By Julian Pecquet - 11-17-13 11:29 AM EST
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Democrats are not losing confidence in President Obama's signature healthcare law, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Sunday.
Pelosi told NBC's "Meet the Press" that her members will “stand tall” behind the law during next year's mid-term elections. Her comments follow the disastrous rollout of the government's insurance web site and millions of health insurance plan cancellation notices sent to Americans despite Democrats' pledge that they would be able to keep their policies.
“I don't think you can tell what will happen next year [at the polls],” she said, “but I will tell you this: Democrats stand tall in support of the Affordable Care Act.”
“This is an issue that has to be dealt with. But it doesn't mean, oh, it's a political issue, so we're going to run away from it. No. It's too valuable for the American people. What is important about it is that the American people are well served, not who gets reelected.”
She downplayed the significance of the 39 Democrats who on Friday joined a Republican bill allowing insurers to continue offering plans that don't meet the law's requirements. She said that number is similar to the number that has voted on bills delaying the law's mandate on employers and individuals.
“When the Republicans put forth a political initiative,” she said, “people respond to it politically.”
Pelosi called the rollout of the insurance web site “terrible,” but promised it will be fixed. She said jobs would dominate the election, “as it always does.”
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), interviewed right after Pelosi, said Republicans would continue to press for overhauling the law.
“No matter how congresswoman Pelosi tries to spin this, this is a mess,” Ayotte said. “It's time for a timeout … so we can go back to the drawing board.”
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