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Obama asks lawmakers for ‘courage’ on health
President Barack Obama on Monday made an impassioned plea for lawmakers to show “courage” and vote for healthcare reform.
In a speech in Strongsville, Ohio, Obama told lawmakers to focus not on political opinion polls or the November election, but rather, the people who would be positively impacted by healthcare reform.
Too many people are “talking about what this means for November,” Obama said. “Talking about the poll numbers for the Democrats and the Republicans.
“We need courage.”
The crowd also implored Kucinich to vote for the bill.
Kucinich, who traveled with Obama to the event on Air Force Once, dislikes the
Senate bill because it does not contain a public insurance option.
When asked by a reporter on the tarmac near the president's plane if he would
change his vote, Kucinich demurred.
But when asked if he was reconsidering his vote, Kucinich said: "I'm
looking forward to hearing what [Obama] has to say.”
Obama’s speech was given near the hometown of Natoma
Canfield, a cancer patient who has seen her insurance premiums
skyrocket. Obama has made a habit of reading a letter Canfield sent to him to
detractors of his reform proposal.
“When you hear people saying that this isn’t the ‘right time’ — think of what
she’s going through,” Obama said. “When you hear people talk about who’s up and
who’s down in the polls, instead of what’s right or what’s wrong for the
country, think of her and the millions of responsible people, working people, being hurt by today’s system of health insurance. And I want you to
remember: There but for the grace of God go I.”
The president made his plea as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is pushing
for a vote this week and the president's top advisers are boasting that by the
end of the week, healthcare reform will be “the law of the land.”
The president, aware of the concerns of seniors who fear the
proposal will curb their Medicare benefits, warned seniors in the crowd not to
let critics “hoodwink” them.
“Every senior should know: There is no cutting of your guaranteed Medicare
benefits. Period. No ifs, ands or buts,” Obama said. “This proposal
makes Medicare stronger, makes the coverage better, and makes its finances more
secure. Anyone who says otherwise is misinformed — or is trying to
misinform you. Don't let ‘em hoodwink you. They're trying to hoodwink you.”
Obama is scheduled to depart for Guam, Indonesia and Australia on Sunday after having delayed his trip to try to win votes for the bill.
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