The Dems open legislative process
In a debate in January of 2008, Obama said this on health care reform:
Quote:
But the last point I want to make has to do with how we're going to actually get this plan done. You know, Ted Kennedy said that he is confident that we will get universal health care with me as president, and he's been working on it longer than I think about than anybody.
But he's gone through 12 of these plans, and each time they have failed. And part of the reason, I think, that they have failed is we have not been able to bring Democrats, Republicans together to get it done.
That's what I did in Illinois, to provide insurance for people who did not have it. That's what I will do in bringing all parties together, not negotiating behind closed doors, but bringing all parties together, and broadcasting those negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are.
C-Span begged Democrats to keep their promise and televise the negotiations. Well, the Demos have begun closed door negotiations and shut Republicans out of the debate.
Even more shamelessly, Pelosi responded to C-Span's request with a bald-faced lie, "There has never been a more open process for any legislation." She also laughed off Obama's campaign promise by saying, “There are a number of things he was for during the campaign.”
The DCCC's Chris Van Hollen said the legislation has been "subjected to unprecedented scrutiny and public input."
Obama wanted this passed in July before precisely to head off any momentum against the bill. Democrats and their foot soldiers in the media went about methodically demonizing the very town hall protesters Van Hollen is holding up as evidence of their "open process."
This legislation is marked by backroom deals, secret meetings with lobbyists, vote bribes and middle of the night votes on draft legislation that no one had actually seen.
Show me the transparency.
