MSNBC "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" - Transcript

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

OLBERMANN: Who do you think you"re talking to, third graders?

Innocuous? Just outlining the rules?

Some snippets. "A point of order--with or without cause." "Unlimited number of amendments--germane or non-germane." "Delay is created by the two roll call votes." "Time-consuming motions can also be used to extend consideration."

Joining us now from the Senate debate is Oregon Democrat, Ron Wyden.

Senator, thanks for your time tonight.

SEN. RON WYDEN (D), OREGON: Thank you, Keith.

OLBERMANN: Delays delayed. Let"s talk first about the specifics of this latest version of the trigger now under consideration for the public option. What can you tell us about it?

WYDEN: We"ve got to make sure, Keith, that the public option has real teeth in it. We"ve got to make sure that it"s within reach of all Americans, because the bottom line is the consumer ought to have the chance to give the insurance industry an ultimatum. That ultimatum ought to be "Treat me right or I"m taking my business elsewhere."

We"re willing to look at a variety of different approaches to doing this, but ultimately, the public option has got to be about having choices for the consumer to hold the insurance industry accountable.

OLBERMANN: How do you get that and Olympia Snowe, too?

WYDEN: My sense is that we"re going to have some pretty passionate discussions over the next few days. But ultimately, this is about holding the insurance companies accountable. If at the end of the day, a single mom who, for example, isn"t eligible for subsidies, doesn"t have choices--that"s not going to do it. I wanted to see McCarran-Ferguson be changed so we lift this ridiculous rule that doesn"t apply the antitrust provisions to the insurance industry.

But we"ve got to have real choice. It"s got to have real teeth.

And it"s got to be within reach of the public.

Right now, the Congressional Budget Office says that only about 3 million people would even be able to take the public option. That"s not good enough.

OLBERMANN: Is it a zero sum game? Do you--to get Snowe, do you have to lose Sherrod Brown or vice versa? Or can there be something found that will allow people who vote for it to say, "Yes, this is a public option," and to believe it and for it to be a public option, and for those who voted against it or those who voted reluctantly for it say, "No, it"s not that big a deal"? In other words, can it be phrased in such a way that it is palatable to those right on the borderline of yes or no?

WYDEN: I believe it can. And I think there"s a lot of goodwill on all sides, because at the end of the day, the American people know that it is time to turn the tables on the insurance industry. What the insurance industry has been doing in many respects is inhumane. They"ve been cherry-picking. They take just the healthy people, send the sick people over to government programs more fragile than they are.

It"s going to be a challenge to bring together 60 votes. I believe it can be done, because there are senators of both parties who believe it"s time to hold the insurance industry accountable.

OLBERMANN: Senator, "Politico" quotes Senator Boxer responding to this Ben Nelson filibuster threat over the abortion language. She says, "I think he has said different things at different times." Can you either elaborate upon or dispute her implication there?

WYDEN: I do believe that it is going to be possible. And Senator Nelson has strong views about this. I respect it--to appreciate the rough consensus we have in this country.

We ought to protect a woman"s right to choose. We certainly shouldn"t turn the clock back on this. And also, there is the Hyde Amendment which bars federal funds for abortion.

I think it"s possible to write into the text of this bill, the rough consensus that I"ve described and get health reform out of the United States Senate by the end of this year. You look at the past week, it took us four days, for example, to move just a handful of amendments.

You commented on this manual on obstructionism. For some of these folks, putting out a manual on obstructionism is like offering swim lessons to dolphins. Of course, they"re good at obstructing. That"s something that they feel strongly about. They"re entitled to have their opinion heard, but not open-ended delay.

OLBERMANN: Why did they do it for three days and then stop? Did something change? And do you think the Republicans are going to plan a sit-in now or perhaps will they lie down in front of your car?

WYDEN: I think the American people are watching that we want to have a real debate on this. The American people aren"t interested in robocalls and they aren"t interested in campaigning. That"s for the political consultants.

United States senators are supposed to have debates. We"re supposed to make sure that all sides have a chance to air views and then we vote.

OLBERMANN: Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon--as always, great thanks for stepping out for a moment and joining us.

WYDEN: Thank you, Keith.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source