Sam Stein On Health Care: Obstacles And Obama's Big Push

President Obama was on the road Monday to stump for health care. HuffPost's Sam Stein was on Countdown to break it all down.

Speaking with guest host Lawrence O'Donnell, Stein talked about a number of obstacles Democrats face in order to pass health care -- including dissension within their own party. Dennis Kucinich may not vote for the bill without a robust public plan, and Bart Stupak has been upset about abortion language in the bill.

Reconciliation was also on Monday's agenda, with Stein discussing how political victory in health care reform relates -- or doesn't relate -- to core principles and beliefs.

As for Obama's performance in Pennsylvania, Stein explained why the actual target audience watching on TV; "The real constituency he needs to win over are the skeptical members of the House of Representatives."

WATCH:

 

Comments

[Brent Abrahamson]

08:21 AM on 03/09/2010

I have made the following video that MAY help in persuading the remaining Senators to commit in writing to vote for the public option under reconcilia­tion. Perhaps emailing it to them could help?

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch#!v=Gx71kl­TerPg

[Brent Abrahamson]

05:55 AM on 03/09/2010

Dennis Kucinich may stand alone among his colleagues­, but he represents millions of the rest of us who stand with him.

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=Gx71klTer­Pg

[lightbulb10]

06:15 AM on 03/09/2010

I wonder if the figures he was sourcing are with a public option eventually in mind.

[lightbulb10]

06:15 AM on 03/09/2010

* he being Obama in his speech

[crzy]

01:59 AM on 03/09/2010

Sen. Daniel Akaka HI
Sen. Max Baucus MT
Sen. Evan Bayh IN
Sen. Mark Begich AK
Sen. Robert Byrd WV
Sen. Thomas Carper DE
Sen. Kent Conrad ND
Sen. Byron Dorgan ND
Sen. Kay Hagan NC
Sen. Tom Harkin IA
Sen. Herb Kohl WI
Sen. Mary Landrieu LA
Sen. Blanche Lincoln AR
Sen. Claire McCaskill MO
Sen. Bill Nelson FL
Sen. Ben Nelson NE
Sen. Mark Pryor AR
Sen. John Rockefelle­r WV
Sen. Jon Tester MT
Sen. Mark Warner VA
Sen. Jim Webb VA

Here they are... Senators who HAVE NOT signed on to Bennet letter or authored a statement in favor of the Public Option through reconcilia­tion. There are 21 senators of the THIRTEEN needed. www.whipco­ngress.com

There's now a "Flooding with postcards" snail mail effort taking place - Calls/Emai­l have seen their day w/ these folks. If your Senator(s) appear above and if you're able, take the time and spend .28 cents to mail a brief pro-Public Option/Rec­on message - do your best.

[milesz]

08:12 AM on 03/09/2010

You could not have stated this any better. Insertion of the public option and lifting the antitrust exemption will make for a substantia­lly better bill than would receive the backing of millions more Americans who will understand what health care reform is then all about. Add to this a real check on insurers raising premiums from when any bill is signed into law and having them pay for new reforms like no pre-existi­ng condition will bar coverage and Obama achieves his goal for all citizens to have access and then afford health care. If only 13 more senators have the "cajones" to sign Senator Bennett's letter.