State of Play: Obama Selling, Americans Buying?
By Ceci Connolly
President Obama embarks on a round-the-clock personal lobbying blitz for his cherished health-care overhaul this week, while key congressional chairmen continue to search for compromise as the August recess nears.
On Monday, the president hosts a roundtable discussion with doctors and nurses at the Children’s National Medical Center and is expected to continue a recent wave of broadcast interviews to pitch the idea that health reform needs to happen ASAP.
On Wednesday night, it will be the Obama Live show with a presidential prime-time news conference about—you guessed it—health care.
As Obama continues to push for House and Senate votes before the break, interest groups are also increasing their visibility. The industry that brought you “Harry and Louise” returns to the airwaves for the first time this week with a soft sell for health reform.
Majority of Americans Favor Democratic Reform Plan
Up on Capitol Hill it may feel as though Obama’s top domestic priority has hit a rough patch, but beyond the Beltway the American people are in favor of the sort of sweeping overhaul envisioned by Democrats, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
The survey found that 54 percent of Americans support legislation that tracks the broad parameters of bills in Congress drafted by Democratic leaders. About 43 percent oppose legislation that would require both individuals and businesses to contribute to the cost of health insurance, would raise taxes on people earning more than $280,000 a year and would create a new government-run health program to compete with the existing private companies.
The survey question was based on the major elements of a bill unveiled by House Democratic leaders last week.
Not surprisingly, Democrats were far more enthusiastic about the proposal (75 percent support) compared to Republicans (21 percent). But 58 percent of Independents support the overall framework.
Younger adults and people earning less than $50,000 were the most supportive, perhaps because they tend to be among the 47 million uninsured Americans. People over age 65—all of whom are eligible for the government’s Medicare program—registered the least support by age group.
Gender had little influence on how people view health-care reform. But in the new survey, minorities as a group, were more in favor of the approach (72 percent) than whites, who were split evenly at 48 percent.
In parts of the country were unemployment is above 10 percent, support for health-care legislation was slightly higher than other regions.
The survey of 1,001 adults had a sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Insurance Industry Returns to Airwaves
On the airwaves, the industry known for its eponymous “Harry and Louise” ads sowing doubts about President Bill Clinton’s health-care overhaul is putting up its first commercial of this season. Beginning Monday, America’s Health Insurance Plans will airing a 30-second spot titled “Illness.”
“Illness doesn’t care where you live…or if you’re already sick...or if you lose your job. Your health insurance shouldn’t either,” the ad says. “So let’s fix health care.”
Committees Continue Searching for Compromise
In the House, the diverse—and apparently divided—Energy and Commerce Committee begins several days of debate on Monday on its health reform bill. Chairman Henry Waxman faces a standoff with members of the Blue Dog Coalition over the issue of cost controls and could be forced to make concessions on biogenerics and the shape of a new government-sponsored health insurance program.
The Blue Dogs have some strong voices on their side. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has warned that the bills being debated so far do not tackle underlying cost drivers. And a prominent coalition of hospitals, including Gundersen Lutheran in Wisconsin and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., says Congress is not doing enough in its proposals to incentivize high-quality care.
Finally, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) continues to scour the landscape for a $1 trillion health bill that can muster some Republican support.
By
Ceci Connolly
|
July 20, 2009; 5:22 AM ET
Categories:
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Health Reform
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State of Play
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Posted by: JohnAdams1 | July 20, 2009 7:23 AM | Report abuse
There are NOT 47 million uninsured Americans.
There are 17 Million uninsured Americans and 30 MILLION UNINSURED ILLEGAL ALIENS!
Doesn't the Washington Post realize this.
Report the truth. I am all for covering Americans but why should we be funding illegals. I'd 'hop the fence' also if I were them.
Posted by: BoGalvin | July 20, 2009 7:36 AM | Report abuse
Most people have no idea how this bill will affect them, and NOBODY has read the complete bill. How blantently bias and equally ourageous that the Post/ABC would come out with this new poll. In the Tank??
Posted by: CTLangis | July 20, 2009 8:51 AM | Report abuse
I liken Obamna's "programs" to experiences I have had with motivational speakers. After the speech the question that goes unanswered 'what did he really say?' Too much of Obama has been cheerleading and not "real" leading. No details until the confusion is so high nothing can be sorted out. No explanations about troublesome concerns - illegal aliens, who pays for what, how are the really poor covered, is this a plan to devolve the costs to the states, on and on and on
Posted by: fcrucian | July 20, 2009 9:14 AM | Report abuse
WHAT GOOD IS HEALTH CARE REFORM WHEN LOCAL UNITS OF A FEDERALLY-ENABLED AMERICAN GESTAPO ARE DEGRADING THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF UNJUSTLY 'TARGETED' AMERICANS...
...AND THEIR FAMILIES?
FEMA, Secret Service. FBI. the U.S. military and intel agencies are among the federal enablers of volunteer community policing, anti-terrorism and town watch organizations transmogrified by Bush-Cheney into fronts for a nationwide, civilian Gestapo-like army.
This grassroots-based extrajudicial targeting and punishment "torture matrix" uses covertly implanted GPS tracking devices to stalk, harass, vandalize and terrorize unjustly "targeted" Americans and their families.
When "targets" travel, the GPS system alerts local units of this American Gestapo, and the harassment follows.
Silent, injury- and illness-inducing microwave and laser radiation "directed energy weapons" are being used to torture, and to degrade the lives of targeted citizens -- what could be described as a quiet, ideologically-motivated genocide.
This cruel bypass of the American judicial system makes a mockery of the rule of law -- and political "dissidents," "whistle-blowers" and those considered to be social "deviates" are among its prime targets.
Civil rights advocates: Wake up and smell the police state that has co-opted POTUS and a deluded Congress into becoming enablers of vigilante injustice -- making a mockery of the rule of law.
http://nowpublic.com/world/gestapo-usa-govt-funded-vigilante-network-terrorizes-america
OR (if link is corrupted / disabled):
See "GESTAPO USA" at NowPublic.com/scrivener ("stream" or "stories" list).
Posted by: scrivener50 | July 20, 2009 9:21 AM | Report abuse
Looks like the freeper trolls are coming out of their nests this morning . . . johnadams, scrivener, fcrusian -- whateverrrr
Which of the healthcare insurance mafias are you girls prostitutes/lobbyists for, btw?
And . . . if the system we have here in the US is sooooo wonderful . . .
Why does NO other country on earth! follow our model . . . hmmmmmm?
Could it be . . . that the US taxpaer is merely the most convenient (and dumbest) sucker around . . . to fund your sweeeeet little extortion scam . . . ????
Liz Cheney/Jeb Bush 2012!!!!!
Posted by: thesuperclasssux | July 20, 2009 9:34 AM | Report abuse
Is there a check list for opposing the President - no matter who is in office?
When I saw "we are afraid that he will collapse the economy and he will then refuse to leave office."
it was the same stuff they did against president Bush.
Next will they trump up some charges that he is a liar? And say he is having an affair in the White House? They did against President Clinton and President Bush.
If you want to post for money, that is fine. I would like a few dollars myself. But do try to be original. Otherwise you look like a hack.
Posted by: GaryEMasters | July 20, 2009 10:22 AM | Report abuse
It will be interesting to see if Obama can market his health care plan (or any legislation) using campaign-style appearances. He used a lot of vague hopey-changey rhetoric and a preacher-man voice to get elected, but now he's going to have to sell people on details. That might be more problematic.
Posted by: wapo9 | July 20, 2009 11:00 AM | Report abuse
THIS IS IT!
The healthcare reform bill released by the House Of Representatives is an excellent bill as I understand it. It's a bill with a strong, robust, government-run public option, and an intelligent, reasonable initial funding plan to cover almost all of the American people. It is carefully written, and thoughtfully constructed, informed, prudent and wise. This bill will save trillions of dollars, and millions of your lives. It is also now supported by the AMA.
This is the type of bill that all Americans can feel good about. And this is the type of bill that has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of healthcare for all Americans. Rich, middle class and poor a like. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and all other party affiliations. This bill has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of life of every American.
The house healthcare bill should be viewed as the minimum GOLD STANDARD by which all other proposed healthcare legislation should be judged. All supporters of true high quality healthcare reform should now place all your support behind this healthcare reform bill released by the United States House Of Representatives, as the minimum Gold standard for healthcare reform in America.
You should all now support this bill with all your might, and all of your unrelenting tenacity. This healthcare bill is a VERY, VERY GOOD! bill for all of the American people. Fight tooth, and nail for every bit of this bill if you have too. Be aggressive, creative, and relentless for this bill.
From this time forward, go BIGGER and DEEPER with the American people every day until passage of healthcare reform with a robust, government-run public option.
FIGHT!! like your life and the lives of your loved ones depends on it. BECAUSE IT DOES!
SPREAD THE WORD
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
God Bless You
Jack Smith — Working Class
Posted by: JackSmith1 | July 21, 2009 2:14 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
I think americans are beginning to fear the inexperience, lack of leadership and self promotion of Obama. He has no interest in anything except enriching himself and his friends.
we are afraid that he will collapse the economy and he will then refuse to leave office.
This administration is a nightmare.