CNN

Van Jones, please switch to Fox News. They are very easy to understand for people like you, NON THINKERS

The so called "public option" must be permantly put to sleep. As many have pointed out, the public option would not be an option for long after having the government beat down the insurance carriers until it is just not worth the hassle anymore for what profit they may get., then big gov moves in and we have Obamacare on steroids. Just give me my pills now and lets get it over with.

As a middle-class, tax paying member of society, I have no problem with the government using some of my tax money to help other people get healthcare or food or shelter. It's better than using million dollar smartbombs to blow up brown countries.

No Captalist,

It was Congresses plan. I get a kick out the Republicans. They blindly follow the lead thrown to them, screaming, complaining and whining how bad something is without knowing anything about it.

No wonder the Republicans don't want te President to address school kids to stay in school, they're afraid of the "educated" masses.

******************************************************

Captalist September 4th, 2009 3:10 pm ET

And the 1000 page document he sent before was not his plan? This is the new plan, needed because Congress is not doing it's job by ramming through socialist, detrimental legislation? Ha!

Rather than a public option, the way to make insurers' premiums reasonable is ro mandate that 80% of premiums go to the payment of benefits. That would minimize advertising, lobbying and political contributions and force the competition to be in the area of the quality of benefits provided. It might also force insurers to be non-profits, which would eliminate the conflict of interests caused by profits being the primary motive.

Only congress can write/originate legislation. During the Clinton years Hillary tried to do so using White House aids, one of which almost went to jail for helping her. Obama can mandate almost anything he wants. He can announce tomorrow that all Americans now can have free health care. Unfortunetly he has to get the senate and the house to approve the money. It is known as a bill.

I understand the desire for health care reform to emminate from the people's representatives but, let's face it, there are those on both sides of the aisle who're so far into the pockets of the medical lobby that it's never going to happen. I'm glad that admin. waited but, it's time to get to work and get this done! Good for them!

I don't understand why this administration is so full of haste....and for those that call the GOP the ones that stir fear...it goes both ways in politics....as Fear is a primary motivator. Seems like the frantic movement hear is the fear if they don't get this through now...and Congress returns home to hear the voice of the people....some Civil Servants just might listen to the voices of the people they represent and then Obama's agenda can't be fulfilled as he wants it.

I don't think that anyone disagree's that reform is needed....but I strongly am against a government run system and do not support a public option.

Let's go with what we know already from this administration....and the list could be never ending from previous administrations...

*Stimulus package that is not stimulating....
*Unemployment the highest since 1983 and still on the upswing....
*Trillions of dollars in debt.... with nothing to show for it.
*A war we continue to fund, but just does not make headlines anymore.
*Banks that have bailout money, but are failing to help the homeowners....
*Education budgets cut to the bone... like the burden of debt we have saddled our kids with wasn't enough.
*Medicare and Social Security.... Yea...those are going bust too!

I am for reform but don't trust our government. Fear...has nothing to do with this as folks like to say when the voice of opposition arises.

Since when does the executive branch have the authority to legislate? Does our government even have limits anymore?

Jim in San Antonio said..."The GOP won't accept ANYTHING! They want people to be afraid, very afraid. That's their strategy for any issue: Obama's school speech, immigration reform, terrorism, health care, you name it and they play the fear factor. They want to scare Americans into supporting them."

Both parties are above all else self serving. Before worrying about what Republicans will accept get a plan that makes enough sense that Democrats will accept it.

For those of you claiming it is improper for the President to draft legislation that aligns with his goals. Would you rather it be him, or the Industry Lobbyists that usually write what's best for themselves into bills that their Paid For Representatives bring up for a vote without even reading.

As much as I believe Obama's plans would help people in the USA, I'm starting to also believe that Obama should stop trying.

He's doing his best to help get quality healthcare for all U.S. citizens. Problem is, he's being spit on by the very people he's trying to help. The Right has convinced their followers (ironically the same poor ignorant people who would benefit most from a public plan) that he is some sort of Stalin-esque Communist.

These people are so brainwashed that one man at a town hall meeting actually said that he wants the government to get its hands off his Medicare.

What do we do in response to these requests? Well, I say we give them what they want. I propose we shut down Medicare and Medicaid. People want less government control? They want to get away from Socialism? Okay. Shut down all government health programs. Let them fend for themselves.

I'm tired of hearing these hoopleheads complain. At this point I wouldn't blame Obama if he threw up his arms, told us to piss off and then moved to Sweden where health care works and (no surprise) people live better, healthier lives.

Concerned Democrat September 4th, 2009 3:12 pm ET

It should include the ability for all Americans to have the same Health Insurance Congress has now……we should be able to buy insurance across state boundaries….like them.
---------------------------
I agree 100% lets us buy insurance across state lines!

Go Obama

Close it out strong!

Whatever it is you and I should be able to read the darned thing and understand it. I am tired of the double talk.

My concern with a "public option" is why would any employer keep their own plan (and the cost it includes) when they can "dump" their employees in the "public option" instead? They can say you won't be required to be in it, but it will become the de facto standard (just think what you would do if you were an employer!).

It's about time the Obama draft his own plan. Congress is so incompotent, and only cared about their own interest. Americans need affordable healthcare. The repugs are slick; they said, "why were moving so fact, but in fact was never planning on supporting our president in the first place. Let's go Obama....we need your leadership beyoud the noice out there.

Of course you dont want to pay for health care for everybody, but you sure dont mind putting troops all over the globe to kill just about anyone. It's like you don't get how you sound, which is like a confused lot of sour grapes.

"Why on earth it took them this long to get involved is rididculous."

After President Clinton's attempt to get national healthcare failed, one of the reasons that caused the failure, according to pundits, were that it was a Top down approach. Basically the Clintons were hashing out the rules and the congress was simply expected to debate and approve/disapprove.

Apparently congress didn't like that.

I'm guessing obama administration wanted to avoid the issues that plagued Clintons.

Robert September 4th, 2009 3:09 pm ET

Such a leader, wait until all the mess is out there so that you know what you should be willing to put your name to.

Anyone who feels Obama is a good leader doesn't understand the first thing about leadership.

yeah i agree on this robert. But even on the simple things. like Obama always looks either scared or messed up or something. he's terrible as leader. And then he 's world travelling, telling everyone in every country that he is sorry about america's past. Speak for yourself there mr. obama, you liar for hire

In the campaign President Obama told us that "The time is now!" Why delay the Public Option and real health care reform?

It's not about 'need', it's about 'should'.

He can stick that bill too!

I don't know what the Congress' 1000 page healthcare proposal contains. So far, I've been blessed with a good job and good health and have good insurance. My contritbution towards the insurance is about $250 a month and my employer probably matches at least that much if not more which amounts to a total minimum cost of $6000 a year for health insurance. My husband and I see our doctor once a year and that's it. I don't think we spend $6000 a year. Last year, my husband was working on his car and the hood fell on his hand so hard that his hand immediately swelled to the size of a cantaloupe. We rushed to the emergency with his hand wrapped in ice, waited for 3 hours to get an X-ray, then another 3 hours to see the doctor. By the time the doctor saw my husband, the swelling had gone down. The doctor looked at the Xray and said that no bones were broken and sent him home. The cost for that visit was $800. The insurance company paid for it but I felt that it was outrageous to charge that much for an Xray and doctor's inspection of 5 minutes. If only there were a government run clinic that can provide a better service, I would go to a government clinic.

I have mamograms every two years instead of every year. Although my doctor has been recommending me to have colonoscopy, I am still thinking about it. I heard about too many people getting perforations and got sick or occasionally even die from it.

I am open minded and look forward to seeing what President Obama and his administration can offer to people who cannot afford health insurance or who just needs to see a doctor for a minimal fee. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

It is so sickening to read comments on here that do not want a public option, or worse yet, no reform. If you truly feel that there is nothing wrong with the Health Care System in America today, then you fail to recognize the lives around you, ignorance is bliss.

DEMS!!!!! It's time to cut out ALL the bulls#@t!!!! MAN UP, JUST DO IT, BRING IT ON. There hasn't been a fillibuster Congress for quite some time. YOU have tried to cross the party line and the REPS don't want any of your candy. Let them weep. Handle your business. "Now Is The Time" LOLOLOLOL You can pass any bill you like. Doggone it feels good to be on top. Obama, Pelosi, let's do this.

Brilliant! Let the House put together a few plans and find out how the opposition is going to attack it. Then put out a plan of his own with provisions that the Party of NO (brains), Party of Obstructionists won't be able to stop. This bill will be trigger happy as the insurance industry barons won't want to offer affordability in insurance at the expense of their mega-million salaries.

I just emailed the head of the American Nazi Party to get his opinion. He told me, in no uncertain terms, that Barack Obama is DEFINITELY NOT a Nazi, nor is he a modern day Adolf Hitler. He even seemed insulted by the comparison.

What gives?

Until the President lives up to his promise and install a goverment run health care program, most americans will have to live with the abuses perpertrated upon us by the insurance & drug compaines. The GOP is nothing more than a small southern political party, so the President should just ignore them at this point.

Its too late for the insurance compaines and drug compaines to protest, they have had years to try and be fair in its pricing for its products and services, so now its time for the President to cram a goverment health program down their throat, and if he should fail, Texas is going to have some new senators and congressmen starting in 2010.

Just add one sentence: Let everyone have the OPTION of buying into Medicare.

That way people like me that spend $300 a month on private insurance have the OPTION of having those premiums used to help the lederly on medicare instead. I never use my insurance and would rather have my money go towards saving medicare vs lining the pockets of the insurance industry.

Also it would be hard to spread lies on a program thats already well known and loved.

How is that there was not a revolt when the same goverment that must of you are criticizing asssited in the biggest bank take over. Why nobody conducted Town HAll meetings. Most of you know the true this is BS, most of the American people need Health Care insurance.

Hey all you left wingnuts shouldn't complain about this administration. You're getting what you voted for and exactly what you deserve. This is what happens when you vote for someone who never held a real job, never ran a business and has no executive experience of any kind. The pelosiites and her loyal followers are running roughshod over Mr. Obama. This is the great "change" you all voted for. Live with it.

i just want to make it clear that i am extremely against obama's actions here! i think he's desperate. by now he probably knows deep in his brain that this was actually a bad idea, but still has to stick to his guns or lose face! what he needs is an out, to avoid embarrassment.

We cant afford to stop now, we are so close, It is very clear congress have fail us, and favor the “status quo”. It’s about time President Obama, delivery on his promised, and take charge on seen thru our needed Health Insurance reform.

Arturo V Zequeira

The President has failed on this. He says he is for the public option but he never pushed it. I think the President has been misleading on this. I am glad they are writing their own bill but he should have done this a long time ago. Most of the country have know that the republicans would not compromise on anything. They love the insurance companies. Why the President wasted so much time on the republicans is a mystery to me.

What happened to Health CARE Reform? It seems Health Insurance Reform is the only debate on the hill these days...With everyone blaming private insurance for the large cost of health care, it's no wonder the government's eye has been taken off of the ball. Does anyone know how much money it actually costs to see a doctor or have a hospital stay? If you really want to fix Health Care...Fix all of health care. Don't just put a bill out there, slap a signature on it and think it's the cure all for all of America's health care woes...

In reference to the Health Care Reform bill that President Obama is trying is darness to propose.
It's amazing to me how Americans are out there on the side of streets, showing their anger at the Health Care reform bill. Yet, the true colors of the American people is showing.....that is violent. You all claim that Obama's health care will do this, will do that to you. You complain and don't want a government run health care...Let me ask you a question, what do you think Medicare is?
Right now in America, we do not have health care. We need something. President Obama is trying to do his best to see to it that we (Americans) have health care.
The bottom line is America, we are going to have to have Health Care reform.
You are all out there make fools of yourselves holding up signs, downing your American President....etc. We need to give President Obama a chance to work with Congress to come up with a PLAN. We can't be angry and mad at each other enough to have someone bit-off another's finger. What does that say about you? You are a violent person. You are not willing to sit down and come to a compromise.
You know that the health care bill (some portion of it) will have to be passed. We may not all like what is going to pass, but, something is a hell a lot better than nothing. Don't you think?
Americans are so divided it's like living in a third world country. We are county of princples, and morals. Whatever happened to that America?
President Obama, keep on doing what you are doing. They may not like your health care bill, but, something is better than nothing.
I support you President Obama, you are the first Polynesian President the United States has ever had and we (Polynesians) are proud of that fact....Aloha and Mahalo, NINA

So very sad for this country. And the Republicans say they "love" this country and are "protecting" its values ... disproving both claims every time they open their mouths these days. What hypocrisy. What sadness. What a shame for the United States of America.

I think its time for him to show some leadership and courage, and to take control of the issue, not to mention the warring factions within his own party.

Politics is the art of the possible, and the art of the possible starts with compromise. He needs to bring those uncompromising factions within his own party to the table and make them agree on the basic principals of a plan. No one is going to get everything they want, but we can get something better than what we have today. What we have today is a disgrace.

To do this he needs to lead instead of responding to the noise and the nonsense from the right. Those people are not going away. They will only get noisier. But they will be weakened if the Democrats stay strong and united, and stop responding to each and every of their increasingly nauseating comments.

I hate the universal healthcare plan. force the current insurance companies into better practices.

I do not like the idea that Joe 1 and Mary 2 can decide not to work and live off welfare and have the same insurance coverage that i do when i am the one paying for it.

Look at all the other countries that have universal gov ran health care. its crap. it doesnt work.

Just thinking that i will have to work to pay for someone elses care that decides not to work makes me livid.

To all you right-siders: Tell me how I can keep paying the $1400 per month coverage my family needs. My wife is a cancer survivor, my son is autistic. No other plan will take us. Once this one (its Cobra) runs out we have no insurance. And while we do have this one we have had to sell our wedding rings, eat only two meals a day, and have no time off from any work we have. Any of you right-leaners care to help us? It must be easy to make comments about insurance that you obviously can afford. Put yourself in my shoes. I don't care about this party nonsense. I need to provide coverage for my family and try to have enough to eat at the same time. Nice mess Bush left us in.

I am glad that President Obama is making his own health care plan. I am sick and tired of the bickering back and forth in Congress. Well...its really the republicans bickering and creating rifts in Congress. I am 25 years old and have a great job and I also have health insurance. I did not get a choice for what health insurance I wanted. The insurance I have is bull. I have to pay for all of my costs UP FRONT and then send the paid invoices to my health care provider so they can send me a check later....if they want to cover the costs that is. I have sent 5 items for them to give me money and 3 of them they denied. This country needs a public option. I want some sort of choice and I have a right to have choice in this country!

Medicare and Medicaid should be teaching the American People that government cannot manage health care. Billions wasted there folks! If there really needs to be coverage... let the government pay the premium (up to a point, say $150/month) for coverage the individual chooses. If the individual choose a policy that is over what the government stipulates as a per month premium... then they can pay for it out of their own pockets.

No one can logically argue why we as a country can't pay for other people's health care. I see no problem in my tax dollars going to the health care aid of others and possibly me in the future – that is exactly what medicare is; we pay taxes now for health care later. Health care reform without a public option is not reform.

Our very recent history has shown that regulatory laws can be repealed or gutted – Glass-Steagle – and companies wil run do what they can to make – or make it look like they are making – more and more profits. Health care regulatory legislation will do nothing without a plan where people can opt for a competitive plan that is not profit driven.

"we the taxpayers" are the entire country!!! EVERYONE in this country pays some sort of tax. Sales, Income, Property, etc and so forth. We all deserve healthcare if our public figures get health care. Forget the mythical death panels.People are dying now because Insurance companies are denying treatment to thier own paying consumers. Some of us can't work and have chronic life threatening diseases that go untreated. Hospitals only have to cover emergency care. I've been an income tax paying person since I was 15 and am now 41 and have Lupus, Diabetes, COPD, Sjogren's Syndrom, BiPolar Disorder and have zero no insurance and all going untreated without medications. I've paid into the government system all my life and I shouldn't be forced to die because of not being able to work and if I could there are no jobs here for me to work in.

any healthcare plan without public option is not helping American
people, that is what insurance companies and lobbiest want.
President was elected to do what is best for people not to
compromise with insurance companies and their agents in
congress.

Trigger that is the name of a horse, we want singler payer health care like the rest of the civilized societies of the world. Thank You.

We hired the President to create affordable HC for all and end the stranglehold of the insurance companies. We hired him to strengthen our economy and regulate the banking and housing industry. We hired him to be bipartisan. We hired him to make sure we get out of Iraq and rebuild our standing with the rest of the world.

So far he's doing what he hired him to do. But it's not a perfect world, so it might just take him more than the first 8 months to do it.

When the opposition has no good solutions of their own, is it really surprising why Change is so difficult in Washington?

Think carefully President Obama....

Legislative, Executive, Judical the three branches of the federal government enacted to preserve "balance".

Let's try and resolve the issue, no matter how long it takes. If you force the issue you may lose the people. You might have to be removed from office.

I voted for you and believe that you are on a slippery slope and I did not expect this.

Your playing into the hands of the right-wing nut cases and the ultimate conflict will be harmful to this country.

Be cautious......

Anything short of a single-payer plan will not work.The insurance indrustries will not allow any "trigger" to curtail their obscene profits. They will simply use some of those profits–a considerable amount of them–to buy more lawmakers and assure that the status quo remains in place. And a lot of people are buying into their insiduous plans! Cry, the Beloved Country.

I voted for reform, not half measures. I am tired of watching the needs of people being put on the backburner to placate insuance companies and the death panel lunatic fringe. If the Democrats in the Senate dont get on board and walk in lock step, as the Republicans have always done, I for one will be done with the political process. What floors me is the very people that reform would benefit the most are the ones raging against it the hardest. Will someone explain to these paranoid gun loving rednecks what socialism is.

Don't just draft, PASS IT!!! That is the only thing to do to help those who have nothing to cover their care. I watched my sister go without health care once she was disabled with no insurance. This is outrageous that the people ELECTED TO SERVE only do a DISSERVICE. The way that they are behaving should make them thoroughly ashamed. Don't think their children are not watching. If this was 1963 or before, they could say one thing and do another, but now it is all exposecd.

If Congress can't draft legislation then why do they exist?

Wanna save money?...slash the members count of The House by a third.

when did health care (or a $4500 grant for a new car or telling a company how much it could pay an executive......) become a right ?
The constitution does not guarantee, health, wealth, and happiness, it give THE PEOPLE the right to persue their own path, and LIMITS the power of the Federal government. Lets force term limits, get rid of 2/3'rds of all the social programs, and enforce common sense laws to their fullest

Mr. President: Anything without the public option is not a bill. GO FOR It.

I voted for Obma and I hate to say it but he is really more of the same old, same old (much more actually)! If he continues with a similar lack of clarity and transparency he is a one term president for sure. By the way, why isn't the Charlie Rangel tax evasion case receiving the attention it deserves?

People have been traveling around the country acting uncivilized, biting off fingers and all kinds of stupid stuff, and a healthcare reform bill hasn't been passed. Everything is going exactly the way I thought it would, our President is a thinker.

How does a business that is regulated by 50 States compete with a not for profit business that has no regulations ?

LOL, here's a novel idea! lets try having our government drafting legislation instead of special interest groups. Lets see how long it takes them to write it....hard to imagine a 1000 page bill can be written overnight like the last one was....

This is an administration spinning out of control quickly filled with radical advisors who have absolutely no right having the ear of our president.

Read the article in the Washington Post by TR Reid.

They need to study Germany and Japan's health care programs and write something is a cross between the 2.

This is getting a bit confusing. I thought the last plan was it. I didn't know the President wasn't at the helm. Someone explain what going on here.

Where's education reform. Now that the topic the American youth are waiting to discuss!!!

to Mississippi Mike...if Obama is an egomaniac (and I believe he is that AND WORSE)...then his crony, Pelosi, is an ol witch! Did you all read, see and hear her "threat" about the trigger mechanism as a replacement for the public option? QUOTE: "If they want no public option, but a trigger, you can be sure that the trigger will bring on a VERY ROBUST public option. So, if I were advising insurance companies, I'd tell them, 'take this bill the way it is now.'" If you saw and heard this news clip, you would agree with me....it was a threat, not a promise!! I am totally, 100 percent against any, ANY change in health care / insurance reform right now!!! Everyone should step back, take a deep breath and start over with all parties on board...not just the progressives (or democraps as they are referred to in my circles.)

He is playing it smart. He gave Congress and the Senate time to cridge their differences and they didn't. Now he is taking his broad principles he set forth and narrowing those down, hopefully into a bill that will be accepted by both democrats and republicans.

The true cost of health care is the same formula that is used in retail. We all know those that can't pay still go to the emergency room and who pays ? we do that have insurance. Our premiums and co-pays go through the roof because we pay. Same as that 25 dollar pair of shoes takes into account for the people that steal or sell knock offs of the similar product.

We need to get everyone paying into SOME system to get a handle on costs.

Public option is ridiculous. How can anyone except a true liberal think that a public plan can be run more efficiently and at a lower cost than the private sector? It can't and history proves it. Government is fat, lazy, and not driven to keep costs down. Reform is needed but not overhaul. Simply make insurance mandatory, no pre-x conditions, bettter tax breaks, and deductibility of expenses. Keep the Feds off of my body. and the care of it.l

As a person who has worked in healthcare for 12 years and as someone who has been a patient many times, I do not think we need to do anything except some tweeking! We have a great system that provides great care in a very messy business. I have looked at many other systems and my conclusion is this: we are not perfect but we are mcuh better than anyone else. If the gov can do this so easily, then simply grant VA benefits to every citizen? Of course we all know how terrible the care is in the VAs.

If it doesn't have anything that will prevent Insurance companies from dropping you once you actually need the money, than it will be useless.

Someone needs to remind Obama that the executive branch doesn't write legislation.
Of course all he needs is one lacky in the house to introduce it for him.
Skirting the constitution when it suits you I guess.
One step closer to complete government control.

NO PUBLIC OPTION

We are Capitalist, not Socialist. Down with Taxes! Teach your children to be self sufficient and not wards of the State. It is not my responsibility to take care of you.

I'm going to withold my judgment until I hear what Obama says and find out about his bill and THEN – if there is no public option (WiTHOUT a trigger) I'm going to admit to myself that Obama is a lilly-livered Dem like the rest of this sorry bunch. For 8 years, they rolled over and let the Repugnants get everything they wanted with barely a majority in eihter House. Now, when the Dems have a mandate and the vast majority of Americans favor a public option (in every single poll that lists the public option as a CHOICE!), to bow down to the disgusting lies and fear-mongering of the righties would be one of the most outrageous acts of political cowardice I will have witnessed. Obama, please don't let us down!

As I understand it, the public option is just that, an option that would be there for all but especially for those who can not get insurance due to things like pre-exisiting conditions. The public option could not say "no" to you the way current insurance companies can. If you elect the public option, you still pay for it – it's not free and so I am not sure if you are entirely correct in your assertion "that we would be paying health insurance for the entire country" Your taxes already support gov't assistance health care – Medicaid and Medicare. It's amazing to me how many people are against Obama's "public option" because they don't want government to have anything to do healthcare. Many times these people are Medicare recipients! Go figure.

Good idea – giving the private sector a period of time to lower health care costs. Better yet, giving the private sector a period of time to self-destruct since all of us know that these greedy bastards will never lower health carecosts enough to amount to any savings.. After this period of self-destruct, a public option can be introduced and the treacherous Republicans will have nothing to cry about.

No public option is a give away to the repugnicans! No more support from my family for the rerpugnicans in disguise! What the hell? This country is RULED BY BIG BUSNESS. I hope that I can change my citizenship to Canada, France or Germany as I am now embarrased to live in a country that business rules over the majority of citizens.

when and how would americans understand that they need the health reform...the swindlings by the insuarance companies and private organisations has to be stopped and reined in.

Yes...Healthcare reform is vital to the success as the industry. However, the government should not be entering into the healthcare industry with a public option. I do not know where/when/how people came under the assumption that healthcare is a fundamental right, but it is not. The government cannot even grant citizens their real fundamental rights (gun ownership). This all being said, we still need to remember Darwinism. The weakest of the species need to be eliminated for the good of the group. If the weakest are not eliminated, the entire species is at risk of elimination do to over population and lack of resources

No trigger. Please have health care public option.

"You bet your life I'm worried", says Barack Obama. "No you do that! Mr."

Like Medicare works?! Why don't we focus on fixing what we have already instead of continuing to add government programs?

"It is critical that we pass this stimulus immediately or unemployment will reach 9%"

Why not let Van Jones mediatie the situation?

Let's ask your chief fundraier TONY RESKO what to do.

We don't need another FAILED STIMULUS or any other new BIG GOVERNMENT plan.

Obama should just SHUT UP and GO AWAY.

that is good. Way to go Obama. Those lame Republicans and blue dog democrats couldn't even come up with the start of a plan in health care reform and with no compromises. Sometimes you gotta say It needs to be done, not sit around and nothing gets done. I hope those teabaggers and Fox ( fake unpatriotic bigots) such as Hannity, Beck, and Greta get their heads out there ass and stop drumming up lies like healthcare reform as socialist ,government run, and failed. I think they've been drinking too much wine because they are part of the party of Wine (Republicans mainly). The American people don't listen to them because they keep thinking they represent the American people, but don't tell you that they only represent rich, white, redneck, nonminority people.

[...] CNN has learned that the White House is quietly working to draft health care legislation after allowing Congress to work on its own for months. Multiple sources close to the process tell CNN that while the plan is uncertain, they are preparing for the possibility they could deliver their own legislation to Capitol Hill sometime after the President Barack Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress Wednesday. CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive – Sources: White House drafting health... [...]

Ther will be no health care reform without a public option.

This year more than any other, we the people will see more clearly the honest politician working for the good of the people and the corrupt politician working for their benafactors.

H-mmmm,
It seems the civics they teach at Harvard are different than other schools - it seems theObama admin forgets that the executive branch is there to approve/disapprove and implement that which is passed in Congress. I was p.o.d at theabuse of power by the Bush/Cheney regime, however, in some ways the only thing that has "changed" is the players. You cannot have progress without change, but unfortunately you can have change without progress.
And Obama only promised change.

Further, the policies/plans that are being battered around have nothing to do with health CARE, all it seems is to be is mandatory insurance coverage - which does absolutely nothing to alleviate health costs. I predicted to friends, familiy and collegues the current economic situation 10 years ago (I said it would happen between '04-'07, with the recovery in 2010, I have witnesses to vouch), as well as th WAMU failure when I closed my account with them in March 07, so I am not afraid to say now that if we continue on the mandated insurance path we will see yet another bubble caused by healthcare.

And I ask folks out there what is wrong with government run health care - it is what I grew up on as an Air Force child - and if the manner by which the military helath care is run is not an example of ""social medicine" , I do not know what is, and if it is good enough for our military then why isn't it good enough for the rest of the population.

but if the arguement is that the private sector should run healthcare as governemtnhas done a botched job – I ask since when has the health of another human being become a profit venture? what has happened to our society where the almighty dollar is more important than a person's life. the ratio of healthcare cost to income did not spiral out of control until the HMO's came on the scene. The only "losers' in a government based plan are the pharmeceutical companies , the for profit hospitals and HMO's . It is not in their best interests for us to get well, they base their profits off dependency and return customers, that is why preventive care is the hardest to get, especially dental.

Well Ishould really get back to work. Thank you for reading, I'll move my soap box to the next person.

When the Clinton administration proposed Health Care Insurance reform, they took this route, and it failed, because the GOP controlled Congress refused to accept it, as "they write the bills".

So Obama, set some basic goals, and let Congress tackle the issue, which has been countered with a huge manufactured outcry from Conservatives, and concerns about costs to taxpayers from a majority.

So the Obama White House is writing it's own bill, largely, imho, in an effort to get Congress moving in the right track, toward getting something passed. This WH bill wil likely be more middle of the road and appeal to more voters. More reasonable behaviour form the aledged socialist president.

I can't wait to see what the GOP with cite in their opposition to this, because they won't vote for it

What a trainwreck Congress has become.

Obama wins

why doesn't the president and congress follow healthcare and retirement like everyone else? It's not so much the insurance ompany charging too much as it is the cost of supplies and service...
why can walmart give you a prescription for 4.00 but yet the brand may cost 100.00? why not place a cap on what can be charged for medicnes and supplies? why does you doctor bill you 400.00 for an extended office visit, yet can contract with insurance company to only get paid 60.00? why doesn't congress and the president pay for thier health insurance like all of us instead of thier golden parachute because of serving a term in congress? and WHY is the obama administration placing our contry so far in debt that we can never recover, yet still giving money to new programs that we cannot pay for???

This is completely and utterly wrong! It is NOT the executive branch's responsibility to draft legislation! Nor does the president have the constitutional authority to do so! The president must sign the legislation into law...do you think that he would veto his own bill? This goes against how our government is set up to operate constitutionally! WAKE UP "WE THE PEOPLE"! Before its to late and we can't "reset" to our founding.

We elected a man of hope into office during a time of crisis. We all decided he was the best man for the job, and he is now met with much resistance. What happened to giving support to that man who is working day and night on our behalf to fix the problems that the common man is facing right now. People are starving, homeless, jobless and the person who is trying to fix these is ridiculed and slandered at every turn. How about we try something new for a change and tell our leader that we support him. With good leadership, and the support of the men and women of America we could be out of this crisis sooner then later. But the people that are trying to do something to fix the problem are being stopped and stalled at every opportunity to make real progress. All I want to know is Why? Do you really think not fixing the problem is better than trying to fix the problem? All I can say is Mr. President, Barak Obama, There are more people that support you than don't and there are plenty of people who know your doing the right thing. Hopefully one day people will realize there are more people than just themselves.

If you want something done right, ya gotta do it yourself! Go Obama!

If Obama and his adminstration cannot provide the people of America with a PUBLIC OPTION then he has to do away with all other social programs. Public Schooling, Medicare/Medicaid the VA program and Welfare. Let all the people who are against PUBLIC OPTION pay through their AssES for Private Schools, Private Insurances and die of stravation if they don't have a job. It's a shame that as a Christian nation we are fighting each other just to provide basic health care for all. We Americans, specially the Republicans said nothing when GB waged an illegal war with Iraq and we have no problem TAKING A LIFE but have a problem for SAVING A LIFE! UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL!!!

If one lie doesn't work, try another???

1) The insurance companies have had 50 years to prove they could provide coverage. They control our access to care and have only 1 motive – PROFIT. Paying for a service then not receiving it is fraud.

2) Congress failed at coming up with a plan because their motive is fund raising for their next election and being re-elected.

3) Republicans have one motive. Destroy Obama. They have shown zero interest in governing.

Obama is the only person who is at least trying to come up with a solution. I hope he throws bipartisanship out the window. If the republicans want a seat at the table then they need to grow up and act like responsible adults instead of slightly less mature than my 2 year old.

Lastly - if we cant have single payer then we MUST have public option. If we do i will join it and be glad to pay for my family. Without a public option the insurance industry will do what they have always done - rip the public off and degrade health care in the USA.

Sure this will be brilliant with this mental midget! Americans who work dont want this, go home leeches.

ROFLMAO Stop...please stop....about to pee my pants.... All these Dems blaming those mean old Repubs for blocking reform... LMAO.... You OWN the house and the Senate... Maybe you should convince a few of your own that socialism is the way to go... LOL

Socialism??? Taking hints from cuba??

seriously. Look at most of the first world countries today and tell me which one's don't provide health care.
It isn't an oppressive gesture... it's the ability to PROVIDE for those who are in desperate need.

as a canadian, I can go to a hospital ER with my health card only, and get any assistance I need, even surgery, and walk out of there without having paid a cent out of pocket.

Why do you want to be charged and billed and told which doctors you are allowed to see?

The american mindset right now is baffling.

do some research. You may hate France, but they have the best health care system in the world.

"CNN has learned that the White House is quietly working to draft health care legislation after ALLOWING Congress to work on its own for months."

Allowing? Isn't that Congress' job – to draft legislation? We would never be in this fix if Obama had made clear to the Democratic leadership earlier what he wanted. What WAS in the thousand page document he sent them that no one could read? What WAS it he wanted to have passed before the break? Does he think they are mind readers? Now Obama rides in on a white horse and saves the day – oh what an ego!

All it boils down to this: Republicans back the wealthy and the selfish (corporations), Democrats back the poor and the altruistic (non-profits). I'd rather the latter because the wealthy can take care of themselves and can afford to create a country of its own. Republicans or conservatives, please will you back off & let Obama & Democrats do the job. Look at Bush...no offense taken. I fear if Republicans take over, more poor people or the disadvantaged would die without health care coverage... Think about it.

It's is about time. The Republicans have shown zero interest in working with the new administration. They are the party of "no." If McCain/Palin had been elected, our economy would have collapsed. Their strategy, which we witnessed for 8 years is to scare everyone into submission so the rich can get richer. What amazes me is that some people fall for it. I am a small business owner, and I am only a year or so away from losing my health insurance at age 55. This country needs health care reform NOW. The only people who don't understand this are those who benefit financially from the existing system and those poor souls who listen to the fear mongers. Health care reform is not about giving health care to people on welfare or illegal immigrants, it is about saving the middle class, who simply can't afford it. There will be no new jobs unless health care is reformed.

When I look at the mess this whole health care issue has turned into, I must lay the blame squarely at the feet of all our politicians collectively. Politicians today, the president and congress included regardless of party, leave me disenfranchised and disillusioned. Go back through history, our finest statesman were connected to the masses and reality in one way or another. Yes "We the People". They were farmers, military men, industrialists, inventors, doctors, philanthropists, etc. Now all we have is a generation of elected officials who majored in political science or international politics or some other BS degree that supposedly qualifies them for nothing but being a politician. Now the rub, to get elected and stay in office (which is their sole purpose in life) these so called politicians will say and do anything, and I mean anything. You can’t trust them to do what is best for the people regardless of their party. What we need to do is start electing our qualified fellow citizens and stop electing professional politicians……maybe a few of our fellow citizens could come up with a workable compromise that all can live with.

North Korea now building nuclear weapons
Iran building atomic weapons
2 foriegn wars
rising foreclosures
rising bankruptcies
a skyrocketing national debt
9.7% unemployment with 15 million out of work
and yet Obama can't see past screwing up the best healthcare in the world.

Progressive change you can believe in..

Obama promised us he would challenge the status qou...he has not. He spoke alernivaley about single payer and public option...he's abandoned both. He spoke of Billy Tauzin as someone who had betrayed Americans...now be has befriended him. He is a man who cannot be trusted. I was giddy with enthusiasm on inaugural day...now I'm disgusted. He is teaching a valuable lesson to Americans youth. He, like most of the political establishment have no integrity or moral compass. SHAME ON YOU MR PRESIDENT.

We don't want any more socialism in this country. We can improve the system we have. I am angry b/c there is no tort reform. If we take the lawyers out of medicine we could save a lot of money. My doctor says that his liability insurance is unbelievable! But the White House owes the lawyers, so this won't happen!

Good, keep up the good work, President Obama and also address the children of America, just as other President in the past

Please, let's realize that 70% of Americans voted for Obama. WE WANT this done! All the nay sayers have yet to admit that he went into office with more problems than any President in American history. The wars, the economy, the health care mess, etc., etc. The Republicans postiviely refuse to cooperate with him on anything. Any person who cannot see this is just plan evil, mean and stupid.

Why do we continue to waste time on this? We don't need the government taking over the health care industry. I don't see a major problem, so why spend so much time on it? It's nothing but a political agenda for socialism.

Mr. President and Congress, please forget about this and work on the real problems our great nation face.....Jobs, Economy, National Security, Education. Please.

Good. It is about time.

th- lets hope he gives people and the congress a chance to read the text of the plan before trying to shove it down our throats again.

You dont equip a system with a trigger unless you are going to use it. IT WILL GET PULLED. This is just cloak and dagger politics. I wouldnt expect any less from this administation.

Trigger?..... please! A "trigger option” solves nothing and people know it. Why would we have a trigger for an option that nobody wants?

We do not need a public option, period. Republicans already have health care reform bills ready to go if Obama would just listen. Hell, he could even copy their bill and pass it as his own. It goes like this...

20% of hospital and doctor expense is from malpractice insurance and defensive medicine. Tort reform can address that cost.

PRIVATE Co-ops, like the story about Wisconsin farmers on CNN's front page, and allowing people to purchase insurance across state lines takes care of the competition issue AND insuring the 10 million (down from that 47 million BS statistic) uninsured.

Another thing, yes we are ranked 37 out of the industrial countries. THAT IS NOT BECAUSE OF DOCTORS AND INSURANCE. It is because 33% of the country is obese. We have more health issues because of the American diet, not American health care.

33% of us have more chins than China, more rolls than a bakery...you get the point.

Stop blaming the people who take care of after a life time of super sizing it. Join a gym.

While many are anxious that Obama has waited so long to show his cards, he now has the advantage of having bluffed closet naysayers out of feigned openmindeness. He can now make a proposal with full knowledge of where the support will be on the Hill and what the political costs and benefits will be.

Leaders are expected to maker such tough decicions and I expect that he will.

The republicans are a sorry lot. How can you criticize someone encouraging your child to do well in school. They have no agenda of their own. Their job is to criticize everything President Obama and the democrats do or say. They need to get a life and earn some of that money the taxpayers are paying them. And share some of the excellent health care they are getting with the American people.

President Obama:

Stay the course on this project and get a great healthcare plan put in place for ALL Americans. I am behind you 100% as are most of the people in this country. The Democrats will pass this with or without the GOP and the debate within the party is good because it results in a better piece of legislation.As the Democrats control Congress, it's time for good ole fashion payback in the legislative arena.

For 8 years we watched a Cabal get control of the country, and the GOP gave carte blanche to Bush to do whatever he wanted no matter how destructive and/or ill-advised it was. Now, it's time to "return the favor" on the GOP and pass meaningful legislation that benefits all Americans, including the Muppets that are showing up at town hall meetings and denying everybody in the room, regarldess of party affiliation, the opportunity to ask informed questions and let their elected officials explain the plan.

By the way, where's the GOP's plan? Haven't got one for the American people – gee, there's a stunner!!!

screw bi-partisanship. you have the house, the senate and the white house. I don't remember the republicans playing nice when they passed the Contract "on" American.

If the trigger hasn't already been pulled, then it never will. The trigger is a rouse that will never happen.

If healthcare is NOT a right, then why must the ERs treat everyone who wants in the door???

The healthcare reform plan is simple. The option of Medicae for All. How do we pay for this? Institute the pre-Reagan tax rates and make dividend income the same taxable rate as regular income. Oh and the big one, get out of all the war zones.

All I want to know is why I, (A single dad raising my two boys) has to pay the same for my healthcare as do a family with twice as many kids and a wife! I would like to know how this was ever allowed? It's so unfair!

I am 100% in favor of universal healthcare. I have relatives in Europe which have had the same system in place forever and would never trade it for anything else. France and Italy have the best healthcare system in the world, according to the WHO, not to mention they are also a lot healthier than we are. Obama, you didn't get my vote during the elections, but you definitely will have mine for universal healthcare.

Please CNN, just keep the spotlight off my socialist remarks, after all, it's not really news worthy.

This is ridiculous! ANY healthcare “reform” that includes a gov’t “exchange” thru which insurance is purchased FROM THE GOV’T, THRU the gov’t, and OVERSEEN by the gov’t SHOULD BE A DEAL KILLER. The world is not perfect, and people get sick. Some people win the lottery, some people eat ramen every day. WHY DO WE SUDDENTLY BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE THE “SAME?” THIS IS COMMUNISM. Screw socialism, they’re FAR more radical than that. Remove some existing insurance regulations, and modify others. Let health insurance companies operate more like car insurance companies and MOVE ON. Everyone makes choices in life……..LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY! http://www.irritating.me

How would libs react if Bush would had banned abortion, broke up all the unions and ended all welfare in his first seven months in office.

That is the equivalent to what Obama is trying to do!.

healthcare should not have a profit motive.
I havent seen any explaination as to how the trigger option would be monitored? I know in maine Wellpoint has priced individual coverage out of reach for most middle incomes. The state is constantly approving rate hikes. Just how is this trigger going to be activated. It appears that we are at a triiger point now.

I don't know why the President and his staff didn't issue their own bill in the first place. Maybe could have saved a lot of unnecessary acrimony.
because your president is a complete idiot cnndog. remember how long it was for the change over process with this dope obama? Remember? Recall too that there are serious breaches in the security of Obama's over all team. Do you want to know why? Because he team still to this day isn't full. He has not made all his appointments. I don't understand why americans aren't seeing how lame a man this Barry Obama really is. He is elitist, he is a jerk. He laughs and mocks media. He is just a very rotten man

This post is for every "Politically correct" idiot out there, let's identify one of the primary causes of runaway health care costs, illegal aliens, if you doubt this, take the time to visit your local emergency room, there is very little english being spoken. Also, Mexican women come across the border so that Americans can pay for there child to be born! Further, the public option has language that prohibits illegal aliens, however, there is no enforcement provsions. WHAT A JOKE! It should be renamed the illegal alien health care act.

Very interesting!!! An option to force private insurers to provide low cost insurance to those who qualify. Seems like that is good business...NOT. This option is very much akin to the fiasco that started in the Clinton administration when they decided that homeownership should be available to ALL. They forced the lending institutions to make/accept loans to people who could not otherwise qualify. We all know where that lead us!!! Think about it, if there are truely 47 millions uninsured (there is much doubt about that number) that means about 15% our our population is uninsured. Now let's penalize the 85% who are insured and make the taxpayer pay for those that are not. We are already TRILLIONS of dollars in debt, why not build up the debt so much that the country goes bankrupt??

After all, it is really only a money issue....NOT. It is about government thinking they know more about our lives then we do... Read Ayn Rand's books....you will get scared!!

Okay, I'm gonna lay this down, as a single 20yr old male sees this situation. I don't have health care, its tough enough to pay my rent and utilities each month and still afford my car insurance. If they want a solution, to this problem, maybe they should get their political egos out of their butts and actually try to find out what their consituants, who voted these people into office, want intead of party leaders, instead of spending almost a week "remembering a great senator" . Yes we all are gonna miss Kennedy, he was a senator, but that was a week congress could have be trying to figure out how to help the people. OH, what's that, yeah I forgot that the DEMOCRATES and REPUBLICANS, are both politicians, not people. THey don't care about the American public all they care about is keeping there little air-conditioned office and Their gov plans and their diplomatic immunityies.

Listen, I vote, I pay my taxes, and I help out people when I they need help that I can provide.
Just fix the problem at hand instead of mud slinging one way or another.

Obama, I didn't vote for you, becuase I thought you lacked experience, but I respect you and the fact that you are taking things into your own hands because of the crooks on captial hill and THEIR ( and i mean both parties) scare tactics, Then I am impressed.

Its about time someone is gonna put ther foot down. You've got three years and so far I think he might actually CHANGE something for the better.

I think that the medical servics in this country are too expensive, if they didn't charge so much then neither would the insurance companies. A cat scan can be as much as $3500 PER BODY PART.Why??

Whatever else happens there MUST be a INDEPENDENT, non-profit health care option for people, an Independent watch dog agency to oversee all healthcare, and at least basic insurance for the working poor.

How can the Conservatives call themselves Christian on some issues when they fail to do t he basics of what Jesus asked; caring for the poor?

I am confused. Why do people say Obama is establishing a Socialist Society and Universal Healthcare? He is not doing this is it making it where private insurance companies and drug companies have to be accountable. If a government option is good enough for our Senators and Congressmen why cant we have that option if we so desire?

if congress thinks this is unfair or expensive.. let them pay for the medical insurance they get for free.. for what they use and get scott free it would cost about 1000 a month and let them get no reimbursement for it.. see how they like it.. they are nothing more then about a bunch of sick/old ppl that use and abuse the system and raise the rates for everyone else.

I cannot understand how the minds of some of these commenters work. If Obama leaves it to Congress to write, they complain that he's passing off the work to others. If he takes their advice and writes a version himself, they complain that he's inverting the proper legislative system.

And for all this nonsense calling him a "dictator" or whatever, you can't ignore the fact that he's listening. He's compromising. He's alienating members of his own party to do so, because yes, believe it or not, he truly believes in bipartisanship. In the words of Bill Watterson, "a good compromise leaves everyone angry." But it's still a good compromise.

About time we heard something like this from the White House; the silence was deafening. Better not have any kind of socialist, government run garbage in it though.

Has ANYBODY read the Constitution lately? Whether you are for or against the healthcare/insurance reform, we still have laws in this country.

READ THE CONSTITUTION, PEOPLE! It clearly sets out how laws are to be made.

The President either signs or vetos legislation. He DOES NOT WRITE IT! That is the job of Congress.

In addition, any legislation that deals with MONEY, MUST originate in the House. Anybody who doesn't know this really needs to READ THE CONSTITUTION. I think our President needs to READ THE CONSTITUTION!

It's obvious that in taking charge, the White House is doing what needs to be done at this stage. The circus of Congress,lobbyists and surrogate political protesters at Town Hall meetings, have proven that a legitimate Democratic process for passing a Health Care reform bill that reflects America's core values doesn't exist.
The underlying culprit is persistently outmoded tort law combined with a greedy insurance industry, both communities of interest that seem to have more clout than out lawmakers.
Health care cost containment and a mutually equitable distribution of the cost burden will only occur if it's mandated through Government oversight.
I sincerely hope that a mandated Government oversight of Insurance is what the White House is drafting as a plan.

Don't let us down Obama. We voted for you because we want change. We want health care for all because it is the right thing to do. Don't listen to that GOP who is crying about the cost. They didn't care about the cost of Bush's illegal wars. Take back control Obama. We need you to stand up to the ugly GOP and uglier Blue dog Dems.

It is a sad day, but one we've seen repeated over and over again, when the Congress does not have the fortitude to step over the many paid lobbyists and people who have been sent to these town halls to "pretend" to be constituents against nationalized health care (single-payer health reform) and talk to the real people who need and want nationalized health care. We need it now. America should be ashamed that the insurance companies, doctors organizations, and big money pharmaceuticals are "getting their way" again, all based on monies applied to TV ads, news-getting shouting, and railing against what is in the best interest of us all. My husband and I worked in public service jobs all or most of our lives, lost our jobs to sickness, are in debt way over our heads, and our waiting to die if no help comes out way. He is in his mid-50's. I am just over 60. This is no way to spend our "golden years". We need this health care, and no one, including CNN or MSNBC or any local news channel should believe that a handful of insurance companies, doctors, and the drug companies outnumber and would put a dent in the public voting for officials who support everyone in America having good health care. The world is watching and I'm sure wondering at our lack of care here. We WANT single-payer nationalized health insurance. We need it, and we are the millions compared to the few who were paid to shout out helpless and sick REAL Americans who came to the town hall meetings. I passed that by visiting my Senator at his office in town. Publish these letters instead of only pushing news about what the health industry wants. They'll win again if you do.Some of this is about racism and wanting Obama to fail a la Limbaugh. But that is not the majority of Americans by far. They are the very fringe radicals. That is not America. We, the working, and the disabled, are Americans. We are not paid for our opinions nor to say these are our opinions. Good for Obama. We support him and support REAL health care reform. Without it we're dead. With it, we can be well. Some of the sick, like my husband and me, could not attend town meetings, and thus we visited our Senator's office, and get our messages out by e-mail. Not as exciting news-wise, but we're at least REAL people.

Let's see, another vague plan to confuse the issue so that nobody can pin down any specific complaint; more intervention into an already over-regulated industry; and a shifting target so that Congress can pass the bill on short notice before the public catches on.

Business as usual at Camp Obama.

I have American figured out, It isn't the Health Care Plan it is that
President Obama is making this happen and guess what folks,
He is Black and you all can't stand a Black man making your world better. AND I AM A WHITE FEMALE AMERICAN. We voted for Obama to make this country better, it was as worse as it could get, so give the man a break and lets make this country something we can be proud of.

Does Obama think he is the first president to not get his way with Congress.? They are all elected officials, not just the president.
Reboot and start over with congress. Maybe the presidents plan is not passing because congress does know a thing or two. COuld his ideas be wrong?!

President Obama has said that getting Health Care Reform would not be easy. He has tried the approach of a bipartisan group to draft a bill and it has not worked...so now it is time to change tactics. Exactly what leadership does! A shame that the Republicans did not want to work with him! So now he does it alone with the 54% of Americans who voted for him!

Get on the ball already. Screw those un-American Republican Nazis and get on with the bill already.

seebofubar, atleast Obama knows how to write – doubtful bush could manage a crayon.

The trigger idea sounds like a typical political way around having to confront 2010 voters. Problem is, the President has already said reform needed to be done last month. What are we to believe? This is both deceitful and cowardly if he plans to suggest this in his proposal.

Anyone following along at all KNOWS that he's trying to get it through and not face voters wishes. So much for the "Republic".

My small company got large rate hikes year after year, until the point they were forced to cancel the plan. I now have to buy a consumer plan for the family and pay 1100 a month for crappy ins.

Something needs to be done, and I'm a card carrying conservative.. I believe in the free market, but health care should not be tied to it. It is not a privileged, nor should be a profit center, it should be a human right.. And unfortunately the health industry is in it for the profit.

The only thing to keep them in check will be competition. As much as I hate the government running anything, (they can't even run themselves) They need to create either a non-profit co-op or public option.

Status or income should not be in the equation. Say you get a little knot under you chin, nothing big, but you can't afford $168.00 to go in and have it looked at. Well It turns out to be cancer and by the time you start to feel bad, your dead.. Why? Because of your status...

It just really sucks that this great country has fallen to this. And the longer this health care shenanigan continues, prices will continue to go up and more people will lose their health insurance. What I can't stand is the health industry sending emails to its employees asking them to attend town hall meetings and protesting health care reform. And talking up the system we have... When will people wake up.. Makes me sick..

The state of Texas just lowered it's Dental plan to nearly zilch. I would like to see Dental plans that have deductables on preventative cleaning shut down, It is terrible. If this is what the government is giving it's employees then i have no hope for anyone.

Well, well, well... at least we will know what to expect:

1) A lack of visibility into the plan and a statement of l "We have to push this through NOW"

2) Most in Congress/Senate will just vote instead of reading

3) Whatever is proposed will get approved and become law

4) People who raise concerns will be labeled Hacks, Whacks, Extremists, Terrorists, etc

5) The voice of the people (all people) will have been ignored again

Don't fall for it, Barack!

If you give in to the nutjob Republicans and scrap your original plan, we who voted for you will view you as just another typical politician.

And we will NOT be fooled into voting for you again.

I agree with the party who said "Good. Congress has proven itself impotent in dealing with our needs prefering to focus on political ideology and personal ambitions. Congress has been given the opportunity to lead and failed, shunning its responsibilities. Its time for the President to step forward".

Van Jones is news?

For a president to draft legislation is insanity. Obama should be impeached. He is an idiot. America is doomed. I'm glad. I hope all the people that voted for him have to watch their families starve.

It took them this long to get involved because that's what the legislative branch is supposed to do, devise and legislate. It shouldn't have to take the executive branch to go to such lengths. Esp when we have both houses. Hopefully, the admin puts forth something palatable to pitch to the people,

Since the Dems can't seem to come together on the public option, a trigger option would probably be the next best thing. The insurance companies would have to get their act together and do the right thing by the American people. If they don't, within a reasonable amount of time (3 years), the public option would automatically kicked in. Contrary to minority belief, Miss. Mike, the majority of Americans do want this. This would not be an issue or a effort to insure the American people, if the insurance companies weren't so greedy and realize this as the humane thing to do.

You know if what the president is wanting is so good then why is he not giving up his health care coverage and leading by example and use the same coverage that he is wanting the tax payer to use.

The wasteful spending has to stop.

And you non-studying ID10T!S have been "whining" all over this "ObamaCare", as you call it! How dumb! I love Obama! Obama 12'!!!

Time and again it has been suggested that we 'just revise the health care system we have', its a nice idea but there is only one minor problem, we have never had a health care 'system' per se.. whereas most other industrialized nations some time ago set about actually designing/developing a comprehensive national health care system of one sort or another, here in the U.S. it has been pretty much a freewheeling, free enterprise hodge podge of providers, insurers, doctors, hospitals insurance brokers and others who have with insufficient oversight and regulation gradually developed in to the insane beast that we so affectionately call our health care system.

If a couple of decades ago we had seriously undertaken what is currently being considered there might have been a real opportunity to carefully transform what we had into what a reasonable thinking person could actually identify as a "system". Now as our chaotic non-system is poised to virtually crush an already damaged economy the options for the short term are few if they are to be effective and unfortunately far more expensive than it would have been a decade or more ago.

My retiree insurance has gone up approx 800% for me and my wife since 2000. This year I switched over to Medicare and I am now paying approx $100 for the same coverage that my wife is paying $400 per month. Most people do not understand that reform means lowering insurance costs to the individual. They are so wraped up in destroying our president that they cannot see what is good for Americans.

It is obvious from some of these postings that most people don't even know what the "public option" is. People who would choose the public option pay their own premiums, just requiring the provider of that coverage to make it affordable. You know, lots of people buying in bulk: ie:Walmart, Sam's club, Costco, would be examples. I don't see everyone wanting to burn them at the stake! Geez people, have you forgotten how to read and think for yourselves, or do you need Fox news to give you a homogenized, pasturized version of everything? Go to the statistical database of the international website, World Health Organization, research for yourselves the data of US healthcare compared to other countries. Your child under the age of 5 has a greater chance of dying in this country than France, the UK or even Singapore. Oh, and you too. Life expectancy here is shorter than any of those countries. Look it up!

It should not be called health care reform it's name should be
"STOP THE THIEVES IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY" We have the best hospitalsand doctors in the world we need to rid the country of the greedy insurance execs CHANGE NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PUBLIC OPTION NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

President Obama,

Hopefully, you've learned a few things about dealing with reckless Republicans who negotiate in bad faith.

START BY DEMANDING 110% OF WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE, WHAT YOU KNOW WE NEED IF WE'RE TO FIX THIS GROWING PROBLEM, AND THEN SETTLE FOR 98%!

Btw, you do realize that the Republicans did a reverse rope-a-dope by sending Grassley and Enzi out to look as unreasonable as possible so that you'd happily give up the public option in negotiations with Snowe, right?

They got to look like heroes to the crazies on the reckless right, and Snowe gets to look like a hero in her more moderate state...

What do you think you look like to your base right now?

The trigger option will only allow the current administration to block any progress over the next two years so they can then say "hey we gave you time to fix it" and implement a government run system.

If they truly want to cover everyone, why don't they work on fixing what is broken, rather than adding to the trash? This plan is built on the principles of medicare and medicade, which will be bankrupt in ten years time.

Go back to the drawing board and write a bill that will increase interstate competition that will then lower prices for all!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's the kind of decisive action we voted for.

If you have a decent education and intellegence, you should easily see and conclude that Obama was trying to pursue its extreme polical ideology by cheating and fooling American people:

Why did he want and aggressively push Congress to past the health care reform before Congress's August recession without giving American people the time and chance to learn and understand what the bill is about?

How stupid he was when he really stupidly and arrogantly commented on the Harvard Professor Incident. His comments clearly showed he was still the community organizer, far cry from being qualified for the United States President.

Imagine a President trying to do something for the good of the Country! How uncharacteristic for the White House – for the last eight years anyway. Thank you President Obama for not letting all the airheads dissuade you.

This is what the White House should have done from the beginning, except that it should have called for single payor. That way there could have been reasoned debate and room for them to compromise down from that position to a strong public plan that could assume the single payor role in the future, giving the country a phased in/out process and path for change. At it is, this is all too little, too late. Shame for so much political capital and goodwill among the constituency to have been wasted as it has. What an embarrassing error for the new administration and the Dems.

For all of those people who are against government administered health care systems, you do realize that Medicare/Medicaid (A GOVERNMENT ADMINISTERED PROGRAM) is the single largest source of funds for the US health care system.

The present value of unfunded obligations under all parts of Medicare during FY 2007 over a 75-year forecast horizon is approximately $34.0 trillion.

I am a fiscal conservative at heart, so I can buy the argument that the government should stay out of health care... but then why are the same people against health care reform are FOR Medicare/Medicaid??? The Republicans are full of hypocrisy. Either get our of government funded health care all together, or recognize the health is a public good and should be administered by the government. I support either of those options, as long as they are administered properly.

good move mr president. youve tried bipartiship it didnt work. get it done Sir reform now! i'd had health issurance for the last 30 years i see cost raising. now for you who have health care...pray you dont lose your job or 401 k fall in the tank (you too could get madoff'd) because if it happens and you dont have something to fall back on that lovely litte house,car and kids college could be gone.

The country elected a facist dictator.

This man (Obama) is not a leader. Had no experience except as a community organizer. He gets high marks for that, after all that's how he got elected. Why can he not listen to the mood of the people? The majority do not want health care reform as it is listed in both the house and senate. Cannot be done without true tort reform and concessions from the drug companies. And I do not mean that measly pittance he signed on with them for. True reform takes a lot of time, and effort to get it right. This is the most important bill ever. The costs as of now are way too high. We are in a recession, people out of work. This cannot be done untill the economy of the working people is in better shape.

It should not be called health care reform it's name should be
"STOP THE THIEVES IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY" We have the best hospitalsand doctorsin the world we need to rid the countrey of the greedy insurance execs CHANGE NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PUBLIC OPTION NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

People who have to have a conservative slant in each story should read fox news -fair and balanced conservative Republican news. every political news story doesn't have to have something about the Republican party in it. van Jones is LAME.

Im glad to hear Obama is stepping in. He tried to let the Congress work together, but he isn't letting it be detrimental to the process of health care reform.

health care will be the last concern when the country goes bankrupt.

I only have one thing to say... If those that put this so called health care program in place do not use it themselves then it must not be good enough for us....... Because it's not good enough for them.

If they do not use the plan they create.. Including the Pres. and his family.
It would mean we are second to those that work for us, that we pay, with monies we do not have anymore.

You want good health care.. Bring more jobs to the USA and I do not mean foreign owned companies. Start giving US companies Huge discounts to stay here in the states. Also start charging US companies that move over seas more to cover the costs.

To all of you who think you are carrying the load for everyone else – God forbid if YOU ever get laid off and don't have access to an employer health insurance plan. Maybe then you will get it!

We need a public option. I don't understand why people just don't get that. Insurance companies have a such hold on this country it is shameful. I read the current house bill, although a bit cumbersome to get through, well-intentioned. I believe Obama has had a written proposal for months, but wanted to give bi-partisanship a chance. I hope now he forgets that and just gets his policies through. Remember SCHIP and Medicare are government run and seems to help millions of americans, and without SCHIP, Medicare and Medicaid there would be many more millions without any kind of insurance. If I hear the word socialism and communism one more time I will scream. Obviously those who say that have NEVER been to a country that is socialist or communist. I have and let me tell you we are from it and never will be socialist or communist. Some people clearly need to read more.

Why do you even bother electing a president if you want the office to remain powerless and only accountable to a slim partisan minority? Watching the Republicans attack so viciously over everything from Health Care, Birth Certificates, Deal Panels, the President speaking to school children from afar is really disturbing especially when every one on this planet suffered under the Bush-Cheny Regime but there was no outcry like there is now. Your former administration wreaked havoc around the world and trounced the rights of Americans but there was no outgrage then. Its very confusing why some citizens and political leaders want to put the profit interests of the insurance companies and the banks ahead of public good.

If Obama was serious about healthcare reform he would offer a bi-partisian plan.

Mr. President,
While we appreciate your efforts of encouraging bi-partisanship, it is obvious that this congress is both too stubborn and too impotent to get this done. It's time to go "FDR" on them and start kicking butt and taking names. If it is support from the American people that you want, please know that we've got your back. (At least the informed people do.)

HAHAHA Now Obama and the executive branch are taking over the legislative branch and writing its own laws, along with making Americans carry a National ID card in the name of having health insurance. HAHAHAHa Buy silver gold gun and ammo. America is doomed.

Those who questions the basis and morality of Universal Health-care, take a good look at Medicare and see how it works. We need exactly same system for everyone with improvements. Those disruptions at town-halls are fabricated by Health lobby and Republicans to mount fake revolt against fresh administration and Democrats for goal of winning majority in 2010. Pathetic.

Our founding fathers created this government with a Three Branch system for a reason – Checks and Balances – What's going on here??

The Congress has failed because of the public option...
The President will fail if he adds a public option...even with a trigger.

The American people do not want health care reform that leads to a government run health care system. To get reform the president & congress need to drop the public option completely and start reforming our current health care private insurance based system. There is a lot of room for improvement (pre existing conditions, portability, tort reform, cross state competition etc) that republican and democrates can agree on. This can only happen if the president/congress completely/totally/forever drop the public option. The ball is in Obama's court.

What it sounds like is a rather savvy move. Let Congress try to tackle it first, keep a close eye on all the squawking and shrieking, find out the things that do and do not resonate, find out the sore spots, watch Congress try to work through the rough patches then, if it seems like they just cannot get enough on board, THEN present a completely separate bill that comes from the White House, that has already taken care of the sticking points that Congress couldn't seem to rewrite themselves. This way Congress cannot claim (like last time) that the White House just rammed a bill down their throats without asking for input, and the 'new' piece of legislation can be looked at with fresher eyes than something that congress has been squabbling about for six months. I sure hope it works and I sure hope there's a good effort for compromise after all the crap we've been listening to.

Great, now we have an administration of liars, tax cheats, hypocrites and lobbyists crafting the future of our healthcare system! That really inspires and reassures me ... NOT!!!

I hope that you are successful President Obama. However, I don't think Congress will be of any help. My wife and I support the effort to achieve a public funded program to compete with the private sector.

If we Democrats have to do so use the reconciliation procedure to get it done

Good Luck, Mr. President

With no pressure to bear on the insurance companies to reduce premiums, eliminate the pre-existing conditions, this country's people will become worse off financially. If we can spend enormous amounts of money in foreign lands, than we can afford to spend alot of tax money on our own people's health. We are always so concerned about the suffering of people in foreign lands but what about the suffering of our own citizens? We need a public option now or a single payer system like the Medicare system for all our citizens that have a social security number. Just take the Medicare system and eliminate fraud and make it more streamlined. Much thanks. Bob Beek

If all these health care proposals are so good and for the best interest of us all, then why are the politicians not a part of it? Congress, the senate, our own President and even the underlings will not have their own health care under any reform bill passed. They will keep their golden plan they currently have. As a matter of fact they have already voted down such a measure. People, that should speak volumes!! wake up americans.

Everyone should think back a bit and consider what would be happening in a similar situation about Health Care if Hilary Clinton had won the election. Do any of you recall her plan? This seems far less of an issue when put into that perspective. The right wing seems to be running with anything that keeps them being heard, no matter how completely ridiculous. The current Obama school address issue clearly illustrates that. They are all as nuts and goofy as either Palin or Cheney and deserve one of them for a candidate. Basically we have a bunch of pissed off red-neck racists and paranoid stuffed shirt republicansthat can't say what they really want to about Obama without showing their obvious bigotry, so they whine about everything else. It's not real surprising rich white folks don't want to pay for black baby abortions. It might cut into their prozac funds!

The insurance companies will fight against the affordability standards, just as hard as they are fighting against a public option. Because, God forbid, we cannot afford to force insurance companies to face real competition or to endure a reduction in profits. People can go into bankruptcy over medical bills, but the insurance companies must be protected. Unlike Harvard and Fedex, the insurance companies have no chance against a government-run program.

Congress they didn’t do the work so some one has to do

You know what? When I need to see the doctor. I go see him ok.. When I am ready to leave from the visit. I go to the counter and get out my dusty little wallet and I pay the man for his services.. WOW now that's a nostalgic thought.

So they are proposing a "Trigger" in the event Insurance companies do not produce certain savings and cost reductions in a certain period of time. If that is the case then the "Trigger" should be put to their heads and pulled as soon as the bill is passed because they have had over 40 years to become more affordable and they have considered only their profits.

Democrats managed to pull their party together and take the elections on the grounds of change. All of this is good. The problem now is that since they have come together and made it out of the dungeon they want to go in as many as 360 directions. They just can't work together. Democrats have the advantages and now they fight among themselves and give it away to Republicans standing on the sidelines taking bets on who will give up the ship next. I am a democrat and I am ashamed of how my party is fighting itself rather than working for a better nation.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but doesn't article one of the Constitution explain that it is the purpose of the Congress to draft the laws? Why doesn't President Obama explain what he's looking for to Congress rather than overstep his job?

Once again, a whole group of uninformed people giving their opinions. I do not care WHO the president is... There is always someone blaming someone else. Why do we need to have the government run our health insurance. Look at Social Security and Medicare... do we want more of the same.

We really need to put control on the overall health care system. The system itself needs to be restructured. There is no reason to charge $10 for a box of Kleenex. If that small of an items price is inflated and billed to the insureance company, the higher cost items such as surgical proceeds, tests, etc. are astronomical. Can't something be done to put a roof on those costs?

I ask why is Obama so secretive about what he wants to see in bill? Everything he does seems to be a rush job in the middle of the night. This needs to be laid out in complete unhidden details. The people need to see this not just have it handed to them with a "Here you go". This speech next week should have taken place when this started a long time ago. The time for Obama answering questions with round-about answer with hidden meanings is over. Do the job you were elected to do. Be the "Great" Communicator you are suppose to be. So far I have seen nothing from this man. Debt is growing, unemployment is growing, tension is growing ... Is Obama in over his head? I really believe congress needs to get the problems of unemployment fixed and get America to work first.. The Healthcare reform can wait until after I can purchase food and pay my bills. We are starving and going homeless ... All Goverment stop posturing and get to work, you fixed business quickly it is time to fix the PEOPLE who elected you. Absolutely NOTHING is getting done! I don't care what party you are from next election I just vote for someone new, this crop of clowns are useless

I have been saying for years...just give Medicare to all!! Tweak it if you must but in so doing, you could take savings from the system and raise reimbursement rates of Medicare to providers. Why must we always reinvent the wheel? And to get REAL original, scrap the VA hospital system while you're at it! We don't need it. Any Vet should be able to go to any hospital in America and show their VA card and get the same or better treatment. It would act just like Meciare only the Vet would show a VA card instead of a Medicare card. The money that would be saved here is huge!! THe other benefit would be that sick Vets would not have to leave family in order to travel some distance to the nearest VA hospital. But I suposse this is too politcally risky. At any rate, the President needs to get more involved in this and show some spine and leadership. I voted for him. NOw he just needs to act like a president.

Great! Since Congress is too scared to make a valid decision about real health care. It seems so simple to me yet it is being made a crazy 3 ring circus. Those that don't want it–DON'T TAKE IT. It's not rocket science! If you have the insurance you want and don't want anything offered. DON'T TAKE IT! Those that need it–TAKE IT if you have no alternative! This is just stupid to me. Personally, I am sick and tired of paying these high insurance prices for coverage that is not worth anything by these private health care insurances. I want options–better options instead of being held up for insurance that pay nothing if they can possible get away with it.

Keep on working hard Presisent Obama, this is why we voted for you, a true leader at long last......YES WE CAN MR PREZ............God bless you and your family!

It has taken about 60 years for the private health insurance system to run off the rails. The fact that it's taking a few months to craft workable reform legislation isn't a sign of failure, it's a sign of amazing progress. Most kitchen remodels don't happen this fast.

And for everyone who wants the government out of health care - if you get your way, I suggest that you bid a fond farewell to Medicare, Medicaid, the VA hospitals, and all county-run hospitals, clinics, emergency rooms, and ambulance services - all health care options currently provided to you, your family, your friends, and your coworkers by (gasp) "the Government."

A Public option will never pass, and if it does you are going to see the biggest baclash against every democrat up for election, ever.

The "trigger" is just a scheme to try to shift the blame onto those "bad old insurance companies" while trying to give Congressmen "cover" to vote for it.

Schemes, schemes, and more schemes....

Mississippi Mike – The majority of people in this country want the healthcare system to be reformed. The problem is that too many are poisoned by suggestions that the current attempts are rooted in these evil words like "socialist." Most of the people throwing that word around as some sort of pejorative moniker don't even know what it means, they just think it is BAD. The notion that everyone should be afforded the same right to the same healthcare would be supported by a socialist, but is nothing if not a humanitarian notion. People have become scared of this concept because of scare tactics that are fostered by the insurance companies that make huge profits off of you not getting sick, then bankrupt you when you do. I hope that you are lucky enough to have never experienced what can happen financially when you are ill, but you should meet the people who have lost everything simply because they got sick if you have not. I just agree with schmeckel in that I hope the costs and specifics of the plan are made transparent.

Obesity strikes 66% of americans, yet a package of 70% lean hamburger costs $2 less a pound than 90% lean hamburger: Shouldn't this be the other way around? If the Obama Administration wants to bring healthcare costs down, the place to start is where Obesity begins- in the GROCERY STORE, not the pharmacy.

The great divide shown by the various emails saddens me. What is a democracy and whose views should be represented? Do we only see our differences and cast aside our similarities.

I only hope for the very best for our country.

When I voted for President Obama, I voted for change. I truly felt and believed this man had the power and character to make a difference, and I still feel that way now. I love this great country, and I love all my fellow citizens regardless of how negative and blinded they might be. At every point in history comes a tipping point, and at that time, change is necessary. Although many are scared, we need to find strength and courage in one another and stand firm for change, for the tipping point of our generations is now. We must put aside the hatred and fear that has torn this country a part for decades and rise together as one to look after our fellow man. This here is a moral issue, but even more, a question of character. It is tragic that only in times of great peril does this country show her true potential, her true ability to be glorious. However, we do not have the liberty to wait until the next great tragedy in order to come together for change. This is our chance to make history..our chance to change the course of the lives for the generations after us. To show that a few extra dollars in our pockets isn't worth others going without the basic needs every man should be entitled to. This is our chance to show that we do have kindness and love in our hearts instead of just preaching it. If we can not agree that all men and women regardless of race, color, creed, or orientation deserve to be afforded the rights entitled them by just being human, then this will forever be the most tragic day in our nations history...a tragedy that we will never recover from. I hope we can all stand together and make the right decision. God bless us all.

Why Are Insurance companys allowed to practice medicine without a license? They tell us what drugs my doctor can prescribe in their formularies etc. We need to get the insurance companys out of any reform of the Health Care System.

I am glad that the WH is doing smarter things re. Healthcare. I go to these Healthcare meetings – I notice a silent majority of the attendees are looking for a solution now rather than the shouting matches between the parties

I think for most of the country, Most people do not understand what is being proposed for the people and they are scared for what is going to happen. The elderly people of the United States are worried of what is coming and they are on a fixed income, rent, medication, food,
transportation, insurance. I hope that everyone takes to heart what
we are looking at. You know our senators, congress men, president,
need to see what their choses are for their own health insurance.
Would our president want this insurance for him and his family.
Because, most people of the US do not have a income like his and is provided with a house to live in, cars, airplains to go places. I know this sound silly, but just member he in elected by the people by the people and for the people all of the people senators, congress,
president and other government peoples are also elected and think for the people of the United States

This summer proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Americans want UNIVERAL HEALTH CARE and no more insurance bull. 77% support!!! Suck on that Conservs.

This summer also proved that the GOP is COMPLETELY in the pocket of big business and has no intention of helping American citizens.

It is about time that REAL CHANGE happens! Go Obama! You rock!

Get the public option. Insurance companies have failed, they need some competion. It's a waste of time including the insurance companies or the republicaions, just more of the same from them.

Oh yay....

Doesn't this government realize that we DON'T trust them and that we want them to stay the hell out of our doctors office? I can't trust them to run a war. I don't trust them to run education. We can all see how well they've done with healthcare so far.

Am I the ONLY one that seems to think that the Federal Gov't is WWWWAAAAAYYYY to powerful and that we need to break a couple figurative kneecaps to get them to back off a little? King Obama and the Repugnants, all seem to be ignoring the fact that the Citizens don't want them to do ANYTHING with our HealthCare. I want the MARKET to handle the insurance companies. Yes, I agree that insurance is WAYYY out of hand but I DON'T believe that it's the gov't place to correct the situation. I believe that responsibility falls on the PEOPLE. WE need to start banging down the doors at the CEO's houses. Find out where they live. Harass their offices. Make citizen arrests. The more we start expecting the Gov't to take care of our problems, the more "Problems" they will find to "Fix".

Another thing....does anyone really think that this Gov't is "Of, For, and By the people?" I sure don't see anyone that represents what I think. All I see is a bunch of rich old people. I'd just like to see the Gov't start GIVING up powers, not continually grabbing for more.

Here's my message to our politicians: BACK OFF!!!

Shawn

Who are these people saying America doesn't want a public option? If you don't want it don't choose the option. As far as the medicare/medicaid programs: I don't hear my parents or grandparents complaining, the doctors either. Medicare for All!

coach September 4th, 2009 3:12 pm ET

Good. Congress has proven itself impotent in dealing with our needs prefering to focus on political ideology and personal ambitions. Congress has been given the opportunity to lead and failed, shunning its responsibilities. Its time for the President to step forward.

Coach – It appears that many people do not understand how our government is supposed to work. The president does not make legislation. That is the job of the House and the Senate. If they are not doing their job (and they haven't for a long time) the only answer is to vote them all out and get someone in Washington who understands the needs of the people and who will respresent the people and not special interest groups or themselves. And implement term limits for congressmen and senators.

Its about time. What has happened to the strength of this country now we cower when Rush party makes a peep.

This is something we need and have to have. Stop the whining and lets get this country moving again. What is wrong with you people

It is very disheartening to see and to listen to the various dialogue taking place about healtcare reform. I did not support President Obama but I wholeheartedly support the idea that everyone is entitled to access and cost effective healthcare. All those who believe otherwise are selfish individuals who can only see beyond their noses when someone they love is affected and without coverage. I wonder if they would even care then.
Although something is better than nothing, I strongly hold the belief that reform is now or never. If the President believes that he can convince me and the rest of America that a "trigger" is beneficial and will indeed ultimately create a public option if the insurance company does not "play ball" he is more naive than even his greatest critics surmised. I refused to be fooled by this incremental approach to reform. Obama's only concern is where he will stand politically. If we the people were looking for a compromise on healthcare we certainly would not have voted him into office. Our only recourse is to set the same "trigger" to vote him out along with all the other politicians who are only working for the lobbyists and not the people they serve.
Be warned, a public option is a necessity for public's survival...and yours too Mr. President. You did nothing about the Lobbyists and you continue to sell us a bill of goods thinking your oratory abilities will keep us from seeing your weaknesses. Yes we can, and we will.

The only health care option acceptable is one with which all members of congress must partake in, that is the only way the American people won't get screwed.

Another speech, another plan, another attempt to sell a tainted package.
Obama has had to many plans, to many speeches and to many sales pitches.
If he is as smart as the media would have you to believe he should understand by now that no one will believe him.. He has lost his credibility and do not trust him.
Obama will not listen to the voters and now the voters will not hear Obama. The answer to Obama and the attempt to socialize America is still NO and will always be NO!

Finally, hope it isn't too late.

Now the WH is acting like Congress?????

Some experts say that the health insurance problems could be solved by simply allowing insurance companies to sell policies across state lines. This is apparently not allowed under current law. If that is the case, competition would fix health insurance problem on its own. The wrench in the works is federal laws that prohibit companies from doing business beyond they own state borders. Sounds like a simple solution to me. And tort reform? Loser pays. End of frivolous law suits. Another simple solution. So why do we pay politicians such big bucks to create complex solutions to simple problems? Anyone have an answer to that one??????

Cubans all have access to Healthcare and a University education. What do Americans get for the taxes we pay? NOTHING. Cuba also has a lower mortality rate than the U.S. Maybe if Americans would travel more and actually see how well people in other countries live compared to the average American, they wouldn't make such ignorant comments.

I'm not necessarily advocating a public option, but somethings need to be reformed. For example, you shouldn't lose your healthcare if you lose your job, and you shouldn't have to declare bankruptcy if you get sick.

I believe that Obama should announce on Wednesday the congress has 15 days to buy their own private health and that the Government will no longer be in the health care business for elecyed officials. What makes them better than us?

In fact, the Democratic Party, when in power is served well by a conservative opposition party to mediate the tendency of Democrats to spend excessively.

Too bad we do not have a conservative opposition party, rather we have the Republicans, a band of “soulless political prostitutes” beholding to the Pharmaceutical and Insurance Industry.

There is no accommodating the crowds of people making arguments based on ridiculous unsubstantiated fears and lies. There is no compromise with the Republican Party who is organized and waging a full flung war like effort to destroy the President.

Good, because the Republican Congress has done nothing but stir up hate and divide our Country. They should be ashamed of themselves, what they have done is nothing but domestic terrorism. I have not seen this much hate, anger and bitterness since the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960's. The hate and anger being displayed toward our President has nothing to do with HCR. It is just Racism that so many of us experienced growing up in the 50's and 60's. Racists are upset because we don't have a white President. That is what they mean when they say I Want My Country Back. The truth is this is not their country, this country was taken from Native Americans and Latinos.

People complaining that they don't want "government health care" are the ones not realizing we have MediCare, Medicaid, and CHIPS. So stop all the crying and whining already. Most elderly are ALREADY getting "govt. health care".

There must be a public option.
If there isnt then We will all know what We have feared and that would be that the Democratic party is also under the control of the medical industrial complex (i.e. Insurance companies, Pharmaceutical companies, and the AMA).
If this happens then the American worker must realize that if they dont take matters into their own hands they will nothing but slaves and will hand decades of misery to their children.
Crush the insurance industry.
Crush Pharma.
Crush the AMA.

None of you people have any idea as to what your VOTE to put this man into power has done to us. You asked for it, you got it. Thanks a lot!

After 8 years of GOP ramming their junk through congress and NOT listening to the people, it's about time.

Doesn't matter. The damage is already done. People will come out in droves against any bill with "health" within two words of "care."

Of course, even this overlooks the congressional process. Even if the bill is well-reasoned and otherwise laudable, the overzealous Pelosi-crowd will amend it all to hell.

In fact, the Democratic Party, when in power is served well by a conservative opposition party to mediate the tendency of Democrats to spend excessively.

Too bad we do not have a conservative opposition party, rather we have the Republicans, a band of “soulless political prostitutes” beholding to the Pharmaceutical and Insurance Industry.

There is no accommodating the crowds of people making arguments based on ridiculous unsubstantiated fears and lies. There is no compromise with the Republican Party who is organized and waging a full flung war like effort to destroy the President.

WE NEED MEANINGFUL HEALTHCARE REFORM NOW!!!!

So the Health Care "Emergency" is now a "wait and see if things change"? There is little if any trust in what the President says these days. If it's no longer an emergency, then why not TAKE THE TIME to actually have dialog and work out a comprehensive solution?

Mississippi Mike: What people don't want this? Just you backwoods rednecks? Seems like everyone I've met so far in real life would like their premiums to drop to a reasonable rate. I know I would like to save a couple thousand $$$ every year out of the several thousand I have to spend for coverage just for myself.

Better not have some undefinable public option to be forced down our throats.

shmeckel is dead on right!

Exactly! By letting both sides air out their concerns and differences, the President should be able to draft legislation that is a true compromise between both ideologies. Anyone who thinks that being a leader means going into a situation shooting from the hip doesn't know the first thing about being a GOOD leader!

Let the wrath of the Beckonites (Glen Beck followers) begin. Thank you Mr President . We Democrats stand with you.

This should have been done in the beginning. Unfortunately, without a single-payer system, or at least a very strong public option, the cost control aspect is going to be weak at best.

Ever been bankrupt because of health care that wasn't covered? Lost your job and had a pre-exisitng condition that wont be covered? Stop thining that these things only happen to certain types of people! Take a look at how much your premiums have risen over the last 10 years. Is that affordable? Can you begrudge someone for trying to make it so?

Bet you that you guys putting health care reform down HAVE INSURANCE! SO you don't care about the rest of us that don't.

Speak for yourself MIKE, I want it and so do many others that are not insane.

We need a public option now!

I am self employed. I pay for my daughter's medical insurance premium with Anthem Blue Cross. She has allergy problem, she had to be taken to ER by ambulance, from restaurant where she was given a salad with walnuts, even thou she informed the waitress that she was allergic to walnuts and was assured by the waitress that salad did not contain walnuts. Epi-Pen was administered at the restaurant and ambulance took her the ER. I received hospital ER bill and ambulance bill, After deductble of $500/yr . My insurance paid 700. . Co-pay was 140. Total bill was 1400. eccess charge, more than insurance would pay. Our final bill for the ambulance, American Medical Response, about 660. Ambulance company is charging comsumer more than the insurance company is willing to pay. and we are responsible for the rest. There are no regulation to control the amount of charges that the ambulance company charges consumers. There have to be medical reform. It is killing out family with medical bills. I am a republican myself and totally support what president Obama is doing to for medical reform. WE have to do somthing now,

I don't care what plan they have or don't have. What I do care is that they desperately need the public option in any bill. I pay $500/ month not including co-pays for an HMO which severely limits my options as far as treatments are concerned. How come these republicans are always against government intrusion yet when it comes to importing drugs from Canada they disallow it for our so called "safety" and are the first ones to intrude on people's decision when it comes to obtaining cheaper drugs from Canada. WHO THE HECK ARE THESE REPUBLICANS WORKING FOR? The people or the lobbyists.

If you don't like the public option DON'T TAKE IT! Hence it's called an OPTION. Lord knows I can't wait to leave United Healthcare.

Translation – I should never have left this to The People's Republic of Pelosi.

Reform Medicare. Tort Reform. Catastrophic insurance plans to keep people out of bankruptcy. Allow purchase across state lines. Refundable tax credits for those who need assistance.

No new unfunded or unfundable entitlement program.

Hear that libs??? It's the sound of Obama backpedaling.

The trigger option idea sounds like a good compromise. This way the public option wouldn't be created unless the insurance companies get their act together. Makes sense.

Democrats did not elect Olympia Snowe and her Republican cohorts to write health care reform. We elected President Obama, and we expect that he will fulfil his promise to enact real reform with a Public Option.

A member of President Obama's Kitchen Cabinet,
Claudia Lawson

Did you read about the moveon.org member who bit off the finger tip of a man against whatever this health care mess is. Not on CNN you didn't hear about it. Liberal bias, state run media.

The fact that the President is creating his own bill and that Congress members admitted that they hadn't read the initial health reform act that the President wanted them to vote on before the August recess shows how flawed that original bill must have been and how premature any vote by Congress on a healthcare bill would have been. No wonder the average American is upset with Washington and the President.

People have lost faith in those who are proposing healthcare reform, ie: the President, Nancy Pelosi among others. Americans want less government, want the insane spending to stop, want to know, at the least, that their Senators and Representatives even know what's in the bill they're backing and signing.

But, in the traditions of any "leader of a nation" with a failing cause, the leaders of Congress and the White House have taken to try and find an enemy and toss the negative attention on them rather than let it land on themselves. In this case, the Democratic party has found that enemy and it's the average hard working American. Nancy Pelosi calls anyone who doesn't back their "plan" unpatriotic for being righteously indigent toward congress. By that standard, I guess the rebels who founded this nation (George Washington to name one) and the rebels who held the Boston Tea Party would also be unpatriotic by her standards.

Barack Obama has shown who he is and most balanced Americans, black, white or hispanic, old, young, of all parties don't like who they're seeing.

2012 can't come soon enough. Until then, there's 2010. Don't vote Democrat or Republican...vote American and let your Senator and Congressman know that you've had enough America. Do it while you still can.

Thats the way to do it with socialism ;just chip away bit by bit and they'll never know what hit them until the bill comes due and your freedom is kaput comrade!

It's about time!

Give our President a break , We voted for change and now when it 's trying to happen and going forth we act as if were scared . Healthcare reform is very essential and important . When we dont do nothing we complain when we do somthing we complain . Change and fear dont mix . We have to get out out of our comfort zone and move on.

Good...because the first plan isn't going anywhere....take out federal dollar support for abotions; be inclusive of co ops (it WILL work even in big cities); focus on dollar reduction for costs. Looking forward to hearing the ideas the President and pals are bringing forth. Keep it honest.

Good for you Mr. President. Stay strong and stand by your guns. Please keep the public option so that us under employed people who can't afford HC and make to much for Medicaid can insure ourselves and our families.

Not that this has anything to do with the subject other than pointing out the liberal bias of CNN and its users, but have you noticed that when a liberal says or does something stupid that is reported on these pages, CNN cuts off the comments right away, if it lets any be posted, but that if it is some inane, innocuous story about Sarah Palin or Mark Sanford, they let it run to over 300 comments. Just another marker of the bias of the state run media and the idicocy of the liberals. Still nothing about the Rangel outrages or the Pelosi outrages in allowing it on CNN.

It's about time....most of the hammerheads in Congress and Senate dont have the guts to make a the tough decisions. Rather, they focus on their re-election.

Brilliant Strategy!...Have Congress flush out all the issues...observe the various reactions...then piece together the most feasible solutions along with the "trigger"option..

Again...Brilliant

This sounds like a great plan! I like the idea. Go for it!

Take the systems we have now rewrite them, combine them and reenforce them with up to date coverages. Set goals for current insurance companies to provide a more reasonable coverage and prices. If someone doesn't have insurance allow them to go on the Government run insurance but set goals for these individuals to assist them in finding other coverage as soon as possible. We the taxpayers do not need to be paying for health insurance for the entire country.

It's about time!!!

Why on earth it took them this long to get involved is rididculous.

Let's hope they come up with something better than the mess that is being proposed now.

It should include the ability for all Americans to have the same Health Insurance Congress has now......we should be able to buy insurance across state boundaries....like them.

Sounds like the President and the Administration is indicating that Congress has "Failed the Course" and the Administration is going to write the Universal Health Care Bill for "Congress to Sign"...Something wrong this process right? or is this more of the CHANGE that President Obama promised during his election campaign. This should start a real war and Democrat Party Divide?

Good. Congress has proven itself impotent in dealing with our needs prefering to focus on political ideology and personal ambitions. Congress has been given the opportunity to lead and failed, shunning its responsibilities. Its time for the President to step forward.

Mercy! Just waht we need is another Health care plan. Hopefully this plan will be properly vetted and all the details will come out before the Dems try to ram this down our throats.

Enough already! Reform is great and if we can demonstrate the so-called two-savings let's try that first. If we cannot demonstrate the projected savings then how can a government run plan save money?

The Trigger idea has some merit but it all depends how it is laid out. If this is just another Trojan horse than forget it.

Now Obama is trying to work !!

Isn't it refreshing to have a leader that listens to all sides and after getting the best of all input then decides this how we're going to do it. I'm sure the republican's are going to claim more partisan politics but I call it leadership.

Sounds quite heavy handed to me. We are supposed to be the home of the free and the brave. What happened to that?

I guess giving the insurance companies the last 50 years to meet certain affordability standards with their own plans is not quite enough time.

The GOP won't accept ANYTHING! They want people to be afraid, very afraid. That's their strategy for any issue: Obama's school speech, immigration reform, terrorism, health care, you name it and they play the fear factor. They want to scare Americans into supporting them.

All i can hope for is that the GOP and the Dems can compromise and come together on a mutual agreement. Since bipartisanship isnt what we think it is, there needs to be a mediator like the President who can come in and "bridge the gap".
I believe that a government-run health care program (and i am a democrat by the way) is only another step into the future of socialism.
Socialism can work...in a perfect society. However, America was founded on the principles of Democracy, not Socialism.
the progressive movement in the US is gaining momentum, with senior members like Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the President himself being outspoken progressives.
We need health care reform, and hopefully it can and will cover all americans one day without the heavy hand of the government.

Something tells me the the White House 'standards' for insurance companies to meet will be as absurd as possible. Do they really think we're going to bless this anymore than we have the current house bill? Seriously?

America doesn't want a govt option. Despite the fact that some idiot is repeatedly posting on here that 77% of American's wan it...

Until you remove the third party pay system and people are more involved with the actual cost of the care that they consume, prices will remain high. People with insurance have no incentive to control their consumption as someone else pays the bills.

Health savings accounts coupled with catastrophic only insurance is the right idea. This along state to state and job to job portability and tort reform is they key...it won't lower the quality of our current care and keeps the govt out of it.

And the 1000 page document he sent before was not his plan? This is the new plan, needed because Congress is not doing it's job by ramming through socialist, detrimental legislation? Ha! Politicians, they would sell their own Grandmother, and you and me if they could milk some pork out of it for a constituent who will grease them later.
Affordability levels, what a joke, the Gov may be able to charge less, know why?, they will just pay for it out of Taxes, one way or another someone pays. What a shell game, nothing is free, remember that.
Higher taxes and less competitiveness will be the result of a public option, has to be, there is no way to expand the system, with the same services, or better, without cutting costs, malpractice, Big Pharma, Drs., they are all going to have to eat a piece if we are really going to control costs. And each piece has a price to pay for cutting into their share.
Universal coverage that costs less, ha! Government lies to get their hands on a tremendous expenditure that can be minipulated to serve their purposes. Feep the money out of the Government hands. The federal government runs nothing more effiviently than the private sector, nothing. That is as basic as it gets.

What did he think was going to happen after the STIMULAS fiasco?? I do not understand this President!!! But I don't think he understands either.

Let's hope the Republicans give it a chance and see what it actually in the bill before they start blasting it again.

It is about time. He needs to present it and be abl to explain it.

Drop the govt option!!

CNN – What about Van Jones?!?? Why haven't you reported this yet?!?!?

No bias – no bull – BULL!!!

Where is my story guys?....I am moving to Fox News where the real news is...

Sweeeeet!

YES WE CAN!

Such a leader, wait until all the mess is out there so that you know what you should be willing to put your name to.

Anyone who feels Obama is a good leader doesn't understand the first thing about leadership.

I hope this is not so..It would be a terribel let down to all of Pres Obama's supporters, if there is no public option in the bill from the start..This so called trigger will be seen as a compromise once again to the GOP, and will be veiwed as a weak decision..I for one feel the Pres Obama has bent over backwards to give Congress the latitude and time to come up with a compromising version, but we all see where that has gotten us nowhere..And to top it off, the GOP had the audacity to waste ( not use ) the whole month of Aug to take cheap shots at Pres Obama in public..That whole scene was appauling enough to watch..And now, when we are looking for some hard line in the sand on Public Option, we are now being told, we are going to have to wait again for healthcare reform for these so called triggers to happen..The American People have waiting long enough, and things are not getting any better..Remember, nothing is gained if we don't fight for it..Lets not let this golden moment pass by, and sacrifice the health of millions, just satisfy a few politicias who only have THEIR political careers in mind, along with greedy insurance companies..Once and for all its time for little people to have what they have been entitled to for so long..Remember health care is not s privledge, but a basic human right..Rock on Pres Obama and please do what is right for the masses of people as I have total confidence that you will in the end......Many thanks...Staunch supporter

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Obama should stop trying to get along with the republicans. they are under no circumstances going to go along with him. As they said, if they can stop this health care plan it wil be his "waterloo". They know we do not have one of the best health care plans in the world and they dont care. But the Senat and Congress does.

I like to send my regards to my black brother Obama. He is a model for us here in Nigeria.

If there is no public option, it must have Sen. Snow's trigger clause for private insurers to lower rates with same coverage x % per year or the public option is automatically triggered in year 3. You can't have the fat cats thumbing their nose at the country while spending $$milions to fight reform. If everybody else is getting downward wage pressure, jobs outsourced, etc let health insurance be national with no more state boundaries and segmented pools to take the healthiest.

The trojan horse is named "trigger". You can bet the "trigger" will be pulled as soon as the bill is passed blaming the big bad insurance companies of course. The tactics on the hill are becoming boringly predictable.

The plan has got to included a Public Option from the start, No "Trigger Options" we need real backbone on this issue, Bush would have pushed it through without even blinking!!

If Congress passes "only something" now, it will serve to embolden the
Insurance and Drug companies along with the Republican party
(who are to date without any patriotic statesmen ) to intensify their
current strategy to kill any further health care reform. As many have
noted, if the Republican party wanted health care reform they have
had eight years to propose it. Now that it is on the table they refuse
to negotiate in good faith.

"Under a 'trigger option', a new government-run health care plan would only go into effect if "

NO THANK YOU! Under no circumstances do I ever want to see the government run health care. I think that sentiment has been loud and clear.

The republicans care nothing about the people they are corporation first. Unfortunately the bulk of the right wing is so undereducated they will never understand this. I stopped seeing the doctor because all they want is your health insurance info and co pay. Somehow they forgot about the patient and I believe it to be because of the hoops the insurance companies put them through. All that needs to be done is to look around you and you can see after 30 years of republican rule where the country is at.

Sooner or later, Obama will have to tell us what his vague "affordable" means. Then we can determine for ourselves what will or will not work to get private insurers to BRING DOWN the present cost of premiums to that level.

Maybe I've missed something, somewhere but for people who are sick and can not afford health care like myself I really do not want and can not wait years for a trigger. I would and need Health Care now, but like it has in the past I see this fizzing into nothing because of the grasp the HMO's have on the Government, and the sometimes batty ideas of the right wing continue to kill this movement.

Forget about the "trigger" the insurance companies cannot be trusted to do the right thing. The fact that they would have to be pushed up against the wall to do it should tell you that. The problem is with the blue dog democrats who take millions of dollars from the insurance companies. Who do they represent? Their constituents or the insurance companies?
If they don't come on board, their constituents should vote them out, are they can go back to the Republican party. I voted for change, not a trigger option.

On the Obama planet a single republican vote is more than the millions of Americans who elected him. By every indication he will face a primary challenge in 2012 and will be the next Carter. Maybe Hillary was right about her impression of him.

I don't know why the President and his staff didn't issue their own bill in the first place. Maybe could have saved a lot of unnecessary acrimony.

It's about time! This reform requires LEADERSHIP. Expecting the boneheads in Congress to accomplish this without Kennedy and Daschle to get the Congess to cowboy up and do something to make this nation competitive in civilized health care for everyone was an innocent mistake on Obama's part. Now it should be no more Mr.Nice Guy. Write it and pass it, let the GOP squeal.

Good..enough of this crap! Lets get health care reformed and stop the madness and scare tactics.

WAY TO GO.. PRESIDENT OBAMA!! You tried to compromise with the Party of NO!! They don't want CHANGE...The GOP doesn't have a plan for healthcare.. They are more concerned with their stocks with the Healthcare Industry.. The more the Republicans object to help Americans.. The better Democrats look in the election. So keep it up GOP...( yeah right lol)

What constitutes "affordability"? For some, $200/month for health insurance is a bargain, for others it is an amount that will break the bank.

Obama don't forget that the public option is not negotiable. Remember that it is time like this that you have been made president. Don't forget your friend Teddy while drafting the bill; remember to use this bill to immortalize him.

Dictator!

"Sources: White House drafting health care bill"

Who's working on it?
The czars?
Stalin's buddy, Van Jones??
Obama's new dog???
The teleprompter?!!

Don't bother wasting your effort, kids...

The illegal attempted-annexation of the medical industry is D.O.A. and has been effectively stopped dead in it's ultraconstitutional tracks. Jefferson would be proud.

"I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive."
-Thomas Jefferson

No doubt Biden is in Havana at this very moment getting talking points from the Castro brothers.

Castro runs his health care the same as everything else there, at the point of a gun. That is apparently what Obama is planning to do with the American people.

It is really sad that it has come to this for Obama. It is clealry not the job of the preident to technically draft legislation. However, with the GOP quick to pick at every insignificant detail and blow that detail up into fiascos like the death panel discussion, it seems this is a necessary step for the preident if he wants to be able to calm down the very fickle independant voter. Fox news has been the GOPs wingman through this all quick to ride a wave of histeria they were at least partly responsible for into higher ratings.

AMAZING After all the hype and bantering Obutthead is finally going to write a bill? What a moron this guy is.

The trigger option is the "public option", just sugar coated by CNN. CNN really needs to show its independence from the Obama administration or it needs to shut down.

No public option.
Medicare and Social Security were created with the best of intentions.
But history cleary shows government has not been responsible with tax payers money on these two programs. Democrats and Republicans alike.
For decades the government took in more than they paid out for these two programs. Instead of doing the responsible thing and setting the surplus aside for the future when the baby boomers retired, the government just spent it on other programs (both Democrats and Republicans did this). Now the government is taking in less than it is paying out and the deficits are growing.
Then under Bush Medicare was expanded to cover drugs and a deal was made with the drug lobby to not negotiate volume discounts. Volume discounts would save Medicare billions of dollars. Corporations in the private sector negotiate volume discounts to save money, but Medicare can't. Obama is on record saying this was a bad deal.
Now as President Obama makes the same deal with the drug lobby in exchange for the drug lobby promising to spend millions on an add campaign supporting Obama's health care reform.
We have decades of history proving government is not responsible with tax payers money on big government entitlement programs.
Medicare and Social Security are broke, if they were private sector companies they would be out of business or asking for a government bail out. We are told that Medicar and Social Security are the tow biggest reasons for the growing deficits. Why would we want to create a third big government entitlement program when we know government from decades of history the government can’t fisicaly manage the two they already have.
NO PUBLIC OPTION!

finally!!

Well at least he will have something to talk about at his next speech. I hope it is a good one. Maybe one that lists exactly what the problems are and how the bill will correct the problems; and a truthful estimate on what it will cost and how we will pay for it. Ya know facts, information, and problem solving instead of a trillion dollar solution before we know the root of the problem.

Nice, this will be a huge popularity loser for the Bringer of HopeChange. Hasn't he figured out that people don't want this? He knows that if it passes, it will be entrenched like other socialist government programs and wants his name on it. What an egomaniac!

There had better be a public option included in that bill!

about time