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Obama: 'We Will Do It This Year'

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2009 5:21 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama will take to the airwaves tonight in his fourth prime-time news conference with a familiar message: Health care reform is not only long overdue, it's a "central" part of the plan to keep the economy on track. In excerpts released in advance of tonight's 8pm EST address, Obama vows that "we will pass reform that lowers cost, promotes choice, and provides coverage that every American can count on," reports Talking Points Memo. "And we will do it this year."

Without action to rein in costs, "we will not be able to control our deficit," says Obama, who again promises that reform will not add to the nation's red ink. He also warns that "premiums and out-of-pocket costs will continue to skyrocket" and that "14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health insurance every single day" unless Congress acts. The nation "cannot afford to wait for reform any longer."

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President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki take part in a joint press conference Wednesday. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

President Obama answers a question during his press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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This is not just about the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance. (It's) about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage. - President Obama

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 23 comments

Fondue

Jul 23, 2009 12:00 PM CDT

Godawgs, so what you believe is if you lose or change your job, you will have no choice but to use the Federal plan? That's not what I understand. No one is saying you can't purchase what you want. If you watch the news conference tonight I think you'll find that out. Otherwise, continue to believe your own sources.

NxBigmouthery

Jul 23, 2009 4:47 AM CDT

Why is there a big chunk of America that does not understand what socialism is? They bleat on about it all the time, yet it seems to me they think socialism means no tax cut so you can't buy new rims or a plasma.

onebadc20

Jul 23, 2009 2:35 AM CDT

The "what about all the illegals that we American's care about so much. How are they going to benefit from this health plan since they do not pay taxes?" was sarcasm. I know they already benefit from my hard worked tax dollars and I don't expect it to get any better.

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Politics • Health

health care costs • health care reform • speech • President Obama • prime time

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