Obama on GOP Criticism: 'This Isn't About Me'

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Facing Tepid Support on Health Care, Obama Makes Renewed Push on Bill Before Congressional Recess

President Obama today took direct aim at his critics on health care reform following a roundtable meeting at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C.

Referring to comments by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., Friday that "If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him," the president responded: "This isn't about me. This isn't about politics. This is about a health care system that's breaking American families, break American businesses and break American economy, and we can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care."

The president also notched up his criticism against insurance companies, saying that "the current system works better for drug companies and insurance companies than for the American people," adding that it's insurance company executives who have "reaped windfall profits" from rising health care costs.

The president, who is pushing his health care agenda in a series of events this week including a primetime news conference Wednesday, urged lawmakers to act quickly. He reiterated that he would not sign a bill that would contribute to the nation's deficit, as many critics has said the current legislation being discussed will.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=8125359&page=1

[louis-t]

1. Keep standing up to these assholes.

He should have added, "For 8 years, Mr. DeMint and the Republicans tried to break the American people as they broke the American economy."

[WriteDown]

14. You must really love the healtcare companies...

They are jumping for joy if this passes.

[Myrina]

2. That's THE MOST important message Prez O can get to the American People ...

... the GOP blocking and dodging isn't hurting him (per se), it's hurting US.
The very people who are supposed to be representing us are engaged in a 6th grade pissing contest because they want to defeat "the guy they don't like", not because what he's proposed is bad for America.

The more Americans understand and internalize that they're being/they've been tossed aside because some supposed grown-ups have to waste everyone's time and money going "neener neener", the more likely we are to finally get some halfway decent protests (and resultant legislation) in DC.

[Hydra]

3. Obama should threaten them with single payer

And then do it.

Too bad it won't happen.

[Cronopio]

4. It isn't *just* about him.

It's about the principles he stands for, and how they're at odds with the principles of the people who are screwing over this country for their own private profit.

[Alhena]

5. But the pharma companies are getting everything they want in negotiations with Congress

so to hear Obama talk like he's sticking it to the fat cats rings hollow to me.

[Iowa]

12. You nailed it. It's nothing but theater.

This phony "battle" is about holding a line that's already a massive give-away to the corps and a screw-job for the rest of us. He has already sold us out - this is just him trying hold the line so he doesn't get screwed any worse than he already has... a weakling who has already handed over his lunch money and is begging the bullies not to de-pants him and run his pants up a flag-pole. We elected a wuss; we should expect Caspar Milquetoast results.

[Puppyjive]

6. How to pay

I think health care reform is slipping through the cracks because the smartest guys in the room can't figure out how to pay for it. It's time to take it to the people. We have ideas of how to pay for it, we just don't get to add our input. I would pay and extra dollar a month for cell phone service, if it meant health care for all. I would pay extra for internet service if it meant health care for all. You could add a penny tax to that big mac to pay for it. Anybody else got ideas that need to be relayed to our congressmen? A small investment will reap the benefits. As a taxpayer, I'm willing to step up to the plate.

[JDPriestly]

8. Good suggestions. $1.00 per month for the cell. $1.00 per month for internet.

That should cover it.

[RC]

17. How to pay for it? WTH? That is the easy part!

Take the money that is now going to the excessive profits of the health insurance companies and if that isn't enough, dip into the $900 billion a year the Pentagon gets to kill people around the world. What is so hard about that?

[maxrandb]

7. Mr. President, It "is" about you, but it's also about the survival of the Repuke Party

They realize that in the two periods in the countries history where they have total control of all branches of government, they led us to the Great Depression and the most devastating economic catastrophe since the Great Depression.

One progressive, forceful Democratic President led this country out of that depression, instituted major economic reforms and led us to victory in World War II. The result of that period in our history was the Repuke Party being confined to the margins of power for almost 50 years. Oh sure, they had some success at the executive level, but they lost middle America for a generation.

If they allow that to happen again. If they allow another Democrat and progressive to come in and clean up the mess they left, they may disappear completely. Hell, they already are confined to a few fringe areas of the deep south.

They simply cannot allow you to succeed, for your success is their ultimate demise. They couldn't give a "rats-ass" abouts what benefits the American people, so you would probably be better off to go along without them.

[Javaman]

9. "tepid" support.

over 70% of the nation wants it. It's the fuckers in the house and senate that are tepid. Let's make that clear.

fuckers.

[WriteDown]

15. Wants what?

Not what they are offering.

[mvd]

10. Good response. I see his poll numbers going up

And when they do, I'm sure the media won't tout the numbers like they are the supposed "decline in support." When you look at the poll, the public still trusts him way more than the Repukes!

The reason Obama wants to get this done now is to prevent the insurance companies from mounting a smear campaign.

[Vidar]

11. Good for Obama.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wednesdays]

16. K&R

:kick:

[Uncle Joe]

18. Risky experimentation? What the hell does Steele think we've been doing for decades!?

"Speaking at the National Press Club Monday morning, Republican chairman Michael Steele attacked the president for a health care proposal he described as "risky experimentation."

"Obama-Pelosi want to start building a colossal, closed health care system where Washington decides. Republicans want and support an open health care system where patients and doctors make the decisions," Steele said."

We've been running the American People in to the ground with an immoral, dysfunctional, illogical "risky experimentation" allowing people having nothing to do with the actual issue or function of health care; to siphon money as profit away from that vital enterprise and it's killing at least 18,000 Americans every year, not to mention bankrupting the nation.

At what point does Steele and the Money is God Republican Party tire of that national, disgraceful, suicidal "risky experimentation"!?