Obama Weighs Major Speech on Health Care

White House Adviser Says President Will Lay Out More Specifics on What He Wants in a Bill

(AP)  President Barack Obama is thinking of throwing more details and personal weight into the debate about a major overhaul of the American health care system, which polls indicate Republicans have been winning in recent weeks.

Faced with falling approval ratings and increasingly impatient with Senate negotiations, Mr. Obama is considering a speech in the next week or so in which he would be "more prescriptive" about what he feels Congress must include in a health bill, top adviser David Axelrod said Tuesday in an interview. Unlike all other wealthy nations, the United States does not have universal health care.

The speech might occur before the Sept. 15 deadline the White House gave Senate negotiators to seek a bipartisan bill, Axelrod said. He suggested that two key Republicans have not bargained in good faith.

Congress reconvenes next Tuesday after an August recess in which critics of Mr. Obama's health proposals dominated many public forums.

Some Obama allies feel he gave too much leeway to Congress, where one bill has passed three House of Representatives committees, another has passed a Senate committee and a third has been bogged down in protracted negotiations in the Senate Finance Committee.

Axelrod indicated that Mr. Obama would not offer new proposals but would be more specific about his top priorities.

"The ideas are all there on the table," Axelrod said. "Now we are in a new phase, and it's time to pull the strands of these together."

He said there is serious discussion in the White House of Mr. Obama "giving a speech that lays out in specific ways what he thinks" about the essential elements of a health care bill.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

Axelrod said it was possible that the speech could occur before a planned Sept. 15 Obama address on health care in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Obama has called for innovations such as a public health insurance plan to compete with private insurers, but he has not insisted on it. It was not clear Tuesday the degree to which he might press for various proposals in a new speech.

Mr. Obama also plans to meet with Democratic congressional leaders when lawmakers reconvene next week.

Axelrod condemned recent comments by two chief Senate Republican negotiators - Charles Grassley and Mike Enzi - who have sharply criticized key elements of Democrats' health care plans even as they insisted that a workable bipartisan plan was possible.

Their remarks, Axelrod said, "were not exactly consistent with good-faith negotiations."

In an August fundraising letter, Grassley asked people for "support in helping me defeat Obama-care." He said Democratic-drafted bills would be "a pathway to a government takeover of the health care system."

Mark Knoller: Obama Up Against Ideology More than Specificity

Enzi, in a radio address Saturday, said Democratic proposals would restrict medical choices and make the country's "finances sicker without saving you money."

The two men are part of a six-senator, bipartisan negotiating team that also includes Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe. Hopes for a workable bipartisan plan have dimmed in recent weeks, and Axelrod's comments were the most dismissive yet from a White House official.

Congress' August recess was brutal for Mr. Obama and his allies, as lawmakers faced raucous crowds denouncing Democrats' health proposals. When Congress comes back Tuesday, Democratic leaders hope to change the dynamic by holding quiet, closed-door sessions with nervous colleagues and arguing that far-reaching health care changes can be good politics as well as good policy.

CBS News Poll: More Wary of Obama on Health Care
CBS News Poll: Two-Thirds Confused by Health Reform

They also hope Republican-led opposition has peaked. But that's far from clear, and Republicans are eager to hand Mr. Obama his first major defeat.

A new CNN/Opinion Research poll found that 53 percent of Americans disapproved of Obama's handling of health care, while 44 percent approved. In March, far more people had approved than disapproved.

Liberal groups have held hundreds of events in a bid to show that a robust overhaul is more popular than August's news reports would suggest.

The message lawmakers will hear when they return to Washington "will be very different than what they heard when August started," said Jacki Schechner of Health Care for America Now. One idea her group will stress, she said, is that the politically smart vote, even in toss-up districts, will support widespread changes meant to expand health insurance coverage and options.

Some Democrats say congressional leaders will have to trim more costs from the health bills even though it would antagonize liberals and make it harder to cover uninsured people, one of Mr. Obama's top goals.

"That's the kind of thing we're going to look at," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a member of the leadership who is tasked with getting his colleagues re-elected.

Republicans approach the coming legislative session feeling upbeat about the ground they gained during the August recess. Some are confident that no amount of closed-door hand-holding of nervous Democratic lawmakers will reverse the momentum.

"After a disastrous month at home, the fact that Democrats' new health care strategy is to hide in Washington from the people who elected them to get health care passed shows what bad shape they're in," said Antonia Ferrier, spokeswoman for House Republican leader John Boehner.

[devilfly1]

Highmark Inc. is a $5 billion health insurance company created from the consolidation of Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield. The company contracted with KPMG Consulting Inc. to create an electronic billing and accounts-receivable system. Highmark claims that KPMG abandoned the two-year, $12 million project after it missed deadlines and experienced cost overruns from mistakes. Highmark claims KPMG was more than a year behind schedule and attempted to charge an additional $8 million to complete the first phase of the project. KPMG spokesman John Schneidawind responded that "We've been able to deliver on our part of the project, but through much of the engagement, Highmark hasn't done its part to ensure a successful implementation of the payment system on time and on budget." Highmark claims that KPMG failed to "satisfactorily" complete the database design detailed application architecture, and software design specifications. Consequently, developers began coding even through the design was not stabile. Highmark states that KPMG admitted that "much of the coding work performed during the summer of 2000 was useless and would have to be redone," which would result in 8,000 additional hours of development time.


Sources: Adapted from Lucas Mearian, "Insurer Sues, Claims KPMG Mismanaged Billing Project, Computerworld, November 12,2001 and Lucas Merain, "Highmark sues KPMG over Failed IT Project," Computerworld, November 7, 2001


What do you think of Reality Bytes?

I did my homework. Paid?

[reveal5]

Hungry... Time will tell. Time will tell.

[hungry1968-16]

by reveal5 September 2, 2009 4:38 PM EDT
Mortarman, one last thing...what is the name of the nonprofit watchdog organization that your wife works with that inspects VA facilities? This would be very helpful in gaining a more thorough perspective.






Hold on reveal -- he has to google it to find out if such a group exists, and then find out the name of the company so that he knows which company his wife allegedly works for.

[hungry1968-16]

by Mortarman29 September 2, 2009 4:30 PM EDT
My wife can speak for the VA though, as she works for a nonprofit watchdog group that is in the business of inspecting the VA and its hospitals on behalf of paralyzed veterans. So, since she IS an expert and yo uare not, I will go with what she says and what she and her people have found.







You said that you and your wife were co-owners of a business, for many years.

This is at least the 4th or 5th lie that you've been caught in, regarding your life and what you allegedly do.

[reveal5]

Mortarman, one last thing...what is the name of the nonprofit watchdog organization that your wife works with that inspects VA facilities? This would be very helpful in gaining a more thorough perspective.

[rhs648]

hungry1968-16

If all congress did was to eliminate preexisting conditions in health insurance policies, that would be enough reform to satisfy a lot of people.


And what would the result of that be?

The insurance companies would cry, "It's going to cost us too much money!!" and then they'd TRIPLE the cost of the premiums that we pay.

Do you REALLY think they are going to eat a loss like that, and not pass it on?

You conservatives really need to think things out before you regurgitate the Fox News stupidity.


And what would the result of that be?

The insurance companies would cry, "It's going to cost us too much money!!" and then they'd TRIPLE the cost of the premiums that we pay.

Do you REALLY think they are going to eat a loss like that, and not pass it on?

You conservatives really need to think things out before you regurgitate the Fox News stupidity.

-------------------------------

Thank you Hungray for admitting that having to insure people with preexisting conditions or prior problems would mean insurance companies would have to eat a loss. If that is true of insurance companies, that would be true of a government sponsored health insurance program. The taxpayers would, in effect, take the losses. Hopefully, you can now see why insurance companies have prexistin conditions clauses in their contracts. If you don't, why not force auto makers to sell cars at a loss. Why not refrigerator manufacturers? Thank you Hungary.

[novamba]

Neither republicans nor democrats care what happens to us. They care about staying in power while giving the impression of caring enough so that we keep them in power to fatten their pockets.. Unversal health care is fine if we as americans are ok with having to pay 50 to 60% in taxes as most of those European countries that offer universal health care collect.

[hungry1968-16]

But if by a 'liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a 'liberal' then I'm proud to say I'm a 'liberal.'" -- Ted Kennedy

[Mortarman29]

He is quoting Ted Kennedy!!!! LOL!

[Questionews]

I see that many on the left are failing to address the Democrats that are not "going along with the program"? They're the ones that are keeping the bill from being voted on. If Dems could come together just this once to pass this legislation the arguement would be over. You can blame Repubs until you're blue in the face, but Repubs are the opposition so I can understand their resistance-political reasons I'm sure. Dems are the ones that are preventing a vote because they know they don't have the numbers within their own party. Now that the polls are turning against health care reform it's even less likely that these "Blue Dogs" are going to change their minds-political reasons I'm sure. It sure doesn't seem that the Democrats are talking advantage of their majority right now and those opportunities don't come too often. Too bad, because that window could close if the public views them as dysfunctional. If you're going to blamestorm at least aim a little better than the side of a barn.

[reveal5]

Actually, the tide is beginning to turn. Democrats are not gonna keep playing to the Republicans if the Republicans are not going to support reform. Also, the public is beginning to wake up to the lies, paranoia, hysteria, and general peculiarity of the "Tea Party" crowd. The public is now beginning to learn more of how reform will help the average American. The public is beginning to now realize that Medicare seniors are the most socialistically subsidized group in America and that these seniors are hollering the loudest about "standing on your own two feet" while receiving almost 3 times more from Medicare than these seniors paid into Medicare. The public will understand more as the next couple of months go along. The public will do what is in the public's best interest...support reform. And the fringe will do what the fringe does best...show that they need psychological help.

[woeisme1]

Boy I'll tell you, the republicans know no limit to their hypocisy.

While they sit on these boards spouting off their mis-information campaign and deranged ideology. While they sit here and tell us how great their party is, Republican Governor of Minnesota, Bobby Jindahl is found to have mis-appropiated taxpayer money (lot's of it) to take a trip to Louisiana for personal business. Was'nt he the one a couple of weeks ago claiming that democrats were wasteful with tax dollars???????

Oh the hypocrisy of the republicans should drive them into seclusion out of shear embarrassment alone!

Oh and this is the best part . Jindahl mis-appropiated that money to do what? To fly to Louisiana to attend CHURCH!

Typical....just typical and arrogant republican hypocrisy!! And we should believe anything they tell us? Right. Hold your breath republicans.

[hungry1968-16]

Actually he's the governor of Louisiana, and he flew all around the state over 5 months to attend different church services around the state.

But this is also the guy that complained and whined about the stimulus money, and 2 months later he bragged and patted himself on the back about how much stimulus money he was able to secure for the state's construction projects.

Hypocrisy doesn't even begin to describe conservatives!! They are so much worse than simple "hypocrites"!!

Just look at Mortar!

[hungry1968-16]

by Barksdale4 September 2, 2009 3:49 PM EDT
Did anybody else get the e-mail from Organizing for America which MicHELLe runs out of the White House that is blaming the press for not debunking Obama's lies about the health care bill.







Another chain e-mail fabricated in Fox News headquarters?

Sorry, I'm not a subscriber to "BS-is-us".

I prefer to live in reality, not "Fox News Land".

[hungry1968-16]

by Mortarman29 September 2, 2009 3:49 PM EDT
No it inst. Our Constitution is the highest law in the land, not the Geneva Convention. And as has been noted earlier by Supreme Court decisions, that a treaty is inconsistent with our Constitution, the treaty is null and void.







The Geneva Conventions ARE NOT inconsistent with our constitution.

They are Geneva Conventions AND our constitution is inconsistent with conservatism, and that's why the conservatives tried to ignore both of them.

[hungry1968-16]

by Mortarman29 September 2, 2009 3:46 PM EDT
I dont support the HOMs, so yo uare as wrong as usual Hungry. Just because I dont support government run care, soesnt mean I support the way priavte firms are doing things.

I support competition and liberty. When we get that, then we'll have what we need and want. the rest is just eye wash.







Liberty and freedom have been eliminated by greedy capitalists that have determined that they should have ALL of the money, and we should work to support them.

[hungry1968-16]

by Mortarman29 September 2, 2009 3:41 PM EDT
Hungry is always on the wrong side of everything.







I explained it to you yesterday, and you never replied with a sensible answer.

[Mortarman29]

Hungry, you never explain anything. You just spew what you have been told by the guards there as they put you back in your cell.

[hungry1968-16]

by Mortarman29 September 2, 2009 3:34 PM EDT
No Gitmo doesnt circumvent the Constitution. The president was prosecuting a war. In war, there are prisoners. it is up to the Commander in Chief how to deal with the war, including how to deal with the prisoners.

Wholly consistent with the Constitution.






It's not up to the president, you moron!!

It's up to the Geneva Conventions!!

[Mortarman29]

No it inst. Our Constitution is the highest law in the land, not the Geneva Convention. And as has been noted earlier by Supreme Court decisions, that a treaty is inconsistent with our Constitution, the treaty is null and void.

[actornaught]

by trapbreaking September 2, 2009 12:57 PM EDT
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 28%...

And the latest Gallup Daily is 54% approve, 40% disapprove.

So what? You lost. Get over it.

[reveal5]

What is absolutely clear is that absolute facts are not enough to sway some fringe right wingers away from theor absolute cluelessness and incoherence. These fringe folks are militia types, anarchists, paranoics, narcissists, birthers, deathers, sociopaths, etc., etc. There is a need for mental health counseling inherent in the fringe viewpoints. There is a need to recognize this group as an "at risk" and "challenged" very small portion of society at large. These folks are preyed upon by the "Tea Party" organisers and the GOP. These fringe folks are daily mentally and psychologically abused by right wing talk radio and the "Tea Party" organisers along with big insurance. These folks need healthcare reform. These folks show the unmistakeable fact that they are not receiving the mental health help that they need so much. These fringe folks are all walking billboards for healthcare reform. They need help and are obviously not receiving it. This makes the fringe the perfect victims for the GOP and big insurance sharks who prey on them like minnows. Help these folks on the fringe. Allow these fringe right wingers the psychological and psychiatric help they so clearly need. Support healthcare reform. Allow compassion for the " challenged" fringe in American society. Support reform.

[Mortarman29]

Reveal, the abosulte facts are that facts are not enough to sway some fringe left wingers from pushing government run care (or the run up to that).

I support reform. Reform is NOT more government involvement. Government involvement is what we are trying to get away from, what we need to reform from!

[reveal5]

Mortarman, I understand your viewpoint. I did not mention "Constitutionalists" in my post. I believe in healthcare reform. I believe in the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. I believe in American history and the judicial history of the Supreme Court. I believe veterans when they rate VA care above the level that private patients rate their care. I believe in all these things. This is why I can not agree with your viewpoints. I also believe in Freedom of Speech and your absolute right to express your viewpoints even if over 95% of America does not agree with your viewpoints . I also believe that one of the things that makes America great is freedom of speech. The right to fuss and cuss and fume, and cuss and fuss and fume some more...is a pretty good deal. The point is that we are all Americans.

[hungry1968-16]

by Mortarman29 September 2, 2009 3:36 PM EDT
Maybe it is, Hungry. But that has nothing to do with government healthcare. That should NEVER be allowed!







You're a moron.

A typically brain dead conservative.

You're supporting the HMO's in their quest to drain the middle class of all of their money, even though it's financially going to harm you, and successive members of your own family.

Someday you'll realize that you're nothing but a tool for the republicans.

[Mortarman29]

I dont support the HOMs, so yo uare as wrong as usual Hungry. Just because I dont support government run care, soesnt mean I support the way priavte firms are doing things.

I support competition and liberty. When we get that, then we'll have what we need and want. the rest is just eye wash.

[hungry1968-16]

by slownewsday_5 September 2, 2009 3:36 PM EDT
"by Mortarman29 September 2, 2009 3:31 PM EDT
Sorry Slow"

You sure are!

If you believe, as an alternative to the proposed public insurance option, that health care should be allowed to be sold across state lines, then you'd accept a similar agency, right??







That's yet another horrible idea that the republicans created, that is going to end up hurting America.

[Mortarman29]

Hungry is always on the wrong side of everything.

[hungry1968-16]

by rhs648 September 2, 2009 3:27 PM EDT

If all congress did was to eliminate preexisting conditions in health insurance policies, that would be enough reform to satisfy a lot of people.






And what would the result of that be?

The insurance companies would cry, "It's going to cost us too much money!!" and then they'd TRIPLE the cost of the premiums that we pay.

Do you REALLY think they are going to eat a loss like that, and not pass it on?

You conservatives really need to think things out before you regurgitate the Fox News stupidity.