TPMDC Sunday Roundup

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Joe Wilson: “I Am Not Going To Apologize Again”
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) said he would not apologize again for his “You lie!” outburst during President Obama’s speech to Congress, setting up a likely censure vote in the House. “This is playing politics,” Wilson said. “This is exactly what the American people do not want to see, do not want to hear.” He also defended the substance of the original incident: “I believe in the truth. What I heard was not true.”

Obama: “One This Bill Passes, I Own It”
In an interview set to air on 60 Minutes, President Obama said:”I have no interest in having a bill get passed that fails. That doesn’t work. You know, I intend to be president for a while and once this bill passes, I own it. And if people look and say, ‘You know what? This hasn’t reduced my costs. My premiums are still going up 25 percent, insurance companies are still jerking me around, I’m the one who’s going to be held responsible. So I have every incentive to get this right.”

Dean: American People “Not Going To Care If It’s Reconciliation
In an appearance on Meet The Press, former DNC Chairman Howard Dean strongly advocated using budget reconciliation to pass the public option. “Republicans and Democrats both rammed things through,” said Dean. “The–at, at the end of the day, the American people want a bill. And it’s–they’re not going to care if it’s reconciliation or if, if it’s ramming it through. What they want is a decent bill that makes sense to them.”

Durbin: If Republicans Don’t Join Us, We Will Still Move Forward
Also on Meet The Press, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) stated clearly that Democrats will move on health care reform even if the Republicans don’t participate. “But the fact is we are not going to miss this opportunity,” said Durbin. “We invite the Republicans to join us for this historic opportunity. If they do not, we are still going to go forward.”

Pawlenty Backs Away From Nullification
Appearing on This Week, Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) backed away form his talk about states invoking the Tenth Amendment and filing lawsuits to stop health care reform. “Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a legal issue,” said Pawlenty. “I was raising it as much as a practical matter, that there are some things that the federal government shouldn’t do, doesn’t do well, and should leave to the states.”

Axelrod: “Not Willing To Accept” That There Won’t Be Public Option — But It’s Not The Whole of Reform
Appearing on Face The Nation, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod simultaneously played up and played down the public option. “So he [Obama] continues to believe it’s a good idea. He continues to advocate it. And I’m not willing to accept that it’s not going to be in the final package,” said Axelrod. “But what he also said and what we’ve all said is that this is not the whole of health insurance reform.”

Collins Opposes Trigger Option: “It Just Delays the Public Option”
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) declared her opposition to the trigger option. “The problem with trigger is it just delays the public option,” said Collins, “because the people who are going to be making the determination about whether the market is competitive enough, want the public option.”

McDonnell Drops F-Bomb In Live Interview
Bob McDonnell, the Republican nominee for Governor of Virginia, used profanity with a reporter when asked about his promise to not raise taxes. “I’m going to find other ways to be able to fund transportation. I’ve outlined twelve f—ing funding mechanisms that are creative, that are entrepreneurial,” said McDonnell. The McDonnell campaign said it was an unintentional verbal slip: “At one point Bob was speaking quickly, and in trying to say ‘funding mechanism,’ he stumbled and accidentally said another word.”

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