Rep. Jim Cooper

Democratic Congressman from Tennessee; Blue Dog Democrat

Rep. Jim Cooper appears in the following:

Health Care, A 'Blue Dog Democrat's' View

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Health care, health care, health care. President Obama has been pushing his plan, selling it to the nation in a prime time press conference last week and to seniors in a town hall with the AARP yesterday. But is the nation buying it? The Takeaway's Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich has been watching; he's not sure everyone in the president's own party are keen on the plan. The Blue Dog Democrats, the fiscally conservative wing of the party, may be starting to work with House Republicans to slow the bill's progress. One of the Blue Dog Democrats, Tennessee Congressman Jim Cooper, joins us to explain his position. Rep. Cooper has taught health care policy at Vanderbilt University for 12 years.

"It's not too late right now, we can still get this done. The key is to have an open dialogue with all the American people, not just hardcore Democrats and Republicans, but also the folks in the middle who really are worried and skeptical and want to know more what's in the bill."
—Rep. Jim Cooper on health care reform

Click through for a transcript of our conversation with Rep. Jim Cooper.

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