(Thumbnail image: The Huffington Post)

After months of debate over healthcare reform, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s self-imposed deadline for passing reform is quickly approaching. Critics argue that the reforms have become too watered down in an attempt to reach the 60 votes necessary to ensure the bill passes. Others argue that something is better than nothing.

We look at perspectives from CBS, Newsmax.com, The Washington Post, MSNBC, and ABC News. 

Republicans say they’ll do everything in their power to slow progress.  That includes a request by one Republican that every word of a 767-page amendment be read aloud on the Senate floor.  CBS examines why the opposition wants to drag the debate out as long as possible.

“That’s the kind of stunt that Republicans would happily pull again if it will slow down the Democrats goal of getting that bill passed now, before any of their members can change their minds and before the calendar reads 2010, which is an election year and many members minds will be elsewhere.”

Newsmax.com looks at how stalling too long could put reform in danger in the future.

“The White House is privately warning that if President Obama and Congressional Democrats…can't pass healthcare reform soon, future presidents may view the issue as a political third rail, avoiding reform altogether.”

An opinion piece in The Washington Post asserts that despite a strong push to reach a deal on health care, Democrats may be better off if no reform is passed at all. 

“If this legislation passes, Democrats will be held accountable for any failures or problems in the system…If the legislation fails, Democrats can blame Republicans by saying reform was in sight and the GOP blocked it without offering a real alternative to decrease costs and increase access.”

In an interview with ABC News, Howard Dean says he no longer supports the bill in its current form, and disagrees with why it is being pushed through so quickly. 

“We’ve gotten to this stage in Washington where passing any bill is a victory, and that’s the problem.  Decisions are being made about the long-term future of this country for short-term political reasons and that's never a good sign.” 

MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann agrees with Dean and passionately urges lawmakers to reject the current version of the bill as being too soft. 

“We must not buy federally mandated insurance if this cheesy counterfeit of reform is all we can buy.  No single payer? No sale. No public option? No sale. No Medicare buy-in? No sale.”

On MSNBC’s "Morning Meeting," Maryland Senator Ben Cardin says the bill does more to reform health care than it is given credit for and its passage is essential for the nation’s image.

“But don’t underestimate the importance of the reforms that are in this bill…This bill is extremely important to get done so we can in fact not be the only industrial nation in the world that doesn’t believe that health care is a right.”

What do you think? Is the health bill being rushed for political reasons, or is time really running out for reform? 

Writer: David Goldstein