Dems Rip Grassley Over Pro-Health Care Reform Bill Statement

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/dems-rip-grassley-over-pro-health-care-reform-bill-statement.php

The DSCC had strong words for Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who issued a press statement today taking credit for a provision of the health care bill about charity hospitals he authored.

"Chuck Grassley has been in Washington for too long if he thinks Iowans did not notice his strenuous, strident, and spirited opposition to health care reform," DSCC spokesperson Eric Schultz said in a statement. "This is someone who did everything he could to stop the bill, but now thinks it is worth touting."

A Grassley spokesperson told me that those criticizing Grassley's press release today are making much ado about nothing.

"It's common-sense that a single piece of legislation can have provisions that are appealing and others that are unpalatable," the spokesperson said. "Senator Grassley has always said there are some good things in the evolving health care package, including the items he initiated."

(snip)
"Either he is a total hypocrite or he has taken March Madness to a whole new level," Schultz said in the DSCC statement today.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/022756.php

"As we've been talking about, it puts Republican candidates in a box. Democrats are going to ask, "Are you really going to fight to repeal protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions? Are you really going to take coverage away from 30 million middle-class Americans?" If Republicans say "no," they alienate the GOP activists who will settle for nothing but a full repeal. If Republicans say "yes," they alienate the mainstream electorate."

For the moment, it appears to be every man for himself with the republicans. And Grassley is just running for the border as fast as he can.

fighting for a public option and ultimately single payer Medicare for ALL on his MSNBC TV show and his national radio show!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/ns/msnbc_tv