WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama on Monday called the Senate vote to end its debate and move toward passing a health care bill "a big victory for the American people."
In remarks at the White House, Obama rejected arguments by Republican opponents of the bill that it will increase the federal deficit.
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says the Senate bill will reduce the deficit by $132 billion in the first 10 years, Obama said.
"That argument that opponents are making against this bill does not hold water," Obama said.
The Senate will hold more procedural votes on the health care bill this week, with a final vote scheduled for Christmas Eve.
From CNN Politics
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This bill will mess up American medical system. Some of those people who don't work hard will get better medical treatment than those who work hard. It's not fair. Senior citizens will find their benefit get cut. I have strong belief in Americans who know good or bad.
Sorry OBama, but we don't see it that way. To us, it's another reckless action on your watch. The public is opposed with this bill, by huge margins. Yet, you, Reid and Pelosi jam it down our throats anyway.
The health care vote is a "victory for the American people" only in the sense that it is the final nail in the coffin for several democrat politicians including the dunce of a president that we have.
It's about time!
can someone explain to me how this farse can be construed as a victory for the american people???? every poll taken shows that 60% of americans do not want this Democratic power grab..... Americans will not forget come 2010 and 2012..... Democrats will be voted out and you can thank Reid, Pelozi, and Obama for the plank they made you walk........ Good riddance
Obama is full of empty rhetoric. As someone who worked for, donated too and voted for. This bill gave the american people a few crumbs. You know the phase"Let them eat cake". He has abandon the people who got him elected and now they are letting go of him.. Axelerod, said yesteday on MTP how Obama was for the Public Option, thats a lie. My only hope is that someone will run against him in 2012. If not, he can get his money from the lobbyists, there is where he has chosen too go.
what a pompous, arrogant, i know what is best for you attitude obama has.... obama is repulsive with his lies. he thinks he is better and smarter than everybody else...let me tell u liberals and stupid media one thing you can try to destroy this country but u will never break the american spirit of freedom. obama may be book smart but he hasn't got one lick of common sense....you in the media are not much better. you will see real soon this american passion for freedom rain down on all these hypocrites in washington and the white house who say do what i say not what i do... pay day is on the way.
It's a victory because it represents the first step toward getting the Dems out of office in 2010!
What a fiasco.
If this bill is so wonderful, than it should be for all Americans. Including state, federal, goverment workers. Police officers, fire fighters. When the people who are shoving this crappy bill down the peoples throats agree to being insured under it, then pass it.
The majority of the people do not want this.
It's only money!
Unemployment is currently double digits. The deficit is spiraling out of control, threatening countless other jobs. Our manufacturing base has been shifted overseas where labor is cheaper. The only segment of our economy that is adding jobs and increasing salaries is the government, kindly paid for by the Chinese, and ultimately by the 50% of Americans who actually pay taxes! And this will be deficit neutral....yeah right. It won't cost anyone who already doesn't pay taxes.
Which American people are those, Mr. Obama? My wife and I bargained away pay increases several times to get "Cadillac" health care and now after working all those years and paying for it, you are going to tax us. And when we move into medicare, which we also paid for all of our lives (LIVES which were spent working and not on the government dole) you are cutting benefits there.
How are employers going to be encouraged to hire more people if they have to offer health care and are fined if they don't. Obviously your commitment to reducing unemployment is one more BIG LIE.
The only americans who are going to benefit from this are those who have spent their lives with their hands out, whining about their lot instead of doing something to improve their lot. But they will vote for you.
By the way, I don't belong to a militia or a hate group. I have always dealt fairly with all people regardless of race, creed, etc.
I am just a law-abiding, hard- working American who is angry about your deliberate attempts to destroy this great nation.
If this dark of night endevour (somehow fitting) is carried forward to being law, this will probably finish bankrupting America. This wild spending administration has already passed a Porkulas package, that was a total waste of money, a unbelievable pork-laden operating budget bill, and invaded the private sector at every turn. Now, trying to seize control of another 17% of the national economy. Does this sound like it's good for America?
Since when is higher taxes and political payoffs a victory for the the American people. I was never dumb enough to believe Obama was any more than a politcian that speaks well and lies better than any President in my lifetime. Obama's Presidency will stain this country for decades to come.
Wrong again, Obama. This boondoggle is not a victory for the American people because too many voiced their opposition to the varied proposals put forward and clearly the people did not want to see the changes being proposed. To do this in the middle of the night when we were all asleep, is about as underhanded as I've ever seen. The only ones that can claim this tarnished victory is the democrat party. I difficult to fathom the senate made some of the concessions they did just to get someone to vote. This was clearly legalized prostitution in the halls of the senate. "Sure, I'll get in bed with you, for a price." But when we have a pimp in the white house, its no surprise that this is the way our legislators are doing business these days. When he gives his state of the union address next month, I just hope he doesn't come across with "May God bless America" because Obama is not a Godly man and therefore any statement like that will not be heard by God.
This vote is a start to show that the Insurance industry is not untouchable, in the future we need a public option.
It's just a start, Mr. President, but thank you for getting us this far.
The only victory Barry was for your owners the Union Bosses and Insurance Lobbyists who paid to get you that Office and those big- big shoes.
LOL he suckered them again into believing this health care bill will be of any real benefits to the American people. For one thing the elderly is going to take a major hit on Medicare cuts so to help fund obamacare. It does nothing to address the issue of tort reform but gives the ambulance chasers protection from States wanting to rein in high malpractice awards. And do you really believe your health insurance rates are going to go down any?
How? How is giving away health care going to cut our deficit? It's not, so taxes will be raised. On the middle class.
Not only that, we will be fined and arrested if we do not purchase this coverage. I don't know, sounds a little 1930s Germany to me.
A big victory for my state to bribe and now subsidize Nebraska, Vermont, Louisianna for votes. A big victory for deadbeats and illegals to now get more and more handouts. A big victory so that Obama can now go to the Mexican global warming scam conference next year and take the spotlight away from Chavez and proclaim that capitalism is now dead in the US (and Obama is the first president in 44 to achieve a socialist state). The roars of approvals from the tin pot dictators will be deafening. The saddest day in Amerca's history.
This last minute deal for Nebraska, shows how the corrupt Chicago style politics of the Obama administration are now being played out in the Federal Government. It is shameful and disgusting to see how the government is being run.
Hmm. I wonder which people he was referring to?
Interesting how Obama is so happy. Nothing has really gotten done. The bill now needs to be reconciled with the House bill. Pelosi has said she won't pass a bill without a public option. The Senate said it won't pass a bill with a public option. Both have said they won't back down.
The bill has to be reconciled, then voted on in the House again, then the Senate again. So, now the negotiations begin, and we get to see Chicago politics.
Oh, and there is that one little aspect of over half the country not wanting this bill.
So really, why so much happiness over this vote?
Please pass this bill and keep on working on it. I believe in continiuous improvement. Do not delay it at all. There is nothing that is a hundred percent consensus when so many different opposing minds work together.
He should be named facist of the year. He's not conservative, he wants to "control everything he disagrees with" Mark-Republican in PA.
its not a vote from me its a vote for Obama to control our lives, health and well being, call a dog a dog and call Obama the traitor to the American way of life.