U.S. Sen. Richard Burr says a planned televised bipartisan session on health care is a political play by the White House.
Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, is helping craft the GOP strategy for the session, which is scheduled for Feb. 25. He told WPTF's Bill LuMaye on Tuesday that the event is an attempt to halt the bad news for President Barack Obama's administration.
"I think that the hemorrhaging that exists at the White House right now is so severe they're trying for a political game changer," Burr said. "I think this has very little to do with trying to reach an agreement on the policies of health care."
Burr said Republicans intend to demand that parts of the health care bill that are unacceptable be removed. They will pitch their own ideas. But as in a campaign debate, the format should be negotiated, he said. The White House has not yet formally invited Republicans, he said.
"What's the format for it?" he said. "Are you going to have an exchange of ideas or are you going to stand up at a microphone and lecture us? This is something that the American people would be interested in watching if it's constructive."
Comments
Repoblicans Have NO Ideas!
February 10, 2010 - 2:36pm — riverrdYou have got to be kidding me! These Flat-Earth, Mouth-breathing, Kunckle-Dragging, In-Bred trailer park trash repoblicans are completely out of ideas and the only thing they have left is hate and racism. The So-called senator burrby is useless and a tool of the drug companies. He is no better than a two dollar 'Lady of the Evening'. Wave you dollar and you can buy his vote. Just like a good little repoblican.
compassionate for whom? Wall Street? the banks?
February 10, 2010 - 1:35pm — Room_101Ha! Mucus you are a stitch!
How many Goldman-Sackers work for The Obama? Here's a hint: A LOT. Beck did a thing on it. It's like30 or something.
Oblahblah is SO owned by the BIG financial powers (anyone ever heard of Jorge Soros?), only a koolaide drinker could defend him now.
Doing nothing is not an option
February 10, 2010 - 1:15pm — bestsarahThe only other option is doing it my way.
But if you guys will be nice and listen then we will let you sit in the room while we do it my way. But don't start that stupid right wing talk about how much this is going to cost. We will let the grandkids worry about the cost. They ain't here to complain about it any way so let them worry about the cost. (Obamanomics 101)
Can't live without you
February 10, 2010 - 11:30am — tomyknowledgeObama has seen he cannot do it without the Republicans so now he invites them to the party.
But he must not lose his loose coalition of Democrats who are looking over their shoulders at the voters back home.
This looks like a public exchange of ideas to me...
February 10, 2010 - 10:17am — irishru2I read this and see that Democrats have their own idependent thoughts and opinions that are not always identical to each other. Republicans work as a single unified monolith. Which approach is more effective? To this point, clearly the Republicans.
Lock-step uniformity rewarded over public dialogue and diversity of ideas. Quite a system we have.
What do Republicans want?
February 10, 2010 - 10:06am — irishru2For someone trying to look at both sides objectively, the Republicans make it awfully hard to take them seriously.
Repubs: "We oppose this reform because it was done behind closed doors and without our input."
Obama: "Please come sit down with me and the Democrats to work on this together with doors open and cameras on."
Repubs: "No, it's a trick!"
Are you kidding me???
Payback's a beach
February 10, 2010 - 8:34am — scharrison"Are you going to have an exchange of ideas or are you going to stand up at a microphone and lecture us?"
You folks deserved a lecture. Between the constant obstructionism, taking credit back home for federal benefits you voted against, and (like a sixth-grader) calling the President a liar in the middle of an address, it's plain that partisan grandstanding is much more important to you than an "exchange of ideas".
At least Obama had the cojones to stand up on the podium, by himself in front of a hostile crowd, and speak his mind. Richard Burr would pee his pants if he tried that.
Facts speak louder than words...
February 10, 2010 - 8:30am — edward4canesFirst of all, Senator Burr is absolutely correct in his analysis that the efforts by the Administration is more for show than true bipartisanship.
In 2009, President Obama had 60 Senators for the second half of the year and a 40 plus seat advantage in the House of Representatives. Rep. Pelosi and Sen. Reid simply ignored the Republican ideas and utilized the rules of the chambers to downplay the ability of the Republicans to work towards bipartisanship. As poll numbers fell for Obama and the Democrats, the health care debate stalled and Americans are indicating more trust in the Republican Party, we now hear the Administration trying to change its tune.
President Obama can not even get his on team on board with his agenda.
More of the same
February 10, 2010 - 12:10am — pianoguyThe usual left-wing suspects here don't have a point - just insults. The fact of the matter is that the right does have ideas which Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi will not allow to even be heard in congress. Obama's idea of "bipartisanship" is to do what he says and then everything will be OK. So republicans are supposed to just rubber-stamp the policies of the "annointed one" so that he can then brag about all of his bipartisan accomplishments during the next election cycle. Only an idiot would fall for that.
The 800 pound gorilla in the room is tort reform, and Obama has declared it off limits because otherwise he won't get anymore money from rich lawyers. Even the Canadians have successfully addressed tort reform and taken a big chunk of cost out of their healthcare. The quality still sucks, but it is at least cheap.
The Feb. 25 dog and pony show will be more of the same - another long, condescending lecture with lots of camera shots up Obama's nose to try and emphasize his height and make him look bigger than life.
And as for Richard Burr, the guy quietly goes to work and tries to deal with issues of substance, like illegal immigration and taking care of veterans. He is the lone voice in the wilderness right now on the Camp Lejeune water issue, which the left just wants to go away. He is a far more effective senator than either Elizabeth Dole or Kay Hagan, although it would arguably be difficult to NOT be more effective than Elizabeth Dole.
WWWWAAAHHHH! WWWWAAAHHHH!
February 9, 2010 - 10:59pm — marcus_stahlCould it be that there are more than one person who has not been brainwashed with your compassionate conservatism. compassionate for whom? Wall Street? the banks? big business. The right doesnt have any plan except to try and wait ou this session of congress. I know I am not the only one who see's this as a tactic to effectively subvert the will of those of us who voted to throw out the right wing bums
who's who ...
February 9, 2010 - 10:36pm — essequamvideriso difficult to tell the difference between marcky, marcus, and jocularity ... why, they sound amazingly alike! simply uncanny!
Great to know that Sen. Burr is once again astute in his observations of the cynical manipulative White House. Most likely the Narcissist-in-Chief wants to stand at the podium and lecture Republicans, instead of having an actual constructive dialogue between the parties. But all Republicans need to do is show up & let the cameras roll - just show what idiots the Dems are - they couldn't even pass their 2,700 page "reform" bill with a majority of 60 votes! Hilarious!
Kennedy & Murtha gone. Dems running scared & won't stand for re-election.
Too late. Scott Brown won. Get over it. Burns doesn't it?
Cry Babies WWWAAAAHHHHH!
February 9, 2010 - 10:15pm — marcus_stahlBurr and LuMaye need to grow up and face reality. The repuglicans were soundly rejected. Get over it Bill and Bankrun Burr.......YOU LOST!!!!!
why is Senator Burr afraid of Obama
February 9, 2010 - 8:04pm — marcedward1Come on Burr, are you that afraid of your black boss?
Honestly, this guy is worthless - what does he stand for other than licking the boots of the Republican leadership? He's done less than Senator Edwards, and that record of ZERO accomplishments is hard to beat!
Game changer
February 9, 2010 - 8:03pm — tomyknowledgeI think Obama needs to concentrate on getting the Democrats to agree with Obamacare first. Then work on the Republicans. Seems to me his own party has not been on board or else he would have passed it by now. I think the strategy is: "If we cannot convince our own party we will convince the other guys."
A bold strategy. Maybe it will work.
The demonrats want nothing to do with any ideas from conservativ
February 9, 2010 - 7:48pm — JocularityNope. Pretty much. We don't. Had your chance. You sucked. We won.
How's the burn?
Burr and the partisans
February 9, 2010 - 7:42pm — NCDEERSLAYERSenator Burr is right on. The demonrats want nothing to do with any ideas from conservatives. They want to put the Republicans on the spot. What they just refuse to hear and understand is that we, tax payers, have heard all we want to hear from the lefty loons. Senator Burr. Keep up the good work. Left loons. Keep on keeping on. You are assuring the end of a terror run we honestly thought would continue for 3 more years. Thanks to your chosen one and his utter failures the reign of terror has been shortened.
I really liked that Wall Street Bailout Senator Burr
February 9, 2010 - 7:37pm — JocularityIt was a "game changer."
What a coward
February 9, 2010 - 7:27pm — marcedward1Senator Burr, you are supposed to be working for the people of North Carolina, not the Republican party. If you're too timid to meet with the Democrats and the President, I suggest you resign. After all the Republicans haven't done a lick of work sine Obama was elected! What are we paying you for?