With control of the White House and Congress during the Bush years, where was their support for a plan ? Bush never offered a plan for one. There was unlimited funds for his occupations but not for Americans. If 45,000 die each year from having no insurance, then he and his colleagues are responsible, for nearly half a million lives lost which in itself is a crime of humanity.
The Dems brought about Medicare, government run assistance. Now they will make history with health care for all Americans. Does the Republican party want to be the party left out once more doing whats right for the American people ? No, and that's why they are against it now. They will never recoup from this for a long time and that's why they blatantly lie about what this bill represents.
It will not be perfect, but lives will be saved. Isn't that more important rather than who's plan it is ?
As a addendum to this, I believe both party's and the president screwed this up from the get go. They should have just called it Medicare Extended, it would have saved a ton of money and opposition since the present system works, and the uninsured would have been added to it.
And lastly, every senator/congressman who will vote on this bill, I urge you to look who backs them in their campaigns. When you see who receives money from the insurance lobbyists, you'll know who their allegiance is too. If you like being left behind by some self appointed bum who wouldn't be worth a dime if they had not sold their soul to the almighty dollar, most of which is in offshore accounts so they avoid paying taxes, (very patriotic of them) then you keep believing they represent you and not the real owners of this country, big corporations.
Welcome to the real world.