Obama confident on health care despite Republicans who "see this as a replay of 1993-1994."

[ProSense]

KROFT: You said there was some bipartisan support for 80 percent of what you want. You seem to be having some problems with people in your own party. Well, first of all, you're not getting much support from the Republicans and you've got some problems with people in your own party. Do you have enough votes to get a healthcare bill passed right now?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: I believe that we will have enough votes to pass not just any healthcare bill, but a good healthcare bill that helps the American people, reduces costs - actually, over the long-term, controls our deficit. I'm confident that we've got that.

Now you're right. So far we haven't gotten much cooperation from Republicans, but, frankly, I haven't gotten the kind of cooperation I'd like from Republicans generally on a whole range of issues. And I think there're some who see this as a replay of 1993-1994. You know, young president comes in, proposes healthcare. It crashes and burns and then the Republicans use that to win back the House in the subsequent election. And I think there are some people who are dusting off that play book.

But I also think that there're some people who sincerely want to solve this problem. They may not agree with every idea that I've put forward, but they're being constructive and they're engaging, and I really appreciate that, because it's not easy for them to do in the current political environment that they're in.

In terms of the Democratic Party, I think there is a unity about wanting to get this done. And there there's 98 percent agreement. There are some areas where there are some differences. But, you know, one of the interesting things that happens when you're a majority party, almost by definition, you've got a broader spectrum of views because you got folks who were elected from liberal states of liberal districts; you've got people who were elected from conservative states and conservative districts. They're all Democrats. They all understand we have to make this happen. We're not going to get a better opportunity to solve our healthcare issues than we have right now. And that's why I'm confident that in the end we're gonna get this done.

link

(emphasis added)

[Cha]

1. Yeah, I liked that when PO threw that out there

about the republicons trying to use the '93 '94 playbook. It worked then so why not now?:silly:

[Deja Q]

2. K&R

I can see why he's getting upset, even in his Wednesday speech where he starts by wanting to work with them but then getting riled and spouting anti-Repub rhetoric. He wants to get stuff done and he has republicans, and some democrats, against him.

What he said on television, about the plan, is anything but socialist, it does clearly show bipartisan consideration, and the repubs still have hissy fits.

I WILL stand with President Obama on this.

And if Republicans continue to act like spoiled babies, I wish they'd get the spankings they deserve. And not in the good way.

[Arkana]

3. This isn't 93-94

Republicans were much more coherent and organized then, and the far right hadn't hijacked the party completely--and it still appealed to independent and moderate voters.

[tekisui]

4. Keep thinking that goppers.

Get ready for 3 election losses in a row.

[Colobo]

5. Obama will win this battle... for America.

Health Care Reform is on its way.

[Clio the Leo]

6. And for Ann.

I very strongly believe that's why he ALWAYS cites the pre-existing conditions bullet point first. One of the reasons anyway.

[georgian style]

7. Does that mean that these Republicans are not mainly motivated by race?

...but by their (stupid) desire to avert something that they also fought against in 1993?

hmmm.

[ProSense]

8. You do realize President Obama is referring to the members of Congress, don't you? n/t

[georgian style]

9. I know. But aren't the most right-wing congressmen supposed to be motivated by race?

If not, this would mean that sometimes very right-wing people are motivated by anti-liberal hatred.

Don't you find it puzzling (given the current conventional wisdom) that the rabid opposition by Republicans in congress is driven by non-racial issues?

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

10. I'd say it's both. They have a rabid hate for the left that is being supercharged

by a significant percentage of their constituent's racism, which they seem to be encouraging and feeding off of.

[ProSense]

11. House Republicans are completely irrelevant on this. Obama is focused on the Senate. n/t

[georgian style]

13. Obama made no distinction between Senators and Representatives in the passage

He has gotten no cooperation from Republicans in either.

[ProSense]

15. He didn't, but it was obvious as the Republicans in the House are completely irrelevant.

There is no effort to bring House Republicans on board.

[anonymous171]

12. It will only be a replay of 93-94 if Obama manages to turn off all the progressives

[ProSense]

14. Luckily, they're

still on board