Is it really President Obama's health care bill anymore? Doesn't Congress own this one?

[jsamuel]

I am not saying that Obama wasn't a big part of the process, but it seems to me that the bill was created by Congress with initial guidance on the ideas by Obama. That to me is a bill made by Congress with the guidance of the President. I think the media is doing what it always does. It is dumbing down the issue to be a referendum on the President when it is about Health Insurance Reform.

[polichick]

1. Seems the prez has arranged it so it's his if it passes and theirs if it doesn't. nt

[AndyA]

2. I don't really know what Obama wants, so how could we identify it either way?

He's said he's for a public option. He hasn't said he would veto a bill without the public option. So...how important is it, really?

He promised us transparency, yet he's so far covered up for Bushco for the most part.

Perhaps he's really a very, very shrewd man and this all fits in under his grand plan, which will be revealed only when necessary. I do think he's very smart, and I hope he realizes if he veers too far away from the promises he made during the campaign, he will be losing a lot of supporters. That will make it very difficult for him to get anything done going forward. Must suck to be a lame duck in your second year in office.

I'm still hoping there's more to all this than we know, and our concern is unfounded. :shrug:

[still_one]

4. Either way, he is the leader of the party, and therefore the agenda stops with him /nt

[still_one]

3. It is his no matter what, win, lose or draw. The Democrats control the agenda

and he is suppossed to lead the direction of that agenda

[DJ13]

5. Its his

....so he had better make sure people dont feel like they got screwed over when it becomes law.

[Greyhound]

6. He's playing Clinton 2.0.

No stands, no proposals, no controversy, resulting in no coattails.

He had an opportunity to achieve greatness, he opted for corporate kabuki.

[inna]

8. +1

"He had an opportunity to achieve greatness, he opted for corporate kabuki."

[Vincardog]

9. +2 "He had an opportunity to achieve greatness, he opted for corporate kabuki."

All the folks who think he is not a corporatist need to explain how Universal Single Payer Health Care became Mandatory Private Insurance.

[Greyhound]

11. Thanks.

:kick:

[geek tragedy]

13. This legislation will end rescission and pre-existing condition exclusions.

Those two things alone will help more people and accomplish more than Dennis Kucinich has in his entire lifetime.

There's a healthy part of DU that only loves losers and hates anyone who actually gets stuff done.

[Greyhound]

16. "Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything". Point in case. n/t

[geek tragedy]

18. Yes, I stand for expanding care and ending the most abusive

and deadly insurance industry practices.

Y'all favor pouting on the sidelines and letting more people die.

[bobbolink]

14. I wish I didn't completely agree with you.

Life would be much closer to being a bowl of cherries if there really was "hope you can believe in".

:(

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. He'll have to sign it to make it law. It'll be his baby then.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. He tried very hard to keep his finger prints off it

He's a politician. That's what they do. Avoid blame. Take credit.

[geek tragedy]

12. It will belong to both.

Yes, he laid down some basic principles. But, at the end of the day, Congress is the legislative branch and they own all legislation.

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. Yes, if he signs the bill into law

[placton]

17. watch the spinning dial

Obama promised nothing, and has noooooo responsibility - for he is OOOOOOBBBBBAAAAAMMMMAAA