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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPres. Obama: "I think it’s important to remind people that this is not an abstract argument"
April 02, 2012
REUTERS/Larry Downing
excerpt from Joint Press Conference by President Obama, President Calderon of Mexico, and Prime Minister Harper of Canada:
PRESIDENT OBAMA:
With respect to health care, Im actually -- continue to be confident that the Supreme Court will uphold the law. And the reason is because, in accordance with precedent out there, its constitutional. That's not just my opinion, by the way; that's the opinion of legal experts across the ideological spectrum, including two very conservative appellate court justices that said this wasnt even a close case.
I think its important -- because I watched some of the commentary last week -- to remind people that this is not an abstract argument. Peoples lives are affected by the lack of availability of health care, the inaffordability of health care, their inability to get health care because of preexisting conditions.
The law that's already in place has already given 2.5 million young people health care that wouldnt otherwise have it. There are tens of thousands of adults with preexisting conditions who have health care right now because of this law. Parents don't have to worry about their children not being able to get health care because they can't be prevented from getting health care as a consequence of a preexisting condition. That's part of this law.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Millions of seniors are paying less for prescription drugs because of this law. Americans all across the country have greater rights and protections with respect to their insurance companies and are getting preventive care because of this law.
So thats just the part that's already been implemented. That doesnt even speak to the 30 million people who stand to gain coverage once its fully implemented in 2014.
And I think its important, and I think the American people understand, and the I think the justices should understand, that in the absence of an individual mandate, you cannot have a mechanism to ensure that people with preexisting conditions can actually get health care. So theres not only a economic element to this, and a legal element to this, but theres a human element to this. And I hope thats not forgotten in this political debate.
(AP)
Ultimately, Im confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress. And I'd just remind conservative commentators that for years what weve heard is, the biggest problem on the bench was judicial activism or a lack of judicial restraint -- that an unelected group of people would somehow overturn a duly constituted and passed law. Well, this is a good example. And Im pretty confident that this Court will recognize that and not take that step . . .
As I said, we are confident that this will be over -- that this will be upheld. Im confident that this will be upheld because it should be upheld. And, again, thats not just my opinion; thats the opinion of a whole lot of constitutional law professors and academics and judges and lawyers who have examined this law, even if they're not particularly sympathetic to this particular piece of legislation or my presidency.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
full remarks: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/02/joint-press-conference-president-obama-president-calderon-mexico-and-pri
mia
(8,360 posts)All human beings should have access to excellent health care. Why can't we do it for the joy of doing something right? Must be something about population control.
quinnox
(20,600 posts)he doesn't look so gray in these pics, I approve.
FarLeftFist
(6,161 posts)Stan Smith
(97 posts)So nice to have a President that actually cares about us little people.
I can't understand why anyone could hate him. Then again racism is a concept I can't understand.
@Obama2012 RT @jesseclee44: "This is not an abstract argument..." Video of Obama on #hcr & SCOTUS at today's press conference: http://t.co/PTakgk32
Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)they have it. Everyone covered from birth until age 18 even for cancer.
106 million covered out of a population of 112 million people.