Obama rejects criticism on health legislation

[underpants]

Source: Washington Post/MSNBC

President says 'every single criteria for reform I put forward is in this bill'

"Nowhere has there been a bigger gap between the perceptions of compromise and the realities of compromise than in the health-care bill," Obama said in an Oval Office interview with The Washington Post about his legislative record this year. "Every single criteria for reform I put forward is in this bill."

In the interview, Obama offered a vigorous defense of the legislation and the priorities he set out in shaping it, saying he is "not just grudgingly supporting the bill. I am very enthusiastic about what we have achieved."

"We don't feel that the core elements to help the American people have been compromised in any significant way," Obama said. "Do these pieces of legislation have exactly everything I want? Of course not. But they have the things that are necessary to reduce costs for businesses, families and the government."

"Given how difficult fighting the special interest has been on Capitol Hill, it's clear that, if we hadn't decided to make a bold step forward this year, we probably wouldn't have had the political capital to get it done in the future," he said. "Sooner or later we had to take that on, even though we knew it would be politically difficult."



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34533255/ns/politics-washington_post

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If you haven't notice the normal praise for simply WINNING is not something afforded a Democratic President

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Did he say, "I don't listen to focus groups"?

[jgraz]

20. No, but he did say "The President doesn't have a magic wand"

"I can't just say, 'low healthcare.'"

[FiveGoodMen]

21. (The focus group comment was Bush's reaction to the world-wide marches against the Iraq invasion)

[jgraz]

22. (I know)

[WriteDown]

2. Winning? So even if its Romney-care it's still a "win?"

This sounds a lot like what he said about Copenhagen.

"not just grudgingly supporting the bill. I am very enthusiastic about what we have achieved."

[Frixx]

3. Obama on health care

If the President doesn't start focusing on delivering on his promises, I see a one term president along the lines of Carter. First year rating, C-.
Too bad, we all had such high hopes in January.

[Lautremont]

4. Well of course he's going to say stuff like that.

What else would he say about it? It's sort of curious that he doesn't see the public option as being one of the criteria he put on the table, though.

[dflprincess]

19. Perhaps his position on health care has once again "evolved"

as is supposedly did when he decided single payer was "too radical".

[Mithreal]

5. No more medical bankruptcies! Woohoo!

Wait...What?

[Sherman A1]

6. And I reject his rejection of my criticism

So there.

[Mithreal]

7. Our businesses will be able to fairly compete with countries that have UHC!

Really? Not that either?

[Lorien]

14. Finally! Mental Health coverage for the self employed

who can only afford catastrophic insurance...wait...huh?

[Rage for Order]

8. Translation:

"What did you expect, a fu**ing pony???"


edit to add :sarcasm:

[change_notfinetuning]

9. Sorry to say, but he's delusional. n/t

[The Hope Mobile]

10. Its official - he's Bush lite. What happened to "Hold my feet to the fire"? nt

[Mari333]

11. He only needed you and me to get into office

now, we can kiss off, it seems.
well. f him.

[The Hope Mobile]

36. Agreed!

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/obamapromise?refcode=sbjt_prom
I'm looking at the green party.

[earcandle]

12. Does the threat of Impeachment suffice as a "hold my feet to the fire" act?

based on lying to the American public and causing major
economic stress and pyschological confusion.

We now are suffering Post Trumatic Stress Syndrome from his
acts as pres.  He did not keep his promises
and instead abbated and assisted criminals in fleeing justice.
 He isn't fit for office anymore. 

Let the impeachment begin!  yea sure... you gotta have money
and status to impeach anyone. we have none. 
what have we got?  

[The Hope Mobile]

35. video of him lying?

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/obamapromise?refcode=sbjt_prom

[LibDemAlways]

13. If he thinks the American public is going to be happy about

being forced to buy expensive insurance from a bunch of corporate crooks, then he is delusional. If he thinks the Dems aren't going to suffer major blowback next year on account of this, he is certifiable. It's amazing how out of touch he is.

[Lorien]

15. It's amazing how bought and paid for he is

Hope for Change just had it's last gasp.

[PSPS]

16. You tell 'em, president milquetoast!

[humbled_opinion]

17. Reducing Costs?

Nowhere in this bill does it tell a doctor what he can and cannot charge for a service. No where in this bill does it tell an Insurance Company what it can and cannot charge a customer.
There is no regulation in this bill.

The only good stuff in this bill is that it mandates that Insurance companies cannot drop people and must allow access to people with pre-existing conditions. It does increase state run medicaid to the uninsured so Ok that is a small win that helps out some people.

The rest is a bunch of crooked shit.
- Mandates for individuals to purchase from an insurance corporation (unconstitutional, I will be supporting anyone that forces the SCOTUS to validate this portion)
- Severe cuts to medicare cost sharing (I will be interested in how the cuts affect the elderly)
- Minimal fines for small business employers who refuse to pay their percentage for coverage.
- Still unable to get subsidies to buy drugs from Canada.
- no type of public option, to allow competition.
- and a ton of other things that hurt individuals and help corporations.
- Equally taxes many new items that everyone uses instead of taxing proportionately to wealth.


The larger issue I fear is that the Public is going to reject this, there is nothing good in it for the middle class, it helps far to few and hurts far to many. The Repukes are lock step against it and are going to beat the Democrats over the head with it through the elections.

There is nothing in it that Obama's words can fix, it needs action not words and Obama may be the last person that can fix it, will he? I am afraid not

More here...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/the-senate-health-care-bi_b_400006.html

[dflprincess]

18. "We don't feel that the core elements to help the American people have been compromised in any signi

Is he using the royal "we" or is he referring to himself and Rahm?

And which group of the "American people" is he talking about. Insurance company CEOs and their shareholders?

[bertman]

23. He's using the old Obi-Wan Kenobi Jedi mind trickery: Obi: "These are not the droids you're

looking for."

Imperial Storm Trooper: "These are not the droids we're looking for."

Obi: "Move along now."

Imperial Storm Trooper: "Move along now."


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


President Obama: "This legislation has not been compromised in any significant way."

Adoring Americans: "This legislation has not been compromised in any significant way."

President Obama: "We don't need no stinkin' public option."

Adoring Americans: "We don't need no stinkin' public option."



NOW WE KNOW THE TRUTH. The President is a Jedi Knight.

:hide:

[pundaint]

31. Ahh, that explains why there was no TRY

[bertman]

32. Indeed, pundaint. Either that or the Farce was with us.

[Algorem]

24. has he stopped doing press conferences?

[countmyvote4real]

25. We shall see. I'm not that optimistic.

I wonder why I should bother to vote when it obviously doesn't matter even if my candidate and party wins control.

I don't mean to go Coburn, but a pox on both political parties.

[katkat]

26. countmyvote4real

You should vote for real progressives/liberals. Screw the rest of them. If we don't vote at all, we guarantee the crooks always win.

If there's no one good running in your area, writein.

[stevietheman]

27. I am supporting the President. He has done a reasonable job on this.

Not perfect, but reasonable. This reform is many steps forward.

[EndElectoral]

28. He really has lost touch with the people that elected him.

[Divine Discontent]

29. so, he's already got a vast majority of repubs against him from day 1, and now he's got a solid 1/3

of the Democrats against his policies - way to go, BO.

He acts as if he's offended we find him lacking and appearing far too often like he's supportive of many of the policies of the pres before him.

[Iowa]

30. Nine long years (and counting) of the Bush/Cheney/Obama administration.

[eilen]

33. Time Magazine says it all

The Decade from Hell


However, I am not convinced the next will be better. I spent all my money on false hope. Hopes dashed, fool's hope-- and I have no spare change except for more of the same.

[ArcticFox]

34. "how difficult fighting the special interest has been"???

Are you kidding me? You've sold out to the special interest! You're completely bought and paid for and your playing FOR their team, not fighting them.