On a vote of 51-49, the senators dealt another Obamacare repeal bill defeat on Friday. The defeat became even more dramatic when Sen. John McCain – fresh from a diagnosis of brain cancer – crossed party lines and joined two female Republican senators and the Democrats in killing the bare-bones health care bill pushed by the GOP.
3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
During the Wednesday voting, nine Republican senators switched side and voted with the Democrats, but at that time McCain, who marked his return to Congress after his hospitalization, still sided with President Donald Trump.
Consistent in refusing to vote for the repeal of the landmark legislation were Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
16 million grateful Americans
Had the skinny repeal bill passed, 16 million people would have lost their health insurance coverage, while those with a cover would have seen a 20 percent hike in their premiums yearly, Mashable reported. When it was McCain’s turn to vote, the senator was seen holding his right palm face down. He made a thumb down gesture and said the “No” – the word that made the Democrats applause and the republicans gasp as they witness another crash of Trump’s campaign promise.
WATCH: McCain casts decisive 'No' vote, dooming Obamacare repeal https://t.co/FRhBVs6rA3
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 28, 2017
The collective applause from netizens was felt across Twitter where many Americans rejoiced with McCain’s change of heart.
Rob Reiner tweeted: “Senator John McCain is a man of his word and a true hero. Compassion and heart wins the day.”
Senator McCain helped defeat a truly awful bill. He also prefers presidents who weren't captured by the Russians. https://t.co/7stM5V5m5W
— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) July 28, 2017
It was the ultimate revenge for McCain on Trump who said during the 2016 campaign that McCain was not a war hero when in reality it was Trump who dodged the draft during the Vietnam War by claiming he had heel spurs.
Time to move on
After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged defeat to pass a pared-down legislation that would have repealed only a few key parts of Obamacare after some Republicans and Democrats voted against the broader legislation this week, Reuters reported. At about 1:30 a.m., McConnell said, “It’s time to move on.”
The bill released three hours before voting proposed to retroactively repeal the penalties on individuals who do not get health insurance, the penalty on some companies for not providing employees with health insurance, and a tax on medical devices until 2020.
He admitted it was clearly a disappointing moment for the GOP. “The American people are going to regret that we couldn't find a better way forward,” McConnell said. Or were they rejoicing that the apparent downfall of the Trump administration looms before their eyes?
