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Michael Steele: 'Rodney King moment'

by Mark Silva

That one Republican vote on the health-care bill that cleared the Senate Finance Committee this week is nothing for Democrats to write home about, the GOP chairman says.

"One Republican vote out of 40 in the Senate does not bi-partisan make,'' Chairman Michael Steele said today, in an appearance on FOX News Channel's Happening Now. "You've got a long way to go, Mr. President, before you get to bi-partisanship in terms of really putting together a bill that makes sense."

Speaking of the 14-9 vote Tuesday in which Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe joined all the Democrats on the committee, Steele said: "I think what we've seen here is a vote yesterday for higher taxes, more government spending, higher premiums and more government control. I just don't think that's where the American people are....

"Can we all get in a room and have a Rodney King moment and work toward something that reflects the common sense, bottom up approach that the voters and the insurance of our country want to be done?''

A "Rodney King moment?"

How about a Rahm Emanuel moment?

White House Chief of Staff "Rahm Emanuel is coming up to meet with the Senate leadership to talk about cramming through a bill out of those twoare Republicans invited to that meeting?" Steele asked. "At what point do we really start engaging in bi-partisan conversation about what is real health care reform?"

Perhaps when Republicans advance some "real health-care reform?" -- the Democratic response, we expect.

Consider this a Swamp moment.

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