Obama Takes Aim at Liberal Critics of Senate Health Care Bill

By: Lauren Seifert
Topics: Health Care

In interviews today with NPR and PBS Newshour, President Obama defended health care reform against attacks from liberal Democrats and called opponents on both sides of the aisle, "politically driven and ideologically driven."

"Considering how difficult the process has been, this is an end product that I am very proud of and is greatly worthy of support," Mr. Obama told NPR's Robert Siegel and Julie Rovner. "This notion... among some on the left that somehow this bill is not everything that it should be, that we still need a single-payer plan, etcetera, etcetera, I think, just ignores the real human reality that this will help millions of people and end up being the most significant piece of domestic legislation at least since Medicare and maybe since Social Security."

In his interview with PBS Newshour's Jim Lehrer, Mr. Obama added: "Would I like one of those options to be the public option? Yes. Do I think that it makes sense, as some have argued that, without the public option, we dump all these other extraordinary reforms and we say to the 30 million people who don't have coverage, 'You know, sorry. We didn't get exactly what we wanted?" I don't think that makes sense."

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

Mr. Obama also said that he is willing to settle for alternatives to the public option. "I think that the exchange itself, the system that we're setting up that forces insurance companies to essentially bid for three million or four million or five million people's business, that in and of itself is going to have a disciplining effect."

Mr. Obama also remains in favor of taxing high-end "Cadillac" insurance plans.

"I'm on record as saying that taxing Cadillac plans that don't make people healthier, but just take more money out of their pockets because they're paying more for insurance than they need to, that's actually a good idea and that helps bend the cost curve; that helps to reduce the cost of health care over the long term. I think that's a smart thing to do," he told NPR.

Contrary to reports that the White House anticipates a final vote on health care slipping to February, past his State of the Union address, the president remained confident that both chambers of Congress would soon be able to come together and reconcile their respective bills.

"There are a lot of provisions that are both in the Senate and the House bill," he told PBS. "I actually think that reconciling them is not going to be as difficult as some people may anticipate."

PBS' Lehrer also asked Mr. Obama about his recent visit to Copenhagen, and the president said he understood people's disappointment in the outcome of the global climate change summit.

"I think that people are justified in being disappointed about the outcome in Copenhagen," Mr. Obama said. "It didn't move us the way we need to."

Mr. Obama also added: "I make no claims, and didn't make any claims going in, that somehow that was going to be everything that we needed to do to solve climate change… My main responsibility here is to convince the American people that it is smart economics and it is going to be the engine of our economic growth for us to be a leader in clean energy."

And what does Mr. Obama think of his first year in office?

"I think I've shown this year that I can make hard decisions, even when they're not popular, and that I take a long view on these problems," he said on PBS Newshour. "And I frankly think that that's what America needs right now."

Read the full transcript of President Obama's interview with PBS Newshour

Read the full transcript of President Obama's interview with NPR

More CBSNews.com Coverage of Health Care:

Health Bill Clears Final Procedural Step
No Health Care Bill Until February?
How Filibusters Are Strangling the Senate
Abortion Still Threatens Health Care Bill
A Legal Challenge to Nelson's Health Deal?
Health Care Bill Puts Pain Before Gain
Senate's Deal: Compromise or Corruption?
Comparison of Senate, House Health Care Bills

Washington Unplugged Video:

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Lauren Seifert
Lauren Seifert is an associate producer for CBSNews.com.
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by bubbadubba December 24, 2009 7:37 AM EST: "WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint on Wednesday lauded S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster for rallying other state prosecutors to mount a possible legal challenge to the congressional health-care bill."

But he has great health care and gets it free just like Republicans in Congress.
You see Republicans love war and suffering, and they will do anything to ge their entertainment and enjoyment from people suffering especially Americans.; Reply to this comment


by msjb1 December 24, 2009 6:22 AM EST: where in hell is the stimulis checks hussain promised the senior citizens or did that all go the way as all the rest of his ********. into the fat cat politicians pockets.; Reply to this comment

by msjb1 December 24, 2009 6:14 AM EST

I have heard that this congress that is in now is the most crooked one there ever was, is this really possible, It just seems there must be a few honest ones under the white house roof.

Reply to this comment


by gboyd41 December 24, 2009 10:49 AM EST: msjb1-think again, the POTUS/WH/Congress have a butler help them screw their pants on daily. All our POTUS cares about is his legacy-and knowing what is best for us peons.


by ahrats December 24, 2009 6:11 AM EST: THE TAX AN SPEND DEMOCRATES ARE AT AGAIN, Being one of these middle class liberal democrates when the economy is going down hill these people (president & congress) want to increase our taxes to pay for their healthcare, WHICH THEY GET FOR FREE, and give insurance companies control over our lives, pay them money and the will give us healthcare or the government will make you give them money. THIS BILL WILL NOT REDUCE HEALTH CARE COST JUST MAKE INSURACE COMPANIES RICHER. Congress explain clearly how medical expanses will go down, Are doctor's going to except less money for their services, are Hospitals going to spend less for expensive medical equipment, NEXT THE GOVERNMENT WILL REQUIRE EVERYONE TAKE DRUG TEST SO THEY CAN DETERIME WHICH DEATH SQUAD YOU HAVE TO PAY TO KEEP YOUR SELF ALIVE (taxes & insurance). Mr. persident open your eyes, this bill will benefit the poor and the undocument immigrants, people who can't afford heathcare and those who still have jobs, and we are getting fewer, get to pay for all of it, except the RICH & CONGRESS who now have many loop holes in bill they so they won't have to contribute a dime for this healthcare program. By the way what's up this bill, it does not take effect till 2014? Planning ahead is good but what happens if our economy has not recovered by then, who going to pay for this, YOU?; Reply to this comment


by sean71z December 24, 2009 6:04 AM EST: Congress votes for another massive give-away of federal tax dollars to useless welfare programs. Crooked doctors want the package to get rich quick. How many politicians were paid for their votes? Obama is unable to reduce the federal budget deficit. He caters to political medical interests instead of fiscal responsibility.; Reply to this comment

by askagain December 24, 2009 1:39 AM EST

Enjoy your Christmas gift from Congress. Simply because this bill does not make premiums cheaper, give us a single payer system, provide universal health care, and turn health insurance into an entitlement, doesn't mean we shouldn't be happy. Just think about the higher premiums and higher taxes and higher deficit that we will see. Oh, don't forget about rationing that will be sanctioned by the government. The insurance companies just picked up millions of new customers with mandated insurance. We need to thank congress, President Obama, and those of you who helped us reach this point. You know who you are - the people who demanded change. Now enjoy it.

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by ianlou December 24, 2009 10:37 AM EST: by askagain December 24, 2009 1:39 AM EST
...We need to thank congress, President Obama, and those of you who helped us reach this point. You know who you are - the people who demanded change. Now enjoy it.
***************************
You should aim your sarcasm at those who did everything they could to prevent change.
This bill would have been much better if the gopers had set their selfishness aside.


by slyyder13 December 24, 2009 1:34 AM EST: i totally agree with pensacola8-2009 BUT..our country and flag are going to turn into a hammer and a sickle....socialism is in our future if WE THE PEOPLE dont do something about this FAST...more behind the door BS is coming our way....our fore fathers are rolling over in their graves...i see panic coming...and guess who is causing it??....we HAVE TO UNITE NOW folks....IM SERIOUS....BIG TIME; Reply to this comment


by pensacola8-2009 December 23, 2009 11:13 PM EST: President Obama has expressed complete truth about the difficulty that this health care bill has encountered. By most historians accord, this ranks up with the creation of Medicare and Social Security.

Looking far into the future, we will see that passing the health care in 2009 was the best thing for the USA, because we will not see insurance and banking treatment continue to receive "Sacred Cow" handling.

The USA economy was a subsidy for many other countries to finance Research & Development for technology, and then later export the industry overseas citing high labor costs. The factor in increasing labor costs were health care. That won't be the case going forward. This translates to less exporting of jobs overseas.

Also, we will see the USA use many ideas for health care that are found in other countries and we will see medicine costs and AMA/FDA procedures streamlined considerably. Given the choice to either maintain expensive procedures and raise taxes, or convert to a more efficient system, I see that taxpayers will demand the efficiency and change the policies.

Also, I foresee that some surprises are in our future that prove the regulation of AIG compensation structures will become a welcomed change as citizens mandate efficiencies that create a trend to bring executive compensation back in line with government regulators.

The distress created in the passage of the Health Care bill will have transient anxiety and create urban lore for many years, until we see a museum created that exhibits health care history like a culture transformation.

The most interesting prediction is the new item that divides the rich from the poor. Those who never could manage money, still will be poor, while those who can still become wealthier. The transformation of health care will prove that some of the poorest citizens will remain poor for different reasons. The wealthy will throw this in the faces of legislators for years.; Reply to this comment


by mikejacobskc December 23, 2009 11:10 PM EST: The most significant domestic piece of legislation since Medicare, or maybe Social Security? You've got to be kidding me. Talk about hubris, unbelievable. I hope that a left-right coalition will kill this in the House. No bill is better than a bad bill.; Reply to this comment


by obwan222 December 23, 2009 10:44 PM EST: "Another Obama Record Congressional Pay increase..."

Gee, I hate to confuse you with the facts, but the last pay increase took place on Jan 1, before Obama was even sworn in. And in fact they also voted to reject an automatic cost-of-living increase in 2010.

Just thought you might like to know the truth instead of what you've been told.

would go a long way to reconciling them. The Change we can count on. Back to business as usual.; Reply to this comment