Clyburn: I Think We’re In Good Shape On Health Care Reform (VIDEO)

The top vote counter in the House says he thinks Democrats are in fine shape on health care reform.

On MSNBC this morning, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) laid out his logic.

“I think we’re in good shape on this bill,” Clyburn said. “I think that all of us in the House know that 220 people have voted for it, 219 Democrats. Now three of those Democrats who voted for it are no longer part of the body which takes us down to 216, but we’ve got four vacancies, so it means that what we need is 216 and not 218.”

Video below.

Clyburn’s right–the new mark is likely to be 216. But in all likelihood, Democrats have lost more than just the three members who are no longer part of the body–retired Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and Robert Wexler (D-FL), and deceased Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA).

They’ve almost certainly lost some pro-life Democrats (who do not approve of the abortion language in the Senate health care bill) and perhaps even some vulnerable members who’ve decided, after voting for the House health care bill in November, that they won’t be on the hook for any more votes. That’s why leadership is looking to pick off members who voted no in November and flip them.