Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) takes to the floor of the House to denounce racist and homophobic slurs by Tea Party protestors on Capitol Hill today.
From Politico …
In the jittery days following Scott Brown’s Senate victory, Nancy Pelosi was eager to resurrect comprehensive health reform. But first, she had to get past longtime ally Rahm Emanuel, who was counseling President Barack Obama to consider a smaller, piecemeal approach.
President Obama’s invokes Lincoln this afternoon in his talk to House Democrats: “I am not bound to win, but I’m bound to be true. I’m not bound to succeed, but I’m bound to live up to what light I have.” Watch.
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA) announces he’ll vote ‘yes’ on Health Care Reform.
Sends email to constituents: “After careful review and absent any last minute changes on reconciliation, I will vote YES on health care reform. Although I am not happy with every aspect of this bill, I have come to the conclusion that the benefits for Massachusetts and the country outweigh the problems.”
Rep. Zack Space (D-OH), who voted for the House health care bill last fall, has announced that he will vote no on the Senate bill tomorrow. We’re told that this wasn’t a surprise to Speaker Pelosi but that she didn’t release him to vote no either, as sometimes happens late in the game when the leadership knows it has enough votes and can spare some to protect vulnerable incumbents.
Our report from the Hill on “nigger” and “faggot” being hurled at black and gay lawmakers during this afternoon’s tea party protests.
It seems that ugly crowd of protestors harassing members of Congress in the Capitol complex this afternoon got even uglier than we thought. As noted earlier, in addition to menacing behavior toward multiple members of Congress, one protestor called Rep. Barney Frank a “faggot”, a taunt greeted by laughter from fellow protestors.
We’re now getting reports that other protestors yelled “nigger” at Rep. John Lewis (D-GA).
More shortly.
Late Update: Our account of the ugliness, from our two reporters on the Hill.
Federal officials investigating vandalism incident at Rep. Slaughter’s district office.
Obama to press corps on entering Caucus meeting: “We’re gonna get this done.”
Running updates at our auto-updating Countdown to Reform Wire.
Late Update: Obama: “After a year of debate … we’re a day away.” Reid: Health Care Reform will be “law in a matter of days.”