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Obama Asks Bloggers to Pressure Hill on Health Care

Leaves open reconciliation option

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2009 8:16 AM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama unleashed the hounds last night, asking progressive bloggers to pressure Congress on health care reform. “There is a default position of inertia here in Washington,” he said on an invitation-only conference call. Lawmakers need to feel the same urgency and desperation ordinary Americans feel, he said, “and you guys can help deliver that better than just about anybody.”

He stopped short of asking Congress to work through its August recess, but said “the time for talk is over,” and said he was open to using reconciliation to pass the bill. But he also warned the bloggers not to make “the best the enemy of the good.” He said he’d be happy to get even imperfect bills from each house, since much will change in the closed-door negotiations to combine the bills.

President Barack Obama attends a roundtable discussion with health care providers during a visit to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, Monday.
President Barack Obama attends a roundtable discussion with health care providers during a visit to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, Monday.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Barack Obama talks about his plan for health care reform following a roundtable discussion with health care providers during a visit to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, Monday.
Barack Obama talks about his plan for health care reform following a roundtable discussion with health care providers during a visit to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, Monday.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Barack Obama talks about his plan for health care reform following a roundtable discussion with health care providers during a visit to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, Monday.
Barack Obama talks about his plan for health care reform following a roundtable discussion with health care providers during a visit to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, Monday.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
gilgordan
Jul 22, 2009 1:13 AM CDT
Let do it like the wall streeters, big donors, lobbyists, with a quid pro quo, we'll support health care, if the Prez stops, locks up, and seeks real retribution of the financial sector, name names, indictments etc.
Fondue
Jul 21, 2009 10:32 AM CDT
6506, so what you are saying is if I dropped the name calling parts, it would still be inane, immature and uninsightful? Yet your comment doesn't. So what are the GOP solutions? Exactly, you have none. Just like your "peddling and packaging" comment completely avoids giving a solution. Everything you have said in this thread lacks substance.
freethemall
Jul 21, 2009 9:05 AM CDT
Palerider, the fools are the ones who kept the Republicans in power long enough to get this nation, and this world, into the sorry mess that it is now in. This mess was dumped into Obama's lap, and because he hasn't straighten it all completely out, in the six months he's been in office, you think the people were fooled into voting for him. Give me a break!

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