Obama is spreading himself too thin. He needs to deal with one problem at a time. Right now we need a healthy economy more than we need health care reform. With out jobs everyone will be in line for money, food and everything else under the sun.

As to the health care reform...he has no clue what he is doing. That's the real reason he has no plan. He just wants to push this through no matter what so he can say he did it while no one else could. It's all about his rating, legacy and ego to him. People are finally realizing that he is an empty suit making fake promises that he can't back up.

Cindy..Ga.

The President is long on rhetoric and short on achievement. On health care the numbers don't add up and the hurry to get a bill raises questions in the minds of all but his most ardent supporters who care as little about the details as he seems to.

I feel Obama is rushing to get this health care reform passed. We don't need another Trillion Dollar Bill. I think he would be better off helping California with their massive debt. We the American People can do without a new health care system. I don't think Obama is helping the American People as he promised. Everytime he wants something done,it's costing the American People way to much money.
Obama please don't do us any more favors!!!

Great.

Another speech!

I can't wait to find out what the teleprompter has to say about all this.

His steepest hurdles will be (as always) his incompetence on the issues and his propensity to lie.

I think we've all learned that congress and the president are lying to us. Why watch? At least the used car salesman has to show you the car, Obama wants you to buy something they've yet to define clearly enough to justify support.

What I do not want to hear tonight is another "Cry Wolf – The Sky is Falling" diatribe by this president, who doesn't even know what the final plan is going to look like in the end.

We have to fix healthcare - we have to fix it now - But don't worry about HOW we're going to fix it - just let us do something/anything...

Don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain, Dorothy.

What can you say, it's amateur hour with this administration. They have no clue how things work in Washington. They think they simply need to round up the members of the local senior center and ask them if they prefer a new coat of blue paint or green. Decision like these are made in a 15 minute meeting. Running a country is a different story, yet he treats it like some 2 bit volunteer organization. Debate is part of Washington, getting it right matters! Our economy and perhaps our very existence as leaders in the world rests on his shoulders and he has no idea how to respond other than to tax people (not just the "rich" people folks – everyone) and spend money. He is losing ground with independent and democrats because they now see through his meaningless babble. Thank goodness – critical thinking hasn't given way to the mental disorder of liberalism!

Could it be that the independents who voted him in on a wave of inclusion and good feelings are suddenly waking up from the Koolaid hangover? This is the second time that Obama has had Pelosi try to push through a massive bill before it is even completely written. When you deliver a bill three hours before the roll call and then railroad the opposition, at some point those of us in the "flyover" states are going to take notice.

We aren't stupid. This isn't a healthcare bill any more than the stimulus bills was meant to rally the economy. It is a bill with inherent mechanisms to force ideas, procedures and attitudes toward life and death upon the American public. We don't know how far the Leftists are willing to take this, but there is genunine concern that the welfare of seniors is being sacrificed to put community indoctrination in place. So that means forcing Catholic hospitals to accept things like birth control and abortion. Or forcing all communities to accept assisted suicide. Or counseling/arm twisting seniors into "end of life" issues that might lead them to self-ration care and sign DNR's under duress. It's not a pretty picture. Plus their is the truly damning example of Congress opting out and letting their pet voters in unions opt out as well. You could tax millionaires at 100% and not pay a quarter of what this it going to cost us in payroll taxes, lost medical personnel and JOBS. At 9.5% unemployment and rising, nobody can afford that.

David Gergen surprises me in his degree of O-worship. I've always thought of Gergen as one of the smartest analysts out there. "He has a history of rising to the occasion?" When? Please, David, stop your slobbering. It's unsightly.

The Stimulis Bill still has passages that aren't finished yet. This way the Government can change and add to it as they see fit, after it is signed. This is the same with the Health Care Reform Bill. They want it signed, then they will add all the garbage to it.

They aren't really smart, but they have fooled a lot of people for some time. However, people are starting to wise up. Citizens are reading and thinking about all this money and asking where is it going to come from.

The old saying: You can fool some of us all the time.
You can fool all of us some of the time.
But, you can't fool all of us all the time!

As an Independent who voted for Barack Obama due to the alternatives, it's becoming increasing clear that the only thing he can sell is himself.

Barack Obama is a great campaigner, however, his track record suggests he moves from one pursuit to another before any tangible accomplishments can be reached or an objective can fail.

He's clever in the sense that he never has to judged by success or failure which is why he keeps moving.

That's smart, if not completely understandable, when trying to climb the political ladder but harrowing to think of when one reaches the top step.

Let it be more steeper than it is now. We need to keep on climbing. This is an opportunity to save lives. Healthcare is an essential element of living. Without it we all rotten and die. President Obama should continue on this climb. Living should not be reserved for those who can financially afford care. Every life is worth saving

I believe that President Barack Obama is doing a great and wonderful job with healthcare and other meaningful issues that we face today , not only as americans but the whole world included. Healthcare is the most underlying issue out of all the problems that we face today along with "racism, sexism, homophobism and many more "isms" that control our lives. I do believe that healthcare and education are directly tied together, both are synonymous with normalcy as well as economic progress. The most wonderful thing about this black man's ascension to the presidency of the united stated is that it reveals the "cancer of hidden racism." We as americans are all in need of counseling and most for the simple fact that a "black man is in charge," and giving orders, not only to white men but to men of different nationalities around the globe. Diversity in our thinking, living, healthcare and education will be a beacon to our problems and woes, giving us light to follow the path to recovery. Do not remain in denial of this, possibly the greatest president we will ever have due to the fact he is going to solve the myriad of problems no other president of any nation has had to face. Racism and all the other "isms," have no place in the world.

It's amazing David Gergen can fill up a whole article on health care just talking about Obama, with no comment on the issues. Not one word about the cost, not one word about how most people are satisfied with their insurance and don't want a public option, not one word about how this is just a cynical ploy to socialize the health industry and has nothing to do with trying to expand health coverage for those who need it. A health care plan that can't get bipartisan support, and can't get 70-80 votes in the Senate, is just more politics and special interests as usual.
But of course the MSM frames it like Gergen does, its all about Obama and how it affects him, let's ignore the public and their pocketbooks.

All Obama, all the time. He is going to die of overexposure.

There is A LOT MORE WRONG with American Medical Care than just lack of access. An arguement could be made that there is too much defensive medicine and too much intrusion into the practice of medicine by people/organizations who are not trained in health care; and these issues are not being addressed in this attempt to push a bill–any bill through congress.

If you have a boat that leaks water, you don't fix the leak by making the boat bigger.

Maybe these questions should be answered FIRST: what type of care do we want; what type of treatment programs should be offered for each disease/complaint; how many different kinds of medicines do we really need to have; and how much imaging is really needed to answer each question, and how often would something cheaper/less invasive than surgery provide the same outcome???

Government Health Insurance Program is no bargain.

The health insurance program is said to cost over $1,000,000,000,000. I figured if there are 300,000,000 Americans and 10% is un-insured or about 30,000,000 Americans. It is said the congressional health program would include only 70% of the uninsured American. So the congressional program would only include 21,000,000 additional Americans. The math shows it would cost $47,616 per person to insure just another 21,000,000 Americans.

Sams Club has a health insurance policy they sell $350 a month with a $1,000 deductable and $30 co-pay. This would cost $4,200 in premiums and $1,000 in deductibles a year for a total cost of $5,200 per person. Insuring 21,000,000 Americans at $5200 a year would total $109,200,000,000 a year. The co-pays can be pay upon need.

A program costing $1 Trillion compared to $109 Billion performing the same thing is no bargain.

Actually the Sam Club insurance may be better than what the government is offering for about a 90% cheaper cost.

It's a steep climb for Obama because it's the THIRD piece of legislation he has neither written nor read. It's hard to sell something to people when the people are on to the fact the president doesn't know what he's selling. It's a fact that has been brought to light each time he's been questioned on specifics. Obama is quickly losing the trust of the people as a result. Every poll is showing that. Once the confidence is lost, he may not recover and it's only 6 months in to his presidency.

I hope someone is listening! Why is the American public allowing this President (who should have been a TV start with the amount of time he likes to spend in front of the camera rather than doing his job) to both create irrevocable harm with huge debt levels for future generations as well as target the working/educated population of this country as his meal ticket. Has everyone lost sight that this leader (I use that term lightly) has never been involved in creating any legislation and now he is pressuring the country to pass tremendous reform with little more than a few weeks time to review it. IT IS MANIC BEHAVIOR. He is only pursuing such a strategy because the Dems control both t he House and Senate, but to date everything he has pursued has failed. A leader is not someone who just spends money on many types of ideas (TARP, TALF, PIIP) hoping something sticks so he can say his is right, a leader is someone who is decisive. WE all have serious issues in this country and it is not the time to now talk about Health Care; where are the jobs he promised? Where is the "green economy"? All he has done, due to his naivety, is put this country in unimaginable debt, make us beholden to China that we actually entertain conversations of a "Global Currency", and has made us the laughing stock of N. Korea. I beg America, create balance in the House and Senate in the next election so true, thoughtful legislation may be passed. Stop this President's Manic behavior (as well as his comrade in arms Pelosi) and/or just refuse to pay taxes. If we, the target masses of Mr. Obama for his funding needs, stand together and stop paying taxes and/or form a "working America rights group" maybe he will understand that he is destroying this country. You have all worked hard for what you have, why are you letting a socialist take it from you? Change is needed, he was not it! Restore balance to the political system, one party should not govern with an iron fist.

Let's get this right, he is trying to sell us on a bill that is not written or debated. We are expected go along blindly. He has spent all his capital. I cannot and will not give my support until we have time to read and analyze all the implications healthcare reform will have. Is that too much to ask for?????

He comes to the podium with what we alreay know. His plan will kill health insurance. Nothing will changes that.

Personally, im tired of seeing him on tv.

I am disgusted with the way America is being told that the Canadian Health care system is so horrible! We have an amazing health care system and the way the American media is portraying it is no where near the truth.

We have free care.. what is wrong with that? If my son gets hurt while playing at school I don't have to worry about taking him to the hospital, emergency is open 24/7 at no cost! And unlike they portray it on the US news we do not have forever to wait before we see someone. I have gone to emergency and been in within the hour.. other times with less severe illness it has taken up to 4 hours tops!

I have a fantastic family doctor that we all see for free (all 4 of us in my family)... and yes we picked our own doctor! I can see specialist for free as well! Anytime I go the specialist I complain about my $10.00 parking bill for the day.. that is my only expense!

I am terrified to travel to the united states because your ideas are so clouded... and I am terrified if I do go there and get sick I will lose my home because of medical bills. I do feel bad for the canadian women (from Ontario I believe, with a brain tumor) that is on the comercials lately there in USA and that her doctor did not take care of her.. but that is rare.. definitly not the norm here in Canada!

I have had 2 C-sections one of which was an emergency and my son was in special care unit for 5 days. Both my boys have asthma and have been hospitialized for that as well! I have had emergency gall bladder removal and many other normal illnesses over the years.. wana know what my bill cost for all that treatment......... NOTHING $00.00!!!!!!!!!!

So why does the Canadian health care sysem look so bad?

Senator Graham's comments to Wolf today at least give us some hope. While the bill he is sponsoring does not include govt sponsored health care, he appears eager to see change! This is a good thing!!! Looking forward to the press conference!

Consider it an Emergency!

In 2002, congress scrambled to put together the Patriot Act after nearly 4,000 Americans died in a terrorist attack.

In 2009, congress should be scrambling to put together Health Care Reform after nearly 20,000 Americans die per year because they don't have insurance and can't afford the inflated health care prices.

Something everyone can agree on: something must be done! If you do nothing, nothing will happen; if you do something, something will happen.

I get sick and tired of hearing about private insurers cannot compete against the government. I say take a look at Federal Express and UPS. Both of them are outperforming the U.S. Post Office. Both Fed-X and UPS charge more than the Post Office, yet both Fed-X and UPS are making a profit and providing their employees with good insurance. Fed-X and UPS are demonstrating smart business practices; whereas, private medical insurers are only interested in continuing to commit highway robbery

Help me out.
TWO THIRDS of the savings to be used to pay for Health Care Reform are to come from eliminating waste & fraud in Medicare and Medicaid

If Medicare& Medicaid are losing $65 billion a year, why do we need a law to operate the programs more efficiently? Can't Obama just start to do this without Congress?

AMERICA! Please do not rush to judgement and do not underestimate your President...:)

A War on the Elderly
The euphimisms "eliminating waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid" and "reallocation of health care funds" mean only one thing
CUTS in Medicare benefits and restrictions on Medicaid payments for long term care.

The elderly will pay the price for universal health insurance!!
Revenue neutral means someone has to pay and in this case its the over 65 people.
You can take your health care reform and shove....

There is a lot of momentum building with misinformation and scare tactics by the Health Insurance lobby and their GOP supporters to defeat this effort at reform and lowering costs – it is now critical that supporters of reform call their congressional reps, educate their friends & family, and respond to the the misdirection being posted on various news sites.

As expected, the GOP and lobby groups are trying to play to people's worst fears while conveniently side stepping the true costs of doing nothing to fix our system – the President and his congressional allies need all the help we can muster in these next few urgently important weeks! Under Bush we got tax cuts, but our health insurance premiums skyrocketed, in effect negating any savings – and this trend will only continue if we don't introduce some competition into the system to break up the health insurance company monopolies. No one is talking about removing the health care options one already has if they are happy with them – but the lobbyists want you to think it will be some horrible government socialistic enterprise. They are so scared at losing their massive profits they'll say anything at this point to scare the uninformed.

Think about how the GOP is playing this, based on their comments hoping/praying that a defeat here for Obama will be his "Waterloo" – this is not a party concerned about helping common Americans with reversing their inflated health costs or insuring the milions without insurance – no, this is purely a political play on their part hoping that witha defeat here they can regain power. America first? Who buys that line anymore from the party of rich white people, corporations and the willfully ignorant...

I'm struck by the fact that this being Obama's 5th prime time press conference it eclipses by one the number of PT press conferences Bush gave in eight years. At the least, Obama believes in his stuff and is willing to communicate them to the public. Not for nothing, but not a bad change.

I had a brain tumor last year. Under this president's plan. I wouldn't be here today. Thank God for Duke University and the trials that wouldn't be approved under this plan. A friend of mine from Canada his no longer here because under Canada's health plan he couldn't get in to see someone in time.

if you had asked me even six months ago if america could ever become a socialist country i would have vehemently said "NO" and yet here we are.
i came to america as a teenager from a quite socialist uk (at the time) and have always espoused the virtue of our great political system here and the safety of checks and balances. we the people MUST stand up and shake our representatives from their "cool aid" drunk and get back to the business of the united states of america and our great constitution. obama is just a man who currently has the privilege to serve as president of our great country...by many definitions in other country we would call him a dictator and a demagog. if we the people do not speak soon our great country will be gone.

You hit the nail on the head; President Obama, the "talking head". He doesn't have a plan, only a vision, and he has shown no leadership in getting the Congress to develop a workable plan. He appears to be not much more than a television news anchor reading speeches instead of new stories from his teleprompter.

Healthcare cost is just that; a cost. The service costs something to provide and consumers cover the cost (including margins) to receive the service.
BHO cannot make those cost's go down.
Someone will pay for "affordable" health care, so if it is universally available just exactly who IS that payer going to be?
Today I heard some BHO operative say something like "those of you who make more money can afford to pay more for healthcare." meaning that's the way some of the cost will be lifted from some of the people.
Wealth redistribution, period.
This will not completely cover the new, "lower" cost, either. To make healthcare universally "affordable" will mean not just wealth redistribution, but oppressive taxation.
That, plus the humongous burden on our pocketbooks from legislation already passed by the BHO crew and we are in a steaming pile of socialist doo-doo.
Thank God 2010 is so near.
Mid-term elections, God bless them!

Although Presdient's intents are good and he is a god public speaker, it seems he tries to do too much in too short a time and is loosing focus on key issues. Health care is an important isssue and a well thought out plan is necessary before rushing to push a bill. He should lay back on this bill and focus more on improving the economy – while various options and cost befits are being carefully evaluated on the health care issue.

Paresh Thanawala
Calgary, Canada
(tel: (403) 255-3171
perry58@telus.net

I'm so glad that we have a leader who's willing to work hard everyday to move this country forward in every way he can. He's fulfilling his campaign promise by doing just that. It is very fortunate to have a leader like President Obama who's so engaged and is willing to tackle the tough issues of this country and the globe.

It would be great if the media actually helped in this matter. Do you really want to maintain the status quo? We know from the CBO data even before Obama entered office that Medicare/Medicaid costs would eventually consume all federal tax revenues, sometime before mid-century. So the status quo is not an acceptable answer.

Honest reporting says that we are the only developed, reasonably well-off country without universal health insurance; that our healthcare costs twice what it does in these countries; and that overall our results are not as good. We will spare no expense to save someone with a rare case of cancer, which conservatives trumpet even though it is really a red herring compared to the 47 million people uninsured who get substandard preventive care and 60% of bankruptcies due primarily to medical bills.

How about educating the American people about the best practices in other countries? You have to hunt around for this information, which is ridiculous. Unfounded rumors are all over the place that the media has not tried to dismiss. Like wait times are not an issue in many of these countries, and they have full access to their doctors.

Finally, from a cost-control standpoint the media should help make it clear what is involved. There are three commonly-understood lynchpins to reducing costs:

1) We must get to a single payer system. People can still pick their own doctors, we just have one payer instead of massive insurance company infrastructure. Paul Krugman estimates this would cover 30% of the gap with other countries. Other than performing an administrative function, it doesn't have to do anything else to save us all an enormous amount of money.
2) We must implement tort reform, to prevent defensive medicine and crazy insurance premiums for doctors. Various sources say that covers about 10-15% of the gap with other countries.
3) We must ration healthcare when the patient's living standard cannot be improved, such as for Alzheimers patients.
4) We must charge the obese considerably more, as this is a huge driver of expensive conditions such as diabetes.

So please stop the hand-wringing and make the case to our Congress about what they should be doing. We have 535 Representatives and Senators (with huge support staffs), many of whom have dealt with this issue for years and know exactly what is at stake and how to fix the problem, so the delay is politics not technical. What else is on their plate that is more important? The Fed is handling the financial crisis.

Enough already...let's get the reform plan started so we can improve it. While were at it, let's take away the health insurance from our Congressmen so they get serious about this issue.

He is bordering on over-exposure. Too much; too fast; and too little thought being put into his initiatives.

I think the public may be a lot smarter than our politicians believe. We’ve figured out that the “public option” is a misleading phrase that really means “government plan”, and that the way the bill is written in the House we would see most employer plans abandoned due to the economic incentives to drop them in favor of sticking employees on the “public option” plan. The bottom line is that if government health care were such a great idea, no one would be trying to trick us with things like “public option” to hide the way they want to try to morph our system into a Canadian style single payer plan.

I don't think it's such a bad thing that he's had so many press conferences. It seems to me, he's just trying to keep people informed. If they choose not to tune in, they choose not to learn, not to question, not to care. I get that he's turned into some kind of "personality", or as others put it, "celebrity" , but if that's all people were turning in to see, it's kind of a shame. He's a President of the Unitied States that is actually trying to make a difference in the lives of the people he serves. He is fighting for a person's right to affordable health care. For that alone, I am going to tune it.

This Health care bill must not pass. This President has done nothing but put our country further in debt and made the world see his lack of pride in his own country Or is it his coountry???? He may speak eloquent (with his telepromters) but says nothing of truth or value. People please listen and you will see through.

Mr. Gergen:

Optimist and fighters raise to the occassion, while you are right that he does not have a concrete plan yet on his plate. But he does not have much option when there is so much dis-information out there (unfortunately even in the media) focussing only on the tussels rather than on the progress. E.g. CBO clearly said there will be cost cut for those who have health insurance, the hole is only how to cover the incoming 46mill people, but everywhere there is only discussion that costs will raise.

But when this is all done and health care reform passes (hopefully, I am paying $3000 deductible), then the success he will taste, the accomplishments that he made will be immeasurable.

Why now does the country and Congress decide they don't want to pay for procedures such as abortions? Where was all the uproar when, for 8 years, tax payers were paying millions or billions of dollars for abstinence only programs and other religiously-biased programs? If only the country could stop arguing semantics and bantering over hypotheticals and just get to the reforming of health care already! This is why we still have a completely disorganized and dysfunctional health care system- because politicians can't seem to put their personal agendas on hold long enough to do their job.

I don’t think it’s such a bad thing that he’s had so many press conferences. It seems to me, he’s just trying to keep people informed. If they choose not to tune in, they choose not to learn, not to question, not to care. I get that he’s turned into some kind of “personality”, or as others put it, “celebrity” , but if that’s all people were tuning in to see, it’s kind of a shame. He’s a President of the Unitied States that is actually trying to make a difference in the lives of the people he serves. He is fighting for a person’s right to affordable health care. For that alone, I am going to tune in to watch it.

CNN needs to stop "cheerleading" for Obama and start looking very hard at the Health Care legislation. It is bloated and very poorly written. The costs and methods outlined to pay for them are vague at best. The Wall St. Journal called it the "worst piece of legislation ever written". This plan cannot be "rushed through" like the stimulas where the members (and the President) failed to read the entire Bill before voting. This is too important not to be prudent and thorough. CNN needs to ask the hard questions about this plan and honestly analyze the impact of this poorly thought out plan.

We Don"t WANT IT!

I know _I'm_ tuning in ... mostly to hear some details and some specifics.

This president has had to address the progress of two wars, an economy in freefall, crumbling infrastructure, sell a stimulus package and try to talk America off a ledge on what to do about health care - which, incidentally, he has defined the parameters and directed Congress to do its job and legislate.

FDR mostly had to talk to bankers and Congress to advance his agenda, addressing the public directly when he had something they could engage with. Bush just kept trying to sell tax cuts and war, which Americans can usually get behind.

I think the president is in front of the cameras because that's where we _need_ him to be.

Gergen wears all kind of hats. The yankee the rebel and the french. Talk about a confused liberal!

Obama's is doing GREAT, more than could normally be expected under these excruiating circumstances. People who hate on him are just ignorant of the big picture and the facts, and in denial.

I have had 20 years of private health care in the usa and 20 years of british public care and there is no comparison:

PRIVATE HEALTH CARE IS IN BUSINESS FOR PROFIT
PUBLIC HEALTH CARE IS IN BUSINESS FOR PATIENTS.

Why can't we have what every politician has? Free healthcare paid for the tax payer..............does that sound like socialised medicine? And hypocrisy?

Everybody has an opinion on health care reform but it will pass because failure is not an option. We'll have health care reform because our system is completely broken and the people demand it. A good percentage of the people who don't like the current plans are strong supporters of single-payer and are vocal that what is being proposed doesn't so far enough. Health care reform is a lock, and the Blue Cross Democrats and Insurance Lobby Republicans will just have to watch history speed past them if they don't get on the train.

I have a great deal of admiration for the President and while I also voted for him, I want to see every president succeed.

I'm concerned about the lack of specifics on health care at this time and wonder what the President is planning to "convince" the American Public of. We're already agreed, for the most part, on a need to do "something". The question is, "What?"

My greatest worry for him is he's becoming too over-exposed in his young presidency. Secretary Sebilus and others should be out front on this one until the details are worked out. This seems to be a theme running rampant in his presidency so far and that is that the only sales person within the Administration on all matters of import seem to be "him".

This is a grave danger.

We've marveled, for the most part, at the strength and diversity of the Cabinet level appointments he's made professionally, politically, and culturally. I wish he would demonstrate an appreciation for setting the direction, letting his leaders have a voice and lead, manage the issues behind the scenes in the Oval Office, and come out and let everyone, including Cabinet Secretaries and Congressional Democrats and Republicans be heroes and sheroes–not just him.

I see this in foreign affairs where Secretary Clinton takes a back seat and certainly in health care–Secretary Sebilus has taken one.

My prayers are that "change will come" in the way business is being conducted in Washington. Let the other stars rise and shine, Mr. President. In the meantime, please spare us another prime-time press conference until you can give us the roadmap with details in it.

May God Bless you and this great land and people of ours.

Sincerely,

J.W. Matt Hennessee

so this blog isn't about the president. its about how everyone in the music industry is makin millions of dollars off of singing about how "detroit is shuttin down" and millions of people are out of jobs and losing their houses and everything but what are they doing to help everyone? nothing but "giving us morale boosting songs." what a load of garbage. and for everyone that is making millions off of singing about everyone in the military and how hard we have it, i am in the military and it is not motovating, or moral boosting, or anything. it just makes us think that they are making millions because they are singing about it, but we are actually doing the hard work and everything and getting paid a couple hundred a month...yea good trade. the singers deserve to get paid so much more than this. so all in all, as much as i love america, the pay system is fubar. thank you, i hope everyone gets my point and lots off people see's this

Senator Pelosi has announced that she has the votes to pass sweeping healthcare reform. This is despite A MAJORITY of Americans that now oppose it. Here is what I have to say to Senator Pelosi-MAKE MY DAY.

Pass this legislation against the will of the people who have made it increasingly clear that we are sick and tired of growing government spending and intrusion on our lives. Impose the will of a minority segment of liberal politicians on the will of the people, and she will see the consequences.

I trust no politician completely, Repub, Democrat. I will judge a politician by their actions, and the actions of Senator Pelosi, President Obama, and the rest of the Democratic congress outrages me AN INDEPENDENT MINORITY VOTER.

The Democrats are overreaching.

They're mistaking the country's disdain for Bush & Co. as a mandate for liberal ideology. By and large, the country did not vote for Democrats so that they would overhaul health insurance, but rather because they wanted to hold the Republican Party accountable for blatant and obvious incompetence.

If Democrats don't govern from the center... If they govern from the left claiming a mandate that didn't exist, it's only a matter of time before they are handed their hats.

An extreme overhaul of the health care system would be just that...

Overreaching.

Disclaimer: I'm a registered independent who voted for Obama.

President Obama and the congress think the answer to health care in the United States is to turn it over to the feveral government.

Just maybe they should take a look at the Veterans Hospitals and the mess they have created and the poor medical care they provide!

Is that really the kind of health care we want for all Americans? I think not!

The pundits consistently underestimate this president, from the beginning of his candidancy. You would think they would have learned their lesson by now. This is just the typical drama that they create to boost their ratings. The Republicans are getting all of the air time to push their "agenda" (stop Obama they say) but in reality they have nothing to do with this debate. The "fight" in congress is between the two "wings" of the Democratic party. The party of "no" is irrelevant. Soon the traditional media will be too if they don't start reporting the news and asking important questions instead of the drivel they usually offer. .By the way, maybe that is why the pressers ratings are going down: its not the president, its the questions.

He will not overcome this. People, like myself, look at the price tag of reform and say "no way". It is so big, so massive, and his being unable to know the answer to questions like "will this cancel my insurance if I change my rate?" prove this health care "reform" to be a joke. It started out as being the fix to our problems, now it just looks like an IRS styled organization will control health care. If they do as good a job as they do with taxes, we are all doomed.

He will not overcome this. Please, by the Grace of God, he will not overcome this.

Our current system is unsustainable. I commend him for not waiting for it to break to try and fix it. Pretty complicated issue though.

My name is Laura and I am a citizen of Ontario, Canada. I took great issue and offense to the recent ad by "Patients United Now" who portrayed the Canadian health care system as inadequate to handle her battle with cancer. I have been sick all my life and I can say that I would not be alive if I hadn't had the universal coverage offered by the Ontario government. I have grown up with congenital heart disease and neurological problems. Contrary to what the commercial asserts, had someone like myself grown up under the current American system, I would not have received most of the surgeries and medicine I required, and my parents would have been forced into bankrupcy had they had to pay for the costs themselves. We would certainly not be prospering the way we are now. While the Canadian system is not perfect (it is not as innovative as the American system), I would caution Americans to avoid criticizing a single-payer system without understanding all the potential benefits that could arise for the American public should they be offered a government-sponsored plan. And contrary to popular belief, in such a public plan there is NO government official that stands between a patient and his/her doctor. In Canada there is no government agency telling us what procedures/medication our doctor can not prescribe for us. I believe ads such as the one distributed by "Patients United Now" are blatant fear-mongering by those officials that reap enormous profits from the current insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies. There is nothing to fear from a government option, and the sooner the United States offers every citizen health care, the healthier and more productive the population will be.

We need health care reform in this country. If he has to climb the steepest mountain, then Obama must do so. We need this. I'm tired of Republicans saying we'll end up with Canada's system. We should be so lucky.

let all congressmen put their own personal healthcare plans in suspension....bet we would see REAL health care reform quickly. so many just don't GET IT – they don't understand and/or care what average Americans go thru, even if they are lucky enough to have healthcare.

Congress needs to get moving on the health plan and not let it get bogged down in committees. Why the delay, unless the answer is just vile partisan politics as usual? What's so terribly rocket-science about a single payor plan? Opponents who cite fears about the longevity of present-day Americans raising costs sky-high need to look at the reality. FACT: The United States ranks no higher than No. 40 in the world in both average longevity and infant mortality. Part of the reason for our poor shgowing in these areas has to do with the lack of a comprehensive national healthcare plan such as other first-world nations have. Too many Americans still fall between the cracks where coverage is concerned.

God Bless this Presiedent. He seems to care about the people, and issues of America, and has dived into and grabbed the third rail of politics.........I respect that regardless of the outcome.

I agree with you that the President has a steep cimb. I would like to suggest that the poll numbers are still very good. The decline in audience is more a reflection of the people being bored with all the politics not the President.

Obama scares me to death. I am terrified of his health plans. He is rushing things through not even allowing Congress to read anything. This is not the way to run the country. He wants complete control of everything. The people are beginning to wake up and see what's going on. He wants to run the banks, the auto industry, the health care industry. What program has anyone ever seen that the government can run more efficiently that the private sector? You haven't. I disagree vehemently with giving illegals free health care. This is simply bringing more of them to this country and of course it's giving the Democrats votes lined up for the next election. This is the only reason the democrats keep the poor downtrodden with all the dumb programs that never work. Give the people jobs not handouts. Let them feel success instead of giving out food stamps and welfare checks.

I truly do not want Obama in office any longer than he has to be. Even Biden wouldn't be as bad as Obama as been so far. Glad to see his polls slipping. American is finally taking the blinders off and seeing him for what he really is.

The points in this article are well taken. Obama has a tough fight and I think that is a shame. He is trying to advance our country in ways that no other leader has had the intelligence or guts to do. Maybe for once people collectively should stop thinking about themselves and start thinking about what is better for our country as a whole and more importantly our next generation. As a mother of two young boys I hope that people will wise up and start realizing that if we don't fix this broken system we will all be in trouble. Thank goodness we finally have a President with enough confidence to have a forward thinking agenda...Go Barack!

I will be interested to see what kind of questions the media will ask the president tonight. It's time for some tough questions and Americans want answers.

Stop comparing our current president to the last guy who sat in his office. Bush failed at leadership and failed at building a national consensus. He was an embarrassment to our national pride. Who wants to listen to somebody who can't even tell you the capital city of Nigeria far less, pronounce the word nuclear?

I have always liked David's reliable logical and sane opinions. I think he has hit the nail right one he head.

All this cacophony about how hard Obama's job is and all the "reporting" out there that nearly gleefully says or implies that Obama's health care push (and his presidency??) are dead really show the excesses and negatives of the 24-hour news cycle that the great Walter Cronkheit so vigorously condemned.

If health care reform fails, it will be, in no small part, due to the 24-hour news cycle's insistence on fomenting controversy and conflict for the self-serving purpose of increasing ratings. Fox is the most shameless, but CNN is nearly as bad.

And that will be a tragedy among tragedies. Nothing is more important in politics right now than fixing our country's badly broken health care system.

He is trying and he is fighting for our health care. I am very glad he is our president.

He must first regain credibility over the failed stimulus bill. He has proven haste does make waste and he has squandered a historic opportunity to move this nation forward.

I thoroughly hope he fails. It is not my job or any other tax payers to pay for the healthcare of others. Now, to add insult to that initial insult that it is our jobs to pay for it, he wants to tax us all more. He is more concerned with his political career then cutting costs or ensuring a quality bill is the result. It's the stimulus all over again. Well worded and rhetoric filled speeches do not a good President make. It's too bad people didn't realize this last November. 3.5 more years.....yuck.

He never really says anything of substance when he speaks. He won't commit to any program so we can't be for or against. He will come out and say that the satus quo is unacceptable, we need reform, blah, blah, blah. I want to hear how he want's to reform. What he would change? I want specifics. Please, reporters, ask him specific questions....

Part of the slip in prime time numbers is a result of all the punditry that any of these addresses generate. The Republicans will rail against any proposal, the media will examine the points ad nauseum and congress will have to debate this issue for the next six months. In the end we should have some universal health care program because it is the right thing to do and because it is desperately needed. Tonights adress will set a stage, but if only 20 million of us decide to watch the rest of the nation and the world will be aware of the end results and hopefully applaud the United States for coming out of the health care dark ages.

I don't understand why those who don't want President's Obama's health plan to succeed continue to talk about how people who are already insured have to worry about their rates going up. I've heard President Obama say over and over again that those who have insurance through their employees will experience no changes to their insurance, that his plan is to provide coverage for those who don't have it.

Also I used to work in long-term care and I think Obama is on the right track in implementing a plan to save money by cutting back on the wasted money caused by overcharging of medical equipment when billed to medicare. People who've worked in long-term know that equipment, such as wheelchairs, orthopedic shoes etc. are ridiculously overpriced. Of course the companies that are profiting from this overcharging are lobbying against changes in policy.

SR

I always appreciate Mr. Gergen's comments. I see the uphill climb for Obama, but I also see the lies being stated over and over again by people who are against health care reform. There must be some way to fight them other than having the President go on TV every day. I would appreciate the whole thing more if we could really dicuss the issues instead of turning everything into a fight for power.

David,

I'm sorry to see that you struggle to find much objective critism for Mr. Obama. You seem to have become an apologist for Mr. Obama when what he needs now is a strong constructive critic who he can respect. You are simply shoring up the echo chamber.

David
Stevenson Ranch, CA

I'm more concerned with hearing more about how the bailout plans are going to be managed in the coming year. There are still some open-ended questions right now, like what to do if Freddie/Fannie need yet more cash to keep from melting down.

Regarding the health insurance plan I personally think the likelihood of this happening has pushed below 50%. That might turn out to be a good thing since the plan seems to be incomplete (i.e. something this complex put together at the last minute could be a problem). Still I think there is momentum so something may still happen.

Obama talks a good game. He keeps saying he stands for change.

I don't disagree change is needed but he needs to be a heck of a lot clearer on his actual plans including what it will cost the taxpayer.

Indicating he supports health care for everyone is a lot different than showing us a comprehensively written program with funding sources.

The government has no money – it gets funding from us!!!

The healthcare situation is urgent. It is also a political target for those who would bring down this presidency. No wonder President Obama is speaking forcefully and often, even before reform plans are complete. That is fine with me. We all know that the longer this surgery waits, the weaker the patient will become (and that's us).

First, Obama's ideology far outweighs common sense and pragmatism so far in his presidency. The number one thing people care about year after year are jobs and providing for their families. The amount of spending that he has done and will continue to do with health care reform are absolute job killers. Bottom line, if Obama has his way, health care reform will pass, and every American will pay for it in the form of higher taxes. Small businesses will probably suffer the most and it will be years before healthy economic growth occurs in this country. For someone who the media claims is so intelligent, he doesn't have a lick of common sense when dealing with the economy. Its sad when ideology trumps common sense. Who will continue to pay for this for years to come? We will. Maybe in 10 or 15 years when the President looks back on what he has done to this nations economic health he will then realize that good judgement, common sense, and sound economic policy should always trump an ideology that only promises continued economic pain and suffering for so many Americans

He is unjustifiably arrogant. He is not a leader, My way or the highway is he style. Disagree with him and he calls us the party of obstruction=. Jam it down our throats on everything simululous, healtcare, cap and trade. He does not know the difference between important, urgent and panic. Everything is panic for him. He is bitterly partisan and incompetent not to seek compromise and hear others. He insults people by name.

Gone from Pro Obama to Anti Obama – Why? Because he has lost focus on the ONE Important Issue – The ECONOMY. That's all that matters.

I feel like I could give his speech for him right now...

"The time has come to blah blah blah....inaction is not an option blah blah blah....affordable health care blah blah blah...."

David,
Why do you gush for Obama? You claim that:
1) Has a history of rising to the occasion.
Huh? Blank, can't think of when he has risen to the occasion. Every single time he does anything he falls on his face. How many sane human beings would go all the way to Moscow and snub dinner with Putin for a play date with his daughter? Just watch tonight, as usual, he will not actually say ANYTHING substantive, consistent with his past performances over the past two years.
2) Advanced health care reform more than others:
I don't see anything constructive coming out of this, as nothing can, as with Billary around all policy is Clinton III. His plan is like Hillary's on drugs. How about some sane discussion, like no age discrimination in healthcare, i.e., Medicare for all. Cheaper, fairer, no new bureaucracy, single payer, save $400 billion on insurance. But Vilsack might say, but that $400 billion trickles down. Shows you that the whole crowd has no concept real economics.

When are we going to move from budget estimates for HEALTH to impact/Benefit to population health emanating from health care reform? In per capita HEALTH EXPENDITURE terms, USA tops the list of developed countries but in terms of population health- infant mortality, child mortality etc. and life expectancy, it is at the bottom ten! At least 30% of health care cost goes to administration unlike less than 10-15% in other healthier developed countries. It is the uncovered 10% of the population that pulls nation's health level. Unwarranted and mostly expensive diagnostic tests and interventions as well as multitherapy resulting in heavy drug resistance account for relatively large proportion of patients healthcare cost. Let hospitals move from being "body repair shops" to "positive health institutions". God bless America and save Obama's reform agenda.

Despite the media attention, American citizens have seen the realities of bigger government and bigger spending. The continuing uncertainties of the housing market, the stagnant stock market despite the stimulus package, the rising unemployment rate, the non bipartisanship in reforming health care, and the enormous costs – both spent and planning to spend are very concerning. An overnight solution was never the answer, but the solutions brought so far have not effected significant strides for the average citizen. Walk the walk of the campaign; truly reach out for bipartisanship solutions, minimize lobbyist influence, and move the country truly forward. If the president demands changes now, then we citizens should demand results now. It seems only fair.

Maybe they should consider Tobin taxes, if they won't look at central bank financing. James Tobin proposed these many years ago, and it is time to start looking at the idea again to cover the expanded public option.

My understanding as to why we elect a president is to make those steep climbs. To point the country in the right direction and give us the reasons to follow. How quikly we forget how we got here. We spent the last eight years being fat and happy and allowing the last president not only to wade us only in the shallow end of the pool, but rock and lull us to sleep with cheap money and buying things they knew we could not afford. As far as I am concerned it may be time for a steep climb, maybe we will lose some of the ugly fat we have gained over the last eight years.

What he's trying to sell is a pig in a poke. Obama wants to extend health care benefits to 40 to 47 million people at no or well below the actual cost of such benefits and wants us to believe that it will be deficit neutral. The smoke and mirrors about funding the increased expenses with the elimination of waste, fraud and corruption needs to be proven. Show us the savings over the next two years, and we'll support the expansion in 2012.

Regarding his 5th major prime time appearance I believe it's great that President Obama talk to the American people routinely about new policy and how it will affect their lives. Whereas Bush who hid behind closed doors for 8 years and screwed our economy; let 9/11 happen on his watch; started an ill-conceived war in Iraq; tapped our phone lines and computers in the name of national security; approved torture; gave tax cuts to the richest people in America; changed bankruptcy laws favoring banks and credit card companies; completely ignored health care reform; blew a federal surplus upon entering office; complicit with blowing cover of CIA operative; presided over the most arrogant and corrupt administration in U.S. history; spat on the U.S. Constitution; etc; etc; etc. What a disgrace he was!!!!!

I would like to hear the President of the United States tell the American citizens and taxpayers, that the health care that they are trying to "push" through for us – will also be the health care they will be using for their families. How about that? Can he say that with certainty?
Also, can he guarantee the nation that the congress will actually read this legislation? I don't think so!

You know, I am really tired of all this bickering about health care. I wonder if the ones who are fighting it have ever sat down & talked with the people who have no job & no health care, the people who are making $800 to $1000 a month & have no health care, those who are below, at or just above povery level. In some areas there are free clinics where numbers & time are limited as most of the staff are volunteers & sliding scale clinics where numbers are limited. Then there is medication. Some non-generics can be obtained through application to pharmaceutical company assistance programs, otherwise it's samples until they run out. The other choice is the hospital emergency room and the hospital has to write off the cost. If hospitalization or surgery is needed-well, the doctor & hospital have to write off the cost. I guess, what I feel is maybe they should walk in the shoes of these people or work with these people for a week & they might understand how hard it is for them & how hard they try. I have worked in an inner-city health system & have some knowledge of what I have written, but I have not have to live it.

There are 535 poeple in Washington DC that represent the citizens of the U.S.A. How many times have any of them contacted any citizen and ask their opinion on any given subject. Today we have the health care debate going on. Over 40 years ago Medicare came into being. For the last 9 years I have had my health problems. Heart surgery and Cancer surgery. I pay $ 250 a month to cover my medical needs. Out of pocket cost are also paid by me. All this out of $1200 S.S.A. check.
Why can't a program like Medicare be started for everybody? Employed people pay a premium like medicare. S.S.A. and S.S.I people pay a premium just like they are paying now. I f the politicians in Washington D.C. would do more for the citizens who put them in office and stop trying to impress the insurance industry and fatten their wallets this whole country would be better off.

I think Obama has fell and hit his head! The big problem is BIG government wants to rule the world but has no idea how to accomplish this! He has not addressed illegal's, overseeing, and who is going to make the decisions of who is going to live and who is going to die!!! Socialized healthcare is a very sad story in Canada, English and France. Would Obama sign up his family and relatives for this healthcare program?! I doubt not. VOTE a BIG NO on this healthcare bill that makes NO sense!

I salute President Obama for taking on the Republican "no plan" people. I am 100% in favor of Health Care Reform with a gov't option plan. I would encourage CNN to stop the negative reporting and look for something positive to say tonight as you can influence the direction of this health care plan. You're all beginning to sound like a bunch of Republican's these days.

David Gergen: I have always admired your fair and unbiased reporting... don't go Republican on us now!

In his campaign Obama said he had a health care plan. So far we have seen nothing and we are "waiting to see" what Congress comes up with? Did Obama lie when he said he had a plan? People cannot, will not, and should not support an abstract idea, especially about health care. You or I wouldn't sign a contract without reading AND UNDERSTANDING ITand we should not expect

Americans have always been pretty good bullsh... spotters.

Another factor that will contribute to public indifference to this address is that most people do not understand, and do not want to take the time to try to understand, exactly what proposals our government is considering.

President Do As I Say will not stop at trying to destroy the USA. His plan to ram this albatrol in as fast as he can because he knows this is a disaster and could not possibly pass if the truth were told via honest debate. His only goal is to redistrubute wealth, give amnesty to illegals, acquiesce to terrorists and grow government control over Americans. He plans are aimed at taking individual rights away because he just knows better than the rest of us. He is too arrogant to admit he is just wrong at times and does not represent all constituents-just the ones he cares about.

In his campaign Obama said he had a health care plan. So far we have seen nothing and we are “waiting to see” what Congress comes up with? Did Obama lie when he said he had a plan? People cannot, will not, and should not support an abstract idea, especially about health care. You or I wouldn’t sign a contract without reading AND UNDERSTANDING ITand we should not expect our representatives to do so.

the future is in the hands of the mighty /

The pharmaceuticals, the for-profit HMO's, their lobbyists and the conservative media plus, now, the 'blue dogs' (thinking only about their re-election chances) are all lined up to stop him. That's a lot of money and fear-mongering to go up against. I wish this brave and principled president the strength and courage to withstand their cowardly attacks and know that he is fighting the good fight for America.

The no-nothing/do-nothing Republicans have tried to sully President Obama's reputation for honesty, creativity and positive production. There are millions of us who quietly watch the Republican destroyers in disgust - and continue to support Obama with all our hearts. The press must stop acting as if the Republicans have a point. They are LOSERS. They have done nothing but hurt the United State!

LET US ALL GET BEHIND OBAMA AND GIVE HIM OUR FULL LOUD SUPPORT!!!

Leslie Parrish
Woodway, WA

Obama should come on television tonight and do and say nothing – but ask Americans to spend the next hour watching "Borderline Medicine" a PBS documentary film made in 1991 by the late Walter Cronkite. Roll film. Despite its age, this is perhaps the most important audiovisual material that concerns health care system reform. – - – - But, try locating a copy of it in a public lending library.

So he doesn't even have a "fully formed" plan but wants it past by the end of this month? How stupid does he think the public is? Just pass it and we'll work out the details later?
Is he going to post this bill for five days of review like he promised during the election or is this bill another "crisis" not worth the time to read by our Congress?
Dingle Barry......Four (if we survive) and the door

He has a steep hill to climb because he is trying to sell the American people a load of garbage and finally many who have been looking at him through rose colored glasses are seeing him for what he is. He wants to socialize medicine. His plan WILL destroy private health care no matter what he says. It will lead to typical government waste, rationing of health care and little to no health care for the elderly. Let's face it, when Obama and his clan are faced with rationing our care, the elderly are no longer bringing in money TO the government, they are only costing it money by being a drain to the health care dollars. It is much cheaper for them to die and if you don't think that is what will happen, you are burying your head in the sand!!

President Obama is in overexposure mode,and seems frustrated. This is a worrisome sign for the public to pick-up on,especially with the sense of urgency for $1.0+Trillion,"Health Care Program",that surely could end up being 4X that in ten years. I listened the other day to his speech in some city (can't remember) but he seemed to be shouting like a fanatical dictator (not a good choice of words,let's just say a baby wanting his pacifier) and certainly sounding insincere,and addle the more he rambled on,...? JMHO

What has it been, a little over six months since he became president? Americans need to grow up and get past this instant gratification BS. You folks in the media are by far the worst. With your 100 days BS! Change doesn't happen over night, it takes time. It may take years to get out of the HOLE that W pushed us into. He's at least trying to do something good for the country.

Hope he makes it. Need to get health care under control. Both for the fiscal and physiological health of the nation.

What gets me is how the media can really influence the American people. The media can make or break a person and I believe that the media know how much influence they have...especially on stupid Americans. Now because Gergen along with other media types are writing President Obama's epitaph and not just on his health care reform but his likability so to speak. I would like to know where the poll numbers come from...don't tell me, they are polls from middle America, non-black because believe me President Obama has not lost influence and likability with Black America. However do count out the Black American rightwingers.

Dear Anderson,
I hope that, being a good investigative journalist, you will find out exactly what gives with Shona Holman, (Canadian Benedict Arnold) whose ads against public health care are gracing the airwaves, including those of CNN. You might ask the following: Would this woman have "died" as she claims? Was she diagnosed with a tumor, malignant or otherwise? Did she attempt to see a specialist in Canada? Etc. Etc. Her records at the Mayo Clinic( which is of course totally opposed to health care reform) are still there-her name has been changed to Ella Schwatz, so I've been told.
And by the way-that word socialism: Doesn't it apply equally to the armed forces? (except Blackwater, and we know that turned out.) Firefighters? Police?? In fact, a host of essential pub;lic services. Isn't medicine a public service?? Just asking. Love the program!!!

how could the president blame the Republicans for blocking his health care legislations when his party enjoys lopsided majorities in both the House and the Senate.

in the latter chamber, the majority is a filibuster-proof 60/40.
.

I can believe how desperate Obama is just six short months into his presidency.

Yes, Mr. Gergen, its a steep climb! Obama has inherited the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression, and all I have seen and heard from the GOP is complaints, criticism, obstruction. And their "leader" hoping he fails!

I disagree that he is "testing the outer limits of media presence"...... we are in a crisis, we are in deep trouble. We, the People, need to hear from our president often. At our house, Mr. Gergen, we are listen when our president speaks. We want to hear first hand what his ideas are, what he plans to do.

With all due respect, Mr. Gergen (you are our favorite pundit), President Obama has a responsibility to make his case for healthcare to the American people. We are being lied to and misled by the GOP whose main goal is to see to it, that our president fails!

Let's start calling it our health care reform and therefore our collective steep climb. This media frenzy over the Obama waterloo and the personalization of policy is sinking our ship. We all have a stake in this reform.

I am a supporter of Obama, but how could this man who comes across as so intelligent not understand that he is over-exposing himself? Too many news conferences, too many speeches, please just get to the issue at hand and wrangle the Democratic majority to produce a working, understandable healthcare reform bill. No more talk, get to work!

Listening to the President talk on health care made me think – if his proposal is so good why not force the Congress and the Executive Branch of our government to join this new health program – walk the talk Mr. President.

What about making a pre-condition that the Congress and the President leaving their current health coverage and join their proposed plan. There seemed to be no discussion of limiting or make one think seriously before filing malpractice suits. The biggest contributor to high health care cost.

How does the President ensure that employer will not abandon their current offering to cut cost and move employees to the government insurance for the un-insured? Ultimately, it become a government run health care!

I am curious if anyone knows if we, the taxpayers, pay for health benefits for congress (as well as other government workers)? If so, how much is spent yearly now from our taxes.
It is unfair that the people who are deciding whether or not we get health care, already have it paid for by us?
Perhaps if their benefits were somehow tied to the passing of a bill to cover everyone, they would be more motivated to pass it sooner.

Why don't the government look at the pharmaceutical companies. People get sick and go to the Dr's, then the Dr's write a RX that usually is something just out on the market that claims to be better then what has worked for many many years. With this they get kick backs from the RX companies. There are so many people without insurance that can't afford to go to the Dr's let alone try to drain blood out of a turnip to find the money to get their medications with no avail. How many people die out there who can't afford what they need to get better.

Why is all the Presidential News Conference a dog-and-pony show with his pre-selected reporters throwing out questions that tailor to his intended message? I have not heard any hard questions asked.

Do you realize how many insurance companies out there are willing to take our money to insure us but don't always make the disclaimer that your coverage will not cover "Pre-exsisting." Everyone has something that is "pre-exsisting" We need help! Look at some of the European countries where health care is free, nannys for parents child while they work is free.. How come they can have this and here in the good Ole USA we continuously watch debates like a bad tennis match.

Why is it okay for me to pay for health care for congress but it is not okay for them to allow me to have it?

Also, I thinbk that we should make all the conress members against health care for all to give up theirs and see how it feels to not have it.

The reason health care is so expensive is due to the high salaries of doctors, nurses and pharmaceutical reps. Labor costs is what is killing companies. Labor costs is what killed the car makers. We are too greedy! Everybody whats a big fat salary.

It is amazing that President Obama discusses health insurance when the Federal government needs to take a long look at the bills they approve – smokers who work in a government building have to stand 25' away from the building. Yet this does not happen. Employees stand in front of the doors going into the buildings creating a second hand smoke issue and people have to walk through this smoke to enter a federal building. And, they have to smoke in the front – what a wonderful branding image of our government do we get with a group of smokers in front of the building puffing away! This needs to be done away with permanently. All federal buildings should eliminate smoking no where on the premises of Federal property at any time.

I'm wondering where the discussion on tort reform is in the discussion of healthcare reform. I've been informed that one of the provisions in the proposal is to allow lawyers to bring lawsuits (on behalf of the government) to recoup costs that the government deems excessive–without the consent of the patient involved. As a critical care nurse for the past 16 years, I've seen the increase in lawsuits brought by patients who have little knowledge of what medicine can and cannot accomplish. It is as if we somehow believe that injury can never happen, even though we've been warned that it can, and that death can always be avoided. Frivolous lawsuits, and the lack of caps on damages have contributed hugely to the increased costs of healthcare, and yet in all of this talk of reform, I've not seen the issue of tort reform addressed. Why not?

I pay 806.00 a month for family health coverage. This is about 41% of my bring home pay! The cost is high and the service is below poor. I have more nightmare stories of fighting for coverage than I can note. America needs to demand this coverage for ALL!

I have have no problem taking care of our legal citizen's no matter what race or religion they might be. How will President Obama broker a deal of Health Care with those who are not legally qualified under the law . It is necessary to understand just who will qualify for health care and who will not.

What makes people think Americans have a choice of who they want their doctor to be? The majority of private healthcare plans limit your choice of doctor to those approved by the plan and many require permission of the healthcare plan before the patient can see a specialist or get admitted to a hospital.

President Obama has Put an "Offer of Extreme Initiative" on the Table + Has Also Presented to the People, a Direction + Path That Really Deserves Support + Help From Even His Toughest Opponents + Critics to Bring to Americans a Better, More Affordable Way of Life.

The Vastness of the Health Care + the Economy + the Deficit + the Unemployment Issues + All Their Problems is "So Broad" that Attacking Our President is Easy Sport for President Obama's Enemies.

Those Enemies that Hold Up President Obama to the Highest Scrutiny Known, in Any Court of Law Cannot Even Compete Without Cheating, Dishonesty or Ganging Up.

Does Anybody Have Someone that Can Even Hold a Candle to This Fine Public Servant, Human Being + Family Man? Let Him Step Forward!

President Obama's advocacy of health care reform before either his administration or Congress have crafted a specific set of reforms mirrors his successful effort in the last Presidential campaign to convince the electorate to choose a vague program of "Change You Can Believe In" over a conservative smorgasborg of thematically unrelated but definite positions and programs. In the campaign for health care reform as in the campaign for the Presidency, Obama's rhetorical power emanates from his ability to articulate what is unsatisfactory about the status quo and what is possible if sufficient numbers of voters mandate change. In marked distinction to the campaign for health care reform, the campaign for Presidency did not require the majority of voters to renounce anything of personal value in order to register a preference for "Change You can Believe In." The campaign for health care reform is asking voters representing 250 million Americans to express a preference for a change that could result in less access to health care, access to lower quality health care, greater total expense, higher taxes and increased federal budget deficits with consequences for future taxes and interest rates.
A rhetoric of dissatisfaction and intriguing possibilities suffers from irreducible limitations in persuading people to prefer a policy with unascertainabbly great risks to ones with known and largely perceived to be managemable risks.

I listened to the President...what a crock of bull.....he doesn't even know what is in the bill yet....he just wants these non medical democratic representatives to cram it through. By the way his numbers of 45 million that are uninsured...20 million include illegal aliens.....won't that be an incentive for more illegals crossing our borders. I say no to Obama.....he needs to slow down and work on the economy...because his solutions of pork bills so far are a failure.... now these same morons think in less than a month can handle this....I don't think so....they are too stupid. He is just going to cram his socialist agendas through....I am sick of him. I want these morons to read the bill and I want it posted on the internet so that Americans can read it too.

Why would anyone listen to obama tonight??? He has not said anything worth hearing since before he took office. I only hope and pray that the American people will wake up and let their elected reps know that even though our health care system needs reform, the proposed
legislation would put us in the " fast lane to hell" financially. And try as I might I can not think of a government run program that functioned as it was supposed to ARE stayed in budget. Oh wait, there is the program to makes our borders safe and keep out illegals.

JFA

Speaking as a Pro Life Conservative I’ll say.. Obama should go on Oprah and rally up all those supporters of his who elected him into office despite “Abortion.” Money.. Health Care Cost.. Those things should not blur the fine line.. Stand aside Obama..! Let’s make it clear!!

TO OBAMA AND CONGRESS:

Congress must NOT pass any more federal legislation without allowing sufficient time for all members to read and understand the information thoroughly BEFORE VOTING. It destroys public confidence it our system - and in you.

Do NOT pass healthcare legislation without taking time to inform us - the people it will affect - as to its substance and the impact it will have on our lives. Take the time to provide the transparency promised!

SLOW DOWN. Get it right!

L.T. Wright
Long Beach, CA

I love having an intelligent president. It is a joy to listen to President Barack and I am thrilled that he is pushing medical reform. It is time.
HE is RIGHT about how expensive the status quo really is and how ineffective it is except for the drug company's and the big lobby's.

Average Managecare CEO made $14 million a year. If the Doctors made $140,000/yr he or she has to practice for a 100 years.

I live in Canada and have seen the ridiculous commercials on CNN showing people around the world that live in countries like Canada, England, etc. that go on about how their public healthcare system has failed them. These people make up 1% of the population. These commercials are such insane scare tactics being used by republicans that are so far from the truth. Wake up America and do your own ivestigating outside the U.S. Our (Canadian) government is not involved at all, let me repeat...AT ALL in decisions about one's medical treatment, coverage etc. The doctors themselves make that diagnosis and are not influenced by any government official. Dollars do not come into any medical treatment discussion because it is all covered by the federal/provincial government. How do we afford this? Well, granted your income taxes may rise slightly, but the slight increase will heavily outway the costs you pay in medical bills. Here is a perfect analogy. When i travel to the U.S. I see nothing but seniors working in McDonald's, where in Canada nothing but teenagers work in McDonald's. Why? Because in the U.S. the seniors are working at McDonald's to pay for medical coverage! Some retirement! Wake up America...go with public healthcare!

Robama Hood wants to take away our freedom. The he wants to punish successdul Americans. He wants to take their hard earned money from and use it to pay for those who can not afford care and those not willing to work to pay for their care......Our country was based on freedom....now we are going to get goverment healthcare! What freedom will we lose next?

12 million of the 49 million uninsured 'Americas' are illegals. Why should my taxes pay a single penny to cover them? The GAO says Obama's numbers don't add up. The costs are higher the savings lower. What else is he lying about?

Obama is stuck in a pickle, because he needs to fix the economy. However, needs to fix the components of the economy and factors to contribute to the growth. Health care is one of the major components that need to be fixed as there are a lot personal Bankruptcy due to health care,

I was blown away by the first part of black in America tonight . Also I think President Obama's address was also clear. He said that none of the health care reform will add to the national deficit. Personally I think he needs more time for the economy to bounce back .

Fool me once....

He did this act on the stimulus bill - notice how he now calls it the "recovery bill"!!! because it was more welfare than stimulus.

He said the sky was falling unless we got the stimulus bill passed. Well, that was a $787 billion waste of taxpayers' debts.

Therefore he can't be trusted. Why the rush? Why not wait until after August? He's more interested in getting things passed rather than getting things done right. If from the beginning he would have focused on one thing at a time maybe the $787 billion boondoggle wouldn't have been created.

I think that it was either Garfield or Arthur that said something like “…All true democracies are governed by the wisdom and the folly of the people”. Most Americans just do not understand what the true health care problem in the United States really is. They believe that the ideal of affordable health care is not the American way. Too many citizens appear to believe that insurance is available to anyone that can afford it and that is that. Their opinions appear to boil down to the haves versus the have-nots philosophy.
People are not begging for a hand-out they are looking for a helping hand. In “Republi-speak” the remark that we need to slow down were moving way to fast is the equivalent of no. To quote the cereal commercial the motto of Republicans appears to be that we put the “no” in innovation. As Rachael Maddow put it- “for over 60 years presidents have been pushing for health care reform…” I must agree that if a Republican needs 60 years to just debate an issue then cast them overboard and leave them in your wake.
I do not expect Congress to pass laws that protect the welfare of the citizenry, I demand it. Congress should start any logical discourse with a mission statement such as “affordable health care must be made available to all Unites States citizens” and then work on it. Then they must discard any motion or amendment that does not support the mission statement.
Propelling personal attacks at the President of the United States for attempting to provide affordable health care to the citizens of this country is not rational. George the Lesser, the idiot savant son of George the Elder was an excellent entertainer. While running the country into the ground he would make remarks like…”Yer either fer us or agin us…that makes you unpatriotic…un-American…” Now that scored well with the population. This guy makes statements like we need to join together to solve this problem. If those words like we, should, and solve strike a nerve with you then perhaps Georg the Lesser’s words would float your boat a little better…it’s my way or the highway.
Perhaps our President is too intelligent for many to understand.

I am a very Liberal Democrat that DID NOT vote for Obama.
If I could see through all the Bull that Obama spoon fed CNN, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, etc...as a domestic engineer, than WHY has it taken SO long for everyone to see it?

First:
I wholeheartedly agree with Timstigator below:

'July 22nd, 2009 4:06 pm ET
David Gergen surprises me in his degree of O-worship. I’ve always thought of Gergen as one of the smartest analysts out there. “He has a history of rising to the occasion?” When? Please, David, stop your slobbering. It’s unsightly.'

Second:
The people in Canada who say their healthcare is FREE. Nothing is Free. Someone is paying for it.

Third:
The long lines will come from the lack of doctors and nurses. We don't have enough doctors to handle the multitudes.
Maybe God will take it in His hands to have another natural catastrophe to control over spending on the multitudes. Then who are you going to blame for their deaths. GOD?

Fourth:
I am so tired of everyone talking about RACE as if that Just Happened, and as if, Obama's presidency will save all black people.

If Obama was COMPLETELY black, with HIGHER standards: that is, he read the bills he passes; than maybe, all black people would be saved.
Since he is Half and Half; he can't save anyone. Not even himself.

Living in the UK for 3 years I enjoy the benefits of the NHS. It only cost me 11% of my income. Much cheaper then any insurance policy I had living in the US. I find it so difficult to understand how America and all recent Presidents cannot reach to an agreement and have a system as in placed in Britain. Yes, there are draw backs in the NHS however there are many more draw backs in the American health care system. The preventive care in the UK is amazing and the US fails to understand that if you spend a little now and invest in everyone's care then you'll save billions later. I also, find it funny how everyone thought Obama could get this through when Bill and Hillary found walls everywhere they turned in the 90’s. Not the superstar everyone thought in the end is it Mr. Obama?

All these people who want government healthcare; also want someone else to pay for it.

It reminds me of people who think that beverages and snacks on a plane are free because they don't see the cost itemized on their airline ticket.

Obama's HealthCare Plan: according to my grandmother who died in 1982.
In 1980, during my grandmother's first airplane flight, she was so surprised and pleased when the flight attendant put a tray of food before her. She was beaming. How nice they were to offer her food on
this long flight.
I told her that the price of the food was in the ticket she bought.
The horror on her face: that she had bought this food with her own money. She tried to throw it in the isles. She would never have bought such crap.

This people are stupid talking about the economy Bush is the reason for the ecomony issue contact him. UK has health care the it Citizens Canada has it also, But the USA the so call great country can' even take of of it own , Yes I am American, it long over due health care c\reform is need to assist people who have to die because they cant afford to. This is no better that third world countries and is very inhumane that some will die because the cant afford to pay.

OBama keeps saying his health care bill will not add to the deficit over the NEXT decade, I can't help but wonder how much will it add to it after the next decade. I have come to realize that he is the type of person that would say "Well I said it wouldn't add to it in the NEXT decade"

Obama's promise to us, is not being met by problems.....
It's being met by the doctors profits, they don't want this
because they won't be able to rob us anymore.....
They would have to step up to the plate, like they do in
Canada.......

I experienced socialize medicine (UK), suffice to say it frightens me up to now. I almost lost all my teeth for a simple filling. It got infected, my tooth turned black and infected other teeth beside it. I end up flying back in USA unscheduled, thank God for that! I did not lose all my teeth. My orhtodentist told me, UK dentist had done a botched up job. I don't want socialize medicine, I'm happy with my health insurance, yes my premium is quite high but taking care of my health is my priority. If Obama is serious, he must put a cap on malpractice lawsuit and no welfare and medical coverage for illegal immigrants, they're the one making our healthcare expense. We also need Tort Reform.

We have well trained doctors in this country. World leaders seeking treatment fly to USA even when they have socialize medicine in their country. When it comes to medicine, this country is very advance in treatment and doing a lot of R&D, you can't say the same with other countries with socialize medicine. If people spend some time to read HR3200, they don't want it; it has all the mechanics of denying treatment all the way to going through your bank account. Socialize medicine offered by Obama he himself admitted he hasn't read takes away your right to choose and right to privacy.

Leave my health care alone! I work, and I do not want my health care dollars spent on those who do not. I am not interested in sacrifice. Let Obama sacrifice! Let Kennedy sacrifice! i am sorry, but I am already supporting my share of deadbeats, and I am getting tired of this.

President Obama is right . The voices against Health care reform are coming from the legislatures that have received hefty amounts to their coffers. It is hard to vote against those that pack your pockets.
The country need to put controls on health care providers. Our ins cost $1010 to cover the 2 in the family. It is the best offered by our state for its employees. In 2006 it was $776 a month. By reports it will increase by 30% in the coming year, while our wages are cut by 20%. The people have ask for this for 61 years.
I'll pay my $1010 for an insurance that will not control what and how my doctor treats my body, and maybe he can treat the whole body instead of dissecting it into parts. It really is hard to walk with an injured foot.

Who is really the president, Nancy Polsky, and Harry Reid are making all the decisions on the bills that are pasted Obama doesn't even read them before he signs them.All his advisors, and czar's are making desions on the bail outs. He goes too other countries and blames americans for everything. He is more than willing too make the United States of America unsafe too please other countries and become popular in their eye's.This bill will pass, just like all the rest when the Democrats want it too pass , Obama is just a salesman that knows how too talk and sign his name.