Push for healthcare reform quotes Obama
A broad coalition for healthcare reform is launching a new TV ad today in Washington, D.C., that uses President-elect Barack Obama's own words to step up the pressure on the new administration to tackle the thorny issue -- despite the economic downturn.
"The question isn't how we can afford to focus on healthcare. The question is how we can afford not to," Obama is shown saying at a rally.
The ad from Health Care for All then says on screen: "Congratulations President-elect Obama."
"Because in order to fix our economic crisis and rebuild our middle class, we need to fix our healthcare system, too," Obama is shown saying.
"We agree," it says on screen.
"It's clear that the time has come right now to solve this problem," Obama continues.
"We're ready," the ad concludes on screen.
The coalition is among several labor, business, and other groups pushing for a universal healthcare plan as one of the first orders of business when Obama takes office in January. While the economic nose-dive might discourage action because of the cost of healthcare reform, proponents say it could actually help drive the recovery -- an argument that Obama himself made.
Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus unveiled his blueprint last week, and he and Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts could introduce legislation early next year.
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Odious. Health Care for All is the worst form of health industry lobbying cloaking itself with astroturf.
Exactly, Mike. Should be called Compulsory Private Insurance for All (except for the poor, who the health industry so generously leave to the govt). Does Obama have the courage/vision to stand up to insurance companies and implement a single-payer system? I won't hold my breath.
If everyone has healthcare, demand will go up, and supply is stagnant, won't medical prices go up and just take more of our money?
At Health Care for America Now, we are thinking of this as a message to Congress, really. Obama is fully behind health care reform, but we've got to remind Congress that Obama got elected because of it.
To have a socialized medicare which is really what this all is. The government will have to get money from somewhere! Where do you think they will get it. From the pockets of the people. Which whoever that is, the rich,the poor or the middle class doesn't really matter. The only thing Government should do for its people is give them the chance to be succesful enough to by health care! I mean really! Come on, go to college get a good paying job. I know there are exceptions but if they didn't spend so much of their money on entertainment and sports and cigarettes and drugs they would have a lot more money to by healthcare. The Government shouldn't get involved farther then making success possible.