Rep. Jim McDermott (house.gov)

(CNSNews.com) - Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) compared those who oppose Obamacare to the South in the Civil War saying, “This is Gettysburg, this is the big battle and after this the Civil War was pretty much down hill for the South. That’s really what’s happening here for the forces against Obamacare.”

McDermott appeared on C-Span’s Washington Journal on Wednesday. The host asked if President Obama would compromise spending in other government departments in order to continue funding the implementation of Obamacare.

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“We’re going to make every effort we can to keep the president’s spine made out of steel,” McDermott answered. “This is not a time to back down.”

“The president has to stand up and fight at this point like he’s never fought before in his life,” McDermott continued. “This is Gettysburg, this is the big battle and after this the Civil War pretty much was down hill for the South. That’s really what’s happening here for the forces against Obamacare. If they lose this one, it’s over.”

Many Republican lawmakers, such as Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, have called for defunding Obamacare in the next federal budget.