Health debate to take over Sunday shows

The White House and key congressional lawmakers will further carve their niches in the healthcare debate on this weekend’s Sunday talk shows.

One of the guests adding to the debate will be Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), whose outburst at President Barack Obama during his congressional address this week captured headlines.

The discussion has reached a fever pitch in the days following Obama’s address; Republicans have since labeled the president’s approach to healthcare as partisan and divisive, while Democrats are struggling to find a common footing on their linchpin issue – the public option.

Standing in for the administration on Sunday will be White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, who will take questions about the president’s speech on CNN’s “State of the Nation.” Also representing the Obama administration will be Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who will appear on “This Week,” and David Axelrod, who will visit “Face the Nation.”

A number of Republicans are also slated to appear this weekend – all vocal critics of the Democrats’ plans for health reform. Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) will make their party’s case against the public option on “Fox News Sunday.” Following them will be Rep. Joe Wilson, made famous this week for shouting "You Lie!" during the president's Wednesday address. Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) fights back Democratic lawmakers during a roundtable on ABC. Pawlenty, specifically, will talk about his work in Minnesota reforming healthcare and establishing low-cost coverage.

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) will follow Gibbs on CNN. And Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) will join former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on “Meet the Press” to discuss whether bipartisan health care reform is even possible at this point.

The Democrats, too, will be on the offensive. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) will further make the case for his healthcare co-op plan on “Fox News Sunday.” His proposal has received considerable attention on the Hill this week, after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said it could be an effective alternative to the public option. 

Conrad will appear alongside Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), a moderate Senate voice who recently met with the president to discuss healthcare reform.

The party’s internal struggle over the public will be on full display on ABC, which will host Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who mostly opposes a government plan, and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), who largely favors it. At the same time, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill) and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will likely defend the proposal on “Meet the Press.”

But all eyes will be on a handful of lawmakers who have yet to define their positions in the healthcare debate. Among them: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who will present their ideas on CNN.

While they discuss reforms, the Senate’s most prominent swing voter -- Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) – will appear on CBS. Snowe has worked quite closely with Democrats recently, even negotiating directly with the White House before Obama’s speech. She, too, will likely define her position in the healthcare debate on Sunday.