I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last.

[jaxx]

September 9, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
ON HEALTH CARE
U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.
8:16 P.M. EDT


<snip> But we did not come here just to clean up crises. We came here to build a future. (Applause.) So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future -- and that is the issue of health care.

I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last. (Applause.) It has now been nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform. And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way. A bill for comprehensive health reform was first introduced by John Dingell Sr. in 1943. Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session. (Applause.)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/remarks-by-the-president-to-a-joint-session-of-congress-on-health-care/


I've never forgotten President Obama saying this to the joint session. And by damn, he knew what he was talking about!

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. If the intent was to be the last, why didn't you fight for a system that

won't need 40 years of incremental adjustment just to get us up to the standards of the rest of the civilized world?

This bill GUARANTEES that you won't be the last fighting for health care equality.

[jaxx]

It all has to start somewhere.

And today it started. Instant gratification isn't a given.

[Cha]

6. Yeah, it's too bad

that isn't understood..willfully or otherwise.

[jaxx]

9. Another sunny day at DU.

Same as always. ;-)

[Cha]

10. It is!..I'm ignoring most of that~

B-)

[kestrel91316]

14. I can't believe all the whiney-assed crap from the EXTREMELY immature

"instant gratification" crowd. They have hated Obama from the start because they weren't the first to get their ponies, or didn't get as many as they wanted.

Makes me ill.

[rudy23]

4. Yeah, I thought that was a weird quote to highlight, considering the whole sales pitch

behind this bill is that it's a first step, and will open the door for us to make it better. The LAST thing we want is for Obama to be the LAST President to take up this issue.

[jaxx]

7. I think I recognize my opponents.

[Enrique]

2. some future dem president will lead the fight for single payer

there are dems in Congress now who are laying the foundations for that fight.

[jaxx]

5. And that is good.

But the foundation was laid today and they can build on it until we get to single payer down the road. Don't try to take away today, it's a momentous occasion in our history.

[Enrique]

8. not taking away the day, just the quote

I don't see why you even like that quote. If we agree he laid the foundation, why do you like a quote where he promises to build the whole house?

[jaxx]

11. I like it.

I don't have to explain it to anyone.

[mkultra]

3. On that note, Let us not forget the Obama TPain video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITT6bYYGVfM

You can skip Douche Kimmel by jumping straight to the 50 second mark.

[bluethruandthru]

12. I hope he's not the last.

There is much work to be done and I doubt he'll be the one to do it. This is a start...but that's all...a start.

[GinaMaria]

13. He's not going to be the last

There is still so much that needs to be done and at the pace we just witnessed, even with two terms Obama will not hopefully be the last to take up this issue. We have a long way to go and some of the steps include campaign finance reform, cleaning house of Dinos as well as measures that directly impact health care.