The Hill: Obama takes Ohio healthcare skeptics (Kucinich included) aboard Air Force One (Photo)

[flpoljunkie]

Obama takes Ohio healthcare skeptics aboard Air Force One


President Barack Obama, followed by Rep. Marcia Fudge, left, D-Ohio and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio walks down the stairs from Air Force One, Monday, March 15, 2010, at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport en route to Strongsville, Ohio, where the president was to speak about health care reform. (AP Photo/David Richard)

By Eric Zimmermann - 03/15/10

President Obama is getting some face time with two lawmakers who are skeptical of healthcare reform.

The president invited Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) aboard Air Force One for his flight Monday to Ohio, where the president will hold a townhall on healthcare. Kucinich represents the Cleveland suburbs where Obama will be speaking.

Both lawmakers are liberals who are upset that the bill does not go far enough to crack down on insurance companies. Kucinich has said he is a "firm no," while Fudge is undecided. The flight will give the president an opportunity to press the Ohioans to vote for final passage.

House Democratic leaders hope to vote on the Senate's healthcare reform bill by the weekend, and are trying to secure the 216 votes necessary for passage. Obama is expected to lobby a number of members.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/86765-obama-takes-undecided-lawmakers-on-air-force-one

[WCGreen]

1. I think it is Marsha Fudge...

Anyway, I thought she was behind it. She is the aide who took over for Stephanie Tubbs-Jones when she died suddenly a few years back.

She has the Cleveland Clinic in her district and that may be why she is a little hesitant.

[Eric J in MN]

5. Marcia L. Fudge

http://fudge.house.gov/

[flpoljunkie]

11. The Hill stands corrected. Thanks!

[dave29]

2. maybe he can get at least one of them. I doubt Kucinich will change his mind. Too entrenched

which is his prerogative. Just so very sad if it turns out to kill the bill.

[flamingdem]

25. If he does that I hate him, it's stupid not sad nt

[dflprincess]

3. Gee, and we were told Obama didn't have the power to strong arm members of Congress

but that was back when we still had some hope for meaningful reform and thought he should be working over Blue Dogs and DLC types.

Now that the Insurance Protection Act is threatend he decides to start putting the screws to those who want health care reform.

[Eric J in MN]

7. Yes, if Obama wanted a public option,

...he'd be giving rides to conservative Democrats to try to persuade them, instead of trying to persuade liberal Democrats to vote for a bill without one.

[thereismore]

19. That's the sad part of it. Yes. nt

[smokey nj]

28. +1!

[dave29]

8. he has been meeting with people all year long on this. Congress people/Republicans/american people

Where have you been? He's got what he can get. Now he's trying yet again.

[dflprincess]

15. He got just what he wanted - a bill with "health care" in the title even if it's just

an insurance company bailout.

That's why he's suddenly gotten so publicly involved.

In the past he spent his time having closed door meetings and cutting deals with the crooks who broke the system to begin with, while telling us a public option was needed to "keep them honest". Apparently keeping them honest is no longer important.

[mod mom]

17. yep, he had his corporate lackeys (rahm & messina) working AGAINST what was in the best interest of

the American people in order to keep big Pharma profits high. What a disappointment, but he knows most people don't read the fine points-they'll only understand that a HC bill was passed.

Lipstick on a pig. :mad:

[dave29]

23. cute revisionism

!

[kath]

30. +10

[Jennicut]

9. He has had meetings with blue dogs as well.

Being on Air Force One seems like a nice deal too me. At least, it isn't the shower?

[Eric J in MN]

12. Rahm Emanuel apparently pressured Eric Massa on HCR while Massa was in the shower...

...I don't think Obama has been doing that.

[MadBadger]

18. LOL, meeting on a plane is strong arming. He's had these kinds of meetings with Blue Dogs too.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. And good luck to Obama...

We need to get this done.

Now.

[Jennicut]

6. I doubt DK will change his mind but at least he gets a nice flight out of it.

And a meeting with the President can build into a better relationship in the future.

[Eric J in MN]

10. Kucinich's amendment to protect the right of states to go single-payer...

...passed committee, but was removed from the original House HCR bill under White House pressure.

Kucinich probably would have voted for that bill, otherwise. He voted against the House HCR bill.

I doubt he'll vote for the Senate bill, which is worse.

[ericgtr]

13. Why bother with Kucinich, his mind is made up

There are times I wish Obama would just tell certain people to go to hell, including Kucinich and his uber liberal "my way or nothing for anyone" attitude.

[dflprincess]

24. This administration has made it very clear that they consider the left to be irrelevant and unneeded

Unless, of course, things go badly this November or in 2012 - then it will be all our fault.

[ericgtr]

29. Fair point

But in this specific issue I think Kucinich is far left on this, not even voting for the PO. Nothing will please him so I am just saying we shouldn't be putting any more energy into him.

[frazzled]

14. He called out Kucinich by name at the end of the speech in Cleveland just now

It wasn't in a bad way, not in a threatening way ... but the message was clear. He said, "I talked about this with Dennis Kucinich today" (he didn't mention Fudge). Then he went into the "what kind of country do we want to be" thing, and the "it's the right thing to do" thing, and the "we need to have courage" thing.

It won't convince Kucinich. But it's on his head now. He's just been called out personally by the President of the United States of America.

[flpoljunkie]

20. Thanks for posting this. More from talkingpointsmemo...

At the event today, Obama called Kucinich "tireless on behalf of working people." NBC's Chuck Todd tweeted that an audience member at the rally yelled "Vote yes," and Obama asked the person to repeat for Kucinich to hear.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/pressure-points----how-house-dems-are-shoring-up-health-care-votes.php?ref=fpblg

[Whisp]

22. I hope Dennis changes his mind and decides to help

Yes, he's after the perfect solution and I admire his sticktoitiveness, but there is a point where you might just have to compromise to get at least some of what you are after.

A lot of anti-Dennis talk here lately - calling him the names the Repugs did during the primaries and such, making fun of his height and things. Thats just pathetic third grade stuff and is part of why things don't get done because too many people are really small bratty children.

I will always love Mr. D. ;)

[DrToast]

16. I have a bad feeling about things if we're trying to get Kucinich

[thereismore]

21. After trying to get 1 repig for months, they now need to get DK. I hope they can do it without

Dennis, and learn a big fucking lesson for the future!

[hulka38]

26. You're talking about a guy who slept in a car for a chunk of his life.

I don't think material things are going to effect Dennis' principles.

[zipplewrath]

27. This is pretty standard

A president flies to a state, he often invites the congress critters to go along. Pretty standard practice. They don't always accept, especially those of the other party.