Concerned Obama Pressures Senate To Pass Health Care Bill

New York Times:

The White House, growing concerned that the Congressional timetable for passing a health care overhaul could slip into next year, is stepping up pressure on the Senate for quick action, with President Obama appearing Sunday in the Rose Garden to call on senators to "take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line."

Mr. Obama's remarks came just 14 hours after the House narrowly approved a landmark plan that would cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years and extend insurance coverage to 36 million uninsured Americans; the president called it "a courageous vote." But the votes had barely been counted when the White House began turning its attention to an even bigger hurdle: getting legislation passed in the Senate.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[ConjureMan]

Hey ho BO: TL-TL(too little-too late)

[rosiebond007]

We DO NOT have the best medical care in the world.

In fact, its one of the WORST.

Pete Sessions is living in fantasy land - although we are paying for his healthcare so what does he really know ?

AMERICA RANKS REALLY LOW ON THE SCALE OF HEALTH FOR IT'S PEOPLE.

3RD WORLD COUNTRIES COVER MORE PEOPLE THAT THE US DOES.
It may not be the best care but its care. America does NOT care if people die on the street.

As long as Pete Sessions has his coverage - who really cares ??

[tweedledeedumb]

People act surprised by how Blue their Blue Dog president is acting. Is that because sooo many populists have come out of Harvard Law...that bastion of populism?

[oberon123]

"They are united in their hatred of me, and I welcome their hate" ---- Franklin D Roosevelt

Being a great leader means doing the right thing even if it is unpopular. President Obama has not done one darn thing to show us he is the leader we hoped he was when we chose him over Hillary. He is not even willing to take on people inside his own party, let alone the Republicans. Mr. President, your job isnt playing nice with Congress, it is to serve us. Do your job or look for a new one.

[Peter007]

His job is not to serve the people. The congress makes the laws. The President enforces the law. In todays modern world, the President acts as a cheer leader for his party's bills and leads a campaign in public for those bills. The reason he is not 100% engaged in this battle is because should the Democrats lose this bill, The President will not be seen as the big loser. That role will be reserved for the Democrats in Congress, notable its leadership.

[Lorianne]

Why I Voted NO ___ by Dennis Kucinich
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article23922.htm

[LucieLee]

The bill that would come out of the Senate is worse than the House Bill! Anything less than single-payer is no reform!!

[fixitfakeitcreateit]

Have some courage. Its called Government Health Care not Single payer. We want the right to health care provided by our goverment.

[bob876]

Any Democratic Senators that Fails to pass the Health Care Reform Bill without the Public Option before the end of this year can kiss your butts good-by in your next election. Not only will you have Republicans going after you to unseat you, but many many Democrats in your state will vote against you. They would see no difference between you and the Republicans trying to kill Health Care Reform. They will vote you out office for Revenge.

[tweedledeedumb]

They know that...that is why they are passing this piece of crap.

[TremoluxMan]

Where was this sense of urgency six months ago? People have been begging him to roll up his sleeves and actively engage. Instead, he's been sitting back, playing cool, essentially telling everyone, "Well, you know what I want and what you need to do. I shouldn't have to spell it out for you."

Yes, you do. And it may be too little, too late to get true reform done. What seems to be emerging is some homogenized, boiled down thin gruel. Not a comprehensive reform bill.

[tweedledeedumb]

if he got engaged, he might have to take the blame for failure...slippery fellow!

[bichn]

If the bill has no robust public option, open to ALL, then Congress has no business forcing us to buy private insurance. PERIOD.

[Bob Soper]

It definitely won't have a robust public option. Most likely, there won't even BE any type of public option: the White House and the Senate leadership are talking seriously about "triggers" (which of course would never be pulled)... but if a "public option" somehow gets into the final bill, I guarantee you it won't even be as comprehensive as the puny House version that passed on Saturday (its public "option" would cover a total of 2% of the population, mostly the sickest & poorest).
There's an interesting constitutional question as to whether the government can FORCE citizens to buy a product from a for-profit corporation (and no, it's NOT the same as having to buy liability insurance for driving. We can always CHOOSE not to drive).
I truly hope that our judicial system isn't corrupted to the point where the Supreme Court would say that it's constitutional for the government to force us to buy crappy "insurance" products. But after the last few years (and especially Bush v Gore), nothing would surprise me.

[Jacqueline3]

The thing that amazes me are the Republicans screaming that this is not a good bill. WHERE WERE THEY THE LAST 8 YEARS? They could have crafted and probably gotten a bill signed when they were in charge. The Democrats are spineless and the Republicans know this. They are bullies when they are in charge and even when they are not in charge because they know the Democrats will fold all the time. The Democrats better get their acts together or else, I will not be voting in any other election. I will stay HOME!

[tweedledeedumb]

The democratic party is the spineless party. Support candidates against anyone who votes aginst REAL health care. Throw this bill out and start over.

[unscum]

David Brooks said on Meet the Press that America is 40% conservative, 20% Liberal and 40% Moderate.
It's more like 35, 25, 40.

Well if that's the case then we need to register as many Hispanics as possible into the democratic party for 2010. Turn Texas blue for 2012.

I'm sick and tired of these over 45 baby boomers, many of whom, have been weary of comprehensive health care legislation and some of whom, stand in the way of read change in health care in this country.

[expired]

What is it with this "Mr. Obama" cr@ p? Show some respect.

[tweedledeedumb]

He'll get it when he earns it!

[Okieborn]

When did President Obama become so concerned whether the ill, poor and middle class have decent Healthcare Insurance, even stating that a public option wasn't necessary !!
The President has been very silent up till this week and now he is pushing for a bill to be signed !!!
I am convinced that President Obama will sign a watered down piece of crap just to say he got Healthcare legislation through !!
I volunteered as millions of others did for the election of Obama, and am still wondering when the ship of Hope and Change will leave port !!!

[gpeach36]

I'm being dense but how can the majority not rule? Hasn't that been the case in every instance in the past? Why must there be 60 votes instead of 51? The more I read and listen to the more confused I'm getting and maybe there are more people out here that feel the same way? How can one person make the bill stop?

[MadeandBakedintheUSA]

Yes -

remember you can do wht the rethugs did in 2006 and 2007-

LEAVE

Recall the GOP Exodus after their mass destruction ?