James Clyburn Shoots Down Mike Pence's Assertion That Republicans Were Shut Out of Health Care Debate
By Heather Thursday Jan 28, 2010 9:00am
James Clyburn responds to Mike Pence's assertion that the Democrats shut the Republicans out of the health care debate. That's all you hear out of these people is start over. After a year of having them participate and getting absolutely no votes as Rep. Clyburn just pointed out, do they honestly think anyone believes they'd behave any better the next time around?
I've got to give it to them though. They've got their lies and they're sticking to them, reality be damned. And most of the media is happy to go along for the ride without bothering to call them out for it, Ed Schultz being one of the exceptions. We're sure as hell never going to get that kind of messaging discipline out of the Democratic caucus with the Blue Dogs, ConservaDems and old Joementum Lie-berlips in there mucking up the works.
SCHULTZ: Congressman, I think the president needs to really talk to the base tonight, solidify the base, because there`s a lot of folks out there in the middle class that have seen a lot of things go to Wall Street. Now, with that in mind, to present to the American people that the Republicans have been obstructionists, they`re getting their backup when they hear that.
Earlier today, on Dylan Ratigan`s show, I made a comment about just that, and it drew this response from Congressman Pence...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PENCE: I`ve got to tell you, that was the one thing -- and THE ED SHOW is popular. It`s not my cup of TV, but he`s good radio and good TV. But look, Ed just said the president ought to consider shutting Republicans out.
Ed, news flash. House Democrats in this administration have shut Republicans out of the entire process in the House and in the Senate for the last year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: I tell you, those Republicans are amazing. I didn`t say they should shut out the Republicans. I just said that you should move on without them. If they want to get in the process, that`s fine.
But Congressman Clyburn, he said that, "House Democrats in this administration have shut Republicans out of the entire process in the House."
Is that true?
CLYBURN: That is absolutely not true. We had these bills on the House side go through three committees, and Republicans are on all of those committees. They participated. They put up amendments.
Many of those amendments were adopted. And we came out with a bill that had a lot of their amendments in it.
Then we put it out on the Internet for 72 hours before we ever started voting on it. How many hours did we debate it in these committees?
It is amazing how these people can go to the floor, after going through all of that, and because they decide not to vote for it, then they say they were not consulted. They did not have an opportunity to participate. It is the most ridiculous thing that you could possibly say.
Now, that`s just the House side. The Senate did two committees. And you know how long they were working there.
If you look at a big part of this bill, this high-risk pool that the Senate came forward with, go back and look at John McCain`s campaign ad. He campaigned on creating the high-risk pool. That was his philosophy that we brought into this bill, and they still would not vote for it.
But we ought not be surprised. You just saw Republicans, seven of whom co-sponsored legislation to do something about the deficit commission (ph) on yesterday. Then when it came time to vote, seven of the people who co-sponsored voted against the bill. I guess they are not consulted.
SCHULTZ: Yes. That`s just how the Republicans play the game.
Congressman Clyburn, good to have you with us tonight. Thank you so much.
CLYBURN: Well, thank you so much for having me.
SCHULTZ: You bet.
Login or Register to post comments.
I guess the Republicans figure if you repeat a lie often enough, and nobody calls you on it, people will believe it.
They are still controlling the message as Obama seeks "bipartisanship".
Kinda like praising the guy who just mugged you...Over and over.
Unbelievable.
Democrats exhibit all the characteristics of a battered wife.
Onion or chocolate?
beer, I hope.
For his use of self-restraint, no less.
It's called the Big Lie.
“To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed...”. George Orwell, 1984
he was sent a list of 140 amendments submitted and most included in the Finance bill [ from McCaskill] by repubs which not one of them voted for..LIAR LIAR all
How do they live or face themselves in the mirror!??? Oh, YES ---YEARS OF PRACTICE!
Repeat after me: Jeebus says its okay.
Say three times before going to bed, and for an hour on Sunday morning.
some of the media is liberal....
otherwise there would be zero truth told....
"The Democrats shut us out" - a complete fabricated bald faced lie. The lying bastards that make up the opposition need to be called out, again & again & again. Screw them, move on without 'em, start shoving legislation down their lying throats and hope that they choke on it.
"The Democrats shut us out"
If that were true. We'd have a real bill WITH single payer.
..democratic majority for that to happen. Nice sentiment though.
these republican(t)s are such a-holes! seriously! what a bunch of effin' whiny suckholes!
AMEN!!!
if Clyburn would drop the "collegiality" schtick and use the word LIE.
NO ONE on our side of the tracks (except us DFH blog people) use the word LIE. Everyone on their side uses it, all the time.
It wouldn't solve everything, but people aren't going to get the idea that these guys are LIARS unless they start getting called that.
What is the allergy on this side to that word?
this year in his never ending quest to "bring both sides together" that obvious.
..fool's errand.
To find a domino's pizza with any flavor at all?
I believe you are thinking of a noid's errand.
.."the democrats didn't include us." Until the message comes LOUD and CLEAR that the republican'ts did everything they possibly could to defeat this bill including NOT voting for it when it included their OWN AMENDMENTS dammit, from EVERY single network anchor, newspaperman, radio talk show host, Jay Leno and John Stewart, nothing, not a damn thing will change. Librul media, my ass. AND, please oh please let the 41 republican'ts filibuster and then shout from the mountaintops that they are standing in the way of important legislation.
The democrats in this country need to be democrats not republicans, not blue dogs or dino's but united and if not, it won't matter one bit because nothing of substance will ever get done.
That have thrown out all sense of honesty or decency for greed!
republicanism/conservatism is a mental illness!
that fits the senators-and the blue dogs!
The abusive 'men'..always lie loudly about their actions--Blaming the others..which fits the republicans!!
Very good...
With one "news" organization completey devoted to undermining the President and the Dems and all others slanting right to give "equal" time, is it any wonder that HC has failed?
I had thought with Obama's election that Dems had figured out the communication angle of governing. Obviously, they are still way behind republicans on the curve. It's sad that only on the most liberal "news" organizations is the only place that you will truely hear the truth.
Republicans were shut out , right , so absurd that to even discuss it is absurd ... it's a fact not even debatable , the Repugs refuse to take part in any meaningful debate or discussion , their mission is to be a road block and cause Obama to fail and if the country fails too so be it , end of story .
I was so incensed at Pence, that I ended up calling his D.C. office, (not being able to ask Dylan why HE had not eviscerated him himself as I don't have a twitter...)....the grandkids got a big kick out of hearing gramma going off...the grandson came upstairs asking, "Did you just call a congressman????"
Good thing I didn't 'call' the congressman what I really wanted to...would have gotten hung up on for sure!
on C-Span this evening on my ride home. What a tool. He was on with John Boehner who is another major dickhead. Neither have any desire to work with Dems..........none.
Republicans need to understand one basic fact; Dems won the last election; overwhelmingly! They set the agenda. If they say we're going to work on HCR, that's what is going to happen.
Republicans can participate in determining HOW the problems are addressed, but if they come to the table with the position that we're NOT going to address HCR, then they're going to be ignored. They should know the routine well; it's exactly what they did to the Dems for years.
Boehner said point blank that he would not vote for anything that raises taxes, or as he puts it, puts the government in charge of health care. What an arrogant, obstructionist, ASS. If that's the position he is going to take, why on earth would he be surprised to not be included in the debate? Dems have no obligation to water down legislation to appease the minority. Give them one chance to participate, and if they choose not to in a constructive fashion, FUCK 'EM.
Next on C-Span was Nancy Pelosi........what a WEAK leader she is. Mixes her words, can't get her thoughts together, and not forceful at all. We need a new Speaker.
Login or Register to post comments.