In front of the AMA, American Medical Association, one of the powerful lobbyist/organizations in the medical field, who continues to side with the insurance companies.
President Barack Obama will attempt to convince a skeptical American Medical Association Monday to drop its resistance to the most controversial element of his health reform effort, a government insurance plan.
In an address to the group's annual meeting in Chicago, Obama will pitch the public insurance plan as a necessary competitor to private insurers, and as a tool to ensure choice and lower costs for consumers.
Given its historic resistance to major reform efforts, the AMA would be a tough crowd under normal circumstances. But in pushing the public plan, Obama is looking to convince a constituency already distrustful of the government's role in health care that a government insurance program won't be as objectionable as they imagine.
"The president will be clear about what a public option does and doesn't mean for patients, physicians, and our broader health care system," according to an outline of the speech provided Sunday by the administration.
This is the start and don't expect it to be easy.
Remember, change, especially in Washington, D.C. as we are seeing is not easy. This is from lobbyists, massive organizations and especially congress. Congress is critical for health care reform to pass and the opposition, especially from the right, is really unforgiveable. Heath care reform affects not some of us, but all of us. All of us are dealing with high premium costs with reduced care, that is a fact. Those who can afford the best health care are the exception in this country, not the norm. I know people paying minimum $500.00 a month for premiums up to $1200.00 and this is for a family of four. That is not just outrageous, but cuts directly into a family's budget.
I agree with this statement:
What stands in the White House's way is Congress. And, more often than not, it's the Republicans in Congress. Liberals, after all, will sacrifice almost anything to radically expand coverage. This leaves cost-conscious conservative facing a bit of a dilemma. They can attack the most vulnerable parts of the policy -- the cost controls -- in the hopes of bringing the whole thing down. The downside to that, of course, is that liberals simply jettison cost-controls to protect the coverage expansion. For a fiscal conservative, this should be considered the worst of all worlds.
The Republicans would rather score political points to bring down Obama or the Democrats than to look at what the reality is in front of them. No one can tell me that not a member of congress has not heard the health care horror stories, and from their own district or state. Instead of getting into the game, showing some bi-partisanship, the Republicans are continuing to show that they just don't care. Not when it comes to the American Public.
Lastly, President Obama will be on prime time, ABC, talking health care, June 24, 2009:
With the White House revving up its campaign for new health care legislation, ABC News will be offering a prime-time special June 24 on the issue featuring an "exclusive" interview with Obama by Diane Sawyer. I don't know how the White House convinces any network or cable channel that Obama is "exclusive" to them, but more power to the image-makers for selling it.
It looks like ABC News will be pulling out all the TV bells and whistles to make health care look like the most important issue in the world. Here's part of the network press release:
As the nation debates sweeping changes in healthcare, ABC News’ Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer will moderate a conversation with President Obama about this critical issue on the nation’s agenda. A special edition of Primetime “Questions for the President: Prescription for America” will air on Wednesday, June 24th from 10:00-11:00 PM ET on the ABC Television Network.
During the discussion from the East Room of the White House, President Obama will answer questions from an audience made up of Americans selected by ABC News who have divergent opinions in this historic debate. ABC News’ Medical Editor Dr. Timothy Johnson will also take part in the conversation which will focus on different ideas for how to fix the system and how proposed changes will impact our already fragile economy.
The health care conversation will continue on “Nightline” at 11:35pm ET.
Obama's Remarks to the American Medical Association (AMA) in Chicago, IL
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