US can’t afford delay on healthcare, Obama says

“We can’t afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to healthcare,’’ Obama said after meeting with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers at Children’s National Medical Center. “Not this time. Not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake.’’

Without mentioning his critic by name, the president recounted South Carolina Republican Senator Jim DeMint’s comment that stopping Obama’s bid for healthcare overhaul could “break’’ his presidency and be his “Waterloo,’’ a reference to the site of Napoleon’s bitter defeat.

“This isn’t about me,’’ Obama responded. “This isn’t about politics. This is about a healthcare system that is breaking America’s families, breaking America’s businesses, and breaking America’s economy.’’

Striking a more populist tone, the president complained that “health insurance companies and their executives have reaped windfall profits from a broken system.’’

Obama criticized those “fighting reform on behalf of powerful special interests’’ and others out to put off action for “another day, another year, another decade.’’

“Let’s fight our way through the politics of the moment,’’ Obama added. “Let’s pass reform by the end of this year.’’

That reflects a shift in his timetable; Obama had said that he wanted the House and Senate to vote on legislation before lawmakers leave town for their August recess, with a comprehensive bill for him to sign in October. As Obama continues his healthcare push in a prime-time news conference tomorrow and a town hall in Ohio on Thursday, Republicans are sharpening their attacks. The chairman of the Republican Party yesterday called the president’s push for healthcare overhaul socialism, and accused him of conducting a risky experiment that will hurt the economy and force millions to drop their current coverage.

Michael Steele, in remarks at the National Press Club, also said the president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and key congressional committee chairmen are part of a cabal who want to implement government-run healthcare. “Obama-Pelosi want to start building a colossal, closed healthcare system where Washington decides. Republicans want and support an open healthcare system where patients and doctors make the decisions,’’ Steele said.

Asked if Obama’s plan represented socialism, Steele responded: “Yes. Next question.’’ Obama has repeatedly said he does not favor a government-run healthcare system, though he does favor a public insurance plan that would compete with private insurers.

But two polls released yesterday showed support slipping of Obama’s handling of healthcare. In the USA Today/Gallup survey, Americans by 50 percent to 44 percent disapproved of his stewardship of the issue. And in a Washington Post-ABC News survey, approval of Obama’s healthcare plans slipped below 50 percent for the first time, to 49 percent.

The healthcare push is also running into resistance in Congress. So far, two of three House committees have approved their portions of the bill, while one of two Senate panels have acted. But Republicans, and some Democrats, are urging a slowdown to study the bill and try to reach a bipartisan compromise.

Conservative Democrats have raised objections, particularly on the bill’s financing. Pelosi is floating an idea that could make proposed tax increases more palatable. She would like to limit income tax increases to couples making more than $1 million a year and individuals making more than $500,000, Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said yesterday. The bill passed by the House Ways and Means Committee last week would increase taxes on couples making as little as $350,000 a year and individuals making as little as $280,000.

Meanwhile, the US Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest business group, planned to announce ads today criticizing the government insurance proposal, saying it would threaten employer-provided coverage. R. Bruce Josten, the group’s top lobbyist, said the campaign would begin with a $2 million budget and include newspaper and Internet ads, as well as efforts to drum up public support across the country.

Also, the insurance industry, which challenged President Bill Clinton’s healthcare effort in the early 1990s, launched a $1.4 million ad campaign, its first TV spots of this year’s healthcare fight. The ads restate the industry’s support for an overhaul that provides universal coverage, but does not mention the insurers’ strong opposition to creating a government-run insurance option.