Obama Willing to Compromise - Up to a Point

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: Health Care

(AP)

It was a high-powered sales pitch from a president hell-bent on enacting a plan to provide all Americans with health insurance.

Using the biggest oratorical weapon in his arsenal, an address to a joint session of Congress, President Obama made it clear that failure, in his view, is not an option.

"I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last." he said at the beginning of his 47-minute address.

At turns, forceful and gently understanding, Mr. Obama offered up some new rhetoric. But his basic arguments were largely the same we've heard in the 28 previous speeches he's given on health care reform.

In his latest address, he reached out to both Democratic supporters and Republican opponents of his goals.

But he was also quick to shoot down liberal demands for a "single-payer" health care plan while assuring conservatives that his approach would not add "a dime" to current or future deficits.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

He labeled some attacks on the health care plan he wants as "bogus claims." He called it "a lie, plain and simple" that his plan would establish death panels with the power to "kill off senior citizens."

But when he insisted that his plan would not cover illegal immigrants in the U.S., South Carolina republican Joe Wilson shouted "You lie!" It was an unusual if not unprecedented breach of protocol during a presidential address.

Mr. Obama promised those he called "my Republican friends," that he would work to address "any legitimate concerns" they may have. But the head of the Republican National Committee wasn't buying.

"The president has proven his ability again to speak very well and say very little," said party chairman Michael Steele. (More on the GOP response to Mr. Obama's speech here.)

He said the president is still trying to sell a "government-run health care experiment even though it will increase costs, increase taxes and increase the deficit."

And the president himself lapsed at times into campaign-style rhetoric and cadence, declaring "The time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. "

He said he was willing to compromise – but there was a limit.

"I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can't find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice," he said.

And that brings the health care debate back to square one - still beset by issues that have defied resolution for decades even among members of Congress of the same party.

It makes it clear that little was settled or moved forward in the conflict over health care in America – and the arguments go on.

Full CBSNews.com coverage of the president's speech on health care:

Obama Tells Congress to Stop Bickering
Full Video Full Transcript Speech Highlights
GOP Response: "It's Time to Start Over"
Marc Ambinder: Will Obama's Sales Job Work?
Mark Knoller: Obama Willing to Compromise — Up to a Point
Was Obama Clear on the Public Option?
Ted Kennedy's Letter to Obama
Rep. Wilson Swipes the Spotlight
Analysis: The Road Ahead for 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.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by woeisme1 September 10, 2009 3:58 PM EDT: It's amazing the arrogance of the republican party. They suddenly pretend they want to play nice and "debate" the healthcare issue. They mean they want to STALL healthcare reform.

But on these boards since before Obama was even elected, they have called him a terrorist, a commie sympathizer, a fascist?, a Marxist, a socialist, a Muslim extremist, Kenyan-in-Chief, Commie-in-Chief, loser, enemy of America, and have even called him a nig and a slew of other insults I have on file.

The republican extremists have threatened Obamas life, threatened violence at americans who support Obama, they bring guns to town hall meetings which was just another veiled threat to Obama, they have insulted the appearance of Michelle Obama saying she looks like an ape, they have attacked his children, they have spread fear to little old ladies and attempted to do the same with veterans but that did'nt work, they created this massive insurance funded mis-information campaign, they insult, deride, abase, manipulate, twist other posters words, and presented these boards with an element of extremist lies on every subject.

But they find it "dusgusting" that some of us call them out on all of this?????? What arrogance! What gaul! Whatever abuses you get my extremist friends, you brought on yourselves. We act like that because you treat us like that. All of you! You guys drew first blood and now you want to complain because you are not treated as you would like to be treated????

Please. Quit your lies, renounce extremism, seek out your God or a psychiatrist for some help and come back here in a more civilised manner and you will be treated better by other posters. It's really that simple. Quit your whining about everything under the sun. Admit when you are wrong. Be real men instead of the girly cowardly man you so aptly represent. Do this first and you may re-earn some marginal respect from America.

It is just audacious arrogance that any of you complain about anything or anyone getting on your cases.; Reply to this comment


by Uncle_Eccoli September 10, 2009 1:46 PM EDT: The vast majority of you arguing are exactly where the crooks who run this country want you. You actually believe this is a question of free versus mixed markets. When it comes right down to it, the "debate" is just a foil, I guarantee you. No one watches the watchers; America's government is nothing more than a patron of big business interests. Nothing short of violent revolution will effect real change in the US. Now, I'm certainly not advocating - I'd much rather live out my life under the thumb of corporate greed and make the most of it than have the whole world thrown into chaos. Americans are far too complacent, anyway. They'll just go on believing that their votes count, their opinions matter, and that theirs is the best, most representative government in the world.; Reply to this comment

by alanrobisch September 10, 2009 11:21 AM EDT

you guys are humorous. If it was possible for the dems to get enough votes to get a plan passed don't you think they would have done it already. It is without question that significant numbers of conservative democrats do not support the bill and therefore going it alone is not an option and if they do I can predict that the democrats will lose significant numbers of votes in both the house and senate since the bill they are trying to sell is not accepted by a majority of americans

Reply to this comment


by woeisme1 September 10, 2009 2:38 PM EDT: Shut up troll. Nobody cares about your lies and self-proclaimed ability to read the future.

The MAJORITY of Americans DO WANT THE PUBLIC OPTION. Will you guys EVER stop with the lies. It makes you look racist for there is no truth to anything you guys say. So what is the motivation for saying it but to distract, divert, divide and demean the American people. The MAJORITY of Americans sees right through the republican extremists and their lies.

We proved that last November, remember? Geeeeeesh


by clelemon September 10, 2009 10:03 AM EDT: Obama's speech had his typical great delivery, and a whole parcel of ill-thought acrimony and misdirection. The inability to accept the American Public's message being delivered to him appears to be the insurmountable force that will define the failures of his Presidency.
BTW, he did lie about -
- Abortion not being part of the bill - http://www.factcheck.org/2009/08/abortion-which-side-is-fabricating/
- Coverage for Illegal Immigrants - the bill is so poorly written it does say no coverage for illegal immigrants - BUT - he will require everyone (resident aliens, illegals, and citizens) to buy insurance and those that cannot will be part of the lipsticked Public Option, hence the two-faced statement does not hold water.
- Pre-existing conditions will not deny you coverage - TRUE - but Insurers & Health Benefits Adv. Panel will decide what treatments if any are allowed - http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/08/13/obama-health-plan-wont-cover-pre-existing-conditions/
- Regarding the Health Benefits Advisory Panel - 28 members that will decide and define "Standard Treatments". 70% of this panel will be appointed by the seated President - do the Liberals want the next conservative to appoint the decision makers for their Healthcare? - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America's_Affordable_Health_Choices_Act_of_2009
- There are other issues Obama forcefully stated that are the same misdirection and spin as he has displayed all summer - the exchange is a lipsticked name for Public Option - the inappropriately named Death Panels where end of life counciling will be paid for and incentivized to be given by the bill.
Is it just a lack of respect given to the public's intelligence to lie about -
- The numbers adding up for the $1 Trillion plus costs to be covered by "savings"!
- That self-sufficiency of the exchange cannot add up if ony 5% of the Public (15 million) partake.

Oh, nice misdirection to not include tort reform as part of the bill!!; Reply to this comment


by alanrobisch September 10, 2009 10:00 AM EDT: From what I can understand the president tied his proposal up with new packaging but no change in his plans and still unable to fund it without significant increases in taxation. I have no trust in the president at this point and hope the health reform he is proposing fails of its own weight and takes him and the democratic overwhelming control of the congress with it.; Reply to this comment


by michaelm07 September 10, 2009 5:39 AM EDT: This joker has no intention of compromise, never did and never will. He welcomes debate so long as people do what he has been instructed to do by the unelected people who pull his string. He showed he has no real leadership skills.; Reply to this comment


by tmittelstaed September 10, 2009 1:13 AM EDT: The reason that the Republicans always offer up deregulation of the health insurance companies as a solution is that they know that it will never happen. It's like a little kid saying that he will clean up his room when he finishes playing with his toys.

The Insurance companies want to be regulated because that is the only legal way they can get out from under the restrictions of the Sherman anti-trust act. Health insurance companies today all collude with each other and with doctors and pharmaceutical companies to fix prices, and all of that is completely illegal under anti-trust regulation. If you deregulated health insurance then it would no longer have the legal protection that shields it from the Anti-trust Act, and the Justice Department would have to immediately institute proceedings to destroy all of these relationships, and force competition into the insurance industry. While ultimately that might save consumers money, there's not an insurance company in the country that would agree to it, and since the entire Republican party is on the payroll of the insurance companies, they will insure that deregulation will remain a pipe dream.; Reply to this comment


by cs4466 September 10, 2009 12:39 AM EDT: The time for compromise is over. Time to run over the republicans and their obstructionism.; Reply to this comment


by lovegetpeace September 9, 2009 11:51 PM EDT: Folks,
Its funny how Republicans claim this Obama Health Care Reform plan will cover Undocumented Aliens.

If the Republicans care so much about the Undocumented Aliens getting free health care, then why didn't they stop our Private Hospitals from doing just that everyday for the last 60 years. The Republicans had all the opportunities of the world to address this when they were in control of Congress and the White House from 2001 to 2006. Pure Hypocrits or Racism?

Anyway, this argument is completely mute because Republican Senator McCain and President Obama will soon start working together to Legalize all Undocumanted Aliens. Finally, we can tax all the Undocumented Aliens.

Exactly 1 year from now, there will be no Undocumented Aliens getting free Health Care in America. So, this health care for the undocumented matter is totally pointless.; Reply to this comment


by slownewsday_5 September 9, 2009 11:48 PM EDT: All of you who oppose the health care reform for fiscal reasons,

why would you support the wars if that is your criteria??

Just asking.

.; Reply to this comment