Obama's Health Care Plan: What Do You Think?

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

President Barack Obama conducts the daily press briefing at the White House, in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.

(Credit: AP)

Updated 2:00 p.m. ET to correct technical problems with the poll.

After debating health care reform for more than a year, President Obama says it's time for Democrats to deliver.

Hotsheet has followed every step of the process, from early speculation about the process of reconciliation to the raucous protests from the plan's opponents.

Democrats are expected to use reconciliation within weeks, allowing them to bypass a Republican filibuster and pass a final bill with a simple majority of 51 votes in the Senate. Republicans, meanwhile, insist they cannot support the measure and that the American public does not want it to pass. Recent polling from CBS News shows people are growing impatient with the debate, even as strong support still exists for some elements of the Democrats' bills.

Now it's time to hear from our loyal Hotsheet readers. What do you think of the way Washington has handled the debate? What do you think of the policy options on the table? Let us know your opinions in our user poll here and in the comments section below:

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by marydonna1714 December 18, 2010 8:59 PM EST: Thanks to healthcare reform, my 23 year old son now has health insurance under my plan. Before healthcare reform, when a person turned 22 he/she could no longer be under the same healthcare plan as their parent. This resulted in my son paying a very high monthly premium for the part nine months. He was denied a lower, more affordable cost plan because he had sought counseling as a teenager to help him through a difficult situation in his life. Essentially, he was being penalized for seeking mental health counseling which changed his life for the better. Now he is a positive contributor to society, having graduated from college and working with at-risk youth for a year before starting graduate school. And now he has health coverage under my plan until he is 26 years old and has finished graduate school and hopefully will have a good job when he himself can afford health insurance. President Obama, thank you so much for making a positive difference in the lives of so many by providing them with decent healthcare options.; Reply to this comment


by borderhawk March 26, 2010 8:15 AM EDT: US Constitution
Article 2 Section 1 Clause 5 The Executive Branch
No person except a natural born Citizen, shall be eligible to the Office of President;

Obama was born a dual citizen. He is not a natural born citizen.

Institutio Oratoria contains this Latin sentence:
Quare, si fieri, potest et verba omnia et vox huius alumnum urbis oleant, ut oratio Romana plane videatur, non civitate donata.
(Quintilianus, Institutio Oratoria, Book 1, Chapter VIII)
Patsall translated this sentence as:
Therefore, if possible, every word and the very tone of voice, should
bespeak the natural born citizen of Rome, that the language may be
purely Roman, and not so by a right different from birth and education.
(Patsall's English translation of Institutio Oratoria, as quoted by
Greschak)
This translation seems to imply that the "natural born citizen" of Rome was someone who was "purely" Roman by birth and upbringing; Reply to this comment


by dahzillia March 25, 2010 8:09 PM EDT: I agree in total(broke)like all of us will be; Reply to this comment


by 411-911 March 25, 2010 12:35 AM EDT: All I'm saying is if you look at the Governments track record(Dems & Rep).Lets see here Post Office BROKE,Social Security BROKE,Medicare BROKE & Amtrak BROKE.Where on Gods green earth do you think the Government is going to get this right without taking Health care down this same path to BROKEVILLE.You've heard of the golden touch they have the bankrupt touch.It's going to be the same old thing BROKE BROKE BROKE.Don't kid yourself!; Reply to this comment

by 411-911 March 25, 2010 12:33 AM EDT

All I'm saying is if you look at the Governments track record(Dems & Rep).Lets see here Post Office BROKE,Social Security BROKE,Medicare BROKE & Amtrak BROKE.Where on Gods green earth do you think the Government is going to get this right without taking Health care down this same path to BROKEVILLE.You've heard of the golden touch they have the bankrupt touch.It's going to be the same old thing BROKE BROKE BROKE.Don't kid yourself!

Reply to this comment


by supergayle March 25, 2010 11:33 PM EDT: absolutly i couldn,t have said it better myself. I we continue to go by obama this country of ours will be ruined, worst president we have ever had.

by mjmurdock March 24, 2010 1:25 PM EDT

This is a letter from Michael Moore to the Republicans. I thinks this should clear everything up for all you misguided and uninformed people.

To My Fellow Citizens, the Republicans:

Thanks to last night's vote, that child of yours who has had asthma since birth will now be covered after suffering for her first nine years as an American child with a pre-existing condition.

Thanks to last night's vote, that 23-year-old of yours who will be hit one day by a drunk driver and spend six months recovering in the hospital will now not go bankrupt because you will be able to keep him on your insurance policy.

Thanks to last night's vote, after your cancer returns for the third time -- racking up another $200,000 in costs to keep you alive -- your insurance company will have to commit a criminal act if they even think of dropping you from their rolls.

Yes, my Republican friends, even though you have opposed this health care bill, we've made sure it is going to cover you, too, in your time of need. I know you're upset right now. I know you probably think that if you did get wiped out by an illness, or thrown out of your home because of a medical bankruptcy, that you would somehow pull yourself up by your bootstraps and survive. I know that's a comforting story to tell yourself, and if John Wayne were still alive I'm sure he could make that into a movie for you.

But the reality is that these health insurance companies have only one mission: To take as much money from you as they can -- and then work like demons to deny you whatever coverage and help they can should you get sick.

So, when you find yourself suddenly broadsided by a life-threatening illness someday, perhaps you'll thank those pinko-socialist, Canadian-loving Democrats and independents for what they did Sunday evening.

If it's any consolation, the thieves who run the health insurance companies will still get to deny coverage to adults with pre-existing conditions for the next four years. They'll also get to cap an individual's annual health care reimbursements for the next four years. And if they break the pre-existing ban that was passed last night, they'll only be fined $100 a day! And, the best part? The law will require all citizens who aren't poor or old to write a check to a private insurance company. It's truly a banner day for these corporations.

So don't feel too bad. We're a long way from universal health care. Over 15 million Americans will still be uncovered -- and that means about 15,000 will still lose their lives each year because they won't be able to afford to see a doctor or get an operation. But another 30,000 will live. I hope that's ok with you.

If you don't mind, we're now going to get busy trying to improve upon this bill so that all Americans are covered and so the grubby health insurance companies will be put out of business -- because when it comes to helping the sick, no one should ever be allowed to ask the question, "How much money can we save by making this poor bastard suffer?"

Please, my Republican friends, if you can, take a quiet moment away from your AM radio and cable news network this morning and be happy for your country. We're doing better. And we're doing it for you, too.

Reply to this comment


by wllmbur March 25, 2010 7:19 PM EDT: OK MIKE if this is such a good thing then why don't all the political high ups include themselves ? They are exempt from it not good enough for them huh


by redflybyrd2 March 27, 2010 11:37 AM EDT: Evidentally you have never had to deal with government red tape, after Hurricane Katrina in order to rebuild and receive my SBA loan that I was approved for, after 2 years later and 24 people later I finally received the money to build my house not to mention all that time it took to find someone to help me throught this crazy process and 2 years of paying a note on a house that was not even built yet! Did I mention I was paying a note also on the house I loss and camper note! I did not get a fema trailer cause I already purchased a camper that is what people do who need a place to live, cant wait on the government when you have a 12 month old child who needs shelter! That is government red tape and lets just see how long it will take to speak to someone who can help you in healthcare!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and I had insurance, which covered $6000 dollars and then dropped me after the storm!!!!!! That had nothing to do with a president, it is called government!


by rnotrtoo March 24, 2010 10:29 AM EDT: This is one of the most terribly worded polls on health care I've seen. Did you get this from FoxNews or Limbaugh's website?; Reply to this comment


by JohnWWallace March 24, 2010 7:34 AM EDT: TAKE HEART AMERICA: HEALTH CARE IS ONLY ONE BATTLE IN THE WAR TO RESTORE LIBERTY IN AMERICA

Take heart, freedom loving Americans. The Health Care bill is only one battle in the long war to restore our freedoms and liberty. The 'Gang of Three' (Obama, Pelosi and Reid) will keep pushing additional individual pieces of their American Communist Manifesto on us. They will be pushing Amnesty for Illegal Aliens, Cap and Trade, and gun legislation, before the elections in November of 2010.

We must continue the fight for Liberty and Freedom and resist each and every piece of legislation in every legal way that we can. When election day comes in November, we will oust many of the leaders and followers of the Democratic-Communist politburo in the House and Senate and our battle plan will turn from defensive actions to offensive actions.

We have learned from experience, that we cannot count on the federal courts to stop attacks on our Liberty as they often rule that ordinary American citizens have "no standing" in their courts. The federal courts are also part of the problem and just as corrupt as our legislative and executive branches of government.

Once we take control of the House of Representatives and possibly the US Senate in November of 2010, we will be able to cut off all funding for the nationalization of our Health Care system. Without the funding, there will be no nationalization of our Health Care system. We will also be able to cut off funding of other unconstitutional agencies and programs of our government and then it's on to repealing them.

So take heart, fredom loving Americans and let us remember that at critical moments in the history of this great country, only a few generations of Americans have been given the of honor and privilege of defending Liberty and Freedom in their maximum hour of mortal danger. In 1776, our Founders' generation was given that honor and privilege. The generations that lived through World War I and World War II were also given the honor and privilege of defending Liberty and Freedom in their darkest hours. In all these critical moments in our history, brave Americans stood as one against Tyranny and our Liberty and Freedom were preserved.

Today in America, our Liberty and Freedom are once again in their maximum hour of mortal danger, just as they were in 1776, 1917 and 1941, and we are now the generation that must stand up against Tyranny as one united force and be prepared to act.

This is our time!!

This is our critical moment in history!!

We have not only been given the honor and privilege of defending Liberty and Freedom in their darkest hours, but our Founders told us that it is also our sacred duty to do so, not only for ourselves but for our children and our children's children. Do not lose heart over the loss of one battle or even several battles, for there is no doubt that freedom loving Americans will win the war to restore Liberty in America.

I pray to God that we will be successful.

GOD BLESS A FREE AMERICA!!!!!!

John Wallace
www.TeaPartyRep.com; Reply to this comment


by gpeach37 March 23, 2010 10:07 AM EDT: i am beyond disappointed with this administration and what they have done by passing a bill that the majority of the people have voiced very loudly they DO NOT WANT. I feel as though i have been raped by the president. The politicians have not listened to their constituents, especially Pelosi, Reid and Obama. It is disgusting to think that something as illegal as murder could be condoned by the government and then put the burden on the American taxpayers to pay for. This is just the tip of the iceburg. Instead of being rewarded for hard work, we are being punished for making right decisions in our lives, working hard and earning a paycheck, and by chance afford a little to put into a retirement account (but not much if at all). The only benefit i see to this bill is for those individuals who choose not to work, or continually seek welfare assistance. I have no problem helping out with the elderly and the sick or disabled, but do not feel i should have to pay for someones healthcare who does not work, or has not worked for years on end. I know very capable people who find it easier to draw a welfare check than to get a job. It's despicable and I wish Mr. Obama would listen to reason instead of just trying to push something through to make him look good to 'who knows who'? Because he sure isn't looking good to the majority of Americans. I applaud the gentleman who yelled out "baby killer" to Mr. Stupak. What Mr. Stupak did was disgusting in my eyes. He caved, and knowingly planned on doing so. He is even worse that those politicians who outright make it clear what their agenda is. He claims to be an advocate for life, and yet turned his back on the very thing he stood for. He doesn't deserve a job.; Reply to this comment


by kiwi0099 March 22, 2010 10:23 PM EDT: To all you 'well if he's doing it for the money he shouldn't be doing it.' Do you work for free? No? Then leave him alone!!! Guess what? Useful college graduates are a rare thing so they better get paid more or there aren't going to be any college graduates! I went through the rigors of a difficult chemical engineering program and even though it's what I like to do, I better get paid more than the person who didn't graduate highschool!; Reply to this comment