"We were forced into this by Republicans," one official said.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Parties deal blame as White House goes solo on health reform

President Barack Obama now realizes he probably will have to pass health reform with Democratic votes alone, White House officials say.

The admission is a monumental shift in Washington’s top fight of the year, with the energy now shifting to differences among Democrats, rather than efforts to lure a critical mass of Republicans.

The aides call it more a prediction than a strategy shift, and blame the GOP.

"We were forced into this by Republicans," one official said.

The administration is pointing to increasingly partisan comments by the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, Charles Grassley of Iowa, who said while home for summer recess: “I’m not walking away from the table. I’m being pushed away from the table.”

Ken Spain, a spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, said blaming the GOP is "laughable."

"Apparently having a filibuster-proof majority, a 40-seat advantage in the House, and a president who was once really popular isn’t enough," Spain said in a statement. "Maybe if people actually liked the bill, Democrats’ wouldn’t have such a tough time whipping up bipartisan votes, much less vulnerable Democrats within their own party."

Despite the White House signals Wednesday, the bipartisan negotiations on the Senate Finance Committee are continuing. The staff speak daily and the six senators will soon hold their first conference call since the recess began.

"There is no directive at all to go it alone," according to a source close to the negotiations.

Grassley issued a statement Wednesday morning saying the bipartisan talks should continue.

“I’ve said all year that something as big and important as health care legislation should have broad-based support," Grassley said. "So far, no one has developed that kind of support, either in Congress or at the White House. That doesn’t mean we should quit. It means we should keep working until we can put something together that gets that widespread support.”

But West Wing and congressional aides are rewriting their strategy in an effort to eke out the votes they need, perhaps the bare minimum.

"It is fair to say the White House and the Senate Democratic leadership still prefer a bipartisan bill, and neither the White House nor us has made any decision to pursue reconciliation yet," said Jim Manley, spokesman for the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) "We will not make a decision to pursue reconciliation until we have exhausted effort to pursue a bipartisan bill. But patience is not limited and we are determined to get something done this year."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/...l#ixzz0OeKPD3Q2

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The GOP has said they won't vote for a bill, any bill.

Bipartisanship isn't going to work here.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

PLEASE! Make it STOP!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

PLEASE! Make it STOP!

Dude! Suck it up, and take it like a man!

[Peikko 1,575]

Marc wants us to all live like 'Little House on the Prairie'. Must be his favourite show.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

No, Marc just wants you to be responsible for your own health care. It's called not being a parasite!

[Peikko 1,575]

I am responsible for my own health care, always have been

Although I have to admit, I haven't been able to pay out of pocket like the 'lone voice of reason' does.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Although I have to admit, I haven't been able to pay out of pocket like the 'lone voice of reason' does.

Then you haven't been responsible for your own health care. You're lying again.

[Peikko 1,575]

Although I have to admit, I haven't been able to pay out of pocket like the 'lone voice of reason' does.

Then you haven't been responsible for your own health care. You're lying again.

*cough* That is a very narrow definition of taking responsibility for own's own health - one that few can lay a claim to - unless of course one has never suffered from ill health beyond the sniffles.

That is not the definition that those advocating the status quo are touting.

Edited August 19, 2009 by Madame Cleo