NBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript: Republican's Public Image and HealthCare.gov

Interview

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REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY, (D) ILLINOIS: So good to be with you, Ed.

SCHULTZ: Are Republicans aware that their actions are being viewed
globally? I mean have we learned any lessons as Washington learned
lessons. Had the Republicans finally got mad at this deep dark cave and
realize that people are kind of watching what we`re doing.

SCHAKOWSKY: Well, it`s not just the rest of the world, but I think
most of Americans as you pointed out, Ed. And in the polls, most people
want to have health care, they want ObamaCare, they don`t want it to be
repealed, they want it to be fixed.

Most people are against cuts in Medicare and Social Security, and the
SNAP Program for included the old food stamp program. And so, I think that
Republicans really -- I hope learned at least in part a lesson in the final
vote that opened the government and made us -- and allowed us to pay our
bills.

That -- They -- This was a losing battle. They lost big on that but
more importantly, I think that it come the next election, if we do just
what you said, make sure that people are really looking at the major
problem in our country which is income inequality. That`s what`s really
hurting our economy, depriving us have really taking off, and creating new
jobs, and building a middle class, then I think that the Democrats are
going to prevail in the House and keep the Senate, and will be able to
really move forward.

SCHULTZ: You know, looking at the history of England and the
coordination between the Americans and the Brits. There was an attitude,
it is very clear and reading all the history that there was never any
question about whether we were going to be able to succeed.
And today`s media right now, we`re having a big discussion about
whether a website can work, so people can get health care and that`s are
big problem. It`s almost as if we blow up problems to the point like we
can achieve much in this country anymore at all. It`s almost depressing
and I hate to use that word on television but we as Americans follow this
political fight that is going on in Washington, is it damaging the country
to the point were we don`t believe we can get anything done anymore
including fixing a website?

SCHAKOWSKY: Well, of course, it`s so ridiculous because the real
issue is that we`re going to finally provide health care or make it
available to all Americans. Millions of people who have preexisting
conditions or have never had health insurance at all. So as the President
said this is far more than a website, and of course that it`s going to be
fixed.

In fact, in 2006, when we Medicare part D was rolling out, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services love it and the 53rd day after the
rollout was saying, "Well, you know, when you rollout something, the speed
of course is going to be problems but we`re making progress." So we`ve
been there before but the Republicans act as if this is a new thing that we
should repeal it because it does .

SCHULTZ: Yeah.

SCHAKOWSKY: . the website doesn`t work. It`s crazy.

SCHULTZ: They will take anymore soul of information to be negative .

SCHAKOWSKY: Of course.

SCHULTZ: . on this, because they want to change the law. No question
about it. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. Thanks for joining us tonight.

SCHAKOWSKY: Thank you, Ed.

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