I think 39 democrats lacked the courage of their convictions

[Generic Other]

If anyone would care to step forward to defend their votes, I am willing to listen. Saying they were scared does not carry much weight with me, however.

The Democrats who voted against the bill:
John Adler (NJ)
Jason Altmire (PA)
Brian Baird (WA)
John Barrow (GA)
John Boccieri (OH)
Dan Boren (OK)
Rick Boucher (VA)
Allen Boyd (FL)
Bobby Bright (AL)
Ben Chandler (KT)
Travis Childers (MS)
Artur Davis (AL)
Lincoln Davis (TN)
Chet Edwards (TX)
Bart Gordon (TN)
Parker Griffith (AL)
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD)
Tim Holden (PA)
Larry Kissell (NC)
Suzanne Kosmas (FL)
Frank Kratovil (MD)
Dennis Kucinich (OH)
Jim Marshall (GA)
Betsy Markey (CO)
Eric Massa (NY)
Jim Matheson(UT)
Mike McIntyre (NC)
Michael McMahon (NY)
Charlie Melancon (LA)
Walt Minnick (ID)
Scott Murphy (NY)
Glenn Nye (VA)
Collin Peterson (MN)
Mike Ross (AR)
Heath Shuler (NC)
Ike Skelton (MO)
John Tanner (TN)
Gene Taylor (MS)
Harry Teague (NM)

[mdmc]

1. They are good, honest Democrats ... owned by the corporations

that pay them..

I would rather have them represent the corporations. The GOP candidates that ran against them are just as bad, if not worse..

[saracat]

2. Kucinich's explaination has already been posted. And it wasn't for fear.

[derby378]

7. Dennis is the conscience of the Democratic Party

Good on him for not following the herd.

[Generic Other]

11. I didn't realize he was one of them

Still, he also knows Americans needed health care reform now. Not tomorrow. This is as urgent an issue as any we face in this country. Much more significant than bailing out banks and cutting taxes of the wealthy.

Unfortunately, there was no way to get any HEALTHCARE reform without EVERYONE compromising in our party. The question became who we ended up compromising with. Members of our OWN party (the Stupak amendment) or with Republicans (a NO vote). Sorry, much as I respect Kucinich, I think he made the wrong call here.

[PATRICK]

9. Massa

the exact same. He is getting torn apart by all sides for wanting real health care reform that is in fact only opposed by people putting private profit above lives, above everything decent. And was there any question the remaining votes would be responsible for killing the bill?

In this bill, Blue Dogs get a lot and lose a foothold no matter how they voted. Progressives got a foothold and precious little else no matter how they voted but only they would get the ultimate punishment from both sides for any vote at all. And the corporate Dems still will get their money, WH support etc. The progressives will get eaten by their own.

[Glorfindel]

3. Make that 38 - Gene Taylor (my congressthing) has no convictions

He's the ultimate DINO. :puke:

[Sherman A1]

4. Would it be possible that they found

portions of the bill or perhaps the entire bill unacceptable? I am sure there are parts of the bill that you disagree with or would like to have changed, from the bit that I have read thusfar I know that I am not entirely pleased with it.

I will not criticize their votes until I know more about the bill and their reasoning.

[Generic Other]

12. Compromises were made...

This is what I am left to conclude (quoting myself from upthread):

Unfortunately, there was no way to get any HEALTHCARE reform without EVERYONE compromising in our party. The question became who we ended up compromising with. Members of our OWN party (the Stupak amendment) or with Republicans (a NO vote).

[Sherman A1]

14. Of course

compromises were made. That is the nature of things, again I cannot criticize a persons vote without knowing more.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Kucinich defended his stand

and I applaud him for it. My assumption (and I could be wrong) is that he knew the votes were there to pass the bill and that he was safe in voting his conscience.

[Generic Other]

13. he ended up voting with Republicans

The ones who compromised on the Stupak amendment voited their consciences. They gave up something very real they believed in to pass something else they really believed in.

Kucinich took no risk. Sorry, I like Kucinich a lot. But I think this in this instance.

[Pyrzqxgl]

6. Wouldn't it be nice to have token progressive primary opposition in all those races?

[emulatorloo]

8. If the district they serve is truly blood red, I dunno.

I have mixed feelings -- I would like to see better democrats than some of these blue dogs.

However if the district is blood red, I would rather have a blue dog than a insane birther teabagger.

However some of the districts might be ready for a more progressive dem.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. That, and they failed to represent their constituents.

[Generic Other]

17. Good point....someone voted Democratic not Republican

That was a mandate to vote with the rest.

[kentuck]

15. I see 10 or 12 that do not live in very red districts?

Such as those in NY, OH, NM, MN, CO, MD, WA, and MD. So they must have another reason for voting against it other than afraid of their constituency? Or maybe their districts are very red, even though they don't live in the deep South?

[Generic Other]

19. baird is a coward

No excuse for not voting with the others. His district is not all that red.

The gains may have been small, but they were a start--the first shot in a larger war. The fact that the Repubs and insurance companies fought it so hard was good enough reason for me to back it. The fact that they opposed it so vociferously speaks volumes. It's not everything I wanted, but it is some of the things I wanted.

[northernlights]

16. the bill started as a compromise on day 1

When Obama took single payer off the table instead of using it as a starting point.

This bill is a compromise of a compromise...and then compromised some more until it's just plain highway robbery.

I only hope that the penalty for refusing to buy health insurance isn't too high. Harvard Pilgrim made it clear 25 years ago that my life isn't worth a $10 CBC. I paid my own way then, have ever since, and prefer to continue that way. As long as I only have to pay a few hundred dollars/year for the right not to be forced to support CEOs in exchange for nothing, I'll manage until I can get the fuck out of here.

[Generic Other]

18. The same cost as medicare coverage. Anything more is unacceptable

That is still something. Now we have a leg to stand on to fight for more.