"

Obama makes an impassioned plea for health-care overhaul

 

HENDERSON, Nev. -- President Obama made an impassioned plea Friday for his health-care overhaul, challenging Republicans to come to the televised summit he is hosting next week with a plan to fix the system -- or get out of the way.

"So show me what you've got," Obama said, speaking at a town hall meeting outside of Las Vegas. "But don't let the American people go another 10 years, another 20 years without health insurance in this country." (Emphasis added)

The appearance was intended to boost the candidacy of Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) []. [] Obama argued the case for his administration's handling of the economy, jobs and housing.

But questioners in the crowd of 1,700 repeatedly brought him back to the subject of health care. Jacket off, shirtsleeves rolled up, Obama sounded again like the health-care fighter he was last summer in a series of town hall meetings and speeches designed to move the massive overhaul through Congress.

[snip]

The White House plans to post its preferred version of a health-care overhaul online by early next week. In his comments at the town hall, Obama said he and Reid and others are "going to move forward the Democratic proposal. We hope the Republicans have one too." (Emphasis added)

Republicans have been highly critical of the Feb. 25 summit, calling it a political ploy and declining to say whether or not they will attend. In a statement issued during the president's remarks, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) criticized reports that Democrats plan to use a legislative tactic that could allow passage of health legislation in the Senate without 60 votes.

[SNIP]

Outside Las Vegas, Obama acknowledged the political cost of his pursuit of health care, and the success Republicans and other opponents have had in opposing it. (Emphasis added)

"Health care's been knocking me around pretty good," he said, noting that his political advisers had urged him not to tackle the issue. "I was warned I shouldn't take it on. Seriously.... A lot of political advisers ... said health care is just too hard, too complicated."

More . . .

"

=============================

Finally!

-- Edited by Sanders on Friday 19th of February 2010 06:46:43 PM