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Were joined now by Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, also a member of the House Task Force on Health Care Reform. Congressman, thanks for your time tonight.
REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: Good to be you with you.
OLBERMANN: The Speaker said youll have the 218 votes needed for passage by Saturday night. How many do you think you have tonight? Do you have a number?
CUMMINGS: I think we probably have it now. We have at least the 218 right now. The reports that Im getting. If we dont have them, were very, very close. I would expect, Keith, that when the president shows up tomorrow, he will have the effect of pulling some votes on the side of health care reform. And I think well be able to by the time he leaves the Capitol.
OLBERMANN: Has anything to your knowledge been sacrificed or will anything have to be sacrificed in this bill the keep that 218 or 218 plus number?
CUMMINGS: Im not sure. I think were still going back and forth. We have some folks in our caucus who are certainly very concerned with regard to money being spent, government money being spent for abortions. I personally think that it has been pretty well covered. But I know the Speaker is trying to make sure that we stay consistent with the Hyde Amendment. And we believe that it is clear that no money will be--as the bill is written, will be used, no public money for abortions.
But I dont think--I think well be able to resolve these issues. I think all of us realize that we must have health reform--health care reform right now. And we have a lot of people who are, sadly, suffering and theyre looking at us right now. Theyre suffering and they dont have insurance.
And we have 45,000 people, probably plus, dying every year because they dont have insurance. I can tell you, Im sure there are many cases in my own district that fit that description.
OLBERMANN: Did the two special House elections on Tuesday change this effort in any sense, in any way?
CUMMINGS: I dont think so. Ive said it earlier on this network that I really think that the House elections was a very loud cry out or shout out to the Democrats. Again, we have two conservative districts, one which was Republican forever. And now they--both of these districts have now sent Democrats to the Capitol.
Think about that, Keith. If people were so opposed to what President Obama is attempting to do, and so opposed to what the Democrats are trying to do, the last thing that they would do is send two additional teammates to help you get the ball over the line.
So Im--I was very pleased about that.
OLBERMANN: It is almost too logical to say anything against that, Congressman. Although many of your colleagues on the other side of the chamber have done that. To that point, I would like to get your thoughts, while we have you here, about this so-called Super Bowl of Freedom at the Capital that the Republicans staged today, with a poster equating health care to the Nazi death camp at Dachau, with those racist signs that were being held there. Did the succeed in, as they put it, scaring you into protecting Americas freedoms?
CUMMINGS: I dont think they scared anybody. As you were saying that, Keith, I got a chill, really. I mean, I just think this thing has gone too far.
First of all, people need to understand whats in the bill. I would guarantee you, Keith, that if people really knew what was in the bill, they would realize that the bill probably, more than likely, will benefit them and their families.
But I think that there is an effort to create failure on the part of this president, who is trying so hard to do the right thing. And then there are other people who have legitimate concerns. And there are other people who just dont know what they are talking about. They dont know the bill. And so thats a real problem.
OLBERMANN: Indeed. And it is a shame about those with legitimate concerns kind of getting buried in there amongst the--
CUMMINGS: No doubt about it.
OLBERMANN: Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, great thanks, especially for your time here in the evening.
CUMMINGS: Thank you.
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