Obama kept up a steady weekend drumbeat of cheerleading for his health care plan in a campaign-style rally, on the radio and Internet, and on network television. He planned to continue the pace with more events designed to seize control of the health care debate following his address to Congress last week in which he urged Democrats and Republicans to come together.
“I will not accept the status quo. Not this time. Not now,” the president told an estimated 15,000 people during a packed rally Saturday in Minneapolis. In public, the president is working to energize his supporters and persuade those who have insurance that a health overhaul is just as vital to them as it is to those who currently aren't covered. Behind the scenes, the president's team and key Democratic lawmakers are in intense negotiations aimed at cutting a deal that can pass Congress -- with or without Republican backing. The United States is the only developed country without a universal program of health care coverage. While many Americans are dissatisfied with the health care system, attempts to change it have been politically explosive. Republican leaders say they agree with Obama that the current health insurance system needs a change, but argue his plans are too costly and won't work. ”The status quo is unacceptable. But so are the alternatives that the administration and Democrats in Congress have proposed,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, the minority leader.
Obama is pushing to create a new government health plan to compete with private insurance, but he's stressing that no one would be forced to choose that option, and that he's flexible on how to set it up. In a CBS' “60 Minutes” interview to air Sunday night, Obama said he's focused on overhauling health care the right way. “I have no interest in having a bill get passed that fails,” he said. He acknowledged he will “own” whatever measure passes Congress, effective or not. Meanwhile, protesters gathered Saturday in Washington to vent their fury at Obama and his vision for health care reform in a demonstration that drew thousands.
