Obama rejects criticism on health-care reform legislation

[BurtWorm]

Denies he's getting a bill he didn't want. (We know, Mr. President. That's part of the problem.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/22/AR2009122202101_pf.html

By Scott Wilson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 22, 2009; 2:38 PM



President Obama rejected in an interview Tuesday the criticism that he has compromised too much in order to secure health-care reform legislation, challenging his critics to identify any "gap" between what he campaigned on last year and what Congress is on the verge of passing.

"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."

As the Senate prepares to pass its version of health-care reform, Obama has come under sharp criticism for the size and shape of the legislation, including most recently from the left wing of his own party.

Former Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean, for one, has said he would prefer that the Democrat-controlled Senate defeat the bill rather than have what he considers to be weak legislation pass into law.

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."

He said the Senate legislation accomplishes "95 percent" of what he called for during his 2008 presidential campaign and in his September speech to a joint session of Congress on the need for health-care reform.

...

[derby378]

1. 5...4...3...2...1...

:hide:

[HuckleB]

2. +1

[derby378]

3. I couldn't help but think of MAD TV's "Reality Check" segments

Here's one where Aries Spears and Debra Wilson unload on Trent Lott:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwXLit-ynyg

[ixion]

4. very sad

to hear him lie like that. :(

[Oregone]

5. Another article summed it up in headline: "putting deal making before principles in his fight"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/with-bitter-pills-obama-gets-his-health-vote/article1407008/

[Walk away]

6. I would love to comply with 95% of the laws of the land...

and skip the 5% that have to do with paying taxes. Someday the American people are going to get so fed up they'll shut these charlatans down.

[JDPriestly]

7. I believe he opposed mandating the purchase of private health insurance

policies -- but that mandate is in the bill. That's for starts. Campaigned on one thing. Got another. And now he wants people to forget what he campaigned for.

[BurtWorm]

8. You're right about that.

Krugman was very hard on him for that because at the time, Krugman thought mandates were a necessary cost-reduction measure. That was before the public option was on the table.

[amborin]

11. yes, here's the campaign video in fact:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x69122

[scubadude]

9. Now we know how much Obama valued the public option... 5%...

Only time will tell if this bill is Obama's last stand. His constant capitulation and insistence to run the party from it's right wing may bring a backlash that he isn't ready for.

Unless the Republicans do something really stupid (Palin), it's our votes that will make or break him in the next election.

Scuba

[glitch]

10. I believe the pukes are already writing off 2012, which is why Palin will be the throw away

candidate, like McCain was in 2008.

This could be the perfect setup for a strong third party showing.

[scubadude]

12. Yeah, a 3rd strong 3rd party appearance would cement the election

in the Republicans favor. Wheather that would give the Democrats a spine and ultimately be in our favor is up in the air... Many folks believe we have to hit rock bottom before we can expect true reform.

Scuba

[glitch]

17. I wouldn't be too sure about that.

The Republicans I know would vote for Obama over Palin. In fact some already did in 2008.

Who do you think the DLC is courting?

[scubadude]

19. I coudn't imagine Palin being in it.

That would be collosally stupid.

From the DLC maybe Hillary.

O.K. I will imagine, wouldn't it be ironic if two women ran, Hillary against Palin...

Scuba

[glitch]

25. Power won't let Palin win, if she becomes the candidate it's because they are waiting it out.

And by "it" I mean the memory of the Bush Brand.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. Hang on while I dig around here ---

Oh yeah, this was what I was looking for:


"Any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family." President Barack Obama

:eyes:


http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/07/obama_says_health-care_reform.html

[Thickasabrick]

14. K&R and would someone send this to an interviewer who has balls

to challenge him on it.

[Laelth]

15. "Denies he's getting a bill he didn't want. (We know, Mr. President. That's part of the problem.)"

Agreed. That is THE problem.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[branders seine]

16. if this pile of crap is 95% of what he wanted,

I'm done with him. This also means the "fixing it" crap his goons have been trying to foist on us to support it is a lie.

Allentown Jake had a good summary of what the Obamster "wanted."

DU post

[white_wolf]

20. I won't lie

i voted for Obama and still support him, but I'm not very happy with the way the bill turned out. When he laid it out to Congress in his speech I really liked where he was going even though I would have preferred true universal health care. This bill seems to be really stripped down IMO,but I knew it probably would have to be to get it passed but still I hoped for more.

First post here by the way. I just joined like 5 minutes ago.

[Yuugal]

22. Welcome to DU! nt(no text)

[branders seine]

24. welcome to DU!

I'm not always so grouchy

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. LBJ rejected criticism of the war in Vietnam. But, it didn't go away.

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. The war or the criticism?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. Both. But, LBJ did.