Heath Shuler's health care bill vote angers Democrats, leaves GOP unconvinced

GOP doubts health bill vote

WASHINGTON (Asheville Citizen-Times) — Rep. Heath Shuler doesn't play football anymore, but his recent vote against a health care reform bill may make him feel like he's once again scrambling to evade a wall of blitzing linebackers.

Attacking the Waynesville Democrat from the left are Democrats angry that he bucked his party's leaders and President Barack Obama to vote against the $1.1 trillion package, especially since more than one in five nonelderly adults in his district lack health insurance.

The liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org and the Service Employees International Union plan to protest Thursday at Shuler's Asheville office.

And MoveOn.org has announced a TV ad campaign targeting Shuler and other Democrats who voted against the bill. The ad compliments House Democrats who voted for the health care bill for standing tall, then says Shuler “stood small.”

From the right, Henderson County Republican chairman Robert Danos says Shuler waited until he knew the health care bill would pass Saturday night before casting his no vote. Danos challenged Shuler to pledge to vote next year against Democratic Calif. Rep. Nancy Pelosi's bid to win another term as House speaker.