Washington (CNSNews.com) – “Louisiana Says Scrap the Plan,” read one sign at Saturday’s Tea Party march on Washington. The Democrats’ health care overhaul was one of the targets – but not the only one -- at Saturday’s rally against government spending and big government in general.
The public backlash against the Democrats’ health care plan leaves some conservatives hopeful that Congress will not pass the legislation.
“I think it’s going to be very difficult for them to build what they need to get that health care package through,” Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) told CNSNews.com after speaking to the Tea Party crowd. “They don’t have the unity within the party that they need.”
Referring to the massive crowd in Washington, Blackburn added, “They are sending a message to all of America -- they are not willing to stand for a government takeover.
But the death of the health care bill is not a sure thing, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) warned.
“It really probably depends on whether a few Republicans are naive enough to think if we give some kind of compromise in the Senate, that that will hold up in conference,” DeMint told CNSNews.com “I hope that no Republican is foolish.”
The September 12 march on Washington came three days after President Barack Obama spoke to Congress about the need to establish a government insurance program to compete against private insurers. The Democrats’ plan would require employers provide insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions, and it would require individuals to get insurance coverage.
Obama also said the plan he supports would not add to the deficit, would not cover abortions and would not insure illegal aliens, assertions that critics rebut.
Obama also has claimed that the Democrats’ proposal would not cut Medicare, even though he has supported $500 billion in “savings” from the Medicare program.
“Obviously, [those ‘savings’ are] not going to come from cuts in fraud, waste and abuse. It’s going to mean less care for seniors,” former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey told CNSNews.com.
Speaking to the large crowd gathered at the west end of the Capitol, McCaughey, of the private, non-profit Committee to Reduce Infectious Deaths, called the House Democratic bill a “medical assault on seniors.”
“It is paid for with a $500 billion reduction in Medicare spending that is 10 percent down at a time when 30 percent more people (baby boomers) will be enrolled in Medicare,” McCaughey said. “Those numbers go up, Mr. President. That means no more hip replacements. No more knee replacements. No more bypass surgery.”
“There is a better way. Mr. President -- get rid of this 1,000 page bill, and give us a 20-page bill in plain English,” she continued to cheers. “The framers of the U.S. Constitution gave us an entire federal government in 18 pages.”
McCaughey said a 20-page bill could guarantee medical insurance to the 10 million to 15 million who can’t afford to buy it now and could be paid for by $500 billion from the stimulus bill.
“No cuts in Medicare needed,” she said. “No addition to the deficit needed. And no pushing you off the health plans you already like. And no need to dismantle the best medical system in the world.”