Obama Tries to Reclaim Health Care Debate

Advisers Hit the Airwaves ahead of Major Speech Wednesday; Public Option Preferred but Not a Deal-Breaker

(CBS)  As Americans observe this unofficial last weekend of summer, the Obama administration is gearing up for a busy week and relaunching its massive push for health care reform.

Today, President Obama's top advisors hit the airwaves. The debate on capitol hill is heating up again and on Wednesday the president takes his case directly to the public, as CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier reports.

After months of speeches, interviews and town hall meetings, this Wednesday, the President will tell Congress and the American people something they haven't heard before: exactly what he wants to see in health care reform.

As White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs put it, "people will leave that speech knowing where he stands."

That may answer whether President Obama will insist on the controversial "public option," a government-provided health insurance alternative. The White House was still avoiding directly answering that question today.

"He believes the public option is a good tool," White House adviser David Axelrod said today. "It shouldn't define the whole health care debate, however."

But after the media read that soundbyte as a retreat from the public option - the White House fired back that it's still on their preferred option. It's just not a deal-breaker.

Until now, the White House has resisted drafting its own bill - instead, offering general ideas. The president wanted Congress to come up with the specifics in bipartisan legislation so he wouldn't be accused of dictating a plan, or some critics say risk his personal prestige backing individual parts of the bill.

But that's given the president's opposition free rein to frame the debate.

And the intense media focus on the normal, ugly bruising process of drafting any bill - the political squabbling, the missed deadlines - has turned the American public off. They've blamed the president, and now he's got to win them back.

"This is probably a make-or-break week for the president's health care plan," said Politico senior editor David Mark.

Mr. Obama's national approval rating has dropped to 56 percent, according to a Sept. 1 CBS News poll. That's the lowest to date during his term and down from 68 percent in April. But he's still arguably the most popular politician in the land.

"They still very much like the president personally," Marks aid. "So I think he's going to use his own starpower to try and sell that to Congress."

One thing it has done is spooked some of those lawmakers into action. Sen. Max Baucus is convening the main group working on the senate version of the bill Tuesday, to try to come up with their version, before the president takes control of the debate.

[janun1]

I am reading all ur comments ; but not one has had anything happen to them now with this going on -- i work for well-know pharmacy retail store - we have been informed they are dropping their HMO's for their employees and going the route of ppo's to save their company millions of dollars. This seems to me to result from this health insurance bill. I am a middle class person who needs health coverage also . This change to a PPO is going to end up costing me more in the long run - co-insurance, deductibles, out of pocket expense, etc. Is this New health bill going to help us all low income, middle , etc . or break us ( money out per month ) ?

[Ilikemyfreedom]

Could someone ask the following request of President Obama..."President Obama, could you supply a copy of your Health Care Reform Plan?" As he was trying to reclaim the debate, he continued to refer to his 'plan'. Has anyone actually seen it? Would like an opportunity to read it. He discussed how his 'plan' has been misrepresented, making reference to Sarah Palin's 'death panels' or stating that his 'plan', illegals will not be covered. Also, he has repeated many times, if we like our coverage, we can keep our coverage.
Not asking for the moon, just a copy of President Obama's Heath Care Reform Plan. Anyone else curious?

[HPM2009]

President Obama did an excellent job sharing his ideas and beliefs about the health care system and changes last night. Unmentioned details that are imperative to discuss, however, are transparency, employer and employee engagement, transportable medical records and increased competition. Wrapped around the removal of impediments to competition, all of the above will allow the private market to thrive. The call for increased accountability on the part of the nation?s businesses requires more than a mandate to insure ? give cost-cutting technology to the entities paying the bills, as they have the greatest motive to find waste, overcharging, lower prices and alternative medical solutions. The end result of this is that the private market will force the insurers to be competitive. When transparency and alternatives are absent, consumers suffer from higher prices, fewer services and less choice - which is where we stand right now.

Keith Lemer
WellNet
http://www.wellnethealthcare.com

[govmess]

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

This one is a little different...
Two Different Versions! .................
Two Different Morals!


OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!


MODERN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying u p supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper n ext to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.. America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing,
'It's Not Easy Being Green.'

Acorn stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Rev. Jeremiah Wright then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.


Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ants food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.

[vdema-2009]

If the proposed health plan is so great,why are all members of congress and the major unions exempt from it? The people writing this legislation and those in congress supporting it will not explain how it will NOT destroy small businesses who now provide employee health insurance. Ask the President to explain why this proposed health care bill SPECIFICALLY WILL NOT ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES???? Do these people know what they are proposing,or is it just a power grab?

[nmben]

A bill birthed by Grassley and Baucus is not change we can believe in. This is just another way of giving the health insurance companies 40 million more hostages.


The President needs to take charge of the most important agenda of his presidency. Wednesday, he needs to come out in a clear and compelling way for a robust health reform plan, with the public option at its core.

He needs to return to the Iowa winter and Virginia spring, the hunger, the dream - all that was hopeful and lofty.

[govmess]

The Tea Pary Express just completed their rally in New Lenox/Joliet, IL which is just outside of Barack Obama's bastion of Chicago. And they had by far the largest crowd yet! GO AMERICAN, STOP HIS POLITICAL ARROGANCE!!!

[healthcareformymom]

Health Care and my Mom

This blog is to follow the responses from the government and the media following a letter I sent on supporting healthcare reform. I plan to post all responses no matter what the content as the healthcare reform continues to struggle for life just as my Mom does.

http://reformformymom.blogspot.com/

[alanrobisch]

Hungry I hate to break this to you but presidents often present bills to congress just as clinton did in the early 90's. It simply didn't work. there was open debate no town hall meetings and yet it failed. It seems the inherent idea does not resonate with a majority of americans. Medicare and Medicaid are govt run health care and they are bleeding us dry. Medicare due to the baby boomer aging will soon be insolvent without significant increases in taxes or reduction in cost. It seems that the need is for incentives to be given the average user of health care to use it responsibly. When somehting is essentially free like Medicare people will use it at will without any concern for cost.

[hungry1968-16]

by Northyorksailor September 7, 2009 12:45 PM EDT
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/14c4467822/government-health-care







It was childish and boring.

I had to turn it off, 20 seconds in.

I don't know if it was pro or against health care reform, but please grow up.

[Northyorksailor]

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/14c4467822/government-health-care

[hungry1968-16]

by alanrobisch September 7, 2009 10:47 AM EDT
So do I but I think reforms may be done without a public option etc. As I said above he is trying to sell an idea not a plan. People want to know how it will affect them not how it will affect someone else. I watch Fox regularly. I also read the NYT and my local paper and find disdain for people who do not agree with OBama. disdain for the average guy and I am not the ordinary guy since I have a ba in Histopry and get paid close to the the triple figures. People who called Obama's opponents a mob are unwilling to accept genuine anger and distrust of Obama and the way he is governing. See Charles Krauthammer's latest column or David Brooks of the NYT column. Obama is treating American's as children who need to be informed and not as adults with legitmate concerns about his plans. He is an extraordinarily arroigant individual whose views are well away from the main stream of american thought.







It's obvious that you watch Fox News. You're pathetically misinformed. And I would no more read some nonsense from Charles Krauthammer, than I would watch crazy Glenn Beck, or Fat Rush the junkie.

And if the people don't like being referred to as a "mob", then maybe they should come out and respectfully ask their senators and congress people LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS, instead of screaming and yelling in an effort to PREVENT discussion / debate of the issues.

You don't have to agree with what is being proposed, but how does STOPPING debate or discussion help anything?

[alanrobisch]

Problem is simple based on what you have said he has no plan so how can he convince people to support something that doesn't exist. sorry you don't like Krauthammer but he just won an award fo opinion jounalism. You might find youself agreeing with him. I read voraciously on all sides and so far as best as I can figure out Obama and the people who want the public option simply want to create the beginnings of a single payer plan as he has stated. I think this may be part of his problem is that he doesn't want to tell us his true goals because they run contrary to what many americans want.

[hungry1968-16]

by alanrobisch September 7, 2009 10:39 AM EDT
yup but this is the center piece of his plans for america and he has no specifics to tell what is the purpose of another high flown speech. Until he comes up with context and how it will affect most americans he is selling a pig in a poke. It won't sell especially on the magnitude he wants.








AGAIN -- I'll type slower for you this time.

Obama IS NOT creating the legislation - congress is.

Congress is NOT DONE creating the legislation, and HAS NOT sent it to Obama yet for him to read and sign.

Obama CANNOT give the specifics of what IS and what IS NOT in the legislation, until congress and the senate finish creating it.

Learn how your government works and / or quit watching Fox News.

[hungry1968-16]

by IAmSpartacus September 7, 2009 9:59 AM EDT

Sorry, it's not working. Most thinking people already realize that anybody in America can get treated for free in a hospital emergency room, regardless of ability to pay.







No kidding dumbassss - everyone knows that everyone can get treated in an emergency room. That's not the issue.

The issue is how many people can afford that trip to the ER?

The NUMBER ONE cause of bankruptcies in America, is catastrophic medical issues / problems.

And half of those that DO go bankrupt because of catastrophic medical issues / problems, have health insurance.

There's nothing you can do to make yourself "self reliant" in a situation like a devastating accident, or an immediate family member gets cancer.

You're obviously too uninformed to follow the conversation, or understand the true nature of the problem. I'll bet you watch Fox News too, don't you?

[alanrobisch]

So do I but I think reforms may be done without a public option etc. As I said above he is trying to sell an idea not a plan. People want to know how it will affect them not how it will affect someone else. I watch Fox regularly. I also read the NYT and my local paper and find disdain for people who do not agree with OBama. disdain for the average guy and I am not the ordinary guy since I have a ba in Histopry and get paid close to the the triple figures. People who called Obama's opponents a mob are unwilling to accept genuine anger and distrust of Obama and the way he is governing. See Charles Krauthammer's latest column or David Brooks of the NYT column. Obama is treating American's as children who need to be informed and not as adults with legitmate concerns about his plans. He is an extraordinarily arroigant individual whose views are well away from the main stream of american thought.

[hungry1968-16]

by alanrobisch September 7, 2009 9:45 AM EDT
hungry i think that the obvious problem for Obama is that he hasn't made a case for reform of the magnitude he is suggesting and he has given no specifics because as far as I can see he does not have a majority for any plan.






Congress is creating the legislation - Obama can only sign it into law.

Since Obama doesn't know what is, or what isn't going to be in the legislation, how could he advocate for it one way or the other?

It's kind of hard to spell out the specifics of the plan, when he has no input on it, and doesn't know what will be included and what won't - don't you agree?

[alanrobisch]

yup but this is the center piece of his plans for america and he has no specifics to tell what is the purpose of another high flown speech. Until he comes up with context and how it will affect most americans he is selling a pig in a poke. It won't sell especially on the magnitude he wants.

[hungry1968-16]

by clancy49 September 7, 2009 6:33 AM EDT

The death clause is written so ambiguously it can be interpreted either way, so both sides are right.







There is no "death clause". There is NOTHING about a "living will" that could be interpreted as a "death clause" and there is no such language to even suggest that a "plug would get pulled".

You claim that you've read it, but quite obviously you didn't understand it.

[alanrobisch]

hungry i think that the obvious problem for Obama is that he hasn't made a case for reform of the magnitude he is suggesting and he has given no specifics because as far as I can see he does not have a majority for any plan.

Also something advocates for the reform bills ios that we can't afford them.

david brooks spoke of perverse incentives in our health care system such as doctors insisting on doing unnecessary tests which cost the individual no more money since they do not pay for them directly and doctores want to avoid the possibility that if they don't do the test thye will be sued and will not be able to prove they showed necessary dilligence.

[jaysmouth]

Arguments with no substance are awesome. I love reading something and realizing that I just read nothing.

I loved people during the election who blamed Obama for being radical but were then ready to vote for McCain.

The guy who owns 20 houses is more like me!

I also love all these people who are in love with Obama. Obama isn't corrupt. Him laughing at the idea of legalizing marijuana is all I needed to know he was a crook. Good luck with HOPE .. He will give you some hope alright. You will hope your next crush isn't a jerk like Obama was.

He will give you some health care too. Some more expensive health care! All that matters to Obama is that the corporations make profits. Just like McCain.

[bckeye100]

I have yet to hear anyone speak to the bureaucratic quagmire HR 3200 guarantees. In my lifetime (70 years) I can't think of one instance where the government has managed to run one thing efficiently. Thanks to the Dept of Transportation and Commerce Dept our infrastructure is falling apart, Social Security is bankrupt after years of Congress stealing money from the Trust Fund, Medicare is bankrupt with 20% cuts being proposed by this administration, and cash for clunkers is a joke. One of our local GM dealers currently has over 240 clunkers on his lot and has so far been paid for one vehicle. Why not give the clunkers(the majority are road worthy) to those who don't have any transportation. Maybe they could go out and find a job, get off welfare, become productive, and not need my tax dollars. I have read the first 362 pages of the bill and don't have a clue what it really means. What it does say is the following;

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, appointed by Obama, will run the entire program and will decide what HR 3200 says, how it will be interpreted and how it will be implemented. Obama will select the Health Choices Commissioner who will head The Health Choices Administration which will establish the Health Benefits Advisory Committee to be chaired by the Surgeon General. The committee will be comprised of 9 members selected by Obama, 9 members who will be appointed by the Comptroller General of the United States, an appointee of Obama's, and an even number of members (not to exceed 8) who will also be selected by Obama. The Health Choices Commissioner is responsible for carrying out the following functions under this division:

(1) QUALIFIED PLAN STANDARDS- Establishment of qualified health benefits plan standards and enforcement of such standards.
(2) HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE- The establishment and operation of a Health Insurance Exchange under subtitle A of title II.
(3) INDIVIDUAL AFFORDABILITY CREDITS- The administration of individual affordability credits and the determination of eligibility for such credits.
(4) ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS- Such additional functions as may be specified in this division.
(5) PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY-The Commissioner shall undertake activities to promote accountability of QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS in meeting Federal health insurance requirements.
In General- The Commissioner shall appoint within the Health Choices Administration a Qualified Health Benefits Plan Ombudsman. The Commissioner will also appoint a Special Inspector General for the Health Insurance Exchange-

HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE TRUST FUND
Ombudsman- The Secretary shall establish an office of the ombudsman for the public health insurance option. His duties will be similar to the duties of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman under section 1808(c)(2) of the Social Security Act.

In General- The Secretary shall establish conditions of participation for health care providers under the public health insurance option.

SURCHARGE ON HIGH INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

(a) General Rule- In the case of a taxpayer other than a corporation, there is hereby imposed (in addition to any other tax imposed by this subtitle) a tax equal to,
(1) 1 percent of so much of the modified adjusted gross income of the taxpayer as exceeds $350,000 but does not exceed $500,000
(2) 1.5 percent of so much of the modified adjusted gross income of the taxpayer as exceeds $500,000 but does not exceed $1,000,000, and
(3) 5.4 percent of so much of the modified adjusted gross income of the taxpayer as exceeds $1,000,000.


Bottom line, in just 362 pages of HR 3200 it is clear that this bill is a boondoggle of epic proportion. It is replete with references to other sections, sub-sections, paragraphs, numbers, and items of other legislation which precludes any reasonable person from ever understanding what the bill really says or means. It will undoubtedly double the size of Health and Human Services, give Obama or his designees total control over our healthcare system, and place our individual healthcare in the hands of bureaucrats instead of our own physicians. More than any other criticism, what HR 3200 doesn't say is the most compelling reason to abandon anything remotely resembling this legislation. This is obviously bad legislation when 98% of the members of congress are unwilling to become a part of the public option if HR 3200 passes. Don Latta

[spiritwalk]

There is one simple question; that can easily be answered with a YES or a NO that is guaranteed to bring out more anger, insults and abuse than any other question on the subject. And it makes no sense for that reaction.

Question: If the child of a rich family and the child of a poor family are sick with the same medical condition, do the two children morally deserve the same medical care?

Now, watch the rabid dogs start fighting.

[clancy49]

Wooof! Morally, both children should receive the same care. Reality? The poor kid dies and the rich kid lives. This health care reform bill isn't going to change that reality. We live in a morally deceased world.

[truth-b-toll]

In case you didn't know it yet, this latest insane flap re:President Obama's address to schoolchildren, shows that the Nutjobs on the right are NOT going to enter into ANY kind of constructive agenda. They have taken the stance_ We don't care WHAT the plan is WE ARE AGAINST IT! Even it it brings down the USA they would rather keep their kids home, take their ball and go home like a 3 year old. The President needs to stop trying to include the Right wing NUTJOBS and help the majority of americans by enacting his healthcare.