Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) told ABC’s This Week that the late-Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) — who long supported the public option — would compromise on health care before altogether abandoning the possibility for reform this year.
“Teddy would put the facts on the table, and the reality of life for many Americans on the table,” Kerry told host George Stephanopolous. “What Teddy would do is fight for the public option. He believed that the public option, like I do, would be the best option available … But if he didn’t see the ability to get it done … he would not throw the baby out with the bathwater, he would not say no to anything.”
“In every case he fought as hard as he could,” Hatch added. “But when he recognized that he couldn’t get everything he wanted, but could get a good bill, he [would compromise].”
Kerry later told Stephanopolous that lawmakers from both parties would likely be more amenable to those discussions once the August recess concluded. But, he added, it was unclear which Republicans were interested in compromising on health care.
“I think there are ways to do this, George,” Kerry said. “As a member of the Finance Committee, I’ve been part of this discussion… My question to Orrin is, ‘Who is the Republican?’ or, ‘Who are the Republicans, plural?’ who are willing to step up and do what Kennedy has done.”