(CNN) - President Obama is taking heat from a Senate Democrat over how he dealt with the issue of health care in his first State of the Union speech.
"I think the president should have been more clear about a way forward on health care last night," Sen. Mary Landrieu told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday. "I'm hoping in the next week or two he will be, because that's what it's going to take if it's at all possible to get this done."
"Mailing in general suggestions, sending them over the transom is not necessarily going to work," the Louisiana Democrat added.
Obama didn't address the signature issue of his first year in office until about halfway through the 71-minute speech, and then only discussed it for about five minutes. But he urged Congress not to abandon the effort that now appears in limbo following the Democratic Party's recent loss of its supermajority in the Senate.
"Do not walk away from reform. Not now," Obama said. "Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people."
Landrieu, one of the last members of her party to agree to the final Senate health care bill, also suggested the president erred in allowing three separate Senate and House committees to pass various versions of the bill.
"As far as I know, the president thought it was a good idea to have three different bills debated," she said.
"No wonder people got confused. So it's not completely our fault that that was the plan."
Landrieu also said she felt the president unfairly blamed the Senate during his speech for holding up a series of initiatives that had already cleared the House.
"I thought he was pointing his finger at the Senate a lot throughout the speech last night … no I do not think its fair," she said. "Moderate Senate Democrats, who give the Senate the 60 votes, come from states that have to appreciate a broad range of ideas and since the president ran on a bipartisan, change, working with Republicans, [he] doesn't do a great service to then say everything the House passes without any Republican votes is something the Senate should just take."
– CNN's Ted Barrett and Alexander Mooney contributed this report
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Pkm iim a dem mr obama cares i think both partites not care abouj any one but there selfish selves
Mary my dear, you only supported the health care bill at the 12th hour b/c of a sweetheart deal you arranged with the Senate leadership. You're just concerned now that you and Nelson may lose your backroom deal. You need to be voted out of office along with the rest of the idiots and crooks in the Democrat party. I only hope this November is as shocking as VA, NJ and MA have been.
Stand strong Senator Landrieu, his Utah Republican agees with your points.
Of course he's pointing the finger at the Senate. You people are the reason health care reform has hit a wall. I have never seen so many Democrats work against one of their own in my life time. You people are a mess and have no business trying to lead our country. I was truly inspired by OUR President's speech last night and he called everyone out that should have been called out. You people make it look like he is the problem. You people are the problem. Get behind your President.
Every year, all americans file for IRS. How many of us really know about IRS deductions and rules. Yes, very few might have understood what this new healthcare reform is. We needed reforms/repairs in economy, Jobs, immigration, energy, education first. Our current economy puts the healthcare at last. So people do not understand why healthcare is first. When 55% elected Obama, we made him the president. If 75% say, stimulus did not help our economy. Govt. did not care for that. Obama came to power because of economy got secrewed up. We talk about democracy whenever it fits us otherwise we do not care for it.
Let me tell about my plan for healthcare reform. It will bring down all insurence and healthcare costs and provide free healthcare for millions. It will save 5 tillions in one decade. It is simple, but who is going listen. You all think about spending too money for every thing and ruin the entire system in no time. There are some things, money should not come in to picture. Healthcare is one of them. Are you open.
The President was pointing out that the republicans are blocking bills simply to block bills. They are more interested in elections than actually coming to a compromise. The senate need to start getting some work done. Obama can't write, vote or pass bills by himself. That is the job of congress, he can only sign bills into law.
These cowards are always looking for a back door to escape out of. Obama is an easy target. Congress is a JOKE!
She needs to stop thinking of her own Senate District and her own selfish career. Good thing she wasn't part of the first Congressional Congress !!! She needs to support what is important for the WHOLE country !!! Can you imagine if our concerns were only about our own geographies when Louisiana was hit by Katrina ???? We were not selfish...she needs to return the favor to all the Americans without health care choices. I hope she losses her re-election . She can then safely go home having accomplished NOTHING for the USA.
The Democrats are scared of " Health Care" and The Republicans.
Man, these Democrats are so stupid and childish. Quit the infighting and get the bill done. If I recall, this stupid woman was part of the reason why the Senate bill ended up the way it did.
The only problem with the healthcare "reform" scam is too many people have figured out it is a great big fat LIE designed to steal their money. More people are figuring it out every day. No wonder Obama wants to hide from it.
You'd think her career was on the line.
OPPS ! ! ! I forgot about the Louisiana Purchase.
Mary Landrieu is part of the reason the reform efforts failed. And now she has criticism for the president? Stop asking for handouts for your state in exchange for votes and work with your before you criticize anyone else.
Finally. Someone speaking the truth. I felt like i had been hit by bird shot after hearing the speech. It was all over the place. Maybe some leadership would help.
Stop complaining and get Health Insurance done! It’s my health you are playing with, and I want Health Insurance NOW
The more I listen to this pugnosed, nasty Senator, the morre I dislike her and her narrow, selfish views.
Now, I know why she has a pugnose, too. From slamming it in the ass of special interests who fund her in office.
I hope the good people of LA toss her our on her ass.
Wha wha wha... big baby. take your 300 million (if you get it now) and be happy. geez.
Where have you been?
This "Seanator" barely won re-election last time. I hope she doesn't expect President Obama to help her win re-election...he'd be better off with almost anyone else!
Mary Landrieu needs to go. I am from Louisiana. Enough is enough.
Yes the President needs to be a stronger leader on the job not just talking in generalities. We need specific targets. The Republican plan of voting on each increment is also a good idea. Repeal the exemption from the monolopy laws, build in cost containment in Medicare D, and promote wellness not junk food, improve access for pre existing conditions and pay doctors a reasonable amount.
that all the fix we need this year.
Landrieu is bought and sold by the health insurance industry–just like Conrad, Baucus, Nelson, Lincoln and the rest of the Republican Lites.
Big surprise – a member of Congress making excuses. Both sides of the isle have failed the American people miserably, and President Obama takes the blame. I think taking the Congress and the Court to the wood-shed is highly appropriate. If the Congress needs the President to specifically dictate their job to them, shouldn't we fire them and hire civil servants capable of performing the tasks they were hired to do?
Why doesn't just go ahead and switch over to the repub party and get it over with.She is doing nothing to help the people who put her in office.She knows the word "NO'.
She is an idiot! The Senate is a corrupt joke. They are all taking major payoffs from industry lobbyists (bribes) to make sure that health care reform is nothing but lip service while the fat cats running the insurance companies and hospitals just keep getting richer. That's why the house said it wouldn't pass the senate bill, it's a joke.
Oh dear Miss Piggy, fret not! We already have your vote required for Health Care. The fix will be in and with a simple majority of 51 votes you are not needed for reconciliation... Buh Bye!