Bob Dole supports health care reform, outs naysayer Mitch McConnell

http://voices.kansascity.com/node/6136

Bob Dole outs naysayer Mitch McConnell
By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist


Bob Dole supports health care reform.

"This is one of the most important measures members of Congress will vote on in their lifetimes," the former Republican Senate majority leader and presidential candidate told an audience in Kansas City today. "If we don't do it this year I don't know when we're gonna do it.

Dole and two other former Senate leaders, Republican Howard Baker and Democrat Tom Daschle, are preparing to release a statement urging Congress to move on health care.

"We're already hearing from some high-ranking Republicans that we shouldn't do that. That's helping the president," he said.

Later, he repeated that news, and elaborated on one "very prominent Republican, who happens to be the Republican leader of the Senate."

That would be Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Dole, to his credit, is having none of it. "I want this to pass," he said. "I don't agree with everything Obama is presenting, but we've got to do something."

He added: "I don't want the Republicans putting up a 'no' sign and saying, 'we're not open for business.'"

The long-time senator from Kansas mentioned several time the Americans with Disabilities Act, which he was instrumental in getting passed in 1990. And he talked about working across the aisle to rescue Social Security from a short-term financing crisis in 1983.

It makes me wonder, what will Mitch McConnell and company cite as their legacy? Perfecting the use of the word "no," maybe.

Yes they support "reform", but the reform they support is the kind that ends up as another round of corporate welfare like the Baucus bill.

They do NOT support what most Democrats would consider real reform, like a strong public option.

He could have a policy disagreements without making them personal or dogmatic. Therefore he could work on occasion productively across the aisle.

have toed the party line?

I'm sure we all notice that the Republicans "in favor" of health care are all Republicans who aren't able to vote on it

Because we certainly wouldn't want to do that!

Jerks.

Where were Bob Dole, Bill Frist, and Tommy Thompson when they were in office and actually had the power to do something? Now that they're out, they suddenly think health care reform is a good idea.

Kind of like Reagan finally decided that some gun control was a good idea...several years after he left office.

speak out. It's puts some reality inserted into their ranks..now they can squabble about who's right..Dole or mcconnell.

This will start at least some of the brainwashed ..thinking.

"It makes me wonder, what will Mitch McConnell and company cite as their legacy? Perfecting the use of the word "no," maybe."