Star Power

" Well the health care battle is heating up in the Senate former President Bill Clinton is lending his star power to the effort. He's trying to get Democrats to rally behind the president's agenda today will it be enough to clear -- hurdle that seems to get higher every day. Joining us now for a fair and balanced debate the founder of the Monday meeting Mallory factor. And Maria Cardona -- she is the former senior adviser for Senator Hillary Clinton and a former communications director for the Democratic National Committee. Maria what's president Clinton's job in this debate today."

" I think -- job is actually do what he does best which is to explain to convince and to persuade. These Democrats that they need to stand strong. I think also he has more credibility I think than anybody in the political arena right now. To do two things number one to talk about how you navigate what is sometimes the tricky waters of of these red states where a lot of these legislators are from. And number two to talk about what can happen if they don't stand strong and they don't pass health care reform because he was the victim of that. The congress that he headed up the night before was the victim of that when they did nothing and so I think that he will be very credible. In telling these Democrats had a message. That. And that in the most credible I'll wait to their constituents about the big big benefits -- this health care reform will bring them."

" Mallory rather -- recent reports took a poll has some numbers out that are kind of interesting it seems that things are swinging. Mr. Obama is way 46%. Now they -- say they favor. The health care plan as proposed by President Obama and the Democrats it was only 42%. A week earlier still -- well less than half but but 42% oppose it right now doesn't suggest that the arm twisting is working."

" The arm twisting may be working but the only way the arm twisting is gonna really work. Is if he promises some of these Democrats are gonna vote for this -- some jobs afterward because you're gonna need some. The public does not want this socialist program this is not health care reform they want health care reform this is -- So what would health care reform look like do you all health care reform you have to have. Be able to buy across state borders you have to be able to -- tort reform which cost about 7% of our health care budget. You have to have health savings accounts you have to be able to buy catastrophic insurance yeah that's health care reform in this that inhabit -- a little socialist give away."

" Why why is the president apparently trying to get the ball out of the park I mean why not start small with some smaller programs. Because unfortunately. Health care reform is something that America has needed. For decades and it has it is an incredibly difficult issue and everybody knew that going into it. But the American public understands the importance. Of making sure that were able to cover. The thirty million Americans who currently don't have coverage. But more importantly the millions of Americans who do have -- its. Have absolutely no security and complete instability. In terms of the covers they do have the could be -- their plan tomorrow. If they find that they have a life threatening illness there is zero competition out there. And that costs which has tripled in the last ten years well is what is making our businesses and our families crust in terms of their economic future. This is -- form that we absolutely need and the American people understand."

" I'm Mallory she says there's zero competition out there -- you out there there there you let people buy across state borders the real reason though. That Obama wants is the -- he made a lot of -- campaign promises. And so far he's only been able to come through want to. And that's taken his wife on a date new York and get his kids a dog. Nothing else. Bob Murray I mean it it does seem that if you allowed companies to sell insurance across state line you'd have a lot of the state line -- got a lot more competition when --"

" And you know what that that is in the bill -- exactly what the health insurance exchange better and in both bills in the house and and in the Senate. Are proposing to do and it's interesting because clearly the the opponents of health care reform love to talk about that this is going to be a big government takeover -- Nothing could be further from the truth this -- inject much needed competition it will inject coverage. And and options for those people who cannot now buying insurance. Coverage. And it will help in the long run to bring down our economic cost for health care reform. Which -- for health care insurance which frankly has been. Crushing and terms of our economic future son again this is something we need to do in order Franken."

" recover if that Rasmussen poll is right -- Maria you've only got 46%. Support among Americans. Doesn't seem like it's. It's got the kind of support you're you're talking on independent yeah well it's it's just sit what's interesting -- actually there I get I'm -- Maria Cardona. Mallory factor -- like it might actually both of you coming up thank."