Obama on Health Reform: "I Don't Quit"
Asserting that he would like to finish health care reform by the end of the year, Mr. Obama also called out a couple of the moderate Democratic legislators from Louisiana who may or may not be on board with all of the president's plans.
"Too many Americans have waited too long for this to happen. We are going to pass health care reform by the end of this year, with the help of Mary Landrieu, with the help of Charlie Melancon," Mr. Obama said.
Sen. Landrieu has said she is opposed to the proposal to create a government health insurance plan, or "public option," while Rep. Melancon voted against health care reform in a House committee, citing the structure of the public option as one of his concerns with it.
The president joked about pressure to accomplish large tasks like health care reform quickly.
"I don't quit. I'm not tired, I'm just getting started," he said, rousing the crowd to cheer Mr. Obama's campaign slogan, "Yes, we can!"
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"I think it is important for those folks to understand, I'm just ready to go," the president said. "We're just going to keep on going. And the reason is because there are too many folks out there who are having a tough time to get tired."
Mr. Obama told seniors at the town hall that the administration's deal with the prescription drug industry to cut costs for prescription drugs distributed through Medicare, as well as other cost-cutting measures, would help them save money at a time when Social Security benefits are not increasing to cover cost of living expenses.
"We actually believe that over the long term, you would not see health care costs going up at 8 percent when your Social Security check's only going up 2 or 3 percent," Mr. Obama said.
The president once again disputed claims that his health care plans would result in decreased Medicare benefits or force people to join a government health care plan.
Mr. Obama attacked the insurance industry for opposing reform, saying insurance companies will hit back harder now that reform bills have passed out of all the necessary congressional committees.
"Their stock went down when the Senate Finance Committee voted out that bill," he said. "Now, they're getting nervous... and this is when you're going to start seeing a whole bunch of those ads [against reform]...Don't let them fool you. We're going to get this done."