..:PBY Theard  on 11/08/2009 at 16:14
A bill such as this can be detrimental to a long-term economy. If the government gives the american people cheap health care, free food, and a free house there is no reason to prosper. Exhibit A- Soviet Union. Simply put, incentives matter.BY PETER on 11/08/2009 at 17:27
Steve, Joe—- Get real.There never were any illegal immigrants getting anything out of this bill. There were never any abortions paid for by this bill.This Congress has done what no Congress has done in the past 50 years—— and what no REPUBLICAN Congress would ever WISH to take on—- this Congress had the guts and the fortitude to tackle the big anchor in our economy— health care.And they're getting the job done. The Party of No will be dancin' all by themselves come 2010 2012. The Democrats are taking on the tough stuff and getting the job done.BY Honest Abe on 11/08/2009 at 20:44

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Key Blogs

What they are saying today …
Huffington Post
Huffpo's banner headline reads "SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTIN'" about tomorrow night's first procedural vote in the Senate on healthcare reform legislation. A bill that would allow an audit of the Federal Reserve passed the House Financial Services Committee yesterday. … Read More »
Drudge Report
"10 HRS OF DEBATE SATURDAY; VOTE 8 P.M." banners Drudge about the first procedural vote on the Senate's healthcare reform bll scheduled to take place tomorrow. Drudge links to a release from House Minority Leader John Boehner's (R-Ohio) office saying that the Senate bill has a "monthly abortion fee." … Read More »
Buzzflash
Pmcarpenter writes that establishment Democrats are beginning to fret over the gubernatorial losses in Virginia and New Jersey. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) is the blog's "GOP hypocrite of the week" for his House floor speech about the 9/11 civilian terror trials. … Read More »
Firedoglake
Attaturk posts video of Comedy Central's Jon Stewart grilling former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs. Blue Texan asks why 2008 presidential candidate and former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) said the war in Afghanistan is lost. … Read More »
RedState
Erick Erickson explores wether or not voting for cloture on healthcare reform is a vote for the bill. A new poll shows Rep. Roy Blunt (R) and Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) running close to even in the Show Me State's 2010 Senate race. … Read More »
The Corner
Kathryn Jean Lopez publishes a letter from a National Review donor. Rich Lowry wonders when the "divisive" Crist-Rubio GOP Florida Senate primary will end, saying it is bad for the party. … Read More »
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