Obama: Kennedy 'there in spirit' on healthcare
It must be a bittersweet time for Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
His most cherished legislative goal -- a healthcare bill that offers universal coverage -- is perhaps closer than ever before.
But his own health -- he is more than a year into treatment for aggressive brain cancer -- is keeping him from being in the thick of the action. He was not present when the Senate health committee became the first congressional panel Wednesday to pass a healthcare overhaul bill.
President Obama, who benefited immensely from Kennedy's endorsement during the Democratic primaries, said on ABC's "Good Morning America" this morning that he had talked to Kennedy last week.
But the president noted that is a difficult time for Kennedy, whom he lauded at a White House healthcare summit in March.
"Obviously, it's painful for Senator Kennedy, who's fought all his life for this moment, not to be there in the heat of battle. But he's there in spirit," Obama said. "Obviously, right now, we just want to make sure that he's taking care of himself and he's healing. But his spirit looms large over this entire process."
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There in spirit? Let's hope not, Mr. Candy Arm - Kennedy has never done a positive thing for this country.
Republican thinking:
Bush tax cut, that is an entitlement.
Tax Surcharge for Health Care, that is class warfare.
Moral When your you kneel at the alter of mammon, every dollar you do not keep is an arrow to the heart. Over the next few years, Republicans are going to feel like a dart board.
"Bush tax cut, that is an entitlement.
Tax Surcharge for Health Care, that is class warfare."
Is there something about private property you don't understand? And what exactly is a tax 'surcharge'? A euphemism for tax 'increase'?
"Over the next few years, Republicans are going to feel like a dart board."
The American people already do - Obama has destroyed millions of their jobs and run up trillions in debt in their names.
BTW - that's "altar" and not "alter".
Please stop with the incessant pre-mortem eulogies about Ted Kennedy.
Much of the momentum for this government take-over of the health care sector (no matter how you slice it, that is what it is), is driven by a desire to honor him with this monstrosity of a bill which no single sensible person has yet read.
In this rush to make Ted Kennedy feel vindicated, it will cost far more than the current price tag.
"Candy Arm Obama", a little history is in order.
The Social Security payroll tax is highly regressive by mostly ending upon reaching high income levels, while sales taxes and property taxes are neutral to regressive. The U.S. has had a system of progressive income taxation for a long time. The issue for debate is "just how progressive." Conservatives cry that high taxes on the wealthy stifle entrepreneurship. Well, the 1950s and 1960s, considered to be high growth periods, had marginal tax rates on high incomes of 70-90%. The truth is that motivated creative people are not deterred by taxes. Gradually those rates were lowered down into the 30s. When Bill Clinton took office, he pushed through a tax increase which was vitally needed to balance the budget and fund necessary programs. We entered a period of low inflation, solid growth, and eventually surpluses. By contrast George W. Bush not only failed to raise taxes to pay for his war in Iraq as other presidents had done in times of war, but he lowered taxes, mostly for the wealthiest among us. We can daily observe the mess that created. President Obama's proposal is to merely restore the tax rates on the wealthy to their levels before Bush, already low by historical standards.
Right wingers have an agenda; it is called "Starve the Beast." Since they don't believe government has a place, cripple it so that needed programs are starved, and "Laissez Faire" capitalism reigns again. We had a sample of that during the Bush years; a total failure.
xkenx
Bush years. It failed once again.
xkenx
Why is always about Bush v Obama? Did it ever occur to anyone that perhaps they are both wrong?
Ted..... Its time to go. You've done enough screwing this country.
"President Obama's proposal is to merely restore the tax rates on the wealthy to their levels before Bush, already low by historical standards."
xkenx - what your analysis fails to recognize is that in the aftermath of WWII the US was the SOLE industrial power on earth capable of producing anything for export. Our manufacturing base was unrivaled. Europe and Asia were devastated. This is no longer the case, not by a long shot. Our manufacturing base is gone - because, as you point out, creative, motivated people are not deterred by high taxes...
...THEY RELOCATE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY! BTW - There were no surpluses under Clinton, and the growth was due to the internet boom which had nothing to do with his policies.
Why hasn't Kennedy retired? He can no longer represent the state. We certainly have plenty of taxation. It's time for him to step aside.
Candy Arm
You problem is you are humorless. You have to do some reading in economics and it can't be only of positions that you agree with. Fox news is not the place to learn the economics. If you were to read the Wall Street Journal (not the editorials) or better yet the Financial Times you might learn something.
Your worst failing is that you think that we should think you are as wonderful as you do. BTW - who asked you how to spell alter? Not only are you saturnine but you are smug.
I have a problem deifying a murderer, womanizer, and world-class bag of wind.
Just because he talks, laughs, and drinks a great deal, and must talk loud to communicate, do his "subjects" think he's anything but an empty suit, signifying nothing.
Message to God: Would that you'd make Obama's comment a reality; make Ted a spirit at your earliest convenience!
So is the spirit of Mary Jo Kopechne.