by Mark Silva
President Barack Obama, who has pressed Congress for over a year to overhaul a health insurance system that leaves tens of millions of Americans uninsured and many millions poorly covered, said today: "I believe we are going to get the votes, we're going to make this happen.''
He said so in an interview with ABC News' Jake Tapper after an appearance in Ohio today, another in a series of campaign-styled pitches for his healthcare plan. ABC plans to air the interview on World News with Diane Sawyer at 6:30 pm EDT.
The president was asked about what he is telling members of Congress, and other Americans, who are worried about the healthcare bill. Obama maintained that much of the "misinformation'' surrounding the bill, such as warnings of government "death panels'' and a government takeover of healthcare, have "turned out not to be true."
""For most people who already have health insurance, they're not going to see much of a change except they'll have more protection in the insurance they already have,"Obama said. "But for millions of Americans, they'll be in a more secure position and the federal government and state governments are going to be in a position where they are not running these huge, outside multi-billion-dollar deficits over and over again each year that add up to an unsustainable debt we'll be imposing on future generations."
The nation's shortage of healthcare coverage is currently "affecting every aspect of American life,'' the president said. "If we don't tackle it now in a serious way, not only are you going to see (individuals) get in a tougher and tougher spot. But what you're also going to find is a federal government that can't pay its bills on Medicare and Medicaid."
Even with what is enacted, he said, it will take time to fix the system.
""These insurance reforms would start right away," the president said of provisions such as guarantees that insurers don't drop sick policy-holders or deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions. "But getting in place a system that works over time, including making sure we get more primary care physicians, more nurses into the system, working with hospitals and doctors to reduce medical error rates that drive up cost -- all those things are going to be changes that happen year after year over a period of time, but we've got to start now.
"If we don't start now it's going to be too late," Obama said. "If we don't start now, then it won't be in place three, four, five years from now and then we'll be waiting another decade or another fifteen years or another twenty years to actually take on this problem."
Comments
IT'S OVER, REPUGLICANS!!!!
YOU LOSE AND AMERICA WINS!!!!!
HEALTH CARE REFORM IS GOING TO PASS NOW!!!!!
HAHAHAHA!!!!
Posted by: HHH | March 15, 2010 7:01 PM
HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
REPUBLICAN LEADERS BEGIN TO PREPARE THEIR FAITHFUL WINGNUT RUBE FOLLOWERS FOR THE LET-DOWN OF HEALTH CARE REFORM PASSING!!!!
@JonathanSinger reported that REPUBLICAN Congressman M. Diaz-Balart, running in a competitive district just voted with Democrats on Health Care Reform amendment in Budget committee.
And ABC News blog says
"Former Republican House Majority Leader and current Tea Party leader Dick Armey said today that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is "inept" but that Congress would likely still pass health care reform."
.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/03/gops-dick-armey-predicts-democrats-will-probably-pass-health-care.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
.
This smattering of reports makes it clear that HEALTH CARE REFORM advocates seem to have the wind at their back this week. This very, very tough job is going to get done now.
Meanwhile on Planet Wingnuttia, Republican leaders are beginning to prepare their ardent goon supporters for failure by warning that passage is imminent. And today, for the first time, I'm wondering what their supporters will think and do.
What's going to happen now? Will Republicans hold their leaders responsible for failing to block passage of reform? Will some Independents get caught up in the post-passage euphoria that will be associated with passage of historic legislation like they did following President Obama's election? Will the Right go crazy and get more fired up? Or will these teabaggers--many of whom are 55+ years old and have spurned political activity for their whole lives--give up on the political process?
I really don't know the answers to these questions....I feel like we are on the brink of something very important. And I just can't wait to see what happens next.
Posted by: HHH | March 15, 2010 7:16 PM
The Wingnut home for Bitherism and Death Panel conspiracies: "NEWSMAX", is already hyperventilating about health care reform passing. This morning they sent out an e-mail blast titled "Obamacare Armageddon Has Arrived."
Health care reform passing might just might derail the Teabagger movement.
The Tea Klux Klaner's don't strike me as the kind of people who are involved for the long haul, especially when you consider that they were nothing more than an astroturf "movement" from the very beginning anyway.
Watching Wingnuts heads explode makes for great TV.
PASS THE POPCORN!!!
Posted by: HHH | March 15, 2010 7:27 PM
Senator Kaufman Makes A Stand Against The Criminality Exposed By The Lehman Examiner Report
Kaufman calls for a "a thorough investigation, both civil and criminal, to identify every last person who had knowledge that Lehman was misleading the public about its troubled balance sheet – and that means everyone from the Lehman executives, to its board of directors, to its accounting firm, Ernst & Young. Moreover, if the foreign bank counterparties who purchased the now infamous "Repo 105s" were complicit in the scheme, they should be held accountable as well."
http://tinyurl.com/y9zmdtn
Posted by: roy | March 15, 2010 7:48 PM
Last 10 Swamp articles on health care feature the thoughts of:
Obama
Dem Strategist
Dem Congressman
Obama
Obama aide
Dem Congressman
Rep Congressman
Obama
Rep Congressman
Dem Congressman
In other words, 8 Democrats, 2 Republicans.
How can there be a healthcare debate when only one side is allowed into the debate?
Posted by: Bruce | March 15, 2010 7:54 PM
RNC Brucie,
Do you ever have anything to offer other than your usual paranoid conspiracy about a so-called "Librul Media" - that exists no where other than your fat head?
"Why Don't Honest Journalists Take On Roger Ailes And Fox News?"
.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/11/AR2010031102523.html
.
Posted by: HHH | March 15, 2010 9:13 PM
President Obama worked extra hard for all the people of America and his efforts may succeed in having America join the 21st century, allowing, we, the people, to get out from under that Corporate Boot. Healthcare will no longer be rationed by the Greedy, the cold-hearted or the Corporate clerk. Ask the Social Security recipients what they think of their program, their Social Security and you will find that they need it and are thankful for it. I know, I am !! This is not the Rabid Right's cue for some " Fear and Smear " screeds from that less than honorable quarter, the Republican-Libertarian-T.Baggers !! Now is the time to thank God, that President Obama has the guts to stick to his word and work for the betterment of all Americans.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | March 15, 2010 11:33 PM
"HHH" replies to facts, with fact-free rants.
Mark, in "HHH", you got the follower your columns (and ObamaCare) deserve!
Posted by: Bruce | March 16, 2010 12:59 AM
Oh HHH presents us a column about "honest journalists" written by the embarrassed former editor of the NY Times, who was forced out because his "news"paper was pedaling plagiaristic BS! What a hoot, HHH!
By the way, HHH, Mr. Raines actually makes the point that there is a "librul media." Fox News is THE only non-"librul" news outlet on TV. So, we have Fox News versus the "librul" NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC and PBS. 6 to 1!
Shoot, the "conservative" Fox News has more "librul" commentators and analysts on its payroll than NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBS and PBS have conservatives on their payroll combined!
Getting back to this puff piece, well, that pretty much says it. This is an unadulterated puff piece seemingly as if it was written by David Axelrod himself.
Posted by: John D | March 16, 2010 12:59 AM
Bruce, what is the Republican program for health care reform?
Just thought I'd throw that question out there.
Anyhoo, when Barack says something is going to be done, he usually gets his way. In the long run.
Posted by: ornery | March 16, 2010 1:04 AM
If the votes were in hand, there would have been a call to vote already. We need insurance reform a not trillion dollar package full of who knows what. I'm sure HHH read all 3000 pages & understands them since he's a self proclaimed genius in this forum.
Posted by: wingnut master | March 16, 2010 7:35 AM
THE WASHINGTON POST is reporting that the Democrats may try to pass the Health Bill using the "deem and pass" procedure that does NOT require a House vote. In this way some Democrats who would be weakened by a yes vote will not be on record on such an important vote. This procedure is never used on important bills such as the Health Bill. The Republic is under attack from within by Socialist Democrats in the Congress and the White House. If this stunt is used talk of any cooperation in Washington will be dead. And Obama will be known as the Great Divider.
Posted by: Depot- Jim | March 16, 2010 9:28 AM
EEEEEEEEEEEERRRGHHHHHH!!! free everything for everyone!!! YEEEEAAAAHH HUURRRRRAAAY for us!!! Team BO is cool!!! EEEEEEEEERRRRGHHH!!!!
Posted by: LibTard | March 16, 2010 10:05 AM
LAST YEAR, THE HOUSE WAS PASSING BILLS WITHOUT READING THEM. THIS YEAR, THEY’RE PASSING BILLS WITHOUT VOTING ON THEM! HOW "DEMOCRATIC" OF THEM!!!!
*
Dems move closer to passing Senate bill without actual vote
*
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/86985-rules-memo-outlines-dem-plan-to-pass-healthcare-bill-without-actual-vote
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | March 16, 2010 10:52 AM
A GOOD ARTICLE ON THE POSSIBILITIES, THOUGH IT DOESN'T ADDRESS GETTING "SLAUGHTERED"
*
Five ways to pass or sink health care reform
*
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34468.html
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | March 16, 2010 12:15 PM
"if this stunt is used talk of any cooperation in Washington will be dead"????
When was there any cooperation by Replicans in the past 14 months since Obama took office?
Apart from the Pentagon budget, of course.
They wanted to be the party of No.
That message has been received for the last 14 months.
The country has to move on now.
Posted by: ornery | March 16, 2010 12:23 PM
John D,
Take a week off and drive around the country, anywhere you'd like, with nothing but your am radio on. Take the time to press the scan button anywhere, anytime.
Report back your findings and tell me there is a liberal media in this country.
Posted by: Bubba | March 16, 2010 12:48 PM
Bubba: Turn on your TV. Watch any of the following networks: ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, CNN.
Open a newspaper and go to any of the following "news" sites: NYT, LAT, Wash Post, most any of the "biggies"
Report back your findings and tell me there is a liberal media in this country.
Love,
Bobby
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | March 16, 2010 1:16 PM
Bowel Movement,
Please prove how every network you pointed out is obviously, blatantly liberal.
I'm sure you'll cut and paste your usuall right wing tripe.
Point being, rural America tunes in to plenty of am radio. You can't drive anywhere in this country without getting a deluge of Clear Channel right wing crap. Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Ingraham......on every channel you'll find on the dial with the few exceptions of hispanic radio and country music. Not to mention the hard core religious right that dominates the rest.
The liberal media myth is just that, a myth.
Posted by: Bubba | March 16, 2010 2:20 PM
If the lunatic liberal goons in the Congress had the votes they would've passed the bill by now. Now they are discussing sinking to a new low. Just remember how you loony liberals were saying you are not loose in Massachusetts or New Jersey just keep that in mind and see you in November.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | March 16, 2010 4:34 PM
So, let's see. In one Swamp item "NonExcellentform" calls Bobby Mobbie, "Mommy's Booby." And here, we have "Bubba" call Bobby Mobbie, "Bowel Movement."
And these names pass Swamp censors??
Classic!
Oh and Bubba, Bobby did a great job of notifying you of all the "librul" media outlets. I could add more: Just about every local TV news operation (but in Chicago, 2, 5, 7 and 9 and probably even 32 are all run by liberals). In fact, history tells us that 80 percent of all "journalists" in this country vote Demoncrap.
In the Swamp, can anyone name ONE Tribune contributor that is not far left??
Posted by: John D | March 16, 2010 6:21 PM
Donut,
That's because most journalists, unlike you, have advanced degrees, are very well-read and are able to see through the dumbed down partisan rantings of the right-wing media that you swallow like a bear claw.
Again, prove to me how all of the networks and rags listed above are obviously perpetuating a liberal bias.
You can't. Meanwhile, rubes like you and Bobby have swallowed whole the Murdoch/Ailes agenda-based tripe passed off as "fair and balanced".
That's why you will always be in the extreme fringe minority of your sunken party. Unable to accept anything outside of the black and white box that exists in you brain.
Posted by: Bubba | March 17, 2010 11:50 AM