The Victorious Opposition

It’s no surprise that Thursday’s health care summit was the big topic of discussion for this week’s shows.  All four feature one or more guests with a role to play in the summit and health care reform in general.  Enjoy your Sunday Morning Roundup for February 28, 2010:

ABC ‘20/20’ anchor Elizabeth Vargas was in the chair on ‘This Week’, as ABC has yet to settle on a permanent host for its Sunday morning program.  The headline interview for this week is with the Speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi.  Vargas quizzed Speaker Pelosi on the Democratic agenda, particularly in the wake of this week’s health care summit, and what her strategy is to move forward.  Notable also were the Speaker’s comments on the Tea Party movement, where she seemed to identify with what she sees as the anti-special interest aspect of the Tea Party message.  Then, to provide some much-needed counter-perspective, Vargas brings in Senator Lamar Alexander to discuss the health care summit and Republican views on health care reform.  Finally, the Sunday Roundtable weighs in on the week in politics—the health care summit, New York Governor Paterson’s resignation and more.  Joining Vargas are Cokie Roberts, Sam Donaldson, Paul Krugman and George Will.

Transcript of ‘This Week’ Program
Video of Interview with Speaker Pelosi
Video of Interview with Senator Alexander
Video of Roundtable Segment

Senator John McCain was the headline guest for this week’s ‘Meet the Press’.  After Senator McCain’s notable sparring with the President at this week’s health care summit, host David Gregory asks the Senator’s perspective on whether the summit was a success and what prospects for bipartisan reform are moving forward.  Gregory also discusses with the Senator the state of the economy and the current political climate in Washington.  Then, to provide perspective from the Administration, Gregory brings in White House Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DePearle, who discusses the President’s strategy to get health care reform done, and what areas of compromise might be found.  Finally, a roundtable weighs in on health care and the other issues of the day, with Representatives Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Eric Cantor, Katty Kay and Ron Brownstein and Marc Morial.

Netcast of ‘Meet the Press’:

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“Irreconcilable Differences on Reconciliation” is the theme of this week’s ‘Face the Nation’.  CBS host Bob Scheiffer sits down with four key legislators to hear their perspectives on this week’s health care summit and what will happen in that arena in the weeks to come.  Joining Scheiffer is Representative Marsha Blackburn, Senator Tom Coburn, Senator Kent Conrad and Representative Steny Hoyer.  Plus, Scheiffer talks about the latest natural disaster in Chile.

Full Transcript of ‘Face the Nation’ (PDF)
Full Episode of ‘Face the Nation’

‘Fox News Sunday’ also focuses in on this week’s health care summit, and begins with a discussion with three key legislators.  Joining host Chris Wallace for the first segment, a debate between Senators John Kyl and Robert Menendez.  Then, in a one-on-one interview, Wallace brings in Representative Paul Ryan, widely regarded as one of the leading Republican voices on health care reform.  Finally, the Sunday Panel talks about the health care summit, the President’s agenda and the rest of the political world, with Liz Cheney, Mara Liasson, Bill Kristol and Juan Williams.

Check out the FNS link on Monday for updated content.