Pelosi to Dems: back health bill even if it hurts - "Time is up...We really have to go forth"

[jefferson_dem]

Pelosi to Dems: back health bill even if it hurts
By CHARLES BABINGTON (AP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged her colleagues to back a major overhaul of U.S. health care even if it threatens their political careers, a call to arms that underscores the issue's massive role in this election year.

Lawmakers sometimes must enact policies that, even if unpopular at the moment, will help the public, Pelosi said in an interview being broadcast Sunday the ABC News program "This Week."

"We're not here just to self-perpetuate our service in Congress," she said. "We're here to do the job for the American people."

It took courage for Congress to pass Social Security and Medicare, which eventually became highly popular, she said, "and many of the same forces that were at work decades ago are at work again against this bill."

It's unclear whether Pelosi's remarks will embolden or chill dozens of moderate House Democrats who face withering criticisms of the health care proposal in visits with constituents and in national polls. Republican lawmaker unanimously oppose the health care proposals, and many GOP strategists believe voters will turn against Democrats in the November elections.

Pelosi, from San Francisco, is more liberal than scores of her Democratic colleagues. But she generally walks a careful line between urging them to back left-of-center policies and giving them a green light to buck party leaders to improve their re-election hopes.

Her comments to ABC, in the interview released Sunday, seemed to acknowledge the widely held view that Democrats will lose House seats this fall — maybe a lot. They now control the chamber 255 to 178, with two vacancies. Pelosi stopped well short of suggesting Democrats could lose their majority, but she called on members of her party to make a bold move on health care with no prospects of GOP help.

"Time is up," she said. "We really have to go forth."

<SNIP>

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jlMpJGn28kqCcgU-aGcYE_ZHW-ywD9E56L5O0

[Jackpine Radical]

1. If they're going to crash & burn as a consequence of their vote,

they owe it to themselves to make it worth the game. Let's see them enact Single Payer. Medicare for all.

[jefferson_dem]

3. It's too late for that...

and there's no way that would get anywhere close to enough support in either chamber..even with the "hurt".

[Jackpine Radical]

5. I know, I know.

Why are you screwing with my fantasy life?

[jefferson_dem]

6. My bad.

I just saw a tweet that read: "If only Obama was as radical as the Right thinks he is"

[IndianaGreen]

8. 'If only Obama was as radical as the Right thinks he is'

Aint' that the truth!

[Mass]

2. The Democrats in the US House and Senate are petrified at the idea they could show some leadership.

It is absolutely ridiculous, and, at this point, their inaction is a good reason for people to vote them out (which I would if I thought we would get a more left-wing coalition, but they only recruit DINOs).

[Donnachaidh]

4. was this after her meeting with the Rahminator?

I wonder what he's holding over her head? Or what he offered in return for this push w/out the PO.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Y'all commit political harakiri now!

"It took courage for Congress to pass Social Security and Medicare," Pelosi said, but it would have been the courageous thing to pass Single Payer rather than pass Stupak and appease the GOP, which is what they did.

Adios, losers!

[w4rma]

9. No public option, no bill. (nt)

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. Get the Whip to get them all into line