Obama Dares GOP to Run on Repeal of Health Bill

AP

President Obama traveled to Iowa City, Iowa Thursday to continue his effort to convince the American people of the value of the health care bill he signed into law Tuesday. In his speech, he mocked Republicans for suggesting that passage of the bill means "Armageddon" and dared them to run on a platform of repealing the bill, as many have vowed to do.

"Now that we passed it, they're already promising to repeal it," he said. "They're actually going to run on a platform of repeal in November. And my attitude is, go for it."

"If these Congressmen in Washington want to come here in Iowa and tell small business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest," he added.

The president said cable news talking heads are still "shouting about the end of the world" and said that Republicans are offering disingenuous suggestions that the bill means the "end of freedom as we know it."

"So after I signed the bill I looked around to see if there were any asteroids falling or cracks opening around the earth," he joked. "Turns out it was a nice day. Birds were chirping. Folks were strolling down the Mall. People still had their doctors."

"From this day forward," the president said, "all of the cynics and the naysayers will have to confront the reality of what this reform is and what it isn't."

Mr. Obama argued that the bill he signed is a moderate piece of legislation, and not, as Republicans claim, "a government takeover of our health care system."

He acknowledged that many of the legislation's provisions don't go into effect for years, and said that some aspects of health care coverage will remain "very frustrating" in the short term. He stressed the provisions that go into effect this year, among them tax credits for small businesses to pay for insurance and bans on insurance companies dropping people who get sick or turning away children with pre-existing conditions.

Other provisions taking effect in 2010 include a tax credit for seniors who hit the Medicare donut hole, a requirement that insurance companies provide free preventive care and a rule that young people be able to stay on their parents' policies until age 26.

"The days of the insurance industry running roughshod over the American people are over," said Mr. Obama.

Though Americans warmed to the bill slightly after it passed the House Sunday, according to CBS News polling, more still disapprove of the legislation than approve. With the midterm elections approaching in November, the president and Congressional Democrats are seeking to improve perceptions of the bill, and, with it, their party.

Iowa was the president's first stop outside of Washington following passage of the legislation, and Mr. Obama hailed it as "the state that first believed in our campaign." The state held the nation's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses in the 2008 election cycle, which then-candidate Obama won.

"This is the state that inspired us to keep on going, even when the path was uncertain," he said. "And because of you, this is the place where change began."

He noted that he promised to sign a health insurance reform bill in Iowa three years ago and said it was "because of you" that he could.

"When the pundits were obsessing over who's up and who's down, and what's going on with the Obama administration, you never lost sight of what was right and what was wrong," he said. "You knew this wasn't about the fortunes of any one party -- this was about the future of our country."

At the start of his remarks, the president acknowledged Northern Iowa's victory in the NCAA men's basketball tournament over tournament favorite Kansas, the team the president had picked to win the tournament. "I feel a little bitter," he joked.

"I want to congratulate all the Northern Iowa fans in this part of the state on their big win," he said. "And since you ruined my bracket I'm rooting for you now. I want you to go out and take it. Go all the way."

[Macsure]

Those who continue to either pose as or be actual pathetically faithful Republicans should be reminded: It was Republican Conservative "Principles" and Republican passed laws and regulations which (1) led to this recession and (2) continued the steady upward spiral of medical services and treatments. All of the blame lies with the Republicans and this latest "stand" against health care reform is the same toxic propaganda they've been duping us with for decades. Just wake up America: we are seeing the results of corporate ruled Republican policy with every job lost, with every mortgage foreclosure, with every dying American who can't afford life-saving treatment. The Republican elephant logo should be replaced with the Nazi Death's Head logo.

Lets all be aware: the extent of Republican "success" so far and the extent of the "success" in coming months is proportional to their "success" in duping the American people and voters.

[improana]

For those who believe Republicans are just spreading fear with no justification, try reading the paper or watching the news. Here's a brief overview:

The CBO just came out with the numbers. The 134 Billion dollars that this is supposed to remove from the federal deficit is now a 1.2 TRILLION dollar ADDITION to the deficit. This is from what is considered by BOTH sides to be a politically neutral organization.

AT&T just announced that they are going to pay 1 BILLON dollars this quarter to cover the additional charges they face in health care benefits due to this bill. Several other companies such as John Deere, Caterpillar and Caremark are also facing 100 MILLION dollar costs to pay for this new law. In addition, AT&T has announced it will need to cut back on Medicare benefits to it's employees and retirees. Not really mentioned in the news is what effect this will have on job creation/job loss with these companies. However, after Obama signed the stimulus package into law, Caterpillar was forced to lay off 22,000 employees.

One of the amendments voted on (and voted down by the Democrats) was requiring that all members of congress be required to participate in the new health care exchanges. Seems the bill that is "good for America" is not so good for the Democrats who wrote the bill. Another amendment prohibiting the use of federal funds to pay for erectile dysfunction medications to those CONVICTED of sexual crimes such as child molestation and rape, was also voted down by Democrats. That means YOUR tax contributions will go to pay for these perverts to allow them, once they are released, to continue committing these heinous crimes.

This is what YOU'RE supporting.

[miami_cuban]

Proverbs 16:18 -- Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

[rocketjl]

Please forgive the president, he is just acting stupidly.

[TVO1CITW]

He knows it will not remain the way he has crammed it down people's throat, so, he is stuffing cotton in their mouth by continuing to campaign it to try to prevent us from throwing it up. It has to be a bad reform bill for the President to continue to spend tax money to make this thing look like it will work.

[Vote_Them_Out]

Obama can talk all he wants, but . . .

"What you are speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think that sums up his problem with a majority of the American people in a nutshell.

[slownewsday_____]

Romney on mandated health coverage:


Romney told Larry King that mandated health insurance is rooted in conservative principles:

"KING: You are regarded as a true conservative. Where are you, politically, in the labeling business?

ROMNEY: My dad used to be asked that question. I liked what he would say. He would say, I'm conservative as the Constitution and as progressive as Lincoln. And you can look at my positions. Many of my positions I believe are very conservative, all of them, frankly. I know some people say, gee, your Massachusetts health care plan isn't conservative. I say oh, yes it is.

Because right now in this country, people that don't have health insurance go to the hospital if they get a serious illness, and they get treated for free by government. My plan says no, they can't do that. No more free riders. People have to take personal responsibility. I consider it a conservative plan."


So I wonder who the Repubs will run in 2012?

[patocc123]

Like I've been saying all along this bill is a republican bill its just the democrat lemmings are too blinded to see. Making it a law that you are an US citizen that you must buy insurance from componanies only within the state that you live in its reckless. Cost of living adjustments are ignored within states and state policies.

[reasoned1955]

With typical "pick and choose" quotes, this article fails to provide Obama's statement following his "go for it" goad. He went on to state that the American people weren't going to give back control to the health insurance companies (paraphrased). The truth of the matter (a rare commodity nowadays--and I'm talking to both Dems and Repubs), is that the HC bill is a windfall for the HC insurance companies. The White House knows it, Congress knows it, and the majority of the American people know it. Heck, big pharma and the insurance companies were all for passage. So, don't stand there and try to imply that the health care companies don't hold sway over the industry anymore. They most certainly do.

[pmt39987]

This man (obama) is nothing more than and arrogant, cocky, socialist!! When you get the endorsement of a former dictator of a communist regime to endorse your plan, that's really saying "something".

I hope the people of this country speak loud and clear, come November. This man and his coronies need to be stopped!!!

[wbursch]

Perhaps the Administration and Congress should send sympathy letters to the 1 million plus new home owners, oops, sorry that no longer will qualify for a mortgage loan under the new health care laws. If simple math is used, then the 39% requirement of mortgage and expenditures, will keep many from ever reaching qualification. Simple math, Fica, Health Care at proposed expected cost for family of 4 after subsidies is about $5,100. With approximately 9% Fica and that $5,100, most will have to choose the penalty $325 per person to qualify. This amounts to that at a time when most need protection for health and the expenses associated with children and child birth, they will not have it. Thank God for Obama and the Progressive Democrats wisdom and charity with respect to the American People and their dreams of home ownership.