Daley: Obama Won't Refight Health Care Battle

(CBS)  White House Chief of Staff William Daley told CBS this weekend that President Obama is open to tweaking the health care law - but that he would not "refight the entire fight" over reform.

"The president has said he's open to changes to this," Daley told CBS' "Face the Nation," in his first television interview since joining the Obama administration.

But Daley added that the president is "not open to refighting the entire fight of health care."

"People have suggestions on how to make it better," Daley said, "but he is not in favor of refighting this fight."

Daley also backtracked on his criticism he expressed last year regarding the president's health care reform law, arguing that his objections were with the "politics of the movement" as opposed to the content of the bill itself.

"I thought it was a very difficult climate to try to accomplish what they tried to," Daley told CBS' Bob Schieffer. "And I think the results, because of the misinterpretation of healthcare by many people, had a negative impact on Democrats."

"I absolutely believe, having been in business and hearing from business people, the importance of the need for the reform in health care," Daley continued. "It was the business community that was really saying to the politicians, 'This is costing us too much. It's too much of a wet blanket on the economy.'"

Daley also expressed dubiousness on a recent proposal by Republicans to cut $55 billion from the 2012 budget.

"You know, it's that old saying: 'Where's the beef?' Let's see exactly the cuts they're talking about," he said. "We all agree there must be cuts to this government. And again, you're going to see this President lay out a very substantial cut already."

[MurdochSucks]

It is pretty funny that the one thing in the bill that the Tea Partiers and GOP are trying to use as an anti-Obama issue is the very compromise that the Dems put into the bill to bolster GOP support. You know, the big-business, corporatist part about mandate.

[bikeboat]

The problem is that the insurance mandate is a necessary part of the bill! Without it either the bill, or the healthcare industry as we know it, will die from lack of adequate funding. We as a country cannot offer free modern health care without someone paying for it. If they try to fund it through payroll taxes or with borrowed money there will be no end of chaos/budgetary shortfalls.

[abbe91]

Just repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act and you'll see.

[slappy_mcghee]

Empress FlipFlop

Still laughing that you didn't realize mandated insurance is a Republican idea thrown in as a compromise!!! You don't even know your own party!!!!!

Thanks for the belly laugh!

[airmanC141]

The full text of the decision from Federal Judge Roger Vinson is not available yet, but according to reporters who've seen the decision, he's ruled the entire Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.

Looks like he is going to have to "refight" healthcare

[34sender]

1) Two other Federal Judges disagree.

2) No, he did not rule the entire law is unconstitutional, but nice try passing off wishful thinking as "those in the know, knowledge".... ha.

[34sender]

Mea culpa.

Judge Vinson in Florida did rule the entire law is unconstitutional. He joins a judge in VA that only ruled on the individual mandate. Two other judges hold the law as constitutional.

This is going to SCOTUS.... which we have expected since the day the law was signed.

As a matter of law -- the fact that Judge Vinson ruled without a trial, does not bode well for having his decision being the one that stands.

It is very unlikely the entire law will be rejected by the Supremes, but the mandate may be tossed. If so, the Insurance Companies will be oh sooooo bummed, they just might stop sending all their dollars to the Republican groups that Scalia, Thomas and Alito frequent.

[Riverjump]

So, ok guys,girls, what do we want healthcare coverage to be. Stop pintzn around and spill it. I want it to be affordable for Joe and Jill America as insurance against health issues of us. What is affordable you say? How about 2% of gross income? Everybody wins.

[dinkydog1]

What amazes me is conservatives posting and blathering about communism or socialism. Competition and free enterprise should create lower prices and improve efficency but instead lead to the worlds most expensive health care that serves only a fraction of the population. Do they really think what we have is the product of free enterprise????

[miami_don]

There is no reason to be amazed - look at it this way. At one time Republicans were able to rally substantial public support from the general public against national health care by using the socialist tactic.

Here we are after a midterm election where the Republicans and TEA Party candidates campaigned on a platform of cutting Federal Spending. Forget the reality that Obama-Care, as they so lovingly call it, was designed to pay for itself. They have one of those smoke and mirror issues they so dearly love. It that allows them to appear that they are keeping their promise of cutting Federal Spending and Federal Government intrusions into their vision of individual freedom. While actually avoiding the big issues that need to be tackled.

The Republicans in the House and Senate are well aware they do not have the power to reverse it. The president has the right response and he has given them the rope to hang themselves with.

What changes do Republicans have in mind? Truthfully they may have some good ideas - let's see. However, on the whole their antics are an exercise in futility and a waste of time better spent on other issues.

Even as much as I dislike Rand Paul at least he has his eye on the ball about the economy. He has had the guts to state the need to reform the banks and Wall Street if we want a stable economy. The rest? Well the best we can hope for is that they can get past the theatrics and actually do some work. Daley said it best,'Where's the beef?'

[abbe91]

Don't forget the McCarran-Ferguson Act

[troutfishyman]

by slappy_mcghee January 31, 2011 1:37 PM EST
The funny thing about the abortion issue is that the Repubs will never do anything about it, or obviously they would have during the 6 recent years they controlled the gov't. They just like stringing along their reactionary one-issue voters.




Of course, nothing like an emotional issue like this to whip their supporters into a frenzy. But they will not actually do anything about it once in power, because they would then lose it as a wedge issue. And their base falls for it time after time after time. Sad ....

[slappy_mcghee]

Hook, line, and sinker. Sad, indeed.

[troutfishyman]

by kcjwind January 31, 2011 1:37 PM EST
People smart enough to get healthcare on their own and not relying on government for it. Bigger question is, why can't people get healthcare on their own?





The answer is - most can. But I have watched it get more and more expensive each year, for a long time. And this is happening at the same time wages are relatively flat. Clearly something will need to be done, either now or very soon down the road.

[Birdman04]

Young parents trying to raise a family have to weigh the options of providing food for their family, paying bills, paying rent or mortgage and paying the other necessities in life.

There is seldom if ever enough money for a prudent couple to purchase health insurance after paying the immediate necessities in life.

It is not always there choice not to purchase it. They simply can not afford it in many cases. Most of us that have children of this age know this is true. Affordable health insurance is long since gone. That is sad.

[slappy_mcghee]

by Empire--George---

to bash Republicans as a closet liberal.....I understand

=======

Social moderate, fiscal conservative here, Empress FlipFlop.

I'd be a Republican if they would obey the Constitution on use of the military and threw out its religious nutcases.

.

[troutfishyman]

Of course, the GOP is wasting their time (and our money) trying to repeal the HealthCare bill. It is not going to happen. Now they are also back to their old playbook - abortion. I mean really ... who votes for these clowns?

[slappy_mcghee]

The funny thing about the abortion issue is that the Repubs will never do anything about it, or obviously they would have during the 6 recent years they controlled the gov't. They just like stringing along their reactionary one-issue voters.

[kcjwind]

People smart enough to get healthcare on their own and not relying on government for it. Bigger question is, why can't people get healthcare on their own?

[slappy_mcghee]

by troutfishyman January 31, 2011 1:30 PM EST
They were for it until Obama proposed it. Enough said.

=======

Exactly.