Boehner Tells Democrats: Shame on You
CBS News
by Brian Montopoli
March 21, 2010
At the end of almost four hours of debate Sunday night, House Republican Leader John Boehner and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made memorable final statements in advance of a historic health care vote.
Boehner took the floor and proclaimed, acknowledging likely passage, that he had a “sad and heavy heart.”
He said “no one in this body” believes the bill is satisfactory and argued “we have failed to listen to America, and we have failed to reflect the will of our constituents.”
“Shame on each and every one of you who substitutes your will and your desires above those of your fellow countrymen,” said Boehner.
He grew agitated when asking rhetorical questions about the impact of the bill, asking members if they could really promise their constituents that it would not have a variety of negative consequences.
“Do you really believe that if you like the health plan that you have that you can keep it? No you can’t,” he said. At one point he offered an angry “hell no” to one of his rhetorical questions.
In response to noises from the gallery in response to Boehner, Rep. David Obey, acting as speaker, said, “Both sides would do well to remember the dignity of the House.”
“I beg you…do not further strike at the heart of this country and this institution with arrogance, for surely you will not strike with impunity,” Boehner said.
He asked for a roll call vote to be taken, as opposed to an electronic vote tally, a call Obey denied. Roll call votes are almost never taken in the House.
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