It’s hard to imagine that just two individuals could hold the fate of America’s health care in their hands. One in particular has Washington abuzz with talk of what he may do next and has lawmakers on both sides of the aisle clambering for his allegiance. Congressional Democrats are panic stricken, worrying they won’t be able to give Obama what he wants most for Christmas - health care reform - and it’s all because of one Independent senator.
For months, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman has been vocal about the health care debate. He was one of the original supporters of a Medicare buy-in option, plugging the idea while running for vice president on the Gore/Lieberman ticket in 2000.
Last weekend, Lieberman sent the Democrats into a tailspin when he announced in a television interview on the CBS NEWS program “Face the Nation” that he would not support the health care reform bill unless they abandon both the public option and Medicare expansion. Democrats thought they had reached a compromise with Lieberman last week and believed they were close to securing the 60 votes need to pass the controversial legislation.
Joining Lieberman on the show was Democrat Ben Nelson, who is against the bill due to his opposition to abortion. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid met with Nelson over the weekend in an effort to try to work out a compromise and get the Nebraska senator on board. Both Lieberman and Nelson said the Democrats lack the votes needed to pass reform, frustrating Obama and prompting him to invite the full Democratic Caucus to the White House on Tuesday.
The power and influence of the Oval Office was on full display during the private meeting that lasted more than an hour. Obama’s focus: getting the final two holdouts to sign off on health care reform. And it appears he may have succeeded in getting at least one of the votes he was after. Some reports indicate Lieberman may be ready to throw his support to what’s left of the bill, which as far as some Democrats are concerned, is not much.
Prominent Democrat, Howard Dean, spoke out Tuesday, telling fellow Democrats to “kill the bill” because none of the important reforms the party had pushed for remain intact. We don’t know what will happen with the bill in the short term. This story changes almost hourly, but one thing is for sure: the Democrats won’t soon forget the power of the Lieberman effect and things could get nasty. A House Democrat has said Lieberman should be recalled, and liberals have even attacked his wife, attempting to get her fired from her position at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
In the end, if the final bill passes it will basically look the way Lieberman and Nelson want. While these men may or may not be enjoying their current position of power, regardless of how this story ends, you can bet Washington Democrats won’t forgive and forget the three-ring circus they’ve been party to the last few weeks at the hands of their ringmaster Lieberman.
