Obama Rallies Dems: I'm 'Absolutely Confident'

President makes late push for health care reform
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 15, 2009 3:11 PM CST
Obama Rallies Dems: I'm 'Absolutely Confident'
President Obama, with, from left, Chris Dodd, Max Baucus, and Harry Reid.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Obama met with Senate Democrats behind closed doors today to make a final push for health care reform, then emerged with a note of cautious optimism. "I am absolutely confident if people know what's in this bill and if the senators know what’s in the bill ... it will pass," he said. The meeting comes with the legislation on suddenly shaky ground after Joe Lieberman torpedoed a compromise on Medicare and the public option.

"The final bill will not include everything that everyone wants," said Obama, who urged lawmakers to work together in the coming days, notes the LA Times. Earlier today, Lieberman suggested he's ready to vote for the overall measure, now that the Medicare buy-in and the public option are all but dead, reports the New York Times. (More President Obama stories.)

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