Quote:
Sitting in the Oval Office Tuesday evening, Trump dialed Upton in his congressional office. The president raised his voice and swore at Upton several times during a 10-minute conversation, sources familiar with the call said. But Upton stood his ground. He explained that he, like Trump, wanted to ensure people with preexisting conditions were protected, even quoting the president verbatim talking about the need to do so.
“I am not supporting this bill without a legislative fix,” Upton said, according to a source familiar with the conversation.
Trump did not want to talk about the merits of the legislation — he didn’t care much about those specifics, senior officials said. What mattered to him was how a failed vote would hobble his presidency and the ability to get other legislation through Congress.
He wanted a win.
Say what you have to to close the deal (I'll protect pre-existing conditions, I won't touch Medicaid, etc). It won't matter once they buy (vote).
The Conman in Chief.
Quote:
That was precisely what happened with Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.). A longtime ally of Trump’s whose daughter is being treated for lymphoma, Long also said the bill was too weak on preexisting conditions for him to back.
Trump phoned Long a few hours after he came out against the bill on Monday, expressing his frustrations and trying to win him back.
But the call did not go well and Long remained opposed.
"Billy's against me?" Trump asked a senior administration official, with surprise. "Billy was on the campaign!"
Long, however, came around after the changes offered to Upton were adopted.
His daughter is going to have that pre-existing condition on her medical records for life. He sold his own daughter out.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/0...imeline-238016