Axelrod To GOP: “Make My Day”

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David Axelrod is responsible for crafting the master narrative that can most minimize Democratic losses this fall. His plan, as it is currently formulated, depends on Democrats getting off playing defense on process, and mounting a full scale attack on health policy if a bill is passed. Karen posted the PowerPoint yetserday. Here is that PowerPoint in action:

If the Republican Party wants to go out and say to that child who now has insurance or say to that small business that will get tax credits this year if he signs the bill to help their employees get — get health care, if they want to say to them, you know what, we’re actually going to take that away from you and we don’t think that’s such a good idea, I say let’s have that fight, make my day. I’m ready to have that and every Member of Congress ought to be willing to have that debate as well.

The full Q & A from Axelrod’s Meet The Press appearance after the jump.

BROKAW: As a man who has run a lot of campaigns can’t you understand the anxiety of a lot of Democrats in the House especially who have to vote on the Senate bill even though reconciliation comes next to try to fix parts of it. When they know that when they go back in the fall, it’s that vote on the senate bill, 2,700 pages, the “Corn Husker Amendment,” the Louisiana Purchase all the Christmas tree ornaments that are in there that they’ll be hearing about when they run for re-election.

AXELROD: Tom, the only way they’re going to hear that if they run for re-election is if they, if this bill does not move forward. I’ve said many times that they’ve got to vote that Republicans and the insurance industries and others can run against them already. What they don’t have is the accomplishment.

If this bill passes, this year, children with pre-existing conditions will now be covered. They’ll be an end to lifetime caps and annual caps on what the insurance companies will cover. So if you get sick, you won’t go broke, if you get sick they can’t throw you off your insurance. The donut hole will be filled in, so senior citizens will save hundreds of dollars on their prescription drugs, the life of Medicare will be extended and on and on and on.

So, if the Republican Party wants to go out and say to that child who now has insurance or say to that small business that will get tax credits this year if he signs the bill to help their employees get — get health care, if they want to say to them, you know what, we’re actually going to take that away from you and we don’t think that’s such a good idea, I say let’s have that fight, make my day. I’m ready to have that and every Member of Congress ought to be willing to have that debate as well.