Former Reid Aide: McConnell Cast Obamacare as 'Partisan, Socialist Takeover'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is to blame for "scorching the Earth" while Obamacare was being crafted, which led to its failure to be repealed, according to Adam Jentleson, the former deputy chief of staff for retired Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

"McConnell's original sin was recasting the fundamentally bipartisan process and substance of Obamacare as a partisan, socialist takeover," Jentleson said during a series of Wednesday tweets.

At the risk of pushing my luck, I'd like to offer a few thoughts about McConnell's role in scorching the Earth on which repeal died. 

— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) July 19, 2017

McConnell's original sin was recasting the fundamentally bipartisan process and substance of Obamacare as a partisan, socialist takeover. 

— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) July 19, 2017

Jentleson said Obamacare was created with bipartisan roundtables and public hearings.

The ACA was crafted in a fundamentally transparent & bipartisan way. My colleague @TopherSpiro has the receipts.  https://t.co/V8W4OsfzRT… pic.twitter.com/io6k9gBUhA

— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) July 19, 2017

Were there flaws and mistakes? Sure. But fundamentally it was months of hearings, public debate & extensive, earnest bipartisan outreach. 

— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) July 19, 2017

Democrats wanted Republicans to support the bill, according to Jentleson.

Dems *genuinely* wanted Republican buy-in. They included GOP amendments & ideas in the bill. And some Rs genuinely wanted to work w/Ds. 

— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) July 19, 2017

However, he laid the blame for scuttling the process on McConnell.

But one man stood athwart this open, deliberative and bipartisan process yelling "STOP":

Mitch McConnell.
 

— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) July 19, 2017

The former aide then tweeted a link to The New York Times reporting that McConnell "pleaded and cajoled" Republicans to hold the line against Democrats.

It's worth re-reading this classic, w/the vintage @hillhulse/@adamnagourney byline & pic of cub reporter @mkraju.  https://t.co/jIKvNN6BsN

— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) July 19, 2017

McConnell announced Tuesday that a vote to repeal Obamacare will happen next week.

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