Obama Hails "Courageous Vote" on Health Bill

(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

President Obama spoke to reporters Sunday afternoon in the White House Rose Garden about the House's passage of its health care reform bill late Saturday night and about the Iraqi parliament's approval of election legislation.

(Left: President Obama speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House about health care reform and Iraq's new electoral law Sunday, November 8, 2009.)

"Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric surrounding this legislation, I know that this was with a courageous vote for many members of Congress," Mr. Obama said about the House health care vote. "I'm grateful to them and for the rest of their colleagues for taking us this far."

"Now it falls on the United States Senate to take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people," Mr Obama said. "I'm absolutely confident that they will."

The president said the Iraqi parliament's approval "paves the way for national elections early next year. This is an important milestone as the Iraqi people continue to take responsibility for their future."

"This agreement advances the political progress that can bring lasting peace and unity to Iraq and allow for the orderly and responsible transition of American combat troops out of Iraq by next September," Mr. Obama said.

Read the president's full remarks below:

President Obama: Good afternoon, everybody. I want to say a few words about two milestones that have passed in the last few hours that represent encouraging progress for our country.

The first was the vote the House took last night on health insurance reform. For years we've been told that this couldn't be done. After all, neither chamber of Congress has been able to pass a comprehensive health insurance reform bill for generations.

But last night the house proved differently. The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance, quality, affordable options for those who don't and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses and our government while strengthening the financial health of Medicare.

It is legislation that is fully paid for and it will reduce our long-term federal deficit. Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric surrounding this legislation, I know that this was with a courageous vote for many members of Congress, and I'm grateful to them and for the rest of their colleagues for taking us this far.

But, more importantly, so are the millions of Americans whose lives will change when we achieve insurance reform. Families with pre-existing conditions who will finally have insurance coverage, parents who will be protected from annual and lifetime limits that can force them to pay exorbitant out-of-pocket costs for a child's illnesses. Small businesses that will be able to cover their employees and working folks that will finally be able to afford health insurance for the very first time. Americans like Katie Gibson, cancer survivor from Bozeman, Mont., who shared her story with me this summer.

Because of a medical condition, Katie's insurance policy was suddenly revoked when she needed it most even though she was paying her premiums. I called Katie this morning, and I told her that when the bill that passed last night becomes law we'll be able to protect Americans just like her from the kinds of insurance company abuses she had to endure. And I told her that it was because of her willingness to share her story and the extraordinary activism that she and people like her all across the country displayed not just this year but over the last several years that we are finally this close to getting reform done.

Their lives are what's at stake in this debate. And moments like this are why they sent us here, to finally meet the challenges that Washington has put off for decades, to make their lives better and this nation stronger, to move America forward. That's what the House did last night when it brought us closer than we have ever been to comprehensive health insurance reform in America.

Now it falls on the United States Senate to take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people. And I'm absolutely confident that they will.

I'm equally convinced that on the day that we gather here at the White House and I sign comprehensive health insurance reform legislation into law, they'll be able to join their House colleagues and say that this was their finest moment in public service, the moment we delivered change we promised to the American people and did something to leave this country stronger than when we found it.

The second development I want to mention is a significant breakthrough in Iraq where Iraq's parliament has approved a new election law that paves the way for national elections early next year. This is an important milestone as the Iraqi people continue to take responsibility for their future.

I want to congratulate Iraq's leaders for reaching this agreement. Their flexibility and commitment to their country sends an important signal to the world about Iraq's democracy and national unity and I look forward to prompt approval of this law by Iraq's presidency council.

Iraq has known many challenges, and in the past several weeks we've seen that there are still those who would kill innocent men, women and children to deny the Iraqi people the future they deserve. Today's step forward is another reminder that these enemies of the Iraqi people will fail.

The United States will continue to stand with Iraq as a strong partner and as a friend. Tough challenges remain, and I assure you there will be difficult days to come. But this agreement advances the political progress that can bring lasting peace and unity to Iraq and allow for the orderly and responsible transition of American combat troops out of Iraq by next September.

So I want to congratulate our troops and civilians who are serving so capably in Iraq, and I want to congratulate the Iraqi people who have taken an important step forward in pursuit of a better future. There's much more work to be done, but with today's news we're continuing to move in the right direction as we continue to look forward to Iraqi elections early next year.

Thank you very much.

[gboyd41]

A Brave but ignorant vote by the dems,I doubt many will be there next election, and rightfully so!

[lorigodoy09]

You can get instant full coverage auto insurance at the lowest price from http://******/2VM9Lb

[DesertAngel27]

So explain to me if 55% of the people are against this - and I believe it is more than that - how can the government - The Obamanation - continue this - this is a government for the people, by the people.

[dlmsharpshoo]

DesertAngel27...Because it has nothing to do with healthcare and everything to do with Federal government power grab and gaining control over the people.

[starleo146]

61%in favor you facts are incorrect.Obama's approval is 55%. You are good at twisting the facts, some dirty republican tricks

[bhappy2-2]

So tell me, if this is such a grand and wonderful thing, why do our elected officials exclude them selves from having to use it? Why is it good enough for us but not for them?

Vote out ALL incumbents; start over with a fresh batch. Let them serve one term then replace them with a fresh batch. We don't need career politicians; they're nothing but bad news for ALL of America.

[lomtevas]

All Americans will now be forced to carry health insurance paid for personally but subsidized in varying degrees by the federal government depending upon percentage of poverty level our incomes are.

A single person earning $53,000 annually will get zero federal subsidy for his health insurance while a family of 4 earning $53,000 will have to pay 8.9% of their income and get a federal subsidy. There are subdivisions for low, medium and high cost areas of this country.

The bottom line here is that all of us who are self employed will be forced to pay some percentage of taxable income to hold mandatory health coverage. Those of us who are employed by companies will likely be kicked off of coverage while the company pays an 8% annual fine to save from having to pay a higher amount to cover their employees. Those of us leaching off of the government system may or may not continue to get free health care: again, an 8% fine is cheaper than covering a government employee.

[obomaserf]

pubsruineverything
Since you seem to be the expert on this subject perhaps you could tell us how OB can pay for all this.... if not shut up and go back to slobb'in oboma nob YOU DIRT BAG

[GTR5]

And who is going to have to pay for all the illegals now? Drain the Swamp in 2010.

[jschmidt27]

The last CNN poll shows the Dems are on the wrong track. THis is going to hurt them in 2010 when we go to the polls to vote them out.According to the poll, 45 percent support President Barack Obama's proposals to reform health care, with 53 percent opposed to his plans. This is the first time since the president's early September prime time address a joint session of Congress on health care that a majority of people questioned in a CNN survey oppose Obama's proposals."Six in ten independents say they oppose Obama's health care proposals," says Holland. "That's a nine point increase since October."

[msimamaji]

Actually all the latest polls show that the majority of americans want a public option. That includes independents.

[jschmidt27]

msimamaji- well you should look at the CNN poll. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/06/cnn-poll-public-wants-congress-to-keep-working-on-health-care/ According to the poll, 45 percent support President Barack Obama's proposals to reform health care, with 53 percent opposed to his plans. This is the first time since the president's early September prime time address a joint session of Congress on health care that a majority of people questioned in a CNN survey oppose Obama's proposals.

"Six in ten independents say they oppose Obama's health care proposals," says Holland. "That's a nine point increase since October."

[txlakeside]

We are the only industrialized nation that does not have a national health care plan. Be ashamed republiCONS that your greed makes the dollar only worth 65 cents to the Euro, same with the british pound, almost now equal to the Canadian dollar and the only country that does not take care of the sick! Greed and not terrorism has detroyed this country. The enemy is within and it is lieing, greedy republiCONS! The cry for uncontrolled growth and less regulations brought down the finacial system, allowed ponzi schemes to steal billions and has created a heath care system designed to protect Corporate $$$$$. Be ashamed republiCONS!

[cool1207]

Well, People are willing to give up their freedom to government and they forgot human greatness ability to achieve and reach out higher and value of themselves. There are no poor people or rich people in the world, only in their mind and the great system for people is who have common self interest together to create wealth.

[msimamaji]

Cool1207, we are a Christian nation, or supposed to be. The Republicans even affixed the cross of Jesus on to the Speaker's Podium at the 2004 convention.

Jesus had nothing but scorn and contempt for wealth. He told the rich man to "sell all you have and give to the poor." He said that it was more difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to pass through a needle's eye. He drove the money changers from Temple and were the Scriptures to record the language Jesus used, Well, we'd have to delete a lot of expletives.

So what is this fetish about wealth? The real judge of our greatness is not wealth - but how much we care for our fellow man because we are our brother's keepers. Jesus emphasized this when he said,"Whatsoever you do to the least of these my brethren, you do also unto me." Therefore, we should ensure universal medical care for everyone - regardless of their ability to pay.

I might point out that Jesus was also a very good economist. Remember the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Because one child shared what little he had, everyone else chipped and shared what they had as well. As a result the multitude as fed. A system where everyone contributes and everyone shares is truly what the Kingdom of God represents. You don't find that in a greedy capitalist society.

And remember, in the eyes of God, peoples' greatness is measured by how they serve others, not how they serve themselves.