Sun Jul 19, 2009 at 07:13:33 AM PDT
This is from the Hill where Republican Charles Boustany said the following:
Some centrist House Democrats have reached out to Republicans to explore breaking with their party leadership on healthcare and crafting a reform bill with the rival GOP, one congressman claimed Saturday.
Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) asserted that an "interesting development" is taking place underway that, if true, could effectively remove Democratic leadership from the driver's seat on healthcare reform legislation in the House.
"There's an interesting development occurring behind the scenes, wherein moderate Democrats — so-called "Blue Dog" Democrats — and business-friendly new Democrats are actually starting to have conversations with us to build a coalition from the center outward, to actually really come up with substantive and well-founded healthcare reform," Boustany said during an appearance on Fox News. "And that's the only way to do this."
Micheline's diary :: :: I swear to god these Blue Dogs are like the fifth column in the Democratic party. Even worse they come from either the South or small states that lack the diversity and dynamism of the big states yet they want to impose their narrow-minded policies on the rest of the nation. Boustany explains that"
ecause the American public wants healthcare reform. Republicans agree it needs to be done, but it has to be done carefully, and in a prudent way that doesn't disrupt the whole system." This is patently false. The American public want a public option. And they also don't mind that taxes are levied on the rich. This is about protecting the elites who are against healthcare reform but don't mind spending on wars that were unneccesary and unwinnable. People need to contact these Blue Dogs and New Democrats and tell them that embarrassing a Democratic president who happens to be African-American is a no go.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/19/755135/-Blue-Dogs-Are-Attempting-to-Form-an-Alliance-wthe-GOP-to-Thwart-Real-Healthcare-Reform