Give Us Liberty

Liberals still want to pass health care -- but not the ones who have to face voters in November

By: Michael Barone
Senior Political Analyst
01/20/10 12:59

Liberal pundits are still calling for Democrats to somehow pass one of their health care bills; check out the New Republic’s Jonathan Cohn and Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter, as well as Paul Waldman, writing in anticipation of a Scott Brown victory.

I don’t think any of these guys ever worked a precinct (maybe Jonathan did; his mother was on the board of the Sanitary Commission in Chicago, which is a big deal). In any case, those whose names appear on ballots are having none of it.

Examples:

Congressman Barney Frank, whose liberal district seems to have split evenly between Scott Brown and Martha Coakley, says “I think electoral results have to be respected” and “there is now no bill that I believe can pass or should pass.”

Henry Waxman, who as much as anyone was the architect of the House bill, says of the idea of passing some bill, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to do that. He ought to be seated and we’ll see where we go—if he wins.”

Stephen Lynch of the 9^th district of Massachusetts, which (I haven’t crunched the numbers yet) probably voted for Brown, says, “If it comes down to the Senate bill or nothing, I think we are going to end up with nothing. I don't hear a lot of support on our side for that bill. Folks are telling me I should vote yes and fix it later. You wouldn't buy a car for a $1 trillion and have somebody tell you 'It won't run but we'll fix it later.' You know?"

Senator Jim Webb says, “It would only be fair and prudent that we suspend further votes on health care legislation until Senator-elect Brown is seated."

The Democrats’ health care legislation is dead. And cap-and-trade is even deader. The American people, via the voters of Massachusetts, have spoken.