Obama in Ohio, the Fierce Urgency of Now

[ProSense]

Obama in Ohio, the Fierce Urgency of Now

by mcjoan
Thu Jul 23, 2009

Barack Obama has an answer to Harry Reid, speaking today from Ohio. "I want it done by the fall."

<Video>

We have never been closer to achieving quality, affordable health care for all Americans. But at the same time, there are those who seek to delay and defeat reform. I’ve heard that one Republican strategist told his party that even though they may want to compromise, it’s better politics to "go for the kill." Another Republican senator said that defeating health reform is about "breaking" me – when it’s really the American people who are being broken by rising health care costs and declining coverage. And the Republican Party chair, seeking to stall our efforts, recently went so far as to say that health insurance reform was happening "too soon."

Well now, first of all let me be clear, if there's not a deadline in Washington, nothing happens. Nothing ever happens. And, we just heard today, well, we may not be able to get the bill out of the Senate by the end of August or the beginning of August. That's ok. I just want want people to keep on working. Just keep working.

I want the bill to get out of the committees, and then I want that bill to go to the floors, and then I want that bill to be reconciled between the House and the Senate, and then I want to sign a bill. And I want it done by the end of this year. I want it done by the fall.

Whenever I hear people say it's happening to soon, I think that's a little odd. We’ve been talking about health reform since the days of Harry Truman, and he’s saying reform is coming too soon. Too soon?

I don’t think it’s too soon for the families who’ve seen their premiums rise faster than wages year after year.

It’s not too soon for the businesses forced to drop coverage or shed workers because of mounting health care expenses.

It’s not too soon for taxpayers asked to close widening deficits that stem from rising health care costs, costs that threaten to leave our children with a mountain of debt.

Reform may be coming too soon for some in Washington, but it’s not soon enough for the American people.

Remember, October was the deadline initially set with budget reconciliation. Sounds to me like President Obama is staying by that deadline, and might even be coming around to the idea that Congress needs to stay in session through the August recess to get this thing done. That part about being done by fall was an addition from his prepared remarks (found below the fold), and have to be in answer to Harry Reid's pronouncement that it can't be done by August. Maybe it can't be done by August. But it can sure as hell be done in August. Get this job done.

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[HopeOverFear]

1. With Obama at the helm, it will happen

still pissed at Reid, but I trust Obama will not allow this urgent issue to go away.

[oldtime dfl_er]

2. This is what we voted Obama into office for

He's going to bat for us now. I agree - GET THIS JOB DONE.

[WCGreen]

3. Perhaps Reid want to allow them all the chance to participate

knowing full well that they will do nothing but delay and whine...

That's all the justification I can find..

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. I think that they should let everyone go home, unpack, knock back a couple of martinis,

have a lovely dinner with family and friends, and then call them all at 3am and tell them they have 48 hours to be back in session.

[ProSense]

5. LOL! n/t

[chill_wind]

8. I like that! :-)

[4lbs]

6. 14,000 people a day will lose their health coverage while Congress goes to the beach in August.

So, someone should come up with the meme:

"While Congress dawdles in August, at the beach, instead of working for the people in Washington, more than 430,000 people will lose their health coverage and face bankruptcy or death because of lack of adequate health care."

[Berry Cool]

7. Yeah..."the fierce urgency of now" is more like

"the fierce urgency of after vacation."

[ProSense]

9. And still, health care reform will get done. n/t