WASHINGTON (CNN) – With the White House deadline for congressional passage of his health care agenda just weeks away, President Obama and the GOP faced off on the issue Saturday.
High-profile White House events this week made the hard sell for the plan currently being considered by Congress. On Friday, a bipartisan group of half a dozen senators asked the president to slow the pace, and relax the summer timeline he’s given Congress to act.
In his radio and Web address broadcast Saturday - titled "Health Care Reform Cannot Wait" - Obama resisted that effort, and shot back at critics of his plan.
“We know the same special interests and their agents in Congress will make the same old arguments, and use the same scare tactics that have stopped reform before because they profit from this relentless escalation in health care costs,” said the president. “And I know that once you’ve seen enough ads and heard enough people yelling on TV, you might begin to wonder whether there’s a grain of truth to what they’re saying. So let me take a moment to answer a few of their arguments.”
He argued that, despite what his critics said, he would not sign any bill that increased the deficit, that his plan would not result in government control over anyone’s health care or insurance choices, and that there would be no rationing of medical care.
Republicans were equally firm Saturday, saying they are going to fight the proposal and push for a cheaper bill – and called for Democrats to put the brakes on the move for summer passage.
"They propose to pay for this new Washington-run health care system by dramatically raising taxes on small business owners," Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl said in the Republican Web and radio address broadcast Saturday. "With a shaky economy and the need for new jobs, the last thing the president and the Congress should do is impose new taxes on America's small businesses."
“…the President and some Democrats insist we must rush this plan through. Why? Because the more Americans know about it, the more they oppose it. Something this important needs to be done right, rather than done quickly.”
Other elements of the president’s agenda, like the stimulus package and the energy bill, have passed with minimal or non-existent GOP support. And Democrats have since gained a 60th vote in the Senate, the number required to stave off a filibuster.
But it remains an open question whether the party can hold on to the support of enough of its own members to pass the president’s vision for a major overhaul of the nation’s health care system. Moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats have found themselves in the crosshairs, facing political pressure from both sides of the debate, along with millions of dollars of targeted ads.
From CNN Politics
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I'm sick of these dishonest politicians opposing the public option – these same Senators and Congressmen get a public option for THEIR health insurance and they are quite happy with it! Why are they standing in the way of MY CHOICE?
If they don't want to let regular Americans have the choice for a public option, they should voluntarily relinquish their own plans!
How dare this president pretend that "special interests" are to blame for Congress taking a responsible look at such a massive, massive endeavor.
Obama has lost touch with reality. The power has CLEARLY gone to his head and someone needs to get him to slow down before he does irreparable damage.
If this administration has learned anything from the stimulus bill, it should have been to take the time to study the implications and get it right. Pushing through a crap bill, just to say you got it done, with the plan to fix the flaws later, is idiotic! Medicare cost 7X the "projected" amount.
Hmmm – check and see how much Insurance Lobbyists have paid to the republicans - and it only goes on and on.
Insurance and Pharmaceutical companies don't want us to have affordable care. It will dip into their big profits.
We pay the highest health care costs in the world, yet rank 30th in care and performance. Thousands upon thousands have to file bankruptcy due to medical costs and many, many die because
they cannot afford medical treatment.
We can no longer allow big business, lobbyists, special interests and those who support them run our country and make crucial decisions for us. We cannot accept politicians to choose their campaign funding, personal gains and interests over the welfare of us and our country.
There will be no health care reform without government intervention.
Public option will make the insurance companies become competitive. The no bid stipulation the republicans put on the prescription plan, in hopes to break medicare, will be eliminated.
Cost saving will be demanded from all.
Health care reform is desperately needed. We cannot allow the republicans, big business and the misguided blue dogs ruin
what we want, support and demand.
Contact every politician you can and let them know you will no
longer tolerate politics as usual.
This should be DOA. The country cannot afford this right now we are broke people and the more people get a chance to look at it they are opposed to it. That's why Obama and Peloski are trying to rush it through.
Set the GOP in a life raft and set them adrift.We know who and what they represent,and its NOT the majority of Americans.
Obama has been wrong on every crisis that he said must be done without questioning. It is time for the congress to represent the people of America and not the threats of this administration.
Obama knows that his time is running out and people are going to see Obama for who he is.
He says for the congress not to worry about reelection just do as he demands. He wants them to ignore the will of the people and submit to his demands.
Not what I expect from the government that is supposed to represent me.
I have a simple question for Democrats. Is two years in power enough for you? If is by all means go cower in a corner like you all did in 1993 for Bill Clinton's Healthcare reform. If on the other hand you like being in the majority.......grow backbones and pass the thing. If the Dems in congress had returned to their districts to campaign in 1994 having passed healthcare reform, Oh it is sweet dream isn't it? No impeachemnet of Clinton, maybe had he not been distracted maybe he could have accomplished even more.
Why the great rush to shove this bill thru when no one has had a chance to read & re-read it and dechiper everything in it? Must be a killer for the USA and the American citizens or else they wouldn't have to sneak it thru in the dark of night.
Hang in there, Republicans. There is no room for compromise here. Oppose Obama-Care every inch of the way. Or just stay home in 2010 and 2012.
Obama-Care is a job killer, and just socialize medicine disguised as a "fix" for a system that is the best in the world, by far. The so-called 47 million uninsured (a lie to begin with) could be covered by the price tag of this boondoggle at $10,000 per year for 100 years! If they jsut put 5% of that money into increasing prosecutions for Medicare fraud, which is estimated to be about 30% of the cost, and another 5% into the Medicare Part D prescription program, that would be all the fix that the health care system needs.
Anyone rushing through this monstrosity of 1100 pages should simply be imprisoned for fraud.
Barry how you going to pay for it? Oh yes the democrats favorite tool; Tax us all to death.
How can anybody vote on this when they haven't read it? Well, I started reading this bill and it only took to page 16 to find a big problem; that is if you are currently on private insurance and somehow you lose it (get fired, laid off, etc...), it will be ILLEGAL to own anything else but government run health care for the rest of your life. And those who are not in the private system now (look at all the unemployed people this country has) will be forced to be on government run health care, because it will be ILLEGAL for them to be under any other kind of private insurance.
This is not the hope and change all of you voted for...this is soft tyranny!
I'm proud of the stance this President is taking against special interests running Washington.
Thanks, President Obama, for giving our government back to us.
Why is the GOP so willing to protect and defend insurance companies rather than real people? Oh...silly ME, those insurance companies are deep pockets for campaign treasure chests. Look around, who has state of the art equipment, LARGE new buildings, and high paid execs and sales staff? Could it be......insurance companies?
We got to do something. NOW IS THE TIME. Enough of this fear that the Repiglicans want to throw out there. Reminds me of Hitler and whipping up the fear of jews in Germany. No difference. Same fear agenda, same people masquerading as patriots.
Obama has been caught in a lie over his health savings, no wonder he has to attack the GOP.
The only things the republican flock listen to , are the paranoid rantings of their leaders!! Sad, there are so many ignorant Americans, who keep breeding more of the same.
In the bill is:
MANDATORY "counseling session" for all senior citizens to take place EVERY 5 years.
This "counseling sessions" will be done by a representative of the government at the senior citizen's residence.
The government representative will advise as to "end of life decisions and issues.
In other words, genecide of older generations
Imagine that, A way to rid the nation of anyone over the age of 65 if they can't pay for "private insurance".
The federal governments way of reducing medicare costs.
I have no problem with the idea of reforming the health care, but why is it so important that it be passed by August? What is the hurry? We have been debating it, and trying to find a good solution for over 20+ years. What makes this administration think that it can solve it perfectly in less than a few months. I think that everyone should slow down and make sure it is done correctly. The only reason it is being pushed through so fast is so people don't have time to read it and debate it. Not to mention that Obama is desperately looking for something positive that he can brag about, which is making it solely a political issue rather than something to help the American people. As it currently stands, I do not support this bill that they are pushing. I don't know what the alternative is, but it makes no sense to pass something so quickly at the risk of making it a lot worse.
The GOP makes me ill. They talk about government controlled health care in other countries and some problems. Well I spend a lot of time in Canada and let me tell you, NOBODY up there wants to switch health care systems with us.
If there is a person in Canada who slips through the cracks and can't get a surgery fast enough, that is nothing compared to the millions here who can't get care AT ALL. At least their care is based on level of emergency, while ours is based on ability to pay. It makes me sick.
There are a few sad stories up there that the GOP seizes on, but I can spit in a crowd here and hit a dozen people who have nightmare stories. There is no comparison.
The key is that nothing Congress could pass could be worse than what we have now. We are living the nightmare scenario.
This is kinda odd...Obama is lying about other people lying...weird
I sincerely hope that this time around the Congress and the nation will embrace a national health care system. Evev though I understand the concern about the national deficit, my question is ' Whats more important , the quality of my life or saving money?" Alive and poor seems a much better option to me than dead and rich.
Republican or Democrat, this is the most appropriate statement regarding this issue:
"Something this important needs to be done right, rather than done quickly.”
Why not have a moderated (by Dr. Sanjay Gupta) debate with GOP critics, AARP, AMA, CBO, Kathleen Sibelius, Max Baucus, an uninsured US citizen, and an unemployed US citizen who has lost his healthcare insurance? Lets get to the facts. Do a Fact Check on the ads.
Something needs to be done and someone has to pay for it. Most people agree and add, "not me". A good place to start is to have Congress be required to come under the new system.
Isn't it strange that Congress has traditionally exempted itself from "reform" programs.
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III (heavens, there were two more!) has certainly "spooked" me. He's got some "splainin" to do. I feel ill!
I hope they will at least have the time to read the bill and know what they are voting on this time. Why all the hurry.
Hey Obama, how about you take a moment to actually let everyone read the bill in addition to taking a moment to answering your critics arguments. What a novel idea.
yeah, let's rush it through and just settle for something that may not save a dime in the future according to the NON-PARTISAN Congressional Budget Office!
Obama needs to stop with the "act now!" scare tactics.
Pres Obama failed to mention Rep Pelosi, Sen Reid, Rep Waxman, his vice president, and numerous others as purveyors of scare tactics–depicting Republicans as bad for the country: the party of no, puppets of the rich (Democrats have as many if not more rich patrons of the party as the Republicans) and on and on and on to the extent that sound like broken records. The president needs to dress down his party's congressional leadership far more than he needs to attack Republicans. The autocratic methods of Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid have done more to stifle progress on key issues than have the Republican minority.
We Americans are so after-the-fact reactive that I do not think we will get meaningful health care reform until the current system completely caves in. Those that own Congress benefit from scaring us into leaving things alone. Sure, something will likely pass, but I suspect the "reform" will look much like the prescription drug bill written by the drug industry.
Yes, Republicans will use "scare tactics" to get their point across. Not too dissimilarly, in fact, from the scare tactics Democrats keep peddling, such as "the economy will collapse and the world with it," if we don't pass this pork-stuffed stimulus package. Or, the world will spontaneously burn up into a carbon cinder if we don't immediately tax utilities into nonexistences as a means of forcing the development of alternate power technologies in another 100 years. Or, the health care system will collapse and people will die unless we create insurmountable competition against the health care industry.
True, the Republicans will resort to "scare tactics." But, let's not try to pretend the Democrats aren't also doing it. That's because "scare tactics" is what most people call "politics." It is a common tactic employed against people who are unable to discern between "politics" and "reality."
Come on, people – sift through the nonsense and pick out the facts for yourself. Despite their pleas to the contrary, neither your politicians nor the press will ever really do it for you.
You don't have to be a member of the GOP to see that rushing legislation through Congress that fundamentally changes a major part of American life is the wrong approach. Something this important, apparently extremely important to the President, needs to be put together carefully and with a lot of thought. Unfortunately, that is not the way that this Congress acts. It is as if they are afraid that if the American people get a chance to really look at the current proposal, they will not like it and will revolt against them.
As a country, we go through change all the time. Some good, some bad. But doing something just to do something, without forethought and planning, is a recipe for disaster.
I have two questions:
1.) Does it make any sense that we are going to reduce costs by introducing a bill that will ADD 1.5 TRILLION dollars of bureaucracy?
2.) Do you really trust the same group that has instituted and bankrupted Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security to manage the health care process for the entire country?
Answer those questions honestly and see if you support the current plan in Congress.
Healthcare needs to be a right for everyone...Obama, stick to your guns and get this done so the Healthcare companies can no longer cherry pick who they insure and deny claims so they can make the maximum profit...then, after they cherry pick, the cost falls to the state and federal level.
This means, that the government is covering only the most expensive health care costs while the private sector is taking the cream. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH...pass the bill...
It would be great if anyone, including our government, could rein in the high cost of health care. What would not be great is to put the burden of maintaining health care for people who do not even try to earn their way through life on people who work hard every day of the year. Yes, the government should help the taxpayer. They should help by getting the leeches of society off the government payrolls of welfare, of food stamps, and remove them from the rolls of social services. Social services itself should be for those who are infirmed, injured, sick, and elderly. Those are the people who taxpayers should be helping. There are many people in my area of the country who work small, individual jobs and pay zero taxes. They show zero work income, they collect from the government and it's a crime. I expect Obama to stop these types of crimes and look out for the real heros of America, the working people who make up the backbone of America.
Again, Obama is in such a hurry to get something questionable passed. I thought he wanted debate and effective results. I'm tired of sloppy and wasteful bills. Please slow down and get it right the first time!
what is this going to Medicare
we are giving imigrints free health care.
and our co-pays keep going up?
We need to ram it thru like the republicans did with the medicare drug program, anybody remember that one – they lied about the cost outright and threathened to fire anyone who let the truth be known until the vote was over. they held the vote open long enough to twist arms, offer bribes to get the votes they needed. Obama wants a health plan for Americans, not for the profits of the drug and insurance companies. We voted for change, dont let the money grubbing special interests take over this. They brag that the drug/insurance lobbies have never lost a battle, lets let them lose this one. Keep strong America and stop listening to the naysayers – they didnt think of our grandchildren when they duped America into an unnecessary war.
Truer words never said.
“We know the same special interests and their agents in Congress will make the same old arguments, and use the same scare tactics that have stopped reform before because they profit from this relentless escalation in health care costs,”
I hope the GOP and others stop profiting on the pain of others. And they're supposed to be the Christian voice? For shame.
This is a bill that should not be rushed. I agree with Jon Kyle on this. The more I know about this, it sounds all the more wrong. A) the cost is ridiculous – our country cannot endure that now, nor can our children endure this down the road. B) The Congressional Budget office said this plan will not reduce costs. C) This is going to make the government run health insurance. That is bad news. Not only does this administration control our auto industry, but now they want to control our health insurance. They went ahead and said they are eliminating the need for doctors to run certain tests that they feel aren't necessary. Sorry, when did this administration become doctors?! D) our health care choices are going to diminish. E) If you unfortunately need to see a specialist quickly, that will not be able to happen. In Canada as in Europe when a patient needs to see a specialist quickly, they come here because the wait in those countries is far to long.
It's not the Republicans using "scare tactics," it's the bill that has scary and sketchy parameters on its own.
The man who helped create a crisis by using the words crisis and catastrophe in every sentence he uttered blames "scare tactics" on the GOP and then turns rght around and says we "have to pass the health care proposal rigt now or suffer greatly. How ironic is that?
Of course the Repubs will criticize. That's what they like to do best. Where's their plan? They have none. Do they really care that the American people can't afford their prescriptions? Do they really care that the American people can't afford the high cost of medical insurance? Do they really care that many American people cannot afford to seek medical attention because they can't afford it?
Did they come up with a plan when they controlled the White House and Congress? The American voter is tired of their tactics and will continue to deny them control until they show that they really care about the people they were elected to serve.
If National Health Care is such a nightmare, why are there 46 nations that are ahead of us, they are in better health and live longer than we do. For every "national health care horror story" we in this country could probably tell you a dozen stories that are worse. People have had the wrong limb removed, not in a country with National Health Care, but right here in the good old USA!
I suggest Congress do away with it's tax payer provided health care and start paying for their own insurance. Maybe then they'll get a clue of what reality is like for the average American.
Jon Kyl is right, tere is no need to pass this before the summer break. It is just too big, too important, and too much money to cram this thing through without looking at all the angles. With the banks that once again are now showing enormous profits and wanting to dole out big bonuses once again it seems to me that the stimulus plan was nothing but a scam to add to the already out of control Federal Reserve's rising indebtedness. America does not need anymore failed plans or scams especially when it will end up meaning gigantic tax hikes on any American be they rich or poor. American politicians "Get Your Spending In Order" stop already with thinking that the money you receive in DC is yours for the taking. All party's need to stop already and even now it is about 60 years past due.
I love this man (President Obama) pushing his agendas with no clear way of how to pay for it and just passing it on to our children. Also, with his known tobacco addiction he should start at home. If you curb tobacco related illnesses that is where you can save money. Last time I checked we don't live in a communist or socialist society. We live in a democracy, yet the democrats are trying to shove this down our throat to meet a deadline, instead of thinking it through and giving us a prrogram that is sustainable.
Well, now the Dems are realizing that they need to slow down and take a real good look at the bill of goods that Obama is trying to slam down their throats. We all need to take a long look at this Health Care Bill. This bill is trying to be rushed through by a man who hasn't had a thought of his own in his entire life. He would be totally lost without his teleprompter. There is a reason he is trying to push this through. Look at how badly his bailout plan went. Has anyone except big business with their billions of dollars in quarterly profits received any benefit from this. Those profits are direct results from Bailout money from the American People. Are we getting any of that Profit Mr Obama or are you letting your buddies keep it?
Scare Tactics? My god, this communist fool is destroying this country and he has the nerve to accuse smart people who see what he's doing of using scare tactics to point out his dangerous folly?
Why doesn't he seize Oprah $2.5 billion fortune to help pay for all his programs. How dare she be so wealthy!
Take Speilberg's and Streisand's compounds while your at it.
Tax the liberals. Leave the rest of us alone!
We all know that the Republicans are the party that sold they soul to the Insurance Companies and the Special Interest Lobbies. Go ahead President we the people are 100% behind you.
Get Ed Henry or Suzanne Malveaux to press Obama on the truth behind the TV ads of Rick Scott?CNN and Fox have run segments challenging Rick Scott's background and assertions. Why not have a real discussion on the key points of reforms being proposed, the costs and the benefits and the the tradeoffs? Why not bring insurance companies, AMA, AARP, drug companies, healthcare providers, Kathleen Sibelius and Rick Scott to debate the real facts and issues? This could be followed up by Fact Check by experts in CBO, the academia and think tanks. The public will be well served by CNN, the press and media outlets.
Senator Kyl loves to use the term "Small Businesses" instead of what it really is: the very wealthy top 1%. The GOP has been doing this for years to befuddle the masses because it works. Everyone cheers for small business, but few love the Bernie Madoffs of the world. Senator Kyl is truly only concerned about the special interests who help keep him in office: insurance companies, doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. If you want your insurance premiums to contunue soaring every year, Kyl's your man. Personally, I'm proud that the President isn't afraid to tackle important issues like healthcare reform.
Heard a Christian radio station comparing Healthcare Reform to a 'rapid slide into socialism and it's evils' then talking about all the horrible things the Obama plan would cover (like birth control, abortion, invitro, sexual identity counseling, and Viagra)
So YES – those poor "Christians" in rural areas – many of whom are poor and uninsured – are being misled by their crooked leaders into rallying against Health Care Reform like it's Roe v Wade or Gay Marriage...
I hope congress looks at the bill – NOT at the $ changing hands to fight it. Pass or fail – we all know how much lobbying those health care / insurance firms are throwing around – and in the least expected places.
C
Why should we believe that Congress will get this done with 'a little more time?' They have never done it before. The delay tactics and the scare tactics are just the result of special interests trying to preserve their fat profits on the backs of our health. The arguments against the President's plan are often outright lies. This is not 'Washington run' healthcare nor is it going to increase the deficit or raise taxes on small businesses. If people fall for that nonsense and allow the status quo to continue, wealth will continue to be a requirement in this country for having one's health
The repubs could have stoppted that October bale out money but they said not a word. Now were surpose to believe they have the interest of the people on their mind, PLEASE!
rupublicans are scared of progress...you dont say
Why the hurry Obama? It must be enacted within 2 weeks because you ONLY have 3 1/2 years left in your presidency. Obama believes someone who makes $1 Million a year should fork over $54,000 to pay for this. Most people that make this money are small business owners. Less money for them equals more layoffs of their employees and higher unemployment. I can't believe I voted for this socialist, but I guess the alternative wasn't much better since McCain believes we should be fighting in Iran & N Korea on top of Iraq & Afghanistan. Ron Paul 2012! He's our only hope people.
The ONLY interest group in this FRAUD socialize medicine are the DEMOCRAPS lead by Obambi who wanted to turn this country into SOCIALIST COUNTRY. VOTE THESE DEMOCRAPS OUT OF OFFFICE!
The bottom line: What's so scary about health care for all Americans? Let's get the Healthcare Industry OUT of our pocket books NOW.
Is there any place where one can read details of the proposed health care reforms? So far I only hear both sides trading assaults. All these arguments sound like we all soon dye if the new system is implemented and the same will happen if nothing is changed.
Wrapping this country in fear is so very easy to do. It always has been an efficient and effective way to "legislate" the masses, the sheep.
Do your own research and learn. Regardless of the media-noise, some form of change in our current system is entirely possible. Do not live in ignorance of the facts on this matter. If one does not like the plan being presented currently, speak up from a position of knowledge not ignorance. We all know that something has to change in regard to healthcare. Be a conscious part of that change.
It seems by trying to rush this plan through, you have something to hide. Mr. President-What health care plan will you and YOUR family be using when your reform starts?
I'm sure it won't be the same one you will be forcing the rest of the country to use!
The system needs to be fixed, but not by having the government take over health care!
Absolutely Yes! We need health care reform now. I have heard the ads on television already trotted out by the Republican Party and it's backers. They are designed to make people afraid of changing anything. We see an ad with a woman from Canada saying that medical care in the U.S. saved her life. So where are the Democratic ads that tell people where America currently ranks in the industrialized world in terms of health care provided for it's citizens – just about at the bottom. Where is the ad that shows a woman lying dead on an emergency room floor? Where are the responses to tell people that our senators and representatives are covered by a great government run health care plan.
I'm with my president that Health Care reform should come this year, but a few extra weeks wont hurt. There is no need to raise taxes if we are willing to close a few bases overseas and Make Mal-Practice Insurance Not for profit. Put all the money for Mal-Practice into one pool, and add some tort reform with caps on lawsuits we can cut cost for private insurers. We also have to make sure with any public plan that the free market does not take advantage of the government ( Via our tax dollars). Over Testing and over medicating have to be addressed in any plan. The system has to be reformed and a balanced must be struck between covering the social need and the free market in a way that benefits both. This is why I believe the government should take over Mal-Practice Insurance and set caps on lawsuits and should be a part of any plan going forward. Being a Republican I hope my party starts offering some real solutions and quits trying to play chess as if Americans are pawns wavering in the balance and do not matter. This is a moment in history in which we should come together as a nation and fix Health Care in which we all know that our system is lacking. To do anything else is a disgrace to the office we elected you to.
Some people think by not rushing into healthcare is a smart thing. To take a measured approach doesn't mean you are siding with the the big pharma or the insurance companies, it means you want to get it right. The only reason Obama wants to rush it is just to get it done in a way that the government gets a lot more control. More bureauocracy is rarely efficient. I side with the moderate Dems who want to get it right. I think the majority of Americans are closer to the middle than to either the far right or far left. We rushed into the stimulus package which had little stimulus and only a small portion has been given out. Why did we have to rush then. Why do we have to rush now. Think about it.
This guy has no direction. He will either blame George W. Bush or GOP. He already spent our money for the last six months and he just cannot get it. Blame others while you can do nothing. No experience. He is a total joke. All other countries across the world are laughing at us. Our president is a big talk and no substance, no policy, no leadership. This guy should be removed from the office immediately before he does more damage to a common man on the street.
Mr. President- there are intelligent, informed people who oppose the current legislation for good reason. I want change, but I want it to be good change. The bills that we have seen do almost nothing to impact cost, and realistically will have little effect on the number of uninsured. We can do better, and, as important as this issue is, we can take to time to do that. This type of reform needs more than the president's promise that it is good, it requires due discussion and fair consensus. Obama's unreasoned hurry, his disrespectful disdain for the opposing viewpoint, and his unwillingness to dirty his hands with the process of developing the actual legislation, is one of the reasons that I am yet another moderate independant who has completly lost faith in this president.
In the future schools will be offering courses on the demise of the Republican party in the year 2009. The courses will begin with "The Party of No 101".
Obama's use of rhetoric, straw-man arguments, and just plain manipulating is insulting to every American. Opposing a bad bill that the U.S. does not have money for is an old argument Obama, a good one. It is amazing how the focus of this adminstration and the Democrats in congress is pushing anything through instead of getting health care reform right. This is purely politics and not helpful to the Americans people. This is what you people voted for.
This plan and the actions of the President are outrageous and an insult to the intellingence of the American people. Nowhere but in this administration, in any situation, would people be expected to accept such ill-thought out and hastily planned ways to spend billions of dollars (which we do not have) on an unproven plan that places the health of constituents in even more jeopordy – in the hands of a government-run health plan! The elderly would definitely be short-changed with added layers of red-tape and government control. This plan also gives no incentive to the uninsured – just more encouragement to be dependent.
As a medical student who works with residents on a daily basis, his plan for healthcare will be disastrous to us. We have hard enough of time trying to pay back our $200,000 in loans on a salary of $52,000 during residency while working over 80 hours a week. The sacrifices we make to train and work as physicians is paramount.
FIrst & foremost,I feel bad for the patients because they will be the first to suffer. It takes months to receive care in other countries. I have personally seen the wait it takes for patients to get healthcare while on overseas rotations. In addition, many future physicians (residents, medical students) are planning to jump ship if his health care plan is passed and forces us to work even harder for a smaller income. An MD can get you elsewhere without actually practicing clinical medicine. I promise the physician shortage that we have now will worsen far more than you would think.
i read the Ticker every day, and to be honest, they use the word "slams" too much.
the definition is: A harsh or devastating criticism.
rarely have i read anything that i would consider devastating.
The argument that Republicans make about small businesses is relatively moot, since most small businesses can't afford to offer health care in the first place. Those who DO offer health care, offer watered down packages that allow the employees to get a feeling that they are covered for illnesses/prescriptions/tests/etc., but are actually under-covered. And yet the premiums for these watered down packages are still fairly outrageous.
So who is benefiting from these types of health plans? Those who administer them. They get to charge $$ for them, and they get the advantage of denying health care because certain illnesses/prescriptions/tests/etc. are not covered by them.
Oh, and then there are the % of patient responsibilities and copays...
The Democrats' argument revolves around making things less expensive. How are they to know if a new government health care plan will be less expensive? Sure, there are less overhead costs, but is that all there is to the expense of the health care? They should concentrate on talking about the LEVEL of care provided instead of the cost.
The Republicans have nothing new to add to the discussion of national healthcare. They are in the pockets of the rich industries, including the health insurance industry and will do anything they can to keep the profits rolling in to their masters. We need a national healthcare system desparetly. There are too many of us out here who can not afford health care for ourselves and our families. It is a special kind of hell to see someone you love suffering from a treatable condition yet you can not come up with the money it takes to help them. I am in that situation now. The Republicans rant on and on about rationed health care. Well our present health without care system rations it now. We need a public health insurance plan that everyone can afford. It is a wiser choice for government to spend money on helping the people who support it than to waste more on weapon systems that don'e work. If a nation cannot care for its people it should not expect them to pay their taxes or serve in the military!
Obama needs to advise the Republican leadership that there are consequences for continuing to obstruct simply because they want the Democrats to fail.
The electorate elected Obama after he clearly stated his intent to reform healthcare including the public option. McConnell, Boehner, Cantor and their acolytes are far more concerned with the welfare of the health insurance companies than the good of the American people. They should be ashamed, but of course, they aren't since they have sold their souls to K St and lobbyists bribes.
Rush it through? Are they serious? This country has been working on health care reform since Clinton was in office. Republicans are continually forgetful and shortsighted.
I'm not for or against one side or the other. What I do agree with Obama on is THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE that the congress should be able to pass something in the near future. They've had FAR TOO LONG to debate and consider on this. The time to act is now – so ACT. 10 years of debating is ENOUGH. GEEZE – and the congress wonders why they are called the DO NOTHING congress????
These are not scare tactics. They are the truth. Sorry Obama, but your not going to be able to push ALL your crazy, liberal notions down our throats.
Obama: 1. Congress must 'seize this opportunity'
2. He would not sign any bill that increased the deficit. This is nothing but another attempt to seize money from our wallets and Obama's own GAO reported it will not reduce the cost of health care but raise it.
And why is congress exempt from this health care plan if it's so great for the rest of us? They should be the first to change over to the new plan if it does survive and Obama signs it into law.
Keep the pressure on them Mr.President! They are stalling! Health Care Refom must happen!
Look, I don't buy the argument that something as important as this shouldn't be rushed through the House and Senate. The goal of ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable healthcare and that those living in poverty are also given quality care, has been bandied about for the last 25 years. Surely the repubs remember that this was THE issue taken up by Hillary during the Clinton years. You also chose to ignore the problem during the 8 GWB years, so please step aside as you are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Murf
Health care for all is a noble idea. Just like mortgages for people who couldn't afford them was a noble idea, and we all know where that got us. The point is, nobody really knows what this plan will cost, but coming on top of the climate change tax and the stimulus, it's not economically feasible. A government that has bankrupted Social Security and Medicare doesn't have much credibility in saying what it can and cannot afford.
Obama is always in a hurry to get things passed. He doesn't want people to have time to think about what they're doing. Was he a used car salsman in his last life?
It is not just Republicans fighting against obamas health plan but at least 52 democrats as well. It has gotten to the point where obama is taking out television ads against Democrats who oppose his monster cost health plan. Just another case of obama wanting to pass spending without anyone seeing/reading the plan.
Yes please – lets push the healthcare reform through. Insurance company's are making a fortune out of refusing healthcare to those that need it when they need it. I am tired of an HMO standing between me and my doctor. I'd much rather have government = that don't stand to make a profit out of my ill health decide on my medical treatment. These healthcare insurance companies are so afraid of the change that is going to happen so they are trying to scare the american public – ENOUGH ALREADY!!
Ever since Barack Obama has been overwhelmingly elected as our 44th President, high ranking members of the Republican Party have done nothing but criticize his every move or word. It does appear as thou they would wish for this country's failure in everyway so as to have him impeached. They have not given him any support since he's been duly elected President as the Democrats gave George W Bush i.e. Iraq war Waste of blood and Treasure. Any American that truly believes in this country and what it stands for should let him lead albeit with constructive criticism. The constant attacks by GOP Senators, Congressmen and the GOP attack machine like Rush and Hannity is just a distraction from the work that our President needs to do and the support he needs to do it. Thank GOD there are still good people in this country and so he and we will succeed.
Obama and the Democrat party will ruin America's health care system.
Sure the Republicans do not want health care reform, because they stand to lose a lot of money from the Billion dollar companies that back them. If the people had affordible insurance coverage to choose from, big companies would have to lower their prices to compete, thus making it easy for everyone to have coverage. It's Capitolism at its best. Somebody makes coverage cheaper and everyone has to follow suit to compete.
Finally! The message from Democrats that all the objections amount to scare tactics needs to be amplified. That is exactly what they are. Look, it's no secret that Democrats wanted (emphasis on the past tense) a single payer system, but the compromise was just having a public option within our larger private system...now Republicans don't even want that. There's just no compromising with the obstinate sometimes.
Definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome. The insurance companies take billions of dollars of profit out of the healthcare equation every year and are working vary hard now lobbying/pulling the strings of their bought and paid for puppets to protect these monies. I vote for change/change now. Those opposing this plan talk about not rushing, they have been taliking about healthcare.and its problems for years, what they/re really saying is lets slow this proceess down to the point where it loses momentum and we preserve the status quo.
Obama is the ULTIMATE fear-mongerer. He plays this class envy "hate anyone who makes money" game and if he can't find anything to bash on a GOPer, he will just publicly make the claim that they are trying to "profit" by opposing him. Liberals...shouldn't that be a clue to you, everytime anyone opposes him, he immediately leads you to believe that they are rich people because he has engrained in you a hatred for success.
hes right, the gop is nothing more than a group of men that are getting rich from special interest groups, bible thumpers, and people that BELIEVE the crap chain emails they get. I get them all the time, I just research them for about 5 mins, prove them to be crap and then pass on the facts. The gop is a joke, no one is listening to them Anymore
You know its going to be bad when its rushed like this...look at the rushed stimulus plan...
There is NOTHING wrong with our healthcare system. Obama if you want to fix something start with Medicare or the VA first. When you fix those boondoggles then try another government program.
This health package is a disaster. This President, who never I mean never worked in the real world has no clue as to what he's doing. This would put the small business owner either out of business or laying off more employees. Do you want the Government running anything? They can't manage themselves, Look at Social Security and Medicaide. Wake up folks.
The healthcare bill will work, if and only if no one gets sick and no one grows old.
In other words, it cannot beneficial to anyone, just very very costly.
Besides, does the goverment ever execute anything right?
The republicans are the problem not part of the solution. They have opposed any Progressive movement for the past 35 years and are deep in the pockets of the coprorate elites. It is time for Congress to perform their responsibility and consider the needs of the country. Many businesses and familiies have failed because of health care costs. It is time for a major change and defeating more republicans may be the answer.
What I want to know is if everyone is going to be "required" to buy medical insurance, how are the 14.5 million (and growing) laid-off people going to do that? Unemployment compensation sure won't cover it, and anyway, some states are running out of money to pay umemployment benefits. I'm all for curtailing health care costs, but agonize over the situation the unemployed have been put in due to job loss. If folks don't have a family to take them in, what then? It seems to me the creation of jobs is #1 in importance. If so many people are out of work, think of the loss of taxes that would normally be paid to support government programs. I am a retired mother with two unemployed sons, and I am all they have. It is very worrisome because my retirement dollars can stretch only so far.
I hope Obama brings the whole spectrum of nasty rightwingers to their knees. Its about time. They rule by fear and have been getting away with it for way too long. Mainstreet republicans are no different. They operate their businesses through fear mongering and personally, I'm sick of them! Really now.... I'm not a liberal, I'm pretty much middle of the road, but enough is enough. After all that has been done to me over the last several years, I WILL NEVER EVER EVER VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN!
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! It can't wait! we are all going to die tomorrow if we don't pass this IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!
WHO is using scare tactics?
I think the real reason is the polls show "the savior" Obama is quickly losing support for his communist/socialist agenda. The more the people know, the less chance this abomination will be passed. So...... HURRY!
the health care reform should pass by this summer! Republican should support the the reform rather to resist.
Get it done, it is enough time for smart and knowledgeable people to put together something that is very good. It is a slippery slope to try to get it "right".
Get it in the books, and there will be plenty of time before most if anything will actually get implemented to allow them to amend/adjust the plan.
Crush them Mr. President. Once and for all, crush them into the dust and grind your boot until there is nothing left to even come together again.
Once again the obstructionism by the GOP is in full force. People we can not allow the GOP and the current Health care industry scare us any more. We deserve affordable health care and now is the time for us to get it. Health care should never be for profit. Enough of CEO multimillion $ salaries and bonus and shareholder's dividends that come out of premiums. A single payer non-profit system is the only way to go and so demand it form your elected officials now and do not let up on them until we get it. Our health should not be for sale.
Once again, President Obama nails it. The American people want a Public Option as one of their health insurance choices. The private insurance and pharmaceutical companies, along with their bought-and-paid-for legislators, will fight tooth and nail to ensure that their megaprofits continue at the expense of the rest of us.
Funny. I guess its okay for members of his administration to make threats to Arizona state Senators and their constituents?.
You go Mr. President. You have the majority of the country behind you.
Obama is the poster boy for scare tactics. Will someone please shake a can of pennies at him and make him go away? I can't stomach his unctuous voice or leering grin another second.
I can say only one thing, the Us is the ONLY first world country without an universal health care system, are we all stupid?
Obama is right in saying it is the same old thing and that same old thing is about special interest lining the pockets of the Democrats because the have emptied the well on the other side. Shame, Shame on you Obama and Pelosi.....for selling us all out to your Union special interest at the sake of people that are suffering will illness....Shame one you for wrecking our economy for the sake of ACORN....Shame on you for trying to shove cap and trade down everyones throat to help Al Gore line his already buldging pockets for the sake of a lie (global warming). I thought that we had sank to an all time low with Bush....Well Obama is finding what is under the snakes belly. We are going on our fourth year of Democrats lies and deciept and we are sinking lower into the slum of socialism,,,,,though a few more czars are certain to help us??
A lot of Democrats are afraid of the health bill too.
In my opinion, President Obama is 100% right on this issue, the republicans/conservatives are out in force using any scare tactic they can, and making up some scare tactics as they go! I work in the medical field, and believe me when I say it is a disaster as it now stands. Please people, do not swallow what the republicans/conservatives and lobbyists are throwing at you, it is, in my opinion, all lies. Health care for ALL AMERICANS....it is the right thing to do!
I got no problem with slowing the process a little for health legislation... remember the last big push in Congress - Georgie Dictator Bush shoved Iraq down our throats and thousands of kids have died for NO reason.
Odd, though, that Repubs are hollering slow down when they hollered speed up through the Iraq fiasco.
What galls me is the gullibility of the American people sometimes. When someone proposes a gun-control measure, it is easy to get the masses running willy nilly screaming that the guv'min people are coming to take away all our guns. And those measures are nothing remotely like that. So it is no surprise to hear them cry "the guv'mint people are going to control your doctor and choose what you can have" (ironic since in reality that's exactly what happens right now - rich insurance companies often make those controls and have practically no limits on how much they can rake us over the coals). This claim about government is also completely false. Yet, the same mouthbreathing panic-attack population just shrugs when the government was (I hope "was") openly wiretapping without warrants. We have become a nation as mentally lazy and dull as the previous president. We can't all be rocket scientists, but there ought to be at least a modicum of logic, sense and calm, rational analysis of some facts.
This is a test as to whether President Obama can stand up to the health care lobbyists and prevail. It is a huge battle. These people run our country and we need need to get rid of them and take our country back for the people. I hope he wins because if he wins, we all win.
"In his radio and Web address broadcast Saturday — titled "Health Care Reform Cannot Wait"..."
======================
LOL!!!
He's using his same pot-calling-the-kettle-black tactics he used during the campaign. I have to give Pres Obama credit though - I can't imagine anyone one else being able to keep a straight face when accusing others of using scare tactics after making that the title of his address.
Why is the title 'Whitehouse, GOP face off...'. Reality check, it should be 'Obama, GOP & Many Democrats face off'.
Does anyone else find it odd that Obama and a handful of very liberal cabinet members are trying to cram this down your throats as quickly as possible. This is NOT GOOD for anyone. A privatized solution would put the country and your health and well being in a much better place.
It seems to me that the Republicans, and some Democrats, are most upset that President Obama is expecting them to produce bills in a timely manner. I've been listening to the news a lot lately and I can't help but wonder why his critics insist that he is 'moving too fast'? It is about time that the Houses of Congress learn how to put in a full workday and not discuss a bill into dust, then start again. Good job Mr. President and you lazy Senators and Congressmen stop fighting the man and get to work on a bill you can all agree on. Do some work for a change; we pay you enough.
SIMPLE QUESTION:
If Congress thinks this plan is so great
WHY ARE THEY EXEMPTING THEMSELVES AND KEEPING THEIR PRESENT SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL HEALTH PLAN??
(An answer without name calling and facts provided would be nice)
Right decisions take time! Our President is pushing through items so quickly that I am now frightened! When he says: "Health Care Reform Cannot Wait" he seems to be pushing for something that is not in the best interest of our country. He is stripping us of all our free choices. As a concerned citizen, it seems the best use of time would be to get us on our feet economically and, then, tackle health care. When using a charge card, you have to know when you have reached your limit. At this present time, we DO NOT have the money for another purchase!
Thank Mr, President for doing exactly what we elected you to do (ie, reform our healthcare system to provide affordable healthcare for ALL Americans).
Shame on you Congress for your petty, partisan, political fighting over the reform of our healthcare system! We Americans deserve better. We deserve a public option in our healthcare system NOW!
Stop fighting against president Obama and start working with him and your colleagues to deliver a meaningful healthcare reform bill that our president can sign!
Milton Friedman is dead and so is the maket-based only system for healtchare in this country. Work out a Government option NOW!
It's no wonder Obama and Pelosi are so close!! Because they lie as easily as they breath!! I understand that Obama wants control of our lives and he wants to ram this through before anyone really uderstands what's happening but doesn't he have any soul at all?
Or....
“We know the same special interests and their agents in Congress and the White House will make the same old arguments, and use the same scare tactics that they've used to push reform before because they profit from gaining even more control of your life and forcing additional dependancy on them”
So why does this story offer vague Republican criticisms of the plan without fact checking? It quotes Kyl as saying that the administration's plans to pay for this "by raising taxes on small business owners." Really? How so? What proof does Kyl have for this? Oh, perhaps he's referring to the recent Wall Street Journal article that starts, "House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled sweeping health-care legislation that would hit all but the smallest businesses with a penalty equal to 8% of payroll if they fail to provide health insurance to workers." And then it goes on to say that this really is businesses with more than about 10 employees (everyone from mom-and-pop to AT&T), and that it would cover 97% of Americans. But that's not a tax, it's a penalty for not offering health care. In fact, it gives small businesses a tax credit for providing coverage. It is a carrot and a stick.
This man appears to have an agenda that is against the best interests of the American taxpayer, you know, those people who make having a government possible. They are the ones who foot the bill when it's all said and done, not some group of non working people who seem to think the rest of America owes them something. Wake up Obama, come up with something that will 'shock' those who think they can live in the 'addiction' of welfare, food stamps, and health care without lifting a finger to help America.
Either you want health care reform or you don't. And if you do want reform then go ahead and support the President's plan NOW.
Scare tactics is all the GOP has ... Lord knows they don't have any ideas!
Obama is a spoiled black child of entitlement thinking. If he faces disagreement he attacks others as victimizers. He has poor understanding of proper decision-making processes and would rather keep fixing an inadequate plan than formulate a correct one. He is a product of his racial/cultural mindset and cannot free himself from its constraints. He is a person of no imagination outside of his radical, immature, and Muslim exposure. What a sad excuse for a president.
The vast majority of Americans are happy with their health care, that is the significant statistic. So we are going to let a minority overthrow the majority once again. The liberals believe in Democracy, when it suits them. The other times they throw it out and become oligarchs. As far as Obama is concerned, he is an empty suit controlled by rich white men and his junta is fulfilling every prediction that was made about what kind of disaster he would be. Unfortunately, the MSM is not going to go back into the debates and the archives and show this. The MSM seems to be afraid of him (or the people behind him), they would have done this with GWB because they really were not afraid of him. This tells me where the real dictatorship is. This will end badly.
I am a physician trained and worked in the socialized healthcare system in the United Kingdom for 15 years before moving to the country 10 years ago. Going to the government-controlled medicine route is a step backward in healthcare. Rationing will be inevitable. Just look at the government-run Medicare and Medicaid and also the VA system in this country. Patients are falling between the cracks and treatments, sometimes for life-threatening conditions, are delayed in these groups of patients. Medicare and Medicaid set up rules on how patients should be treated and what Medicare/Medicaid will pay without the allowance for exceptions. When there are patients who has other co-existing medical conditions have to be treated differently, we the physicians cannot reason with Medicare and Medicaid since when you call the office, you either get an answering machine or speak to someone non-medical who just refer you to the Medicare/Medicaid rules. This is unlike private medicine where the physician can discuss the individual case with the Medical Director of the Insurance Company. No Obama!!!!
I agree with the President that the only oppositon to health care reform is the special interests who profit from people getting sick. The President is trying to create a situation where all americans will have affordable healthcare without facing financial ruin on a daily basis, as it is with the present system. This is the first President who truly does buck against special interests that take advantage of the public interest. We should help the President get this issues resolved in favour of the American People.
Thispresidident spends trillions of dollars that doesnt work and he says their using scare tactics. Heck yea im scared. The goverment cant run anything efficently why would we trust him with health care.
So now the Congressional Budget Office is a "special interest"? I'll believe the CBO before I believe Obama. The CBO doesn't have a dog in this fight.
The "scare tactic" is when someone is trying to force Congress to act too quickly on something that could create such havoc. Not only with the purpose of the health industry, but the economic factors as well because the CBO says it's not going to save the federal government money.
And the costs just go up and up and up.
How do we know he doesn't want to ram another piece of legislation through as quickly as possible while "misreading" the entire issue?
TV ads for Ins. and Pharmaceuticals UP
Ins. Premiums UP
Co-Pays UP
Drug Costs UP
Donations to PACS UP
Numbe of Lobbyists UP
Add your own thoughts.
Republican definition of "Americans": (1) rich people or (2) suckers who will believe what rich people tell them.
Fear paranoia.... thats what the republicans do best. If we could get the lobbyists and their lackeys away and get some intelligent people who know the issues at hand maybe this issue would be solved once and for all.
President Obama, with all due respect to your good intents to offer the poor, middle class affordable health care.....my question is...can you guarantee that it does not include a mandate for abortion care? Should it, you know yourself, that God can not give his support to that..and could explain a big portion of the dissention going on right now. Review, Review, Review. Don't let that slip in.
It's not just the GOP who is slamming it, it's also some Democrats and most of all a good amount of Americans. Quit blaming the GOP for every single thing.
“We know the same special interests and their agents in Congress will make the same old arguments, and use the same scare tactics that have stopped reform before because they profit from this relentless escalation in health care costs,” said the president"
Mr.President,, you must be talking about your own party when referring to " profit" One only has to look deeply into the money made by Gore, Pelosi, Boxer, Franks, Dodd and so many more of your
" Party"
Please start speaking the truth,, we as Americans deserve it and you owe us that simple request..... But than again , when you have Rham<<< as your chief of staff,,, the truth will never be part of your leadership fabric... What a shame for for you and what a shame for the "People"
JC
i strongly agree with President Obama's long over due Health Care Plan Reform . " Quote – " We can't always make the WRONG choices in life , ~ just because we haven't always made the RIGHT choices in life ". Respectfully...
For the last 8 years everything the republicans say sounds like the end of the world. We will become socialist if our government provides help for health care. You know it is awful the government wants to pay money (which can used for war) to keep our citizens in good health. And I think our current administration wants to spend money to upgrade the infrastructure of the United States. Oh my god we can't do that, why it may costs billions. We can't have our children pay taxes in their future to pay for something like this. The republicans are very old school. They still want to take our tax dollars and spend it on propping up bad dictators in foreign countries. Find places to have a war so our tax dollars can pay for the military industry weapons. Waste the weapons on stupid wars so we can build more. I say stop wasting our tax dollars on foreign countries and spend it on the US Citizens and our country. Pass the health care bill now. We can't wait any longer.