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Travis Martinez, Univerity of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) argued Tuesday that a vote of cloture to proceed with the Democrats' health care reform bill will be perceived by the public as a vote to endorse “half a trillion in Medicare cuts, four hundred billion in new taxes and higher health insurance premiums for all.”

McConnell explained the dilemma Senators will face when the motion of cloture comes forth, invoking the specter of Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) unsuccessful presidential campaign.

"I think we all remember the Kerry campaign and we all remember the difficulty of explaining to our constituents why we were for something before we were against it," McConnell said, referencing a statement Kerry made on his feelings toward the Iraq war.

"I think it is perfectly clear that most Americans will treat the vote to get on with the [health care] bill as a vote on the substance of the bill," the Republican leader added.