{Originally posted at my blog Senate Guru.}
We've heard from a number of conservative Democratic Senators that a public option can't be included in a health care reform bill because the votes just wouldn't be there to pass it. (All emphasis added by me.)
Joe Lieberman (I/Dem caucus-CT), 6/16/09:
probably the most important, the votes are not there for a public health plan, government run option and this can stand in the way of a historic achievement for President Obama
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), 6/21/09:
She told CNN's John King: "Well to be candid with you, I don't know that he has the votes right now. I think there's a lot of concern in the Democratic caucus."
(Much, much more below the fold.)
Kent Conrad (D-ND), 8/16/09:
"The fact of the matter is there are not the votes in the United States Senate for the public option, there never have been, so to continue to chase that rabbit is just a wasted effort," Conrad said on Fox News Sunday.
Max Baucus (D-MT), 9/9/09:
He also said there are not enough votes in the Senate to pass the "public option," based on public and private conversations he's had with his colleagues.
Mark Pryor (D-AR), 9/10/09:
"My guess is that there are not votes to do it in the Senate, even a very modest public option like what he’s talking about," Pryor said.
To Senators Lieberman, Feinstein, Conrad, Baucus, and Pryor, along with Senators Bayh, Johnson, Landrieu, Lincoln, Nelson and Nelson: you ARE the votes!
Saying that you oppose a public option "because the votes aren't there" is a nonsensical excuse when the votes would be there if the people claiming that the votes aren't there voted for it! You are the votes. Quit copping out.