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Obama warns Senate on healthcare Obama warns Senate on healthcare
(20 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has warned Democrats not to "jam" healthcare reforms through the Senate after a Republican won a seat in Massachusetts.US President Barack Obama has warned Democrats not to "jam" healthcare reforms through the Senate after a Republican won a seat in Massachusetts.
Mr Obama told ABC News any vote on the issue would have to wait until Scott Brown had taken up his seat, adding: "He has got to part of that process." Mr Obama told ABC News any vote should wait until Scott Brown had taken up his seat, and lawmakers should seek to "coalesce" around parts they agreed on.
Mr Brown will be Massachusetts' first Republican senator since 1972.Mr Brown will be Massachusetts' first Republican senator since 1972.
His victory means the Republicans now have enough votes in the Senate to block the Democrats' healthcare plans.His victory means the Republicans now have enough votes in the Senate to block the Democrats' healthcare plans.
Earlier, the president's senior adviser, David Axelrod, said he would take the defeat into account, but would stick to his agenda.Earlier, the president's senior adviser, David Axelrod, said he would take the defeat into account, but would stick to his agenda.
"We'll have to think through this next year from the standpoint of tactics but in substance the mission can't change," he said."We'll have to think through this next year from the standpoint of tactics but in substance the mission can't change," he said.
Asked about healthcare, he added: "It's not an option simply to walk away from a problem that's only going to get worse."
The campaign is over now, and we have to focus on solving problems Scott Brown Massachusetts senator-elect Your comments on the result Revolution in Kennedy country Obama approval ratings fall US media on Brown victory Profile: Scott Brown The campaign is over now, and we have to focus on solving problems Scott Brown Massachusetts senator-elect Your comments on the result Revolution in Kennedy country Obama approval ratings fall US media on Brown victory Profile: Scott Brown
The BBC's Paul Adams, in Boston, says it is a humiliating defeat for the Democrats, and a deeply unwelcome anniversary present for President Obama exactly one year after his inauguration. The BBC's Paul Adams, in Boston, says it is a humiliating defeat for the Democrats, robbing them of their filibuster-proof 60-seat majority, and a deeply unwelcome anniversary present for President Obama exactly one year after his inauguration.
Our correspondent adds that it is one of the biggest political upsets in years - in a seat held for almost half a century by Edward Kennedy, a Democratic Party colossus, who died last year.Our correspondent adds that it is one of the biggest political upsets in years - in a seat held for almost half a century by Edward Kennedy, a Democratic Party colossus, who died last year.
Senate Democrats were expected to meet at midday local time (1700 GMT) to decide what to do about healthcare legislation. The Democrats' leader in the House of Representatives, Steny Hoyer, said party leaders were trying to determine which parts of the healthcare bill could still be passed in the Senate, Reuters news agency said.
Meanwhile their leader in the House of Representatives, Steny Hoyer, said party leaders were trying to determine which parts of the bill could still be passed in the Senate, Reuters news agency said.
He added that another key piece of legislation, the cap-and-trade bill, was not dead, but parts aimed at increasing energy independence were more likely to pass than those aimed at reducing carbon emissions.He added that another key piece of legislation, the cap-and-trade bill, was not dead, but parts aimed at increasing energy independence were more likely to pass than those aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
'Voter disenchantment''Voter disenchantment'
Senator-elect Brown told journalists his victory sent the message that "people are tired of business as usual in Washington politics", and vowed to get to work as soon as possible.Senator-elect Brown told journalists his victory sent the message that "people are tired of business as usual in Washington politics", and vowed to get to work as soon as possible.
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Scott Brown: "The main thing they want is good government back"Scott Brown: "The main thing they want is good government back"
He said he would go to Washington on Thursday with the hope of taking up his seat.He said he would go to Washington on Thursday with the hope of taking up his seat.
"The campaign is over now, and we have to focus on solving problems," he said."The campaign is over now, and we have to focus on solving problems," he said.
Earlier Mr Brown, 50, told NBC's Today show he did not think the vote was a referendum on President Obama's first year in power.Earlier Mr Brown, 50, told NBC's Today show he did not think the vote was a referendum on President Obama's first year in power.
MARDELL'S AMERICA This is a calamity for the Democrats, all the more on the very day the president has been in power a year Mark Mardell Mark Mardell's AmericaMARDELL'S AMERICA This is a calamity for the Democrats, all the more on the very day the president has been in power a year Mark Mardell Mark Mardell's America
He said voters had "enjoyed the message" he pushed while campaigning, including his criticism of Mr Obama's healthcare plans.He said voters had "enjoyed the message" he pushed while campaigning, including his criticism of Mr Obama's healthcare plans.
"I just focused on what I did, which is to talk about the issues - terror, taxes and the healthcare plan," he told NBC."I just focused on what I did, which is to talk about the issues - terror, taxes and the healthcare plan," he told NBC.
"We already have 98% of our people insured here already in Massachusetts, so we do not need the plan that's being pushed upon us," he added."We already have 98% of our people insured here already in Massachusetts, so we do not need the plan that's being pushed upon us," he added.
But he denied he was intent on derailing the reforms.But he denied he was intent on derailing the reforms.
"I never said I was going to do everything I can to stop healthcare," he said."I never said I was going to do everything I can to stop healthcare," he said.
"I believe everybody should have healthcare, it's just a question of how we do it.""I believe everybody should have healthcare, it's just a question of how we do it."
Asked for his assessment of the Republican victory a year after taking office, President Obama told ABC: "The same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office."Asked for his assessment of the Republican victory a year after taking office, President Obama told ABC: "The same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office."
"People are angry and they are frustrated. Not just because what has happened in the last year or two years, but what's happened over the last eight years.""People are angry and they are frustrated. Not just because what has happened in the last year or two years, but what's happened over the last eight years."
Mr Obama said he wanted to make clear that any plans by Democrats for a Senate vote on the reform plan before Mr Scott took up his seat were "off the table".Mr Obama said he wanted to make clear that any plans by Democrats for a Senate vote on the reform plan before Mr Scott took up his seat were "off the table".
"The people of Massachusetts spoke. He has got to be part of that process," he added. "The Senate certainly shouldn't try to jam anything through until Scott Brown is seated," he added.
'Senator Beefcake'
The Republican beat Democratic rival and Massachusetts attorney general Martha Coakley by 52% to 47%.
WHAT NEXT FOR OBAMA AGENDA? Obama's bid to reform healthcare and pass climate bill now in doubtOn healthcare, Democrats in House could pass bill already passed by SenateOr rush a compromise bill through before Brown can take his seatBut that could spark a political backlash on Democrats, even if both houses could agree it so soonOn climate, cap-and-trade bill passed by the House faces even more difficulties in Senate Q&A: Effect on Obama's agenda Q&A: US healthcare reformWHAT NEXT FOR OBAMA AGENDA? Obama's bid to reform healthcare and pass climate bill now in doubtOn healthcare, Democrats in House could pass bill already passed by SenateOr rush a compromise bill through before Brown can take his seatBut that could spark a political backlash on Democrats, even if both houses could agree it so soonOn climate, cap-and-trade bill passed by the House faces even more difficulties in Senate Q&A: Effect on Obama's agenda Q&A: US healthcare reform
Dubbed Senator Beefcake in the US media, Mr Brown is a lawyer and former model who posed almost naked for Cosmopolitan magazine in the 1980s while in law school. "The people of Massachusetts spoke. He has got to be part of that process."
The Republican former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, told Fox News the vote was a referendum on President Obama, and a verdict on "an arrogant approach to politics in this country". The president said it was important for Americans to understand that core elements of the bill such as cost containment and insurance reform were vital.
The party's chairman, Michael Steele, said Americans were breathing a "sigh of relief" over healthcare. "I would advise that we try to move quickly to coalesce around those elements of the package that people agree on," he said.
However, the Republican party chairman, Michael Steele, said Americans were breathing a "sigh of relief" over healthcare.
"People across the country are saying: 'Slow it down,'" he said, quoted by the Associated Press."People across the country are saying: 'Slow it down,'" he said, quoted by the Associated Press.
The Republican win has robbed the Democrats of their filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate.
After conceding the election in a telephone call to Mr Brown, Ms Coakley told her supporters she was "heartbroken at the result".
Sen Robert Menendez, head of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee, said he had "no interest in sugar-coating" the result.Sen Robert Menendez, head of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee, said he had "no interest in sugar-coating" the result.
"There is a lot of anxiety in the country right now," he added. "Americans are understandably impatient.""There is a lot of anxiety in the country right now," he added. "Americans are understandably impatient."
Lacklustre 'Senator Beefcake'
The Republican beat Democratic rival and Massachusetts attorney general Martha Coakley by 52% to 47%.
Dubbed Senator Beefcake in the US media, Mr Brown is a lawyer and former model who posed almost naked for Cosmopolitan magazine in the 1980s while in law school.
President Obama had campaigned personally on behalf of Ms Coakley.President Obama had campaigned personally on behalf of Ms Coakley.
Analysts say the race should have been an easy win for her. Just weeks ago, she had a double-digit lead in polls and seemed destined to win. Analysts say the race should have been an easy win for her, but a lacklustre campaign allowed Mr Brown to seize on voter discontent and overtake her in the final stretch.
But a lacklustre campaign allowed her Republican opponent to seize on voter discontent and overtake her in the final stretch.
Correspondents say the vote does not bode well for the Democrats ahead of November's congressional elections, and that if they cannot hang on to a party stronghold such as Massachusetts they could be vulnerable almost anywhere.Correspondents say the vote does not bode well for the Democrats ahead of November's congressional elections, and that if they cannot hang on to a party stronghold such as Massachusetts they could be vulnerable almost anywhere.
The result comes amid opinion polls showing nearly half of Americans think President Obama is not delivering on his major campaign promises.The result comes amid opinion polls showing nearly half of Americans think President Obama is not delivering on his major campaign promises.
It was the third major loss for Democrats in state-wide elections since he became president: Republicans won governors' seats in Virginia and New Jersey in November.It was the third major loss for Democrats in state-wide elections since he became president: Republicans won governors' seats in Virginia and New Jersey in November.