Barney Frank now backtracking

01.20.10 -- 5:59PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Second Thoughts for Barney Frank

Our Brian Beutler just finished up an interview with Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA). And the congressman significantly walked back the statements he'd made over the last 20 hours or so saying that Health Care Reform was dead.

Brian's article will be published momentarily.

Just after the interview was completed, Frank's office released the following statement.

I have spoken today with a number of people, including Members of Congress and others, about what we should do next on health care. In those conversations I have realized that my statement last night was more pessimistic than is called for, although I still regard the fact that the Republicans have now elected a 41st Senator as a serious obstacle to getting health care done in a way in which I hope it can be.

-snip-

After the conversations I had today with a variety of people as I said, I realized that I did not fully convey what I think is the appropriate approach. I continue to be very disappointed about the election, and I am not optimistic about our being successful if we try to do health care this way, but as long as it is done with full regard for procedural fairness and does not put the Congressional majority in the position of appearing to take undemocratic shortcuts, I do not object to making the effort.

The full article - http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/01/second_thoughts_for_barney_frank.php#more?ref=fpblg

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that said House progressives met with Pelosi this afternoon and said they couldn't vote for the Senate bill. But then they've said similar things earlier in the process and backed off them, so perhaps this is just a negotiating ploy.

I think we are going to have to wait for them to sort it all out but in the meantime I think it is great that so much pressure was put on Frank since last night by progressives.

n/t

That was the most shocking thing I ever heard out of Barney last night.

He's coming back to his senses. As I think about it, he's right (along with Obama I guess) that we can't just go in during the middle of the night and try to ramrod the thing through. Even though Republicans always did things like that, it would look like a dirty trick, and redound very negatively onto the Democrats.

But what we CAN do, as he finally agrees, is push the Senate bill through the House, and then work on individual amendments in a reasonable reconciliation process.

sounds like they are taking a step back and realizing they can get this done.

You'd think pols as experienced as Frank and Webb would know enough to keep their yaps shut after a disappointing political loss long enough for them and the party to assess the situation before blabbing. Tea many martoonis perhaps?

ambition. Not sure.

Nice bedazzled reference :)

As are we all.

I love Frank, but like all humans, he will occassionally speak rashly and regret something he said. But since he's a smart and honest guy, he can take a step back, take a deep breath, reassess his positions and comments and admit when he's wrong.

We all screw up from time to time and it takes a big man to admit it publicly.

... WILL you vote for the Senate bill? That is ALL we want to know.

"I'm easy. I'm strongly inclined to vote for the thing, even though I don't like the health care tax thing," Frank told me. "But you know, I was ready to vote for the bill when I had people on the left yelling at me not to vote for it. So you know I'll vote for any of it... to try and move the process along."

Frank was quick to qualify his remarks, though, noting that a vote from him would require promises from leadership and the White House that at least one controversial element of the legislation would be fixed in subsequent legislation. "I take it back...I would want assurances that we were going to amend the health care tax piece," Frank said.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/u-turn-frank-says-with-assurances-hell-vote-for-the-senate-health-care-bill.php

think they know what's going on but there can be other forces at work that need to be considered.

He should learn to think before speaks. Dumbfuck. Ditto for Weiner.

That is why health care hasn't been passed yet.