Obama Shows Flexibility on Health Care

[Beacool]

By DAVID ESPO, AP

WASHINGTON (June 27) - The reversals, hints of concessions and politically dicey proposals on health care are piling up for President Barack Obama, whose appeal for bipartisan legislation carries risk with no guarantee of reward.
By one definition, that's called presidential leadership, flexibility first, meant to embolden others to do the same.

By another, it's political inconsistency that risks offending people on Medicare, liberals who favor government-run health care and union families with coverage negotiated by contract with employers.

"Many of us are prepared to accept changes that maybe wouldn't be our first choice," says Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. He meant it as a challenge to Republicans, few of whom have seem interested in seeking common ground on health care with the White House and Democrats who control Congress.
But so far, Obama has been anything but uninterested.

"He is flexible when it comes to methods," his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, said recently. "But when it comes to outcomes, he is not," referring to the president's goal of curtailing health care costs while spreading coverage to millions who lack it.

http://news.aol.com/article/obama-health-care/546544

[Oregone]

1. The audacity of drawing lines in the sand

[Kermitt Gribble]

2. Blah, blah, blah.

Tell us whether we're getting a public option or not. This shit about the republicans opposing a public option is getting old. Nothing more than deflecting the blame so the people can't see the real reason - that 99% of our elected officials are comfortably in the pockets of of the health insurance industry.

[Beacool]

3. It's too soon to tell.

The fight hasn't really started yet, but it's going to be a doozy. Too many vested interests are at stake and each group will fight to protect their turf. Will we end up with some health care bill? Most likely yes. Will it be one that satisfies Progressives? Probably not.

:shrug:

[dionysus]

6. .

:hi:

[Beacool]

8. Hi, Banky!!!

How's life treating you on this summery Sunday?

:pals:

[dionysus]

11. i just got soaked to the skin watching the LPGA, you?

:)

[Beacool]

13. Yeah, it's been a very rainy last few weeks.

But today was lovely. I went out and just got back home. Thank goodness it's a short week. My company closes at 1PM on Thursday. Can hardly wait!!!

:woohoo:

Happy 4th!!!

:patriot:

[Kermitt Gribble]

9. Doesn't matter

whether it satisfies Progressives. Whether it satisfies the uninsured millions will be the measure of success. So far, it seems like the latter group is not the govt's top priority.

[Beacool]

14. I still think we need to see what the bill looks like.

But, my feeling is that it will be a watered down bill. The administration is soooo eager to pass a health care bill that it will probably compromise to get it done this year.

[OHdem10]

4. Flexibility can gives a GOP Plan. or No Change at all.

[DJ13]

5. Being flexible sometimes means nothing more than knowing how to bend over

[sisters6]

7. Flexibility is the new word for CAVING TO

THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

[namecallerholic]

12. Neither he or the Democrats can help it. The Insurance companies buy ads on...

...the media that the Democrats fear.

Piss off the insurance companies, piss of the media. That gives the Democrats nightmares.

[Beacool]

10. This is why we need to fight for public option.

I had only seen a couple of these videos until a few minutes ago, but I heard plenty of similar stories on the campaign trail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPCTdOknNBw&feature=PlayList&p=F4DAC3EA3738244F&index=31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBPdKT-fyq8&feature=PlayList&p=F4DAC3EA3738244F&index=24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md1oWPz0fys&feature=PlayList&p=F4DAC3EA3738244F&index=33

I'm sitting here crying. Crying for these people's plight. Crying for all of those who are suffering without anyone coming to their aid. Crying for the state of this country. I'm crying for all of us.

:cry:

Oh, what's the use.........