With senators set to make their final health care vote Christmas Eve, it was only a matter of time before someone got on the floor and recited a very special version of ” ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
That senator was none other than Illinois Democrat Roland Burris, who gleefully recited a recrafted poem written by his speechwriter.
“So in the spirit of the season, Mr. President, I would like to share my own version of a classic holiday story with my good friends on both sides of the aisle,” the senator said with a smirk and then began.
Here’s the Burris version:
It was the night before Christmas
And all through the Senate
The Right held up our health care bill
No matter what was in it
The people had voted
They mandated reform
But Republicans blew off
The gathering storm
We’ll clog up the Senate
They cried with a grin
And in the midterm elections
We’ll get voted in
They knew regular folks
Needed help right this second
But fundraisers and lobbyists
And politics beckoned
So try as they might
Democrats could not win
Because the majority
Was simply too thin
Then across every state
There rose such a clatter
The whole Senate rushed out
To see what was the matter
All sprang up from their desk
And ran from the floor
Straight through the cloakroom
And right out the door
What in the world
Would be quite so raucous?
But a mandate for change
From the Democratic caucus
The president, the speaker
And, of course, Leader Reid
Had answered the call
In our hour of need
More rapid than eagles
The provisions they came
And they whistled and shouted
And called them by name
Better coverage, cost savings
A strong public plan
Accountable options
We said, “Yes, we can”
No exclusions
Or changes
For pre-existing
Conditions
The Democrats all came together to fight
For the American people
That Christmas Eve night
And then in a twinkle
I heard under the dome
The roll call was closed
And it was time to go home
Despite the obstructionist
Tactics of some
The filibuster had broken
The people had won
And a good bill was ready
For President Obama
Ready to sign
And end health care drama
Democrats explained
As they drove out of sight
Better coverage for all
Even our friends on the Right
And I say to all
Of my colleagues in this season
Merry Christmas
And a happy, happy New Year.
