After much contentious debate and filibustering over the weekend, U.S. Senate Democrats cleared their 60-vote margin to cut off the health care debate in the wee hours of Monday Morning. The vote was held shortly after 1 A.M. The 60-40 tally was divided strictly across party lines, which means both South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim Demint voted against shutting down the debate. During the filibustering by Republicans over the weekend, Graham left no doubt what he thinks of the health care reform measure.
“We”re not going to put the whole nation at risk and taken and broken system and make it worst just to get a vote just to get a vote.” After a long dramatic pause for emphasis Graham added, “No way in hell.”
Prior to Monday’s post midnight hour vote, Graham appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union with John KIng” Sunday morning. Graham refers to Senior White House Advisor David Axelrod and the use of backroom tactics. “I like David, he ran a brilliant campaign but they’re doing a lousy job of running the country in my view. Referring to the Obama presidential campaign’s slogan of “Change you can believe in” Graham says “after this health care bill debacle (the Obama campaign theme} it has become an empty slogan.” “it has really been replaced by seedy Chicago politics when you think about. Backroom deals that amount to bribes. CNN host King interrupts, “bribes, that’s a strong word.” Graham retorts, well absolutely it’s a strong word. it was meant to be strong.”
