Specter slams GOP, says public option ‘gaining momentum’

By David Edwards and Daniel Tencer
Sunday, October 18th, 2009 -- 12:06 pm
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arlenspecter20090428a Specter slams GOP, says public option gaining momentumPennsylvania Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter, until last April a Republican, has pulled out the jams in his criticisms of his former party, telling Fox News Sunday that the GOP has become a "party of obstructionism."

But that obstructionism won't stop substantial health care reform from being passed, Specter implied, saying that the public option for health care being debated in Congress is "gaining momentum."

"I'm not prepared to [concede] at all," Specter told Fox News' Chris Wallace. "I think the public option is gaining momentum. We had a forceful speech by President Obama yesterday on his Saturday talk show, emphasizing the importance of a robust public option."

Added the senator: "I'm not going to step back a bit."

As is the case with the debate in Congress itself, the policy differences at the roundtable played themselves out within the Democratic Party. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) said he "would not support any public option tied to Medicare levels of reimbursement."

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Conrad pushed for the idea of not-for-profit cooperatives that would compete with for-profit insurers. Specter replied that a robust public option could meet Conrad's conditions for support.

Then Specter launched into rant against his former party, saying: "On the Republican side it is no no no, a party of obstructionism. ... You have responsible Republicans who have been to the Senate, like Howard Baker and Bob Dole and Bill Frist, who say Republicans ought to cooperate. Well they're not cooperating."

As evidence, Specter said, "Take a look at the absence of any Republican plan."

This video is from Fox's Fox News Sunday, broadcast Oct. 18, 2009.

Download video via RawReplay.com

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Story comments are below...

  • johnbis
    Republicans = Know-Nothings = End of Rant.
  • Satan
    Are we back to parroting Fox news again?

    They don't seems to be obstructing the war at all, do they? Tell us what percentage of the U.S. budget will be spent on the war this year, RAW.
  • Specter is... well, Specter.

    But I'm really starting to think that the talk of the Public Option has become nothing more than a political smoke screen. It's pretty much been written off as un-passable. But the talk continues. Why? Probably because they don't want anyone to focus on how much the rest of this stuff is going to cost the American public.
  • Anais
    That Specter makes this statement about GOP obstructionism on Fox is significant, because the Fox News audience rarely hears any dose of reality. I hope he can help with the public option.
  • jimbo92107
    Creaky old wind vane, isn't he? Arlen squeaks and complains, but in the end he points the way the wind blows.
  • OldAtlantic
    Whichever way the single bullet flies, to or from the Grassy Knoll, Arlen doesn't care as long as he is on it.
  • Vox
    BUSTED! This is a Trojan Horse Tax Increase! Don't fall for this sheit! A bailout for the Insurance Industry that doesn't need it and didn't ask for it. This is repayment from the Obamessiah to the Industry for getting him elected.

    SAY "NO" TO THIS TROJAN HORSE TAX INCREASE!
  • OldAtlantic
    The law is that there is a 40 percent surcharge on group plans above a thresh hold but none on individual plans. So the companies will raise rates on individual plans to pay for the people added. So if you lose your job and get an individual plan you have to pay for the cost of the Obama plan.
  • Talis13
    He just wants to be re-elected.
  • Talis13
    He just wants to be re-elected.
  • disappointed voter
    Specter is just looking toward next year's election. He doesn't really give a shit about you.
  • nader paul kucinich gravel
    5 dancing Israelis arrested on 911 in NYC demand the US start & fight more wars for Israel.

    ~would have been too darn expensive to remove all that asbestos from the twin towers~

    Modern day warrior
    Mean mean stride
    Today's Tom Sawyer
    Mean mean pride

    Though his mind is not for rent
    Don't put him down as arrogant
    His reserve a quiet defense
    Riding out the day's events
    River

    What you say about his company
    Is what you say about society
    Catch the mist catch the myth
    Catch the mystery catch the drift
  • I have got to hand it to Arlen. If nothing else he is a team player. He bucks his team on the margins where it doesn't matter. And then bounces back to tow the party line. This guy is a democrat for four months and he is already to the left of creeps like Bauchus and Kent Conrad and the two drooling monstrosities aka Nelson. What a guy.
  • oddjob
    It's amazing what having a primary challenger will do for you when your state has a closed primary, so your only hope is to first appeal most to your state's liberals. Adm. Joe Sestak is pushing Specter leftwards.
  • Savantster
    .
    Only because he has no personal convictions. What's the point of a yes man if he says yes to everything, including killing puppies and babies, so long as it gets him reelected?
  • OldAtlantic
    Savanster we agree.
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