LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.   Truthdig Trek with Chris Hedges
March 20, 2010
Log in / Register

 Choose a size
Text Size

Most Read

Right Wing Gone Wild

Perry Anderson on the Specter of China

Trial Brings Boy Scouts of America's 'Perversion Files' to Light

What's the Matter With Democrats?

'Daily Show': Progressives Are Out to Get Us All

Most Comments
Most Emailed

Reports
 * NEW! * ‘Kumbaya’ No More

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture

Digs
Financial Meltdown 101

Truthdig Bazaar more items

 
Ear to the Ground

Obama Gives Health Plan a Town-Hall Pitch

Email this item Email    Print this item Print   

Share
Posted on Jul 1, 2009
Obama hugs
AP photo / Alex Brandon

Hug your president: Barack Obama embraces Debby Smith during his forum on health care in Annandale, Va., on Wednesday. Smith, 53, who said she was a cancer patient, was fighting back tears after she rose to ask a question of the president.

While Congress was away, President Obama made another play to boost public support of his health care reform plan. It came Wednesday in a town-hall-esque forum in Virginia.  Those hoping for the federal government to back a viable single-payer system, however, will have to keep on hoping.

The New York Times:

With members of Congress away for the week, the president had the stage to himself as he promoted his plan to lower the cost of health care and make coverage more accessible. He cast his proposal as a cost-saver, rather than a giant expenditure, saying the economy was not likely to rally without reversing “the crushing cost of health care.”

For weeks, the administration and Congressional leaders have struggled to reach a compromise on comprehensive health care legislation. So the White House sought to rally public support by staging a friendly forum here, just outside Washington, which was billed as an hourlong question-and-answer session from a live audience, as well as from people following along online.

Read more

More Below the Ad

Advertisement


Comments

Are you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.

By Cathy, July 2, 2009 at 11:59 am #

All this “staged” show yesterday did for me was raise my blood pressure.  That poor woman if she thinks Obama’s plan is going to help her.  This “Kodak” moment was on the front page of Long Island Newsday today and I’m sure every other paper, with the spin.  Makes Obama look warm and fuzzy instead of a suck-up corporatist politician. 
This is pretty famous by now, but this is the press—our irresponsible MSM—finally not kissing Obama’s butt but asking tough questions about this “town hall” meeting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh5vzOAEQ-A

Report this

By GB, July 2, 2009 at 10:34 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

It’s long overdue to tell the republicans and insurance paid off dems to take a hike. After bush stole the election in 2000, he and the republican congress treated the minority like crap. They rammed through illegal wars and big corporate fraud and devestated our economy. They squelched dissent and even threaten getting rid of the filibuster. Why are the dems, particularly Obama listening to them? They have already destroyed our infrastructure and continue to do so. An overwhelming majority of Americans want single-payer health care because it’s more cost effective and non-descrimintory. If conservatives want for profit insurance, let them have it. We can have both for much cheaper than the pocket fleecing we get now.

Report this

By boggs, July 2, 2009 at 9:14 am #

If we can’t have viable single payer option healthcare- then we will still be getting thrown under the bus in favor of BIG PHARMA and BIG HEALTH INS. companies.
They just as well take their government healthcare plans and stick em where they’ve been stickin’ all that other stuff that doesn’t get sunshine!
Obama is the big disappointment of the year!
But he sure pats, hugs and talks pretty!

Report this

By RGR, July 2, 2009 at 9:14 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

What a propaganda display? _President Obama is a liar and a crook! he lie to us on his campaign, No Lobbies, No Pork, No Taxes, Transparency, Honesty, a better Government. Not only he lie to us he keep doing I he honestly believes he is not. A now he is also supporting dictators. No meddling to other countries, tell that Honduras, Israel, Germany, Lebanon, etc. How many people where injure and probably kill because of his weak stand on Iran. We have the best government money can buy!

Report this

Add Your Comment

Posts by unregistered readers are moderated. Posts by members
are published immediately. Why wait? Register today!







Number of characters remaining: 4000

Notify you when others comment on this article?


Are you a human?
Retype the word you see here.


Please read and abide by our comment policy.
By submitting this comment, you agree to this site's terms and conditions.

 
 

 
Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
Copyright © 2010 Truthdig, L.L.C. All rights reserved.