September 2, 2009 12:23 PM

Obama Up Against Ideology More than Specificity

By
Mark Knoller
Topics
Health Care
(AP)
Here comes Labor Day and with it, the return of Congress. It has the White House looking to shake up its strategy in order to get the president's health care plan enacted before year's end.

"The president is considering all of his options on how to advance the debate and get reform passed," said a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

In recent weeks, the White House was taken aback by the ferocity of opposition to its health care plan as expressed to members of Congress of both parties during their town meetings last month with constituents.

To the extent there were any dog days of August, the dog turned out to be a pit bull.

And yesterday's CBS News poll provided the White House with stark new evidence that despite it's best efforts, 60 percent of those surveyed say President Obama has failed to clearly explain his plans for health care reform. Asked if they understand his ideas, 67 percent said "no, they're confusing." (Read more from the poll here)

But it's not for lack of trying. Our CBS News tally shows that Mr. Obama has given 27 speeches specifically on his health care objectives. Add in other remarks, events and statements in which he mentioned health care and the number soars to 119.

Mr. Obama is said by aides to be considering a big speech as early as next week to lay it on the line to Congress with more specificity about what he wants in a health care bill.

But an examination of his most recent speech on health care on August 20th, shows that he's been very specific about the provisions he wants in a health care bill.

Health Care Exchange: "We're going to have a marketplace where people can select the options that work best for them, the insurance plan that works best for them."

Government-run Health Insurance Option: "if we have a public option in there, that can help keep insurers honest; it can provide a benchmark for what an affordable basic plan should look like."

Pre-Existing Condition: "...insurance companies can't prevent you from getting health insurance because of a preexisting condition."

No Caps on Benefits: "There shouldn't be lifetime caps or yearly caps where you bump up against it and suddenly you've got huge out-of-pocket costs that drive you into bankruptcy."

No Loss of Coverage: "You should be able to keep your health insurance if you get sick or you lose your job or you change jobs."

Medicare: "We are going to make Medicare more efficient, guaranteeing today's seniors better benefits than they have right now."

Medicare Rx Coverage: "We're going to make sure that that doughnut hole in the middle of their prescription drug plan, that that doughnut hole is closed..."

Mr. Obama has been specific, though he left it to Congress to draft the legislative language implementing his objectives, and that's proved to be his problem.

And based on growing public opposition to his plan, the problem he's up against is more ideology than specificity.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

(CBS)
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.


Add a Comment See all 39 Comments
by corky181 September 9, 2009 9:40 PM EDT
I think that it is time for our president to get off tha campaign trail and start doing the work of the president.Go to the White house and do the job that He was elected to do.
Reply to this comment
by spudder8 September 3, 2009 5:47 AM EDT
When will he realize that he is the one who causes his problems not everyone else. Go ahead Obama blame somebody you do not want to accept the results of your actions.
Reply to this comment
by democracy1 September 2, 2009 10:18 PM EDT
The ideology that President Obama has to fight can be summed up in the recent instance of the Governor of Idaho, Rex Rammell, laughing about a reference to assassinating Obama and attempting to excuse it as a "joke".

As much as many people disliked President Bush, I cannot recall a single instance of an elected politician ever making a joke about assassinating him. "Jokes" about the assassinating a President of the United States, by their very nature, are not at all funny, no matter which President they are directed toward. And they are certainly unacceptable coming from an elected official.

The fact that people feel that they can brush off such things as a "joke" against President Obama is very telling as to the nature of the people who are against him.
Reply to this comment
by democracy1 September 2, 2009 9:41 PM EDT
The ideology that President Obama has to fight can be summed up in the recent instance of the Governor of Idaho, Rex Rammell, laughing about a reference to assassinating Obama and attempting to excuse it as a "joke".

As much as many people disliked President Bush, I cannot recall a single instance of an elected politician ever making a joke about assassinating him. "Jokes" about the assassinating a President of the United States, by their very nature, are not at all funny, no matter which President they are directed toward. And they are certainly unacceptable coming from an elected official.

The fact that people feel that they can brush off such things as a "joke" against President Obama is very telling as to the nature of the people who are against him.
Reply to this comment
by jimmyc1955 September 2, 2009 9:13 PM EDT
Lets cut to the chase

We can't afford this right now. We have just added 9 trillion in new debt and the CBO is saying this will run will in excess of another $10 Trillion over 10 years (interesting that it won't go into effect until AFTER then next presidential election - when the costs will skyrocket.)

And no - it is not an option - you have to have insurance - you can't opt to not have it. So you must BUY it unless you can't afford it, and then you get the public option. But guess what? The insurance companies will quickly dump people they don't want by uping their insurance premiums. Small companies will be forced to cover employees who may not have the income to make that payment. They close putting more people out of work and on the public insurance option.

WE CAN NOT AFFORD THIS! We are already one of the worlds largest per capita debit countries. Pelosi and company are spending so fast it is making Bush look like a penny pincher - and we hated him for his spending.

You will bankrupt your grand children's grand children's future so you can feel good about yourselves.

Get a grip - lets talk about it and evaluate all the options - this isn't an evaluation - this is a railroading of a plan we know nothing about.
Reply to this comment
by slownewsday_5 September 2, 2009 11:31 PM EDT
I hope you don't support the wars, then, 'cause we couldn't and can't afford them.



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by kiawest September 2, 2009 5:33 PM EDT
There is NO one bill and right before one is passed, people fear all those things they know the majority don't want will be added, such as insuring illegals and bankrupting the country. Obama's problem is he appears dishonest and people don't think he can be trusted. My family has already been effected in careers because of the congress and white house stances and support of one industry and bad mouthing and killing another industry. We Americans are struggling and Washington is making things worse. Obama's ideas are not mainstream, they are radical and spend, spend, spend. With all the miscommunications or lies, whichever it is, he needs to build trust. Getting special interest groupds to attack citizens don't build trust. The majority just don't trust him and don't agree with his agenda. No, I don't think rethinking and repitching will help. Washington just don't get the majority of the people.
Reply to this comment
by wmb1957 September 2, 2009 3:46 PM EDT
The insurance companies have been saying for a long time if insurance coverage was mandated with a verification system in place, they would stop recissions and non-coverage of pre-existing conditions.

They said it once again in their testimony in July 17th, 2008 to the House Oversight Committe. They have been saying it since at least 2006.

They proposed it as a state initiative at first, saying that if a state required universal coverage, they would do it in exchange for mandated coverage, and even had it for those states that didn't want universal coverage but handled differently.
Reply to this comment
by wmb1957 September 2, 2009 3:46 PM EDT
The insurance companies have been saying for a long time if insurance coverage was mandated with a verification system in place, they would stop recissions and non-coverage of pre-existing conditions.

They said it once again in their testimony in July 17th, 2008 to the House Oversight Committe. They have been saying it since at least 2006.

They proposed it as a state initiative at first, saying that if a state required universal coverage, they would do it in exchange for mandated coverage, and even had it for those states that didn't want universal coverage but handled differently.
Reply to this comment
by rightbehind September 2, 2009 3:10 PM EDT
Actually the article should have said "failed ideology". The majority of this nation want public health care. Bring on the vote. Pass or fail the voters will have a choice to make themselves in 14 months coming the 2010 elections. I would rather a good bill fail than have a bad bill pass. Write a good bill and vote on it. We either get public health care or we get a list of politicians to send packing. I'm good with either. If it fails we clean up our ranks and go for single payer in 2011. Bring on the vote!
Reply to this comment
by speakinup23 September 2, 2009 2:13 PM EDT
The above article doesn't address how he will pay for what he wants to do. Obama HAS talked about it - so why isn't it here CBS ?

MANY of the above items will make insurance more expensive. Insurance companies are actuaries that give you a cost for a certain coverage that you ask for. He's asking for more, it will cost more.

WHERE'S the money coming from ?

THIS IS THE REAL STICKING POINT !


We would ALL LOVE to give away free medical for EVERYONE in the world, but it can't be done if you are fiscally responsible.

REMEMBER - he promises no new taxes. And, he'd BETTER be aware of inflation.
Reply to this comment
by slownewsday_5 September 2, 2009 2:15 PM EDT
"We would ALL LOVE to give away free medical for EVERYONE in the world, but it can't be done if you are fiscally responsible"


Explain why you trust the government to spend wisely in the wars, then.

You can't have it both ways.


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