Obama: Consensus Exists For Health Reform

“We Can No Longer Let The Perfect Be The Enemy Of The Essential,” President Says At White House Health Care Summit

(CBS/AP)  President Barack Obama says the clear consensus from the White House health care summit is an immediate need for reform.

Wrapping up the nearly daylong session, Obama said the participants - doctors, lawmakers, insurers, even skeptics - were universal in agreement that the need for health care reform “is here and now.”

The president said the White House would be convening a series of meetings on health care matters in the coming weeks. He said today’s sessions had been extraordinarily productive.

"I just want to make sure that I don’t get in the way of all of you moving aggressively and rapidly,” he told attendees.

"There is a moral component to this that we can't leave behind,” he said. “However, if we don’t address cost, I don’t care how heartfelt our efforts our, we will not get this done."

"We've got to balance heart and head as we move this process forward,” he added.

Mr. Obama entered the forum’s question and answer session with Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who is battling a brain tumor. After brief remarks summarizing the participants' observations, Obama called on Kennedy. The veteran Democratic senator said he looked forward to being a foot soldier in the push for health care reform and said: “this time we will not fail.” (More on Kennedy’s appearance.)

The president quoted Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on the health care issue, saying, in a reference to the film “Thelma and Louise,” “We're in the car headed toward the cliff and we must act.”

At another moment in the question and answer session, the president cut off House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel when Rangel began speaking after Mr. Obama asked him if his Republican counterpart on the committee was in the room.

“Well what I meant, Charlie, was let’s give him the mic,” the president quipped, to laughter from the crowd. (Read more.)

Earlier, the president opened the forum with the declaration that “the status quo is the one option that is not on the table.”

The session and meetings to follow around the country show the new president's push for expanded health insurance will be more open and inclusive than the Clinton administration's failed attempt of 15 years ago.

“In this effort, every voice must be heard. Every idea must be considered. Every option must be on the table. There will be no sacred cows in this discussion,” Obama said, calling the issue the greatest threat to the foundation of the U.S. economy. He also issued a warning: “Those who seek to block any reform at any cost will not prevail this time around.”

The president added that in looking for solutions, “we can no longer let the perfect be the enemy of the essential.” (Read the president's opening remarks in full.)

The U.S. system is the world's costliest and leaves an estimated 48 million people uninsured.

Mr. Obama, unlike President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, is not telling Congress exactly what he wants in a health care bill - only that costs must be contained and that, eventually, there must be quality, affordable health care for all, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Plante.

Clinton promised to veto any health-care measure that didn't give him what he sought.

This time, Obama said, “Each of us must accept that none of us will get everything we want.” And, he said, “While everyone has a right to take part in this discussion, no one has the right to take it over.”

Obama is setting a rigorous timeline to address the “crushing cost of health care this year, in this administration.” His advisers say he's determined to pass legislation in his first year in office, and they say while he hopes for a bipartisan measure, he won't be deterred by ideological fights.

"What better time than now, and what better cause for us to take on," he said.

On Capitol Hill, Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate rallied behind him, saying Thursday that they hoped to have a health care reform measure passed by the end of the summer.

Still, the political reality of reshaping the complex medical system is certain to intervene as the broad discussion about the need for reform gives way to the details. Those may well conflict with the priorities of a host of stakeholders, including patients, doctors, labor unions, drug companies, businesses and employers, insurers and lawmakers up for re-election next year.

At the same time, there's also a fundamental fault line between Democrats and Republicans over the role of government in the health care system.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky released a letter to Mr. Obama, saying his party is ready to work with the administration on health care, but warning that reforms should not lead to a government-run system, and must balance coverage expansions with curbs on costs.

The criticism was harsher from some other Republicans.

"We're going to wind up with less choice, less patient control and, at the end of the day, we're going to do what government's always do and we're going to ration care," Rep. John Shadegg, R-AZ, told CBS News.

For now, Obama is seeking to use his popularity as a new president and the public's high level of frustration with medical costs to get something done on the thorny issue without making the same mistakes as the last Democratic president.

In hindsight, both supporters and opponents agree that Clinton made a series of missteps and miscalculations that doomed his plan from the outset.

With first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton leading the charge, the measure was written by the White House with little input from lawmakers or interest groups. Stakeholders of all sides complained they were shut out of the process. Clinton's veto threat also limited his room to negotiate.

This time, Obama is making a very public point to consult with people at the start of deliberations.

Hence, more than 120 people from all sectors - and with a wide range of viewpoints - were taking part in the program. They included longtime health reform heavyweights, including the cancer-battling Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, and some people who helped kill Clinton's overhaul in the 1990s. (See a full list of forum participants.)

Also unlike Clinton, Obama is planning to send only broad principles to Congress of what he wants to see in the bill, such as increased coverage and controlled costs. The House and Senate will be left to do the heavy lifting. And, Obama is planning to hold a series of health care forums outside of Washington to solicit ideas and drum up support for his plan.

[alanrobisch]

Amazing........a President who actually ASKS for input from ALL sides. What a 180 from the last president. And what a REFRESHING CHANGE...............
Posted by raflin1 at 6:15 AM

Yes if he listened to them. Its a charade. Bosses asks you for suggestions and then ignores them.

[chitown639]

The irony is, the primary customer of the health insurance industry is the government. The government pays most of the premiums for its employees. I can't afford health insurance because I have to pay taxes, so the government employees can have health insurance. go figure...
Posted by oftencensord

Well, if we had universal health care in this country you wouldnt have that problem...would you???

[oftencensord]

The irony is, the primary customer of the health insurance industry is the government. The government pays most of the premiums for its employees. I can't afford health insurance because I have to pay taxes, so the government employees can have health insurance. go figure...

[payasyougo]

"Obama: Consensus Exists For Health Reform"
----
There is no lack of low cost/free healthcare availability. Ask any illegal alien.

[msay3]

Question is, where will U.S. citizens go when U.S. medical expertise no longer exists?
Posted by dmb35 at 8:09 PM : Mar 5, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ummmmm...CHINA??

[rhs648]

No! The Wealthy come to this nation because they do not want to be treated as just another citizen. When their greed and selfishness demand they be first and most important. In a recent Poll in the Country to our North the people wanted their system over ours by better than 80%. Now since they are flat kicking our butts in the Global Economy, I'd say we should focus on what they are doing that is so right and forget about the Greedy and Selfish.
Posted by skyk-2009

Coming to the United States for health care has nothing to do with greed. They want good health care. The masses must suffer with mediore health care in countries with socialized or national health care. Sort of like vacations. You go on a world cruise if you can afford it or an amusement park if you can't afford the cruise.

[rhs648]

There have been reports of increases in hate crimes. That happens everytime the economy is in trouble both here and in other countries. It seems to go with the territory.

[rhs648]

Try reading about the Treaty of Versailles and you'll get a better handle on the driver behind Hitler's rise.....
Posted by formrusmcsgt

Try reading about the German economy in Germany between WWI and WWII and you will understand how it happened.

[formrusmcsgt]

It is because of a bad economy that Hitler was able to rise to power in Germany.
Posted by rhs648 at 4:11 AM : Mar 6, 2009

Try reading about the Treaty of Versailles and you'll get a better handle on the driver behind Hitler's rise.....

[rhs648]

Funny how liberal socialists use the word "consensus" as a measure to persuade others to their side. It is "peoples" in Russia, Cuba, etc.. I actually heard a socialist on TV the other day say "the peoples health care plan". Like Obama's Marxist comment "share the wealth" occasionally, they do have a slip of the tongue.
Posted by budmag06

Further, they look for an opportunity such as an ailing economy to force their socialistic beliefs on the rest of us. How many people are disenfranchised doesn't matter to them. It is because of a bad economy that Hitler was able to rise to power in Germany.

[skyk-2009]

I c Comrade Obambi and his Merry Men, Tim, the tax cheat, Harry the king of the senate, all wanting to take money from people who produce and give it to those who don't.
Achtung Comrade Obambi. Now get real, do something other than hold high profile meetings and let the american people see the bills you want passed and quit this crazy spending of money that is not yours, you don't have, won't ever have and quit this generational Theft.
Posted by platteman at 3:36 AM : Mar 6, 200

Do you "Ditto Heads" still think people are paying attention to any of this anymore? We have had this problem now for a long long time. Every time someone comes forward and tries to do something about it, this is what we get from the Radical Right. No solutions, no ideas... NOTHING but this same OLD tired Propaganda. I've read it so much from them I could write it for them if they wished. The problem is still there today and is much much worse. We know it can be fixed because EVERY Industrialized Nation on the planet is paying less and covering all their people. We most certainly are not going to get there listening to the Rush Limballs crowd though, that's for sure.

[formrusmcsgt]

How is that? They will still be sick and on our streets. Chances are their conditions will worsen with time and spread problems to other American's who do eat, drink and do not smoke. A germ knows nothing about politics!
Posted by skyk-2009 at 4:01 AM : Mar 6, 2009

Heart disease is not contagious. Neither is cancer. Neither is diabetes.

If gluttons, alcholics, smokers, and drug abusers had to pay directly for the ramifications of their stupid decisions, the rest of us wouldn't have to shoulder the cost.

[skyk-2009]

People from countries with socialized health care come to the United States when their countries won't treat them, either because they are too far down on the waiting list for MRI, knee surgery, heart surgery, etc. or because the United States medical field has developed surgical methods through research other countries aren't capable of doing due to their socialized health care limitations. Question is, where will U.S. citizens go when U.S. medical expertise no longer exists?
Posted by dmb35 at 8:09 PM : Mar 5, 2009

No! The Wealthy come to this nation because they do not want to be treated as just another citizen. When their greed and selfishness demand they be first and most important. In a recent Poll in the Country to our North the people wanted their system over ours by better than 80%. Now since they are flat kicking our butts in the Global Economy, I'd say we should focus on what they are doing that is so right and forget about the Greedy and Selfish.

[rhs648]

Obama should sign a law annuling all medical debt held by any US citizen. I cannot imagine a greater economic booster.
Posted by dimebag5151 at 3:48 AM : Mar 6, 2009

Refusing benefits to those who, by their own choice, eat, smoke, drink, or drug themselves into a medical condition would cut our medical costs by half.
Posted by formrusmcsgt

That is exactly what should be done to further weaken the economy. The last think we need now are further shocks to the economy. Not everyone cares about the economy, just a new world order.

[skyk-2009]

Refusing benefits to those who, by their own choice, eat, smoke, drink, or drug themselves into a medical condition would cut our medical costs by half.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 3:53 AM : Mar 6, 2009


How is that? They will still be sick and on our streets. Chances are their conditions will worsen with time and spread problems to other American's who do eat, drink and do not smoke. A germ knows nothing about politics!

[formrusmcsgt]

Obama should sign a law annuling all medical debt held by any US citizen. I cannot imagine a greater economic booster.
Posted by dimebag5151 at 3:48 AM : Mar 6, 2009

Refusing benefits to those who, by their own choice, eat, smoke, drink, or drug themselves into a medical condition would cut our medical costs by half.

[dimebag5151]

Obama should sign a law annuling all medical debt held by any US citizen. I cannot imagine a greater economic booster.

[platteman]

Obambicare, Hillarycare2.0, Massasschutescare 1.5, or Hawaiicare 3.0. All it is doing is taking money from my pocket and giving it to some deadbeat who doesn't work to pay for their unhealthy lifestyle choices. What a crock. Lots of words for limited care for the elderly, the people in the middle and platinum care for the lazy ***s who don't work and to pay for illegal aliens and their kids.
I c Comrade Obambi and his Merry Men, Tim, the tax cheat, Harry the king of the senate, all wanting to take money from people who produce and give it to those who don't.
Achtung Comrade Obambi. Now get real, do something other than hold high profile meetings and let the american people see the bills you want passed and quit this crazy spending of money that is not yours, you don't have, won't ever have and quit this generational Theft.

[USA41USA41]

AMERICANS UNITE SUPPORT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. EVERYONE NEEDS HEALTH CARE. I AM RETIRED MILITARY MY FAMILY AND I ARE COVERED THANKS TO TRICARE. MY PARENTS, IN-LAWS, TEENAGE NEICE AND NEPHEWS, BABY NEPHEW AND NIECES ARE NOT COVERED. THEIR PARENTS MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THE CHILDREN TO QUALIFY FOR HEALTH CARE THROUGH THE STATE AND THEY DON'T WORK ENOUGH HOURS OR THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT THROUGH THEIR JOBS. AND MY OLDER LOVED ONES ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR MEDICARE OR SOCIAL SECURITY SO THEY STILL HAVE TO WAIT 6 MONTHS, 1 YEAR, AND 3 YEARS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP THESE UNSERVED PEOPLE. IT IS IMPREATIVE THAT WE ACT ON THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE THINKING THAT IT IS OK FOR PEOPLE TO NOT HAVE HEALTH CARE. WE NED TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT OBAMA OUR PRESIDENT. WE NEED TO CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NEEDS TO UNITE. WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY AND MOST AMERICANS DO NOT WANT TO LIVE ANY WHERE ELSE. COUNTRY FIRST IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE LAND IT IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE. PRESIDENT OBAMA BELIEVES IN COUNTRY FIRST THAT IS WHY HE SINCERELY WANTS TO FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO EVERYONE WHO FALLS THROUGH THE PROVERBIAL CRACK. WE MUST BE STRONG AND HANG ON BECAUSE HE IS TRYING EVEN THOUGH OTHERS ARE NOT TRYING TO HELP. WE NEED TO SPEAK UP TO THESE SENATORS AND CONGRESS PERSONS AND INFORM THEM THAT THEY NEED TO WAKE UP - THEY GET FREE HEALTH CARE AND RAISES WHENEVER THEY WANT - WE NEED TO BE HEALTHY - HEALTH CARE. C'MON AMERICA. THANK YOU AMERICA.

[pizzanick]

Disappointed at the comments from the right side of the spectrum on this board. Nothing but name calling. There is the same on the left, but conservatives like us are supposed to be better than that. I am a conservative that supports government health care. It works well in countries that have it and is a competitive advantage for the businesses that reside there. GM, Ford, Chrysler, and other American companies are in danger of becoming extinct because they have health care expenses to deal with. My company subsidizes over 85% of the cost of my family's health care every month. That is a noose on every American business' income statement. That is cash they could use to go hire another employee. Those who don't understand that should educate themselves on this issue before posting ignorant and childish comments on this board. Watch the Michael Moore video on SICKO first and then come back and post.