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Weiner On Health Care Reform: If Coakley Loses, 'I Don't See How We Get This Done'

Ben Frumin | January 19, 2010, 8:31PM

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Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) didn't shy away moments ago from comments he made earlier today suggesting that the House was unlikely to simply swallow the Senate's health care bill whole -- something that may be necessary to ensure health care reform is passed if Democrat Martha Coakley loses the Massachusetts Senate race tonight.

If Coakley loses, Weiner said on MSNBC a few minutes ago, "I don't see how we get this done."

If we wake up tomorrow and there's only 59 Democratic votes, I don't see how we get this done. Now I think we've made some crucial mistakes along the way, by making this more complicated than it needs to be.

Earlier today, Weiner said that he thought it would be "very hard" to get the House to pass the Senate's health care bill.

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14 comments

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Maritza

January 19, 2010 8:35 PM

yes we can.

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slb

January 19, 2010 8:38 PM

What, do they all have some sort of electoral death wish?

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snowbird42

January 19, 2010 8:39 PM

Why would he come out and say this?

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El Puerco

January 19, 2010 9:53 PM in reply to snowbird42

He's been reading Firedoglake!

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martingauthier

January 19, 2010 8:40 PM

Dems are going to be targeted on this no matter what. Most have already 'walked the plank' & voted for their House's version of it. If the bill fails, it's not like republicans/swing voters will forgive and forget that.

This idea that perhaps Dems can win back support by NOT passing anything is just beyond absurd. The far better strategy is to pass something and run on the positive aspects of it. Plus, you'll at least hold on to your own supporters. Back away now and you lose them too.

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JadeZ

January 19, 2010 8:50 PM in reply to martingauthier

it no longer matters.

the media has decided the story is the health care bill cost the election.

people will all look at it that way and decide it must be a bad bill if the people who only voted a democrat into the senate suddenly after 50 years vote in a republican to stop it.

this is a snowball going down hill............

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TBender

January 19, 2010 8:40 PM

Weiner: "No, I don't recall the midterms of 1994. What happened?"

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snowbird42

January 19, 2010 8:41 PM

There are so many reports of ways to get HCR passed. Many sound better than what we have now.
It needs to be done fast so people can get help.

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Maritza

January 19, 2010 8:43 PM

Weiner is an idiot. Nancy needs to spank the boy.

This is NOT over by a long shot.

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Maritza

January 19, 2010 8:44 PM

Weiner needs to read the article in the WaPo stating that regardless of the results in Massachusetts, the Democrats need to pass health care reform.

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Naveen

January 19, 2010 9:10 PM

Well, Weiner is in a safe seat. Considering he's firmly in the liberal camp of the party, he's one person who may NOT want to see the current bill pass, and can afford to see it die since he's safe. This gives liberal Democrats who wanted a public option a reason to see health care reform fail.

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