Obama: I was too ambiguous on healthcare reform

[babylonsister]

Wow, a president who admits to missteps. That in itself is refreshing.


Obama: I was too ambiguous on healthcare reform
By Sam Youngman - 09/09/09 09:34 AM ET


President Barack Obama said Wednesday he has left “too much ambiguity” in what he wants for healthcare reform, allowing his opponents to control the message.

The morning before his address on healthcare to a joint session of Congress, Obama said he took a relatively hands-off approach “out of an effort to give Congress the ability to do their thing and not step on their toes.”

That allowed “opponents of reform to come in and to fill up the airwaves with a lot of nonsense — everything from the this ridiculous idea that we were setting up death panels to false notions that this was designed to provide health insurance to illegal immigrants,” Obama said in an interview on ABC’s "Good Morning America."

He also criticized a “broader notion of a government takeover of healthcare, which none of the bills that worked their way through Congress ever envisioned.”

Obama’s speech Wednesday night is intended to get the White House back in control of a debate it has been ceding ground on for the past month. Critics have decried a public health insurance option Obama has supported, saying its implementation would lead to government-run healthcare by driving private insurers out of business.

Obama has also been attacked from the left over the past month after administration officials hedged over whether the public option should be included in legislation.

The president told "Good Morning America" that despite the best efforts of his White House, “unyielding partisanship” has hampered the healthcare debate.

“In some ways, I think it's gotten worse,” said Obama.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/57827-obama-i-was-too-ambiguous-on-healthcare

[high density]

1. Well I feel the exact same way about it

I'm very glad Obama has realized that he was ambiguous, because now he can fix it.

[Cha]

2. Yeah, President Obama just wants to get

it done..it's not about him.

I found this comment under the article..

"I don't worship at the alter of the democrat or republican parties. So, I can focus on the arguments and facts being presented. I find it interesting how the democratic party writes these bills behind closed doors, shuts out the republican members of congress from this process and then point their collective polictical fingers saying the republicans aren't participating in the process they are being shut out of."
BY FishyGov on 09/09/2009 at 11:21

Yeah right, quit listening to faux and limpbaugh and you might get a clue.

[lexifuzz]

4. Dear Mr President

I am writing a book called Dear Mr. President....
I need your storied on how he has either postively or negitively affected your life. This isn't to bash him or praise him, its just to gather other people stories and out them in writing and out into the world. No real names will be used and no information will be given out. It will be all in your own words. Please send me your sotries, ther is no limit on how short or how long it can be. Send them to [e-mail]
Thanks

[Lilyeye]

6. That post is one reason why I can't read comments under articles anymore.

It's not the difference of opinion, but the stupidity and falsehoods. I will say that is pretty tame compared to the garbage I have read in the comment section of my local news.

[riderinthestorm]

3. Any chance of an apology from the DUers who've excoriated those of us for saying this same thing? nt

[PVnRT]

7. Nope

[Cha]

12. I apologize..I thought he was clear

but obviously he's saying he wasn't so he goes forward from here.

He's not perfect but he does want this for all of us.

And, it's the way people use their words here too against the President that's gets people like me upset.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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

[pleah]

8. “In some ways, I think it's gotten worse,” said Obama. Ya think!

Gee, why has it taken you so long to figure that one out? :eyes:

[ProSense]

9. Who says he's just figuring it out.

He said he probably left too much room for ambiguity by giving Congress room to legislate. That's a real slap at Congress. The partisanship message is a well-timed one. Everyone is paying attention, and he can cut the Repubs off if they don't cooperate.

[Cha]

13. Exactly..

Obama and Team have to work through a maze of toxic snakes and they're not going to say everything they're thinking about them to make posters happy.

Oh, to be a spidey on the wall.

[Jersey Devil]

10. He might add that he was "ambiguous" on purpose

I really can't believe he thought Congress would come up with a sensible plan if he left them alone. Who's he kidding?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

15. I don't think he'd actually say that if he was

If the whole "ambiguous" thing was an act, which I think it was, he's certainly not going to reveal his strategy while he still has a game to finish winning.

[Jersey Devil]

20. I'm hoping you're right

and that he is a whole lot smarter than a lot of us at DU have been giving him credit for lately. But now it's time to stop floating like a butterfly and start stinging like a bee.

[slipslidingaway]

11. Why does the Democratic Party continue to fight against a national

insurance plan and who benefits?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6499259&mesg_id=6499259

It's Time for a Real Debate on National Health Insurance - by Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon

Single-payer was marginalized and taken off the table during the Clinton health reform debate. We are repeating the same mistakes in 2009 by ignoring the polls which say that the majority prefer a government run, national health insurance, system similar to Medicare.

It's Time for a Real Debate on National Health Insurance

May 12,1993

....In national media discourse, managed competition seems easier to tout than explain. Since no other country has ever tried such a system, it remains a complicated, untested theory..."

[truedelphi]

14. Quarterback admits it -- "I really really shouldn't have stopped to ask the

Other team what to do.

"I mean, I admit it - it was crazy. I can see why some of you might think I was paid to throw the game.

"I was only five yards short of a touch down, having the backing of 62% of the people. And with seventy six percent of you wanting me to make the touchdown, you might be scratching your head, wondering why would I stop to ask the opposing team for advice."

Pause to offer a brief, conciliatory expression. "I guess I blew it. Boy am I sorry. And so even though this piece of legislation is pure unadulterated crap, do remember - at least I am admitting it.

"So pretty please, take a moment to consider: what is important is not WHAT we push through into a finalized bill form, but that we get something passed, so that I look really really good.

And ignore that big bag of promises that industry has made me and my party leaders. Those meant nothing at all to any of us."

[CreekDog]

16. And Clinton was too biguous

:dilemma:

[musicblind]

17. You know it's comments like this that reassure my confidence in Obama.

Admitting a mistake is a GOOD thing because then you are able to fix it.

[rollingrock]

18. Someone who acknowledges their mistake long after the fact?

Why do you consider that to be a virtue?

"It was a mistake for me to murder my wife, officer. Now will you please let me go?"

At this point, it may be too little too late. The damage has been done.

[Arkana]

22. So you're comparing Obama mishandling healthcare reform

to a guy killing his wife?

Yeah, THAT'S not a shitty analogy at all.

[Cha]

25. It's a stupid analogy but what

do you expect?

[rollingrock]

27. No, my intention is only to make a point

its just an analogy, not meant as a literal comparison.

[Cha]

23. THe timing is perfect..

You just don't know it.

[rollingrock]

19. And after all this time, I thought being ambiguous

was just Obama playing 3D multi-dimensional chess. when in reality it was more like tic tac toe lol.

even Obama realizes he made all the wrong, lousy moves which is why he is about to be checkmated by the GOP and blue dogs. it's too late.

[Cha]

24. Fuck the negative shit..

it's not too fucking late at all ..only for the deadenders.

[HopeOverFear]

28. Cliff's that way ------> go jump off it.

The rest of us will see this through.

[Arkana]

21. Well, he's right--it was a mistake to let Congress run the show.

Hopefully he'll start rectifying that with this speech tonight.

It'll give everyone a reference point to start from. This is what the President wants--so Congress, make it fucking happen.

[rollingrock]

32. Just shows he isn't comfortable being in a leadership position

as the POTUS Obama is supposed to be the leader, and yet he allows everyone else, the Congress, the lobbyists, the media, Fox News and the teabaggers, to dictate the terms of the debate while he does nothing but react to them.

[msallied]

26. Translation: "I took the high road by having faith in the Legislative process."

"Now that I've seen how badly you've fucked it up, Congress, I'm about to come in there and show you how it's done. Bitches."

LOL

[NightOwwl]

30. ^^ This

[debbierlus]

29. Are you kidding me? He wasn't ambitious enough.

He should have rode the wave of support from election day and done an FDR for single payer. People would have cheered in the streets. A campaign against the corporate leeches would have rallied the people. It could have been a fight to reclaim people's lives from corporate dominance.

Instead, he does backroom deals with the criminals, allows them to dictate the debate, and throws out the chance of a lifetime to play ball with the corporate puppet masters.

This guy is a fraud.

[slipslidingaway]

31. Made the same mistake when I read it the first time...

ambiguous not ambitiuos

But Obama was ambitious in silencing single-payer!

[babylonsister]

33. No, not kidding. Fraud you say? What a surprise. You never

cease to shock me with your nonsense.

[Festivito]

34. BULLSHIT, it's not the partisanship, it's the MONEY, MONEY MONEY.

It's Baucus being payed to keep single-payer and promote nothing but insured-payer. Partisanship, huh! My big blue left butt-cheek!