House’s healthcare debate: Oratory by Twitter

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There are chairmen who run a meeting with an iron fist, but in Congress such control often requires the ready compliance of those ruled.

And in the healthcare debate, that will be a rarity.

Sitting in the top chair, Rep. Jose Serrano, a Bronx Democrat, had to remind a Republican colleague from Tennessee that she had to stop after she had used up her one minute for debate.

One minute to speak on the most pressing issue facing Congress? Think of it as oratory by Twitter.

The debate will be four hours divided among committees, so time is precious. Many of the comments will never be heard, just reported in the transcript.

Of course, today’s debate isn’t likely to change any minds, because the issue has been discussed in the party caucuses. Rather, the comments are for media and public consumption.

--Michael Muskal
twitter.com/LATimesmuskal