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CBS
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Obama: "This is What Change Looks Like"
CBS
President Obama, with Vice President Biden at his side, hailed historic passage of the health care reform package Sunday evening, stating that the vote proves government "still works for the people."
Passage, he said, showed that lawmakers "didn't give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear."
"Instead," he said, "we proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things."
The president thanked members of Congress, stating that while they didn't have an easy vote, they made "the right vote." He also thanked his staff, the vice president and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
The vote, he said, "answers the dreams of so many who have fought for this reform." He said the package was "worthy of the people we were sent here to serve" and hailed the people who had fought for it, among those who knocked on doors to encourage their neighbors to back the bill.
"This moment is possible because of you," said the president.
Mr. Obama went through the bill's provisions, stating that "this isn't radical reform, but it is major reform."
The bill "will not fix everything that ails our health care system, but it moves us decisively in the right direction," he said. "This is what change looks like."
The president called passage a "victory for common sense." He said there will be a "frenzy of instant analysis" over the political implications of passage, but that "long after the debate fades away and the prognostication fades away and the dust settles," what will be left over will be "a health care system that incorporates ideas from both parties."
The president called on the Senate to pass the House reconciliation bill quickly, an unlikely prospect as Republicans have vowed to try to send the bill back to the House and slow down the process with amendments.
He said that while "the work of "revitalizing our economy goes on," lawmakers now "march on with renewed confidence, energized by this victory on their behalf."
It meant "another stone firmly laid in the foundation of the American dream," he said.
Mr. Obama said lawmakers had "answered the call of history."
"We did not shrink from our challenge, we overcame it," he said. "We did not fear our future, we shaped it."
A White House aide told CBS News the president watched the House vote with Biden and staff in the Roosevelt Room. The aide said there were high fives and hugs all around after the vote.
More Coverage of Health Care Reform:
House Passes Health Care Bill
Obama: "This is What Change Looks Like"
Health Care Vote: How Each Representative Voted
Announcement of the Vote
Boehner Tells Democrats: Shame on You
Pelosi Urges House to "Make History"
Health Care Bill: What's In It?
Short-Term Effect of the Bill
What, Me Worry? Obama Watches Basketball
Stupak Called "Baby Killer" for Backing Bill
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
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"We're able to access that health care 24 hours a day when we're in Washington," Graham said, leading us to the Attending Physician's Office, a clinic inside the U.S. Capitol. They don't even have to leave the office.
About half of the members of Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, use the Attending Physician benefit. For $42 a month, they can get all the primary care they need - physical therapy, X-rays, minor surgery, specialists and a pharmacy for emergencies - no appointment needed.
They also get VIP hospital treatment from the best doctors at Bethesda Naval Hospital. And they have a reserved spot at the elite Ward 72 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where the late Sen. Strom Thurmond spent a lot of time.
Outpatient care is free. Well, free for them. Your tax dollars pick up the cost.
The Hypocrisy is that the late Senator Kennedy of whom the Democratic Party refer to as the champion of this so called Health Care Reform used the Medical Services listed above for $42 per month. As well as Bethesda Naval Hospital (reference New Media footage of his departure after treatment at Bethesda).
If it is good enough for the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senator Max Baucas, Congress, and all those trying ram something up our arses that they will never use (be screwed over by).
We want what they have for $42 per month.
NO ANAL RAPE.
Contact President:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact Congress:
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
Keep emailing them until they respond.
But the question can be asked, why didn't the ASPD-GOP propose this, instead of all the lying, whining, empty threats, coded n-word calling, and proposals for more of what caused the problem in the first place?
Now they speak up. As usual they missed the train, now they are trying to run after it. What maroons.
I gained, Haha!
You lost, Boo hoo.
I like it just fine, much better than your non-solutions.
Could have been even better, but he gave the ASPD-crowd the time of day, and they got it watered down.
All presidents are sockpuppets.
Your progenitors were also monkeys, which makes you no different, so what?
Apparently this one did better by Americans than your hero Bush, so his common progenitors, same as yours, are as irrelevant to today as you are.
You lost. Boo Hoo.
He rode a Blazing Saddle
He Wore a Shining Star
________________________
No, actually it's more like that monkey sockpuppet riding the mechanical bull to the tune of "How ya like me now?"
History will vindicate George W. Bush and expose Barack H. Obama. Now be with that.
Actually if you look at the picture included with the article you will see what a Marxist Dictator-Wanna Be looks like!
Come on November!!
I like it when someone claiming to be from Texas makes predictions, because they have to date been 100% wrong, so their dire prediction is the same as a blessing, as we know they will be wrong yet again.
He Wore a Shining Star
His Job, to Walk the Battle
To Bad Men Near and Far
He Conquered Fear and He Conquered Hate
He Turned Dark Night into Day
He Made his Blazing Saddle
A Torch to Light the Way" - Mel Brooks
YES WE CAN!