Obama admits health care overhaul may die on Hill

[KoKo]

Source: Associated Press


Obama admits health care overhaul may die on Hill
By Erica Werner, Associated Press Writer , On Friday February 5, 2010, 1:15 pm EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- After insisting for a year that failure was not an option, President Barack Obama is now acknowledging his health care overhaul may die in Congress.

His remarks at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser Thursday night sounded contradictory at times, complicating congressional leaders' effort to revive health care legislation as Democrats hunger for guidance from the White House. Even while saying he still wanted to get the job done, Obama counseled going slow, and bowed to new political realities. Democrats no longer command a filibuster-proof Senate majority, and voters and lawmakers are far more concerned with jobs and the economy than with enacting sweeping and expensive changes to the health system.

"I think it's very important for us to have a methodical, open process over the next several weeks, and then let's go ahead and make a decision," Obama said Thursday night.

"And it may be that ... if Congress decides we're not going to do it, even after all the facts are laid out, all the options are clear, then the American people can make a judgment as to whether this Congress has done the right thing for them or not," the president said. "And that's how democracy works. There will be elections coming up and they'll be able to make a determination and register their concerns one way or the other during election time."

It seemed to be a shift in tone for the issue Obama campaigned on and made the centerpiece of his domestic agenda last year.

"Here's the key, is to not let the moment slip away," Obama also said.

Sweeping health legislation to extend medical coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans passed both chambers of Congress last year and was on the verge of completion before Republican Scott Brown's upset victory in a Massachusetts special U.S. Senate election last month. Brown was sworn in Thursday, giving Republicans 41 votes, enough to block the initiatives of the Democratic majority.

Now the health legislation hangs in limbo. Lawmakers are looking to Obama for a path forward, but he has not publicly offered specifics. His signals have been mixed. At the DNC event he said Republicans should be part of the process -- something they've shown little interest in and that would doubtlessly drag out a legislative effort that many rank-and-file Democrats want to end quickly. The health care bill has become unpopular with the public and a political drag for lawmakers.

More at...

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Obama-admits-health-care-apf-3648886513.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=





No link yet.

[elocs]

1. Well surprise, surprise. The moment has already slipped and is circling the drain.

Well, it's going to be all over now. With Republicans having 41 votes nothing is going to get through the Senate without their leave as things stand now. They know how to stop Obama now and will do it every chance they get.

[Mithreal]

25. The cipher was unclear. Color me surprised as well.

Maybe it is not entirely fair for me to say that but MA seems to have taught Dem Leadership that 2010 losses will make the Third Way go down better.

[No Elephants]

48. If Massachusetts Democrats were Third Way, they would not have stayed home in droves.

JMO, since no exit polls were done. However, Boston is the most liberal part of the state and Coakley conceded as soon as Boston turnout numbers came in. They were so low that they could not save her.

The right of both Parties and the RW media will spin low turnout however they like, which is why Democrats should write in someone before they even think about staying home.

[Mithreal]

54. Agreed

[Uncle Joe]

2. Take it in bite size chunks, keep expanding Medicare until everyone is covered.

Forget mandates to purchase from the for profit "health" insurance cartel, quit using asinine propaganda terms like "cadillac," raise taxes on the mega wealthy and don't tax health care benefits.

Thanks for the thread, KoKo.

[Myrina]

7. I like how you think!

:applause:

[Mithreal]

27. +1

:applause:

[tularetom]

3. He's poking a stick in Reid and Pelosi's (and republican's) ass

They have these large majorities, they need to figure out a way to make this work.

Of couirse you'd never guess that from reading that article. The only thing that's unpopular about the health care bill is that it doesn't go far enough.

[Jefferson23]

5. If he is going to poke at anyone, he should be first on the list.

[Mithreal]

28. But he negotiated in good faith the terms of surrender to PhRMA and the Big Insurers

[Jefferson23]

34. hehe

[Donnachaidh]

40. and where exactly is HIS leadership in this mess?

He *is* the one in the White House. He *should* be doing something other than making dithering comments and looking for others to blame for HIS *LACK* of leadership on this important subject.

Of course, the people most hurt by letting this die on the vine don't fill HIS campaign coffers -- certainly NOT like Big Pharma and the insurance companies.

[No Elephants]

49. What makes you think the WH was not leading?

From the transcript of this week's Bill Moyers' Journal--his interview of Dr. Flowers, a single payer activist whom the Secret Service arrested, along with her colleague:



"BILL MOYERS: Had you taken him {Obama} seriously when before his campaign, he was an advocate for single payer?

DR. MARGARET FLOWERS: I did. I even worked the polls on election day, and I knocked on doors to get people out. I guess I was naïve. I was kind of hopeful.

<snip>

DR. MARGARET FLOWERS: Well, we knew that he understood what single payer was. In the debates, he said that he understood health care was a human right. I know that he didn't campaign on single payer or anything like it. But we felt it was an opportunity to, if we built the grassroots movement and showed that this is what the American people want, that he would actually, in some ways, include us. We saw the exact opposite. We saw that this whole process was very tightly scripted. And very exclusive. And he didn't want us causing any trouble for, you know, trying to get some reform passed."

<snip>

DR. MARGARET FLOWERS: They actually did start inviting us in to have a seat at the table. Senator Kennedy's committee contacted us. And I was the first person to testify in the Health Education and Labor and Pension Committee hearing. I sat next to the CEO of Aetna, which was a very interesting experience. And then when we went over to the House and spoke to the leadership there, they said, "We want your voice to be heard here." And we testified there. And so we actually thought we were starting to get our foot in the door. And then we had some amendments that were introduced that were good amendments. They would have substituted a national single payer system for the legislation that was going through, so we were really pushing on that. And then we saw that all of that fell apart.

<snip>

DR. MARGARET FLOWERS: Well, what we learned through this process is there was a lot of control coming from the White House. And they did not- they wanted to pass something. They were putting everything off on passing something in health care reform. And they were concerned that if we let the single payer voice in, or if it was associated in any way with a legislation, that it would hurt their ability to pass that legislation. So they kind of put the kibosh on it.

<snip>

DR. MARGARET FLOWERS: Yes, it really came down from the top. We tried to bring our viewpoint in this summer. We actually brought doctors and nurses in. That was a lot of what I was doing, to meet with staffers and meet with legislators and educate them about health policy, what makes good sense from a health standpoint, not an, you know, special interest standpoint. But when we tried to reach the White House and ask to be included there, we requested meetings with the president on numerous occasions. And they just said no."

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02052010/transcript5.html



God, I am going to miss that show. Too bad PBS moved to the right during Dummya's administration.

[Jefferson23]

57. We knew that some time ago about single payer, but there was also

nothing from Obama as to what he did want. He did not even put forth public support for Senator Leahy's antitrust enforcement act.

So no, he did not lead, not at all...but clearly that was a decision he made early on.

[placton]

4. Gosh Darn it!

Obama fought sooo hard for what he promised in his campaign .... oops, guess not! But he fought to get Bernake re-appointed!

[undeterred]

6. Didn't he make Senator Kennedy a promise?

I am so disappointed in President Obama for not fighting for meaningful reform.

[BlueIdaho]

8. At this point

The President could put a gun to Harry Reid's head and the sniveling little turd wouldn't do jack shit to help America's sick and poor.

The Senate is completely broken and the leadership of both parties likes that just fine thank you anyway.

[undeterred]

18. I don't think of him as a sniveling little turd.

He's Harry the Hamster.

[The Stranger]

22. I think that is an unforgivable insult to Harry the Hamster.

Reid is far, far beyond even the personification of weakness, cravenness, spinelessness, and shill.

[Mithreal]

30. Rahm tells Reid to cave to Lieberman

Yeah, it was all really Reid's doing.

http://openleft.com/diary/16488/rahm-tells-reid-to-cave-to-lieberman-senate-dems-seem-ready-to-comply

[BlueIdaho]

38. What a fitting photo...

Harry Reid saying "FUCK YOU" to everyone on DU and every hard working Democrat in this nation.

This guy can't find his ass with both hands.

All I can say is fuck you too Harry - Fuck you.

[Mithreal]

44. I don't see it that way.

[Oregone]

9. Can't Obama warn against the possibility of failure while still insisting it doesn't exist?

Um, er, well?

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WhiteTara]

11. your picture tells the story

good show!

[FrenchieCat]

12. It sickens me that a "news" organization that lies constantly,

all of the sudden is held up as the paragon of truth, unquestioned by some around here....

meanwhile, Obama speaks at the venue they report on,
and yet his words are twisted, and what he actually says goes unreported....

PRESIDENT'S WORDS: "And, yes, that is why we're going to fix the health care system -- (applause) -- a health care system that too often works for insurance companies better than it does for individual Americans.

And again, I didn’t take this on because it was easy. I got David Axelrod -- he does all the polls. He whispers in my ear, man, this health care thing is hard. (Laughter.) I am a amateur historian, so I know that seven Presidents starting with Teddy Roosevelt couldn't get this done. We understood this was going to be hard.
snip
I took it on because every single day, 15,000 Americans join the tens of millions who don’t have health insurance -- and 18 million -- 18,000 Americans die because of the lack of health insurance.

That's what we campaigned on. That's what we're working to get it done -– with Democrats and with independents and with Republicans. We want to bring down costs and end the worst insurance practices, and finally give every American a chance to have the security of quality, affordable health care.

I am not going to walk away from those fights. And I don't expect you will either. You've come this far.

you remember this. Nobody gave us a chance. This campaign was declared dead -- what -- 10 times. (Laughter.) You know, the same folks who are now writing about what next, and what's happened to the Obama -- these are the same folks who were writing about how he doesn’t stand a chance; how after New Hampshire, that was it. After Pennsylvania, that was it. Right? We went through this. And they were saying your faith was misplaced and you set your sights to high, and your hope is naïve, and Washington won't change. And now all of them are feeling like, see, we told you, Washington doesn’t change. And they're feeling kind of self-satisfied about the fact that we haven’t yet gotten health care done.

Well, let me tell you something. You didn’t listen to those voices then. Your voice proved them wrong. You proved that nothing can stop the power of millions of people who want to see an America that's living up to its values and its ideals. That’s what you did. And that’s what I’m asking you to do again. (Applause.)

This is an extraordinary moment. I want to remind you we don't quit. And I don't quit."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-dnc-fundraising-dinner

Any News media writing anything else on Obama's position on the Health Care issue are too busy bending over at the Teabagger convention (while comprising 1/2 of the 600 gathered) to notice that what Obama stated is clear.

[WhiteTara]

15. here's to the people and the power of voices

for those ideals.

[CBHagman]

31. Right on, Frenchie Cat

I can't be the only one who remembers that when the results on the consortium's study of the 2000 election were released in the autumn of 2001, the cable and print media very carefully trotted out headlines/trailers declaring that the study results had revealed that Bush would have "won" the election anyway.

Then those of us who read the articles found out that that was by no means the study's ultimate conclusion (See Kathleen Hall Jamieson and Paul Waldman's chapter on the 2000 election in The Press Effect).

Anyway, some good rules of thumb are:

1. The headline is not the story.
2. Read the transcript.
3. Where possible, listen to audio or watch video, and get the context for the talk.

You'd think the media's exploitation of the Dean scream would have taught us all a lesson by now.

[No Elephants]

50. Yep, AP sucks, but, please see Reply 46.

[Better Believe It]

14. So President Obama was misquoted. Tell us what he really said.

[GodDamLiberal]

46. He wasn't misquoted

Some people just don't know how to find things.

Remarks and Q&A by the President at DNC Fundraising Reception
February 4, 2010

First question about halfway down the page

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-and-qa-president-dnc-fundraising-reception

[madrchsod]

17. the pied piper....

[No Elephants]

13. November, 2010.

[closeupready]

19. is going to be tough medicine to swallow.

But I don't think even that is going to change anything, since we seldom see either party doing anything different anymore.

[Mithreal]

33. Swallowing the Third Way will be easier after 11/2010.

Less than 10 months to turn it around.

[No Elephants]

51. Nothing changed after Ross Perot made such a huge showing for a 3rd party candidate?

I think a lot changed after that, for both good and ill.

Bill Clinton had a zeal to eliminate the deficit. That was probably a good thing. The Democrats and Republicans joined hands to make elections still less democratic by making it harder for third parties. Some think that was also a good thing, while ohers think it was evil.

[BP2]

16. Hope it's a bluff. If it's not, Rahm accepts part of the blame along with Harry for their fucked-up

strategy.

Nancy's been fairly consistent, pushing HCR the whole time.

Harry and Rahm can kiss my ass for messing this up for everyone.

[No Elephants]

52. Reid and Rahm, huh? Amazing.

[Demeter]

20. What a Wuss

[Javaman]

21. Meh, those who were playing along were surprised...

those of us who stood outside and observed this whole mass as the brain damaged kabuki show that is was, no so much.

Interesting, just from my observations, once the "deals" started to happen, the whole thing began to unravel.

If only Obama acted 3 months ago the way he's acting today. But alas, he was so attached to that "bipartisan thing, rather than getting the Democrats in order that it all slipped away.

Frankly, given the current playing field, I honestly didn't have a whole lot of hope.

Moron repukes playing to idiotic fringers which amounts to rigid thinking and no movement.

Spineless Dems holding out hope for working with the repukes when they had a super majority?

Nothing like snatching defeat from the mouth of...defeat.

[bvar22]

35. "Playing that bi-partisan thing"....

..WAS all a part of the Kabuki Theater.

[Turbineguy]

23. He who bribes the most wins.

[AndyA]

24. Obama: mixed signals on health care. So what else is new?

This could have been done already if Obama had been a LEADER from the beginning on health care. He wasn't playing a chess game, he wasn't doing anything. He dropped the ball and now the game may be lost because of it.

If Obama and the Dems don't find a way to force HCR through, it's guaranteed Obama will be a one termer, and many Dems will lose their seats in November and in 2012.

Good job, guys. Really. :eyes:

[CLANG]

26. Waterloo here we come...

[RT Atlanta]

29. Rolled over

like a bunch of lapdogs....

If true, this is most disappointing.

The 'pukes would've railroaded this "reform" through on 51 votes if they were still in the "majority"

[Mithreal]

32. If I didn't know better, I might imagine it was coordinated.

There have been many stories on DU lately that seem to go away rather swiftly.

[MilesColtrane]

36. At least maybe he'll learn something from this disaster.

You can't play ball with the other side.

[Doremus]

37. So help me if they let this die without substantive reform I am finished.

Finished in more ways than one: 1) Finished with health insurance at the next round of price increases, and 2) finished with this party that USED to stand for average people.

DONE DONE DONE. They don't want me or need me in this rich man's party any longer.

See y'all at the bonfire.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[kudzu22]

42. I'm with you

[BootinUp]

39. This is wake up call to liberals

who can't accept the Senate bill as a first step.

[StreetKnowledge]

41. How often do bills get done as a "first step", that actually get improved later?

Especially on an issue that has stymied American politicians for a century. Literally.

If we don't pass it right now, it'll never, EVER, get fixed. If Obama wants this passed, he needs to fire that dumb SOB from Nevada who isn't doing his job as Senate majority leader. And while he's at it, tell Reid's replacement to go straight to reconciliation, and to hell with the GOP. Those Dems who fight it should be told that they will do so at their own peril.

He (Obama) is still supported by the American people. He's gonna have to kick Reid's ass or he won't get anything.

[BootinUp]

43. I generally trust Obama more than Congress and the Senate

I think he chooses his words more carefully, I think he tries to be more careful not to mislead, I think he presents the big picture better than other politicians. If he is warning Democrats in the House that we are in trouble, they should probably pay attention. P.S. He has no authority to fire Reid.

[Mithreal]

45. That's an awful big word to toss around wrt a politician, trust.

Maybe you feel ok doing it, that's up to you.

Presenting the big picture includes framing and I don't see our President understands how to frame much at all in a way that sounds other than conservative. If he learned to sound more like a liberal maybe it would help him lead more Democrats.

:shrug:

[Socal31]

47. Why the hell would anyone want that POS bill to pass?

Mandatory payments to private insurance?

UHC or bust.

[lovuian]

53. woohoo

:woohoo:

at this point I want it to die
let the pain continue let the anger stew

let the elections come

and kick their butts OUT

[Bodhi BloodWave]

55. why exactly would you want Republican majorities? after all; who do you think

people would blame if there is no reform?

[robcon]

56. So much for "failure is not an option."

Apparently, it is one of the options being considered.

[jobwithout]

58. This absolutely should be placed at the feet of the Democratic Leadership.

They left them self open to unwarranted criticism from those who oppose health care reform by being so fucking shady about it. Imagine if they had negotiated in the public eye and hadn't made those sweetheart deals for pharma, organized labor, Louisiana, Nebraska etc..... What would people has been able to say? Would they had been able to distract the public on things that really were not germane to the intent of the legislation? I cant get out of my mind the sound bites of the president saying over and over that the negotiations would be on c-span and neither could many other people.
It looks like Reid, Peolsi and the white house staff thinks they are still operating in the 1980's where we didn't have this 24 hour news cycle. We can say the tactics were slimy and dishonest all we want but they were effective and it was the job of the democratic leadership to see one step ahead and put an effective game plan in process.

[Merciful1]

59. What about democracy?

The people wanted single payer by close to a whopping 80% from the start of this whole fiasco! And amazingly this was by word of mouth and the internet because certainly no MSM media outlets were running stories on it. So what happened to doing the will of the people? Where else do you get issue polls up in the high seventieth percentile..? Not very often...

Never before have I seen such a blatant misuse of the public trust to so simply benefit corporate interests and ultimately wallstreet profits - which it should be remembered started this whole ball rolling in the first place, by seizing on the protection offered by the Bush gang to begin demanding more quarterly profits from the health insurance industry. That's who drove this bus, not the industry itself, it was those very same banking interests that stole trillions of dollars out of the USA through a mortgage fed derivative scheme, and put it in the offshore banking system - which today comprises some SEVENTY countries. (It's not just Switzerland anymore...)

[budkin]

60. Can't win either way... unless the public option is put back in.