Coburn's Dr. No to operate healthcare bill

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., is girding for what he says could be the exam of his life as the Senate's "Dr. No" in the floor debate on healthcare reform.

Coburn, a family practice physician, told The New York Times he considers his confrontations more as a matter of yes vs. no, not Republicans against Democrats.

"I've always considered myself an opposition within the opposition," said Coburn, whose penchant to block, delay or sterilize bills procedurally has made him an irritant during his five years as a U.S. senator.

Enacting the healthcare reform proposal as it is now would be disastrous, Coburn said.

Coburn earned his moniker by, among other things, undertaking filibusters, objecting often and filing amendments 508 times since he joined the Senate, the Times said in its article published Friday.

"My mission is to frame this healthcare debate in terms of the fiscal ruin of this country," Coburn said. "I have instructed my staff to clear my schedule for every minute that bill is on the floor."

Coburn really shouldn't be called "Dr. No" because "he is more appropriately called 'Dr. I-Know-Best,'" said Jim Manley, spokesman for the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada. "He has routinely blocked and delayed bills that have wide bipartisan support, often based on specious arguments."

Despite philosophical differences, Coburn has forged several notable friendships among his colleagues through the years, the Times said. One of his best friends from his 2004 Senate class was then-Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Coburn said he speaks regularly with Obama and writes the president supportive notes, even while criticizing his performance and policies.