Looking ahead, now that Senate health care bill passes crucial test vote

[0:00] ..." This is Mary Blake WBZ Newsradio 1030 I'm speaking with -- ABC political analyst Steve Roberts. And taking a look obviously at the weekend vote in the US senate clearing way for debate on health care reform to begin in the upper chamber sometime after Thanksgiving and Steve senate majority leader Harry Reid says reform is unstoppable that he along with other Democrats hailing the weekend vote as a huge victory but just"...

[0:44] ..." the Senate is going to be difficult and you have people like Joe Lieberman from Connecticut already saying he will not. Not vote for bill if it includes the so called public option. And you've got."...

[1:57] ..." Brutal and and it's not healthy. And Barack Obama knows that it's not healthy and he campaigned on trying to change this system he campaigned on trying to reach out to"...

[3:37] ..." In the health care debate last week you had those two studies fewer mammograms and pap -- recommended for women. Even present Obama of being accused"...

[4:08] ..." Americans have that if you. Engaged the government more directly and running health care than decisions get taken out of the hands of a woman and her doctor. And placed into the hands of government or"...

[5:26] ..." at one point he was out out in front on this issue health care reform so much of -- that he needed to step back. What do you think he should be doing."...

[6:09] ..." modest success. Which is convinced a lot of Americans who already have health care and are reasonably happy with their health care. That change is good for one of the great ironies here. Is that here's this young president who campaigned so effectively year ago. On the monitor of change and yet when it comes to health care his biggest political problem is a lot of people who voted -- don't want change wanna keep what they have. So he"...

[6:42] ..." Thank you very much as always Steve applause. As ABC political analyst Steve Roberts Mary Blake WBZ Newsradio 1030."...

[0:00]" This is Mary Blake WBZ Newsradio 1030 I'm speaking with -- ABC political analyst Steve Roberts. And taking a look obviously at the weekend vote in the US senate clearing way for debate on health care reform to begin in the upper chamber sometime after Thanksgiving and Steve senate majority leader Harry Reid says reform is unstoppable that he along with other Democrats hailing the weekend vote as a huge victory but just an awful lot of work to do here."

[0:23]" An awful lot look. The Democrats are victimized in the sense by their own success they've got sixty members of the Senate that means that got. People like Chuck Schumer from Newton new York and people like Ben Nelson from Nebraska and they. Do not agree on a lot of things and so yes calling together a majority. And it's a sixty vote majority given the rules of the Senate is going to be difficult and you have people like Joe Lieberman from Connecticut already saying he will not. Not vote for bill if it includes the so called public option. And you've got. Liberals like Schumer and Karen brown of Ohio saying never vote for bill if it does not include a public option to how do you reconcile as well you do a lot of talking. You do a lot of compromising you try to fuzz the edges here. But for all the differences that Democrats have. They have one clear cor common interest which is to get a bill done to support their young president. To be able to go to the voters next year and say we accomplished what we promised we would do and think of the alternative think about how tough it will be for the Democrats. If they don't have a bill and that nightmare scenario. In the end is gonna make the difference I think and day in the end after all of -- horse trading and although compromising. All the Democrats can vote for this bill and it's gonna get past."

[1:57]" Brutal and and it's not healthy. And Barack Obama knows that it's not healthy and he campaigned on trying to change this system he campaigned on trying to reach out to Republicans I think on in some ways in some places. Some Democrats were. Legitimately interest in working with Republican senator baucus the democratic chairman of the finance committee did have endless negotiations with Republicans and there are still. A few particularly senator Snowe and Collins of Maine. Who I think are still in the game and still willing to could talk but Republicans. Have. Really shut him out and the Democrats again. Victimized in another way by their own success having defeated. So many moderate Republicans over the years in new England and everywhere else when they look around for negotiating partner or -- this the they don't have one. Take one example the late great John King feel marvelous Republican senator from Rhode Island very familiar to many Boston listeners. If he we're in the Senate today he would be working with the Democrats but he's not in the Senate and there is no one like him in the Senate from New England. With the exception of snow in and Collins and I'm. So -- you you. Are seeing a much larger problem in American politics which is that the Democrats are revolving into the Liberal Party that. -- that Republicans and evolving into a Conservative Party. That great tradition of moderate republicanism. In New England. Going back to. Prescott Bush the father and grandfather of president who has a moderate Republican from Connecticut there are very few people like -- left in the Senate. And therefore of not really anybody around for the Democrats to negotiate when it."

[3:37]" In the health care debate last week you had those two studies fewer mammograms and pap -- recommended for women. Even present Obama of being accused of bio one of the columnists here and now Boston. As having at tin ear -- in the reform debate that that you know he should've seen this coming that that somehow women are not going to take this Kay Bailey Hutchinson even went so far to say this is the beginning of rationing."

[4:01]" Well. It certainly is an opening for the Republicans to attack the democratic bill and it does play on one of the real fears that Americans have that if you. Engaged the government more directly and running health care than decisions get taken out of the hands of a woman and her doctor. And placed into the hands of government or insurance bureaucrats and this is. -- real problem for the Democrats they moved quickly to try to deal with a Kathleen Sebelius the secretary of a -- Said the administration is not going to accept and live by. Those new suggestions. About mammograms that. Prove as far as they're concerned -- women. At forty should do to be allowed and and be paid -- to buy insurance to have. Mammograms yearly and even the American Cancer Society is come out against this new study. Ended. It clearly was a political -- the administration because. One of the big fears Americans have with that. Will become like Europe aware. The state the community the government. Gets between individuals. In there and their physicians and if that fear grows. It's going to be a huge problem for the Democrat."

[5:19]" Obviously there is going to be a lot of wrangling behind the scenes between now and after Thanksgiving. What does President Obama do at one point he was out out in front on this issue health care reform so much of -- that he needed to step back. What do you think he should be doing."

[5:35]" Well in the end I think he's got two things to do one is inside one -- outside inside. He's got to continue to go to the Democrats who remain fractious and remained. Very. At odds with -- each other over key provisions and say look in the end we all are in the same boat in the end we have a common political interest everybody with a has got to work together in the end and that's the internal. Problem externally. He's got to continue to do something which he's tried to do with only modest success. Which is convinced a lot of Americans who already have health care and are reasonably happy with their health care. That change is good for one of the great ironies here. Is that here's this young president who campaigned so effectively year ago. On the monitor of change and yet when it comes to health care his biggest political problem is a lot of people who voted -- don't want change wanna keep what they have. So he has got to convince a lot of voters that it's in their interest to go for this change and so it's an inside job and an outside job growth --"

[6:42]" Thank you very much as always Steve applause. As ABC political analyst Steve Roberts Mary Blake WBZ Newsradio 1030."