Obama dares Republicans to seek healthcare repeal

[seafan]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama dared Republicans on Thursday to try to repeal his newly signed healthcare reform but warned that their effort would backfire as he touted the measure's benefits.

"If they want to have that fight, I welcome that fight," Obama said in prepared remarks for delivery in Iowa in his first big speech since enacting the most sweeping new U.S. social policy in decades.
"I don't believe the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver's seat. We've been there already and we're not going back," he said.

Taking his public relations blitz on the road as he seeks to overcome public doubts, Obama visited the University of Iowa Field House in Iowa City.

.....

Republicans, who unanimously opposed the bill, have vowed to make repealing it a major issue in mid-term congressional elections in November.
"Well, I say go for it," Obama said, goading his critics. "If these congressmen in Washington want to come here to Iowa and tell small business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62N61Y20100325?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

---

This article's quotes just blow me away.


"I don't believe the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver's seat. We've been there already and we're not going back," he said.



But, insurance companies are STILL in the driver's seat and are now enshrined into place, after an Executive Order that weakened women's reproductive rights, which cemented just enough votes to pass this bill.


And today, our president is saying 'bring 'em on'.



I supported Obama. I worked to get him elected.


And today, I am just at a loss for words.

[brooklynite]

1. Remember the simple slogan...

"Republicans want to raise your taxes!

[emulatorloo]

2. First, Obama did not say "bring it on". Bush's 'bring it on' invited attacks on our troops

by terrorists.

Obama is inviting Republicans to campaign against the many good things that are in HCR - no denial on pre-existing condition, can't drop insurance because you are sick, tax breaks for small business, etc.

It is bizarre to me that you think there is some kind of equivalence.

Additionally the Hyde Amendment has been around for a very long time. The Executive Order did not strengthen it. The EO is pretty much meaningless. Says the Hyde amendment exists, and it applies to this legislation. Which it does, executive order or no.

Please be careful with the analogies, hyperbole and exaggeration. Thanks!

ON EDIT spelling.

[joanmj]

4. I agree.

The rally in Iowa shows that the Repubs efforts will backfire--sooner than later.:kick:

[MineralMan]

3. Oddly enough, you don't seem to be at a loss for words...

Strange, that.

[Robb]

6. LOL

[FrenchieCat]

18. That's cause he works soooo hard to elect, he can work

even harder to tear down.

sic

[Xipe Totec]

5. The question is, are you better off with this bill, or without it?

If you are worse off, please explain how.

[MineralMan]

7. Actually, that's not really the question...

The question is: Is the American public overall better off with this bill? Individual effects will vary widely, but the bill will help many more than it hurts.

[Xipe Totec]

8. Actually, that is exactly the question

Ask every American that question. If they are better off now, keep the bill. If they are not, repeal it.

The fact that insurance companies get to keep their scalps on for a while longer is a secondary issue.

Instead of complaining about how little was achieved, we should be working on the next step; a public option.

[Mithreal]

12. Who was it that was doing the rejecting, hmm?

We already had the support in Congress and the general public.

What will be our strategy to convince the President now? I will continue my efforts, but those who championed settling for less nearly every step of the way, care to share your plans and time-lines? I don't know how to take all the people who want to climb on the PO now that it is safely excluded, not directing that at you.

Give the American people time to see how this plays out. All the things people are so proud of in this bill could have passed easily on their own.

[nyy1998]

9. I don't get your logic

Because Obama signs EO against abortion, insurance industry wins?

[LaPera]

10. Well alright - Good to see the Prez firing right back at the republican lying assholes

the Prez again is making me proud to be a Democrat!

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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

[SlingBlade]

14. K & R It's Bush Speak all over again

Clear Skies Initiative= More air pollution
Healthy Forest Act= More clear cutting of our forest

The Senate Health Care Reform Bill= Insurance Companies owning your ass instead of just leasing it.

"I don't believe the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver's seat. We've been there already and we're not going back," he said.

SHAMELESS !

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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

[FrenchieCat]

20. The deliberate distortion of the truth is telling.....

"His characterization of himself as a knight in shining armor who defended the country against an insurance industry in full-battle-mode" you said.

That wasn't his characterization of himself at all,
it was yours, and that's where your distortions starts, and they never end.


What the President actually said was....
Thirty-two people -- 32 million people are going to have health insurance because of this legislation. That's what this work is about. (Applause.) So that's what's going to happen.

Now, I want to just make this point. This legislation is not perfect, as you just heard. (Laughter.) This young man is dissatisfied with an aspect of it, which is fine. I mean, that's part of what democracy is about. But what this is, is a historic step to enshrine the principle that everybody gets health care coverage in this country, every single person. (Applause.)

And it's absolutely true -- it's absolutely true this is a middle-of-the-road bill. This isn't single-payer, which some people wanted. It's also not what the Republicans were looking for, which was basically to deregulate the insurance industry, arguing that somehow this would cut down costs -- something that defies the experience of everybody who's dealt with an insurance company out there. (Laughter.)

So, yes, this is a common-sense bill. It doesn't do everything that everybody wants, but it moves us in the direction of universal health care coverage in this country and that's why everybody here fought so hard for it. (Applause.)


I think you are grossly underselling what took place in this country this week,
and you are certainly underestimating the honesty of this President and assigning to him,
your very own lack of it. You see, credibility is what was lost when you attributed to Obama some kind of intangible "characterization" bullshit analysis that you pulled directly
out of your own biases; in other words, your words are nothing more than a character assassination.

[laconicsax]

16. "Bring 'em on" v2.0 eom

[FrenchieCat]

21. You certainly are SHAMELESS. But then, you always have been.....

[seafan]

17. "And today, health insurance reform is the law of the land all across America."

THE PRESIDENT: …On Tuesday, after a year of debate, a century of trying, after so many of you shared your stories and your heartaches and your hopes, that promise was finally fulfilled. (Applause.) And today, health insurance reform is the law of the land all across America. (Applause.) ---- President Barack Obama, March 25, 2010, Iowa City

And health insurance reform is what has been marketed, packaged in a sleek, glossy wrapping and sold to us.

There's a reason why many doctors, nurses, and health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo. But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. (Applause.) Let me know. Let me know. (Applause.) I'm eager to see it. – President Obama, January 27, 2010

Many doctors and nurses tried last year, Mr. President. But they were arrested for wanting to be heard. And you remained silent.

And they also tried to be heard this year.



But, again, they were shoved aside.



The people of this country will soon be asking why health insurance companies are still raising premiums, copays and deductibles, denying care, charging those between 55-65 years of age three times more than younger people for certain conditions, still excluding adults with preexisting conditions and dropping policies on people for "fraud". And these are merely a few of the rude awakenings in store for all of us.




(bold type added)

[cali]

19. lol. what a steaming pile of dog shit, dear.

I delight in your whiny misery.

[seafan]

22. LATimes: Obama learns that political love means never having to say you're sorry

Michael Muskal writes in the LA Times:


March 25, 2010 at the University of Iowa Field House:

.....

As Obama was explaining the importance of the healthcare insurance overhaul bill to students, the elderly, fiscal conservatives and so forth, someone in the audience shouted out: “What about the public option?”

“That’s not in it,” Obama shouted back.

“Why not?” came the challenge.

“Because we couldn’t get it through Congress, that’s why,” Obama said. “So they -- let’s -- there’s no need to shout, young man, no need to shout.”

.....

NY Times, August 12, 2009

.....

Several hospital lobbyists involved in the White House deals said it was understood as a condition of their support that the final legislation would not include a government-run health plan paying Medicare rates — generally 80 percent of private sector rates — or controlled by the secretary of health and human services.

“We have an agreement with the White House that I’m very confident will be seen all the way through conference,” one of the industry lobbyists, Chip Kahn, director of the Federation of American Hospitals, told a Capitol Hill newsletter.

.....

As we have now seen, the lobbyists' expressed confidence was not misplaced.

[TerribleLarryDingle]

23. Oh no he's just like Bush

Lets repeal the bill and empower the teabagging Republicans that will fix him.

:sarcasm: