Democrat Bright Takes Advice From DNC Chair, Stands Up For ObamaCare

(MONTGOMERY, AL) –   On Sunday, Democrat National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine criticized Democrats who are running away from ObamaCare saying they should instead be touting their accomplishment. He tried to buck up his fellow Democrats in Congress, urging them to “be proud of what you’re doing.”

Even as some of his colleagues who voted for the bill are trying to distance themselves from the unpopular bill, Democrat Bobby Bright continues to remind people about all the good in ObamaCare and reiterates his opposition to repealing it.

“What the Democrat majority has accomplished under Nancy Pelosi is nothing to be proud of,” said Martha Roby, Republican nominee for Alabama’s Second Congressional District. “The Democrats under Pelosi are mortgaging our future and killing the jobs we need to get our economy back on track. The crowning achievement of their agenda -- ObamaCare -- raises taxes, slashes Medicare, and does nothing to contain costs.”

“Instead of defending the health care bill, I think we ought to defund and repeal it, and replace it with real conservative health care reform,” said Roby. “I’ve made the pledge to work to stop this job-killing legislation by all means necessary, but Democrat Bobby Bright has not.”

“Until we make a change in Washington, ObamaCare and other legislation like it will continue to be rammed through. We can start that change right here in Alabama’s Second District,” said Roby.   
 
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BACKGROUND

Democrat National Chairman Tim Kaine urged his candidates to be proud of ObamaCare and other accomplishments:

“Democratic National Chairman Tim Kaine said on Sunday that Democrats should not run away from the party's support of the new health care law - they should run on it…. But Kaine added that, in his experience in electoral politics, ‘you ought to be proud of what you’re doing.’…‘This is a significant achievement for the uninsured,’ Kaine said. ‘It is something we should be very proud of and talking about.’” (“Kaine: Dems shouldn’t run from health care,” by Carrie Budoff Brown, Politico, 9/19/10)

Bobby Bright “really wanted to vote yes” on health care reform:

“I can tell you that 70 percent of people in District 2 would benefit from the current proposed bill…I really wanted to vote ‘yes’ but it was just too quick and robust a change for me to support it,” Bright said.” (“Bright proposes caution for changes in health care,” by Angie Long, The Greenville Advocate, 1/7/10)

Bobby Bright has stated on multiple occasions that be opposes repealing ObamaCare, calling it “immature politics” and “premature:” 

“There is some good things about (the bill), though, and to say let’s appeal the whole thing is immature politics.” ( “Congressman has Health Care on Mind,”  by Holli Keaton, Troy Messenger, 4/5/10)

“While Rep. Bobby Bright, D-Montgomery voted against the bill he said he is hesitant to jump on board with a full-scale appeal. ‘While I strongly disagree with many aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and voted against the bill, I believe it’s premature to discuss repealing a bill that was just passed and has yet to be signed into law by the President,’ he said. ‘A wholesale repeal, or legal challenge, of the bill ignores the fact that this legislation contains some good parts, many of which will go into effect soon.’” (“State may join in lawsuit over health care bill,” by Ryan Charles, Troy Messenger, 3/22/10)

Recently he said repealing ObamaCare would be bad because it would “we will go back to the beginning:”

“Voting to repeal the legislation in its entirety is not a logical next step now that it has passed, he said…The sentiment is one Bright has taken some partisan fire over…‘A lot of folks want to say, ‘Let’s just repeal it,’ but if we do that what will happen is we will go back to the beginning. You don’t know what will really happen and I don’t want to go back through what all we’ve been through over the last 18 months to get to where we are,’ Bright said. ‘If we were to repeal it, it is still not going to kill it. We have to send it over to the president to sign it. He’s not going to sign it. It would take two-thirds of the House and the Senate to override his veto.’” (“Bright responds to residents’ concerns,” by Melissa Braun, The Southeast Sun, 9/8/10)

Bright opposes repealing ObamaCare despite the fact that is has increased health care costs:

“Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums for some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul in coming weeks, complicating Democrats' efforts to trumpet their signature achievement before the midterm elections.” (“Health Insurers Plan Hikes: Rate Increases Are Blamed on Health-Care Overhaul; White House Questions Logic,” by Janet Adamy, The Wall Street Journal, 9/7/10)

Even one of Bright’s “Blue Dog” colleagues has now signed on to efforts to repeal the bill, which earned him praise for his principled stand:

“Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor became the first Democrat to sign a petition to repeal his party’s health care overhaul legislation… Taylor is the 172nd person to sign on the act to repeal the bill – following conservative Republican Rep. Steve King (Iowa), who offered the act on June 16…He earned some conservative praise for his signature. ‘We are pleased to see Representative Gene Taylor choosing principle over party,’ Heritage Action CEO Michael A. Needham said in a news release. ‘His commitment to representing his constituents, who have been opposed to Obamacare from the beginning, is refreshing.’” (“Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor signs health care repeal petition,” by Jake Sherman, Politico, 9/15/10)

Yet Bright has refused to support H.R. 4972 or even sign the discharge petition to let the House vote on it: http://clerk.house.gov/111/lrc/pd/petitions/Dis11.htm

And now he’s hearing from his constituents who disapprove of his opposition to repeal…