Meet the Press, October 25, 2009 (Video and Transcript)

MTP Guests: John Cornyn, Charles Schumer, Erin Burnett, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Jane Mayer, Joe Scarborough, Dan Senor, Tavis Smiley

Transcript

Schumer and Rockefeller public option proposal voted down

Again, Democrats if you insist on having a very hard 2010, listen to your constiuents who DO WANT THE PUBLIC OPTION and not the insurance companies who are threatening you by withdrawing support. That is what his going on here, bought and sold sorry Democrats in congress.

The Senate Finance Committee can't even endorse a modest public option like Chuck Schumer's. Citing his belief that a public option can't pass on the Senate floor "at this time," Finance chairman Max Baucus joined two Democrats and all Republicans in voting down the amendment, which failed 10 to 13.

Joining Baucus on the Democrats' side of the dais were Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) and, by proxy, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) who wasn't present for the vote.

Notice Blanche Lincoln is no where to be found. And her state, Arkansas wants a public option.

After debating all morning and well into the afternoon, the Senate Finance Committee voted against an amendment, written by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) that would have added a public option to the panel's health care reform bill.

The final vote was 8-15 with 5 Democrats--Sens. Kent Conrad (D-ND), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT)--voting with all Republicans to kill the proposal.

Again, you see who are tied to the insurance coattails. Democrats if you shoot yourselves in the foot, it is your own doing.

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Stand with Durbin, Leahy and Schumer for a robust public option.

As sluggahjells tweeted, "The line in the sand is being drawn in the Senate on a public option" and he is RIGHT.

Senators Durbin, Leahy and Schumer created a website, Citizens for Public Option.

It is apparent that we have DEMOCRATS who will oppose any robust public option plan, due primarily to the industries that they have taken a great deal of money from. Mainly the insurance and health care industries. I wrote about them and put them on blast, here.

If we want anything done, any real change, we will have to do it.

If we depend on congress, YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT IT.

Get involved. Read more about it, here.

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Republicans scared of Anti-Hispanic rhetoric in Sotomayor (Video)

As they should be. And this notion that she is "not qualified" is bogus, bullshit and I am being kind here. These clips from The Today Show.

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Schumer Resigned as DSCC Chair, Menedez Takes Over

I give it to Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), he did a damn good job flipping the senate in 2006 and getting us close to 60 seats this cycle. The continuous building of Democratic Senators will be given to Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

After two election cycles in which the Democrats gained at least 13 seats in the Senate, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York is stepping down as chairman of the party’s campaign committee.

Mr. Schumer, the senior senator from New York, is expected to turn the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee over to Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey — keeping control of the campaign operation close to Wall Street, party officials said.

In 2006, Mr. Schumer led the successful Democratic drive to win back control of the Senate from the Republicans. The Democrats picked up six seats that year, bringing them to a razor-thin 51 to 49 majority, thanks to two independents who organize with the Democrats.

And it is official, that Menendez will take over as Chair of DSCC.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today named U.S. Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2010 election cycle. Menendez will take over the DSCC from Senator Charles Schumer, who led the committee during the last two election cycles.

Senator Reid said: "As an aggressive, focused and committed Democrat and a widely respected Senator, Bob Menendez will be a superb leader of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Our Caucus will be well-served by Bob Menendez, whose mastery of policy is matched only by his mastery of politics. He was a leader in the House, rising to become the third-ranking Democrat there; has already established himself as a leader in the Senate; and will continue to lead us in protecting our incumbents and electing new Democrats in the future. I thank Sen. Schumer for his four years of leadership. Because of his efforts, Democrats have expanded our majority to its largest in 30 years. I am confident that Sen. Menendez will build upon this success."

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