Rep. Joe Barton: If GOP takes back the House, ‘we’ll repeal’ health care reform.
Rep. Joe Barton: If GOP takes back the House, ‘we’ll repeal’ health care reform.
Politico reports that some polling experts are predicting House Democrats to lose many seats in the 2010 midterm elections. FiveThirtyEight’s Nate Silver said the GOP has a one-quarter to one-third chance of taking back the House. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) is giddy at the thought of regaining his chairmanship in the event the Republicans take over. This weekend on Fox News, Barton revealed that his agenda would be to repeal health care reform, if it passes before 2010:
BARTON: If they [Democrats] somehow manage to get the votes and get enough Democrats to walk the plank and commit political suicide, in the next Congress, I’ll be Chairman Joe Barton of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and we’ll repeal it.
If Obama attempts to “muscle through” health reform, Barton predicted he would end up leading the Democrats into the “political wilderness.” Watch it:
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Shorter Joe:
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August 31st, 2009 at 2:32 pmThank you Mr. Barton for hurting the GOP.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:33 pmIf GOP takes back the House…..
Uh-uh, nope, ain’t gonna happen. Not with gang of garbanzas.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:33 pmSend in the clowns,
never mind-they’re here
Shorter GOP: “One-quarter to one-third? I LIKE THEM ODDS!”
August 31st, 2009 at 2:34 pmI think the word here is IF you know if i was 12 inches taller i would be a NBA star,, and IF i was born into wealth i wouldn’t have to worry about health care.
So IF you do get back into power it will be the day this country is doomed to be the 3rd world one you are trying so hard to become.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:34 pmPigs like this make me sick.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:35 pmThis is why we have to mobilize now and make sure that the GOP doesn’t get the House back.
There are still a large number of Americans who, although disgusted with what their party is turning into, will still vote Republican.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:35 pmUmmm, Joe, methinks you’re the one committing political suicide.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:37 pmSorry Joe, but Americans usually vote their pocketbooks, and Obama’s success at reining in the recession spells doom for republicans in 2010.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:38 pmSaddle sores on brain
August 31st, 2009 at 2:38 pmChasing yesterday’s sunshine
Don’t stop at ocean
And this from a man who has recieved a taxpayer funded health care plan for years. If GOP hypocrisy was any louder my ear drums would pop.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:39 pmJoe Barton should watch this documentary Money-Driven Medicine
http://video.pbs.org/video/1230734280
August 31st, 2009 at 2:41 pmLook at this way, squealing Joe…
Once Texas secedes you’ll be a Mexican politician.
Speaking Spanish.
Driving a Yugo.
On your way to the local drug cartel to pick up your paycheck…
August 31st, 2009 at 2:43 pmAnother reason not to further disappoint the progressives who helped elect a democratic majority and put Obama in office !
August 31st, 2009 at 2:43 pmOh, cool, the Dems can u
August 31st, 2009 at 2:44 pmOh, cool, the Dems can repeal the patriot act and the Keystone cop college [DHS]
August 31st, 2009 at 2:44 pmSure you will, Joe. Sure you will. In your dreams.
Just like you’ll eliminate Medicare and Medicaid. Why, you even had a chance to vote on it just a few short weeks ago…but none of your brave Republican cohorts had the cojones to vote to rid our nation of those programs. Not one.
Sure you will, Joe. Sure.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:45 pmHow about providing some high speed rail stimulus money for riding Joe Barton out of office on a rail?
August 31st, 2009 at 2:46 pmI thought Texas was going to secede. Which is it, Joe? How can you repeal legislation of a country to which you don’t belong?
August 31st, 2009 at 2:47 pmWhat an a-hole!
Just keep running your mouth, Barton.
It will ensure your party’s permanent irrelevance.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:50 pmObviously this dumba$$ is forgetting his constitutional law. A congressional bill to repeal an existing law is, in itself, a new bill. As such, any bill passed by Congress to repeal an existing law must be signed into law by the President or it doesn’t become law. I’m betting that President Obama vetoes any such bill coming from a GNOP-controlled Congress, and that the GNOP doesn’t have the votes to override that veto.
End of threat. Next time, Joey, you should actually read the Constitution before you open your pie-hole. Of course, Barton’s from Texas, and they soon won’t be a part of the USA from what I hear…
August 31st, 2009 at 2:51 pmThis highlights the health care issue and why it is imperative to pass the public option. The Dems need to get on board and go back to the voters with the message that they delivered on their promise.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:52 pmYou know Joe, having forty million plus people without healthcare…thats like a national security issue. We went to was in two countries, which will cost trillions, to keep Americans safe after three thousand+ died on 911. Yet here we are with tens of millions who arent safe from high medical insurance costs which is driving working Americans into bankruptcy. Medical insurance is set to double AGAIN by 2020.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pmPut down the asstay Joe!!
August 31st, 2009 at 2:54 pm***
sam tannenhaus, “the death of conservatism”,
newsweek interview.
**
worth reading.
:)
wish tp would stop misoverestamating
the right wing. scaring people doesn’t work.
:\
August 31st, 2009 at 2:54 pmIt’s not too soon for TP and others to start listing the close races everywhere so support for Dem. candidates can get moving. You can be sure that Repubs are going to be trying to resurrect themselves.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:54 pmYeah, he’ll just personally repeal it… I don’t think that’s how it works.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:56 pmZimzone says:
Look at this way, squealing Joe…
Once Texas secedes you’ll be a Mexican politician.
Speaking Spanish.
Driving a Yugo.
On your way to the local drug cartel to pick up your paycheck…
I resent that remark! We don’t drive Yugos.
The rest of the comment is, sadly, spot on.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:56 pmElBruce says:
Yeah, he’ll just personally repeal it… I don’t think that’s how it works.
Very true. Obama can veto the repeal and getting the votes to override will not happen unless Republicans win an awful lot of seats.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:57 pmChairman Joe, Joe the plumber……….
With or without lipstick, obstructionist pigs all look the same.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:57 pmIf GOP takes back the House, ‘we’ll repeal’ health care reform.”
While we smoke out Bin Laden, lower the price of gas, save the world from islamo-whatever, and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is NO global warming.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:57 pmThanks for the advice, Joe. Sounds like he has been to too many of his own Town Halls.
Repubs like Joe are scared to death that a healthcare bill will pass. It will be to their detriment.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:58 pmLike how Roe v Wade was tossed?
Like the Detroit Lions talking about winning the Super Bowl, it might be a little premature.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:59 pm***
#26,
now that’s a good idea.
one vote up.
:)
August 31st, 2009 at 3:01 pmThe lobbyists have gotten the bill so watered down it will end up subsidising private health insurance, which Texas already gets…Joe would never repeal crony capital for his fellers.
http://www.txhealthpool.org/who.html
The Texas Health Insurance Pool was created by the Texas Legislature to provide health insurance to eligible Texas residents who, due to medical conditions are unable to obtain coverage from commercial insurers. The Pool also serves as the Texas alternative mechanism for individual health insurance coverage, guaranteeing portability of coverage to qualified individuals who lose coverage under an employer group plan, church plan or state plan, as mandated by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
The Program continues to serve the State of Texas as an important “safety net” for individuals who have been denied health insurance coverage because of pre-existing conditions, can afford the Pool’s premiums, and do not have other coverage options. The stated mission of the Pool’s Board of Directors is to foster public awareness of the Pool and provide eligible Texans with cost-effective health coverage that is consistent with major medical policies available in the commercial market.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:03 pmBoy, how small is their tent these days.I like the fact that right after Mexico annex`s Texas he`ll be a member of the Mexican gov`t, it`s as corrupt as any GOOPer we currently have in office, so he`ll fit right in.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:04 pmIs Joe out campaigning against this subsidised [federal grants] private health insurance?
August 31st, 2009 at 3:05 pmRepealing Health Care Reform would be just like repealing Social Security. Now that would be political suicide.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:06 pmBarton, you’re an idiot. He comes from a state with the highest percentage of uninsured – 27%. If this knucklehead spent half as much time doing something positive for the state rather than working against his constituency, his party might be in better shape.
I live in TX and it’s just embarrassing that so many delusional nitwits are slithering out of the woodwork. Believe me folks, there are more sane and rational texans than there are barton and perry types.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:06 pmRepublicans harming the American Public 24/7…
….it’s what they do best.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:08 pmDear Rep. Joe Barton (r – AlamoII): hell will have long since frozen over before the Obstructionists/Secessionists/Birthers/Teabaggers/Deathers/Tenthers take back the US House of Representatives from the Democrats. Unless you clowns can arrange to have Diebold Corporation to “count the votes” again…
It is time to return to 100% hand-counted paper ballots in every American election to fend off any future possiblity of Obstructionists/Secessionists/Birthers/Teabaggers/Deathers/Tenthers electronic election theft…
August 31st, 2009 at 3:13 pmJoe doesnt care that his health insurance has doubled since 2001 or that it will double again in another decade. He doesnt pay for it.
Worse, he is getting kickbacks in the form of campaign donations [and likely job offers after he leaves office] and is working, then, AGAINST his constituents well-being to keep the money flowing to an overbuilt, ever more expensive, ever more impersonal, ever more a cartel, industry that is concerened mostly with shareholders profits.
Just do us a
August 31st, 2009 at 3:15 pmJust do us a favor, Joe, retire. Go fishing, go hunting with Cheney.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:16 pmBarfly,
You are completely out of touch. Obama did not reign in anything. Our recession is no longer a recession and was at near depression levels when Neo-Nazi Bush was in office.
Obama must push to pass HR1207 and push to repeal the Federal Reserve Act, put America back on track with sound money. Congress and Obama must put an end to corporate influence on policies. The Federal Reserve, Big Pharma, The Military-Industrial complex have been calling all the shots, not our leaders. Remember our leaders are supposed to represent us, We The People.
If we don’t immediately rectify this situation we may not see affordable health care in the near future.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:16 pmI am quite comfortable making 2010 an unofficial referendum on Healthcare reform! Thanks for your support Joe.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:17 pmGod…another wacko from Texas!
Please believe me, there are a lot of rational, intelligent, liberal patriots here. It’s just the wacko’s get all the press.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:18 pmHey, thanks for warning America not to vote for Republicans, Barton. You keep that up and we’ll have way more seats in the (D) column next year.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:20 pm“We will lead the Dems into the political wilderness” He and his Repub cronies surely know where that is.
Does he know something we dont? The Repubs are sure to be furiously strategizing their return to power, by ANY means necessary.
Always first and loudest to scream “vote fraud”, history shows we should keep a very close eye on all elections, both federal and local, to ensure fairness and accuracy.
Just saying….
August 31st, 2009 at 3:32 pmGoing a little off-topic: When it comes to maintaining or expanding its majorities in Congress Democrats need to shift its focus to quality over quantity. A majority by any means was necessary to slow the Bush agenda but it is now impeding progress on more progressive elements of the Obama agenda. Losing a few Democrats in 2010 may be for the best in the long run if it means scuttling some Blue Dogs. This seems awfully unlikely, however, given the inflamed fringe rhetoric that dominates the GOP today.
Back on topic: If Rep. Barton wants to double down on health care reform then by all means bring it on. Even if Repubs. overcome the odds of regaining the majority in the House they will still not have the Senate, the White House, or popular public opinion. More likely is the case that the more Rep. Barton and his ilk talk the better the outlook for all Democrats.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pmI’ll be Chairman Joe Barton of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and we’ll repeal it.
And I’ll be the Queen Of England, and we’ll send the redcoats to invade your colonies.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pmTell you what, Joe — you just secede from the country, and then you can “repeal” anything you want.
You can deny health care to anybody who can’t pay for it. After all, it’s better for poor people if they just die anyway, isn’t it?
You can repeal all taxes. After all, taxes are “socialist”, aren’t they?
You can repeal all gun control laws. Wielding as much firepower as you can is a God-given right, isn’t it? And don’t worry if some of those gun-slingers happen to be criminals — if anybody tries to hold somebody up with a gun, there will be a lot of heat-packing good old boys around to take him down.
You can repeal separation of church and state. And then make all your laws God-based. None of this “turn the other cheek” or “do unto others” or “judge not” crap, though. No, we’re talking about laws against abortions, condom distribution, comprehensive sex ed, gays kissing, etc. You know, all the stuff Jesus specifically preached against.
Don’t let the door hit your backside on your way out…
August 31st, 2009 at 3:43 pmBARTON: I’ll be Chairman Joe Barton of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and we’ll repeal it.
_____________________________________________________________
Even if your committee was successful in getting any “repeal” attempt through the House, how are you going to get it through the Senate?
And even if you got a “repeal” through the House and the Senate, how are you going to get President Obama to sign it?
Methinks you need to work toward a veto-proof majority.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:47 pmBoy are these guys going to be dissapointed in 2010:
Requiem for the Right:
August 31st, 2009 at 3:53 pmThe biographer of Whittaker Chambers and William Buckley on a dying movement.
This is so fun-nee.
repugs lie about everything. Why not about this? It hasn’t been a year and yet these fools already forgot about youtube.
teabaggers are saying they are going to do what? When? How, by being racist scum and idiots?
These idiots are dying to force our government into war. This put the repugs and msm right in line with stupid.
President Obama is the first African-American President. This is history, a fact.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:57 pmI’d love to see the repubs try to put that toothpaste back in the tube. Once HCR is passed, and people see its benefits, it’s going to be like Medicare. Any politician that even hints at taking it away will be voted out of office, recalled, or chased out of town with pitchforks.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:05 pmOK, I just did the math.
In order to get veto-proof majorities in both houses (necessary in order to override President Obama’s expected veto of any “repeal” of his hard-fought health care reform), enough seats will have to turn red to ensure both houses are at least two-thirds Republican.
In the House of Representatives, they would need to have 290 seats, and they currently have 178. Therefore, 112 seats would have to switch from Democratic to Republican for this to work. Not even Newt Gingrich’s Contract With America was able to accomplish that.
In the Senate, they would need to have 67 seats, and they currently have 40. Which means they need to gain 27. That’s going to be difficult to do (OK, impossible), considering that of the 34 seats up for re-election, only 16 are currently held by Democrats. Tough to get 27 seats when only 16 are available.
It’s possible that Joe has gotten so “giddy” that he’s completely lost touch with reality. But I suspect it’s more that he’s just engaging in random trash-talking — which really means nothing.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:10 pmThey realize that Senator Kennedy’s death will impact healthcare reform and other things for the better.
The majority of the US want more people like Senator Kennedy.
repugs are like illuminated roaches.
give up the lies teabaggers.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:12 pmEven if HR3200 passes, the Dems can expect to lose, at best, 1-2 dozen seats in the hosue and about 4 in the senate. ‘Ol Smokey Joe still has a HELL of a long way to go before he obtains any real “power”
August 31st, 2009 at 4:14 pmAhhhh…Bogg-a-loo Barton gets his face muscles to work in public one more time….What a complete waste of limited planetary space…
IF Barton would think for 1/2 a nano-second before opening his pie hole, I wonder if he would realize just how moronic he sounds…
misscoleopteramolly did the math in reply # 56 above….Rocket scientist I’m not, but Barton seems to need a few new calculator batteries to get a jump start before reality jumps in and slaps the crap out of him – twice..
August 31st, 2009 at 4:19 pmI don’t see it. Even Texas is turning blue.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:19 pm60. Fred,
The economy would really have to boom for the Dems to avoid that kinda loss. I’d like to see them even make some gains, but it’s just not all that likely. Still, 2010 is a long way off. Maybe HR3200 and the Recovery Act will actually live up to potential…
As far as Texas turning blue….Bill White stands at least 50-50 odds of replacing Hutchison in the Senate. Other than that, DeLay, Perry, et.al. gerrmandered like nothing else in history to ensure only the dumbest, most vile Republicans(i.e. DeLay, Perry, Barton) could get elected in all but a few areas statewide. It’d take decades to correct that mess.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:24 pm55. happycozy,
but don’t forget the loudest folk want the repeal of medicare also.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:26 pmThis is obviously bluster. The Republicans know that if Americans get government run health insurance, they will never give it up.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:26 pmI dunno Ennui
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080721/moser
August 31st, 2009 at 4:28 pmLiberalLinebacker says:
Barfly,
You are completely out of touch. Obama did not reign in anything. Our recession is no longer a recession and was at near depression levels when Neo-Nazi Bush was in office.
Yup, I’m so out of touch that the council of economic advisors said just the same thing! They must be real whackos to agree with me! I think you’ve been taking too many headshots without a helmet, linebacker.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:38 pmObama did not reign in anything.
Spell it anyway you want, it’s the truth.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:39 pmFred says
August 31st, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I don’t see it. Even Texas is turning blue.
____________________________________________________________
The one thing working in favor of the Republicans is that midterm elections traditionally favor the party NOT in the White House.
A bigger thing working against them is that more people are disgusted with what Republicans are doing to health care reform than they are with the health care reform plan itself. According to an NBC poll conducted in mid-August, 53% said they favored the plan, and only 43% opposed it (this question was phrased to describe the plan — questions that are phrased “based on what you have heard” tend to get lower approval rates, suggesting there are a lot of people out there with no or false information).
When the same people were asked if they approved of the way congressional Republicans were handing the issue of health care reform, only 21% said they approved, and 62% said they disapproved.
If 62% of the public are against what the Republicans are doing, how in the world do people like Barton think they’re going to take back enough seats to get a majority?
August 31st, 2009 at 4:41 pmHere’s how I think Barton Could Regain his commitee Chairmanship.
The Dems FAIL to Pass Health Care Reform…or
The Dems pass a watered down Health Care Bill that gives Tax Payer Money to Insurance Companies ( Like with AIG) and insurance rates continue to Soar.
on the other hand..
If Obama and the Dems get A bill thru that actually FIXES the problem, then the GOP…with all its fearmongering…will spend the next generation in the political wilderness .
August 31st, 2009 at 4:44 pmYea Joe, just put that on the list right after you repeal Social Security and Medicare. Let me know how that works out for you.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:59 pmYou know what? Good. Fine. That is your right to repeal health care if your party gets into power. But if you think you represent the people SO MUCH on that concept, then why not just let the Dems self destruct? LET the Dems pass their public option and then run on how horrible it is and bad for America. Surely the people will rush to support you, give the GOP a majority, and you will have a mandate to repeal health care reform.
It’s that simple. If Republicans think they are right on this issue, let the Dems pass their bill (they have 60 votes), and then make that the REpublican platform the next election. See how far they get.
August 31st, 2009 at 5:02 pmMy question would be: if say the GOP does get the majority (which I highly doubt), how could he repeal the reform? He’d need more then just the committee and even then it would have to take the President’s signature to repeal the reform. (Which I also highly doubt!)
August 31st, 2009 at 5:45 pmTo the Dogfather,
“Forgetting?” You’re assuming this jerk had some knowledge of Constitutional law at some point in his life. I have doubts about that.
The Dogfather says:
August 31st, 2009 at 6:02 pmObviously this dumba$$ is forgetting his constitutional law. A congressional bill to repeal an existing law is, in itself, a new bill. As such, any bill passed by Congress to repeal an existing law must be signed into law by the President or it doesn’t become law.
My bet is that the makeup of the House and Senate will not significantly change in 2010 unless something very bad happens. The stimulus has a lot spending that will occur over the next year and the economy seems to be improving. The jobless rate is the worst factor. Barton is just running off at the mouth. It is axiomatic that people vote their pocketbook.
August 31st, 2009 at 6:02 pmThe dems need to pass a good bill the people will see it will help them and will get behine it, But Obama will have to sell it and explain it in simple to understand and dems need to get off there dead butts and get on tv all they can to make sure repugs and fox cant lie about it. The dems got to learn to not sleep in the same bed big health care.
August 31st, 2009 at 6:36 pmExactly. The Dems need to go back and sell it to the people and tell them why it is in their best interests.
August 31st, 2009 at 6:46 pmOh Geeze, I’m going to get real worried here. The Repubilcs have a 25-33% chance of taking back the house. That means the Democrats have a 67-75% chance of keeping the house. Considering the fact that only 20% of Americans call themselves Republics today and that number seems to continue to drop, I’m sorry if I don’t get all worried here.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:24 pmThe major problem with entitlements is they are started and never go away. Ask a Native American in Montana how they like the health care public option plan they have been under for years. It ain’t a pretty picture.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970203706604574376981533298534.html
August 31st, 2009 at 7:57 pmMore proof the GOP are a bunch of ill-informed idiots who hate their country & its citizens.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:07 pmkwsventures:
August 31st, 2009 at 9:24 pmHave you asked the mining companies how they like the deals they have been offered to rape public lands? By the way, what is it that business of your produces? I might wanna buy some of that….
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9272
August 31st, 2009 at 11:10 pmhttp://www.rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/01/excerpt_of_the_day_the_crooked.php
August 31st, 2009 at 11:20 pmThe issues are 1 in 10 Americans are unemployed,1 in 11 American homes are in the foreclosure process, and 1 in 6 Americans do not have health care. Rep. Joe Barton you are an unfeeling ass. Shame on you for not caring for such a large segment of Americans. Is this the type of people we are going to let take back power in Washington? Maybe it is time for a boycott of Fox News channel just out of general principles. It is all about the green. After watching Chris Wallace I would like to ask him if that is how his father would have interviewed Dick Cheney?
August 31st, 2009 at 11:27 pmOnce Obama passes health care. Then uses the Ronald Regan “Blame Jimmy Carter far everything” method. Obama will successfully “Blame George Bush for everything” for the next 6 years. Tie in the upcoming immigration debate. The Republicans won’t be able to stop insulting the Latinos. Bingo! Landslide!
September 1st, 2009 at 2:24 amLet’s see. If we get meaningful health care reform (which at last check almost 80% were in favor of a public option)and you are promising to repeal it if you regain power, aren’t you sort of guaranteeing no one will vote for you or your candidates?
September 1st, 2009 at 2:29 amIf Barton is SO AGAINST any national health insurance, then WHY didn’t he vote to repeal Medicare. NewYork Rep Weiner wrote and presented that amendment in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, but NO GOP Representative voted for it.
As for Texas secession…as a resident of Texas…I just wish that we could get some of these right-wing secessions to move in with their buddies….in another state…and hopefully take Perry with them. Their “massive demonstration” of 200 like minded individuals over the weekend only made them more ridiculous and their headliner Perry was no where in sight!
September 1st, 2009 at 8:21 amTo avoid something like this happening, make health care a constitutional amendment. :-)
September 1st, 2009 at 10:29 amThe premise of this story is an inductive one, i.e. an infinite range of feelings or opinions can span either side, of the debate about a future Republican or Democratic legislative, majority. IMO, two sources or opinions are always needed to lend credibility to this sort of predictive argument. A reporter will always begin writing a story with a smaller pool of information or data, than will exist later, at the time his or her story is published!
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:56 am