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Obama on Health Reform: 'I Own It'

Says he 'intends to be president for a while,' expects credit, blame

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 12, 2009 11:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Voters can rest assured that Barack Obama is doing his best to get health care reform right, because his political future depends on it, the president tells 60 Minutes in an interview airing tomorrow. “You know, I intend to be president for a while, and once this bill passes, I own it,” he says in an excerpt released by CBS. “So I have every incentive to get this right.”

Adds Obama, who makes another speech on the subject later this afternoon: "If people look and say, 'You know what? This hasn't reduced my costs. My premiums are still going up 25%, insurance companies are still jerkin' me around,' I'm the one who's gonna be held responsible."

President Barack Obama walks to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, for a day trip to Minneapolis.
President Barack Obama walks to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, for a day trip to Minneapolis.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Barack Obama waves from the steps of Air Force One prior to leaving Andrews Air Force Base, Md, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, for a day trip to Minneapolis.
President Barack Obama waves from the steps of Air Force One prior to leaving Andrews Air Force Base, Md, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, for a day trip to Minneapolis.   (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 28 comments
NewserScooter
Sep 14, 2009 5:10 AM CDT
N001 You apparently do not understand the free market system at all. Healthcare does not just occur. It exists because doctors spent years and years going to school, staying up all night to learn enough to generate a decent salary, when these strong minds could have much more easily made money on Wall st. or something far less useful to you when your having a heart attack. Where do supposed these docs are going to come from? the Gov't just going to order people to become docs, yep I bet that will work out OK. Most of the BS on these boards are from people who don't have a clue to the complexity of the heathcare system, or why simple reforms are smarter and more likely to work. and why less gov't is generally better.
cognitivefilter
Sep 13, 2009 4:46 AM CDT
the right will run with this headline, i'm sure.....
godawgs
Sep 13, 2009 4:37 AM CDT
no it was the blue dogs who cut out the public option. the republicans don't have the votes to cut anything out.

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