Clyburn: Healthcare debate ‘a fight for the heart and soul’ of the U.S.

The debate over healthcare reform is a battle for the heart and soul of the U.S., with those opposed to the legislation showing a dearth of compassion, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) charged Wednesday.

Clyburn, the House Majority Whip, characterized the especially intense August recess debate over health reform that has played out at lawmakers’ town hall meetings, as nothing short of a fight over the direction of the country in the long-term.

“This is not a healthcare debate, no matter what they may call it,” he said during an interview on NPR. “This is a fight for the heart and soul of the United States of America.”

“And those of us who believe that the heart carries with it a certain degree of compassion are committed to this effort to get this done,” the third-ranking House Democrat added. “Those who think differently will try to stop it.”

Clyburn talked up the prospects for health reform this year, saying that protesters opposed to the bill wouldn’t succeed in stopping the bill in its tracks, as they had during President Clinton’s healthcare initiative in in 1994.

Clyburn also asserted his sense that by the time the August recess will have played out, the tide in the healthcare debate will have turned in favor of reforms.

“I have a gut feeling that by the time we get back, the day after Labor Day, there’s going to be a different climate in this country, and people are going to be settling in for a real good reform program that will serve our country well,” he said.

Listen to the interview here: