Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Obama says history is nigh on health care
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Obama says history is nigh on health care
AFP - Saturday, March 20
Send
IM Story
Print
US President Barack Obama delivers remarks on health insurance reform at George Mason University's Patriot Center in Virginia. Obama Friday hailed this weekend's "historic" congressional vote on his health plan as the culmination of a century of struggle, at a euphoric campaign-style rally.
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – President Barack Obama declared Friday Democrats were on the cusp of history after a century struggling for health reform, amid cresting excitement in Congress ahead of a fateful weekend vote.
After months of setbacks, bitter partisanship and legislative logjam, Obama appeared almost triumphant, rekindling the spirit of change which powered his euphoric 2008 election campaign but was dimmed by the slog of government.
"Right now, we are at the point where we are going to do something historic this weekend," Obama said, two days before a key House of Representatives vote on his sweeping plan to offer health care to 32 million uninsured Americans.
"In just a few days, a century-long struggle will culminate in an historic vote," Obama said, as 8,500 supporters chanted his campaign theme "Yes We Can" in a sports arena in northern Virginia.
On Capitol Hill, Democratic leaders kept up the pressure on wavering Democrats, seeking to piece together the magic majority figure of 216 in the vote on the comprehensive health reform package expected on Sunday.
"I'm very excited about the momentum that is developing around the bill," said Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House.
Pelosi however stopped short of saying she had the votes in hand to pass the measure, after a dramatic week of arm-twisting and head counts.
"When we bring the bill to the floor, we will have a significant victory for the American people," Pelosi told reporters.
Republicans have mounted a fierce campaign of obstruction designed to stop the bill, which they say would hike taxes and amounts to a massive government takeover of the mostly-private health care industry.
"It's clear that now is the crunch time. It's pretty clear that the vote is pretty tight," said Republican House minority leader John Boehner.
The health care bill would amount to the most significant social reform legislation in 40 years, and is seen as crucial to establishing Obama's political authority, and to defining his eventual presidential legacy.
It would bring coverage to 32 million people who currently lack insurance, bringing America closer than ever before -- 95 percent -- to universal health coverage.
If the House passes the bill on Sunday, Obama would then sign it into law.
The Senate is then expected to vote on a House-passed package of fixes to the bill which would amend that law and make it palatable to House members.
The president was in a fiery mood, warning that failure to pass the bill at the 11th hour would reward insurance firms that had "run amok" at the expense of everyday Americans.
"Do not quit, do not give up, we keep on going, we are going to get this done, we are going to make history, we are going to fix health care in America!" he declared, at the end of a rousing speech.
He chose to hold likely the final rally of his health reform push at George Mason University, friendly territory, in an arena packed with students, where he held one of his first presidential campaign events back in 2007.
A lone dissenter in the crowd, a woman, screamed out an inaudible protest and was hustled out by a security guard.
In his speech, Obama also hit out at the media storm around the health care issue, branding Washington reporters as "rock-em, sock-em robots," obsessed with political ups and downs and not the plight of Americans without health insurance.
"Will his presidency be crippled, or will he be the comeback kid? -- that's what they like to talk about," he said, paraphrasing the media buzz.
The legislation also aims to end abusive insurance company practices and curb soaring health care costs that already run double those of other rich countries.
The bill would create new insurance marketplaces starting in 2014 and require most Americans to carry insurance, while offering subsidies to many.
Some of its most popular measures include bans on insurers denying coverage because of pre-existing illnesses, imposing lifetime caps on coverage or dropping people from coverage when they get sick.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Serbia-Kosovo row overshadows EU-Balkans summit AFP - 2 hours 22 minutes ago
At least 200 killed as Sierra Leone mine collapses Reuters - 2 hours 27 minutes ago
Dominican Republic arrests man sought in child trafficking AFP - 2 hours 31 minutes ago
Nigeria's ruling party to hold key talks after cabinet sacking AFP - 2 hours 46 minutes ago
Top Colombian rebel gets 20 years prison in U.S Reuters - 2 hours 53 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Pressure mounts over IMF role in Greek crisis
German tax authorities probe Credit Suisse clients, staff
BA strike to go ahead after talks collapse
Atom smasher reaches record energy levels: CERN
McLaren launches new supercar
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
Obama's PresidencyWhat change will Obama bring? Will it affect the rest of us globally?
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
US children get Playboy, not Bugs Bunny in cable mixup
Bullock cancels London trip, film premiere called off
Siemens to revamp IT unit, cut 4,200 jobs
Omega 3 supplement targets bowel cancer risk: study
Obama signs multibillion-dollar jobs bill
More Most Viewed »
Chile quake moved Earth's axis, shortened days: scientist
Experts confirm asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs
'Britain's Fritzl' raped daughters for over 25yrs
Researchers back cancer-fighting properties of papaya
Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 20 March 2010 Mideast Quartet tells Israel to halt settlements
German tax authorities probe Credit Suisse clients, staff
Brazil surgical robot fixes heart in Latin America first
BA strike to go ahead after talks collapse
Rocket fired from Gaza at Israel: army
At least 200 killed as Sierra Leone mine collapses
|
Palm shares plunge on weak forecast
Atom smasher reaches record energy levels: CERN
EU agrees to act to stop Iran jamming broadcasts, Internet
US military pushed for closure of CIA-Saudi website: report
Putin says Russia could sign up to Iran sanctions: RIA
|
US Army worries about 'threat' from whistleblower website
Google to add Maya, Nahuatl languages to search engine
Owner Postpones Auction For "Sex" Website
Somali rebels join forces in cyberspace: U.N. report
Icahn Makes Hostile Takeover Bid For Lions Gate
Mexican police ask spirits to guard them in drug war
|
Palm's survival questioned
Police Accidentally Raid House 50 Times ? And Counting
Ukraine's Yanukovich to repeal Bandera hero decree
|
Ashley Tisdale, Alyson Michalka Sign On For CW Cheerleading Drama
Somali rebels join forces in cyberspace: U.N. report
|
Palm Reports Q3 Loss, Analysts Cut Price Target To $0
Paralyzed Woman Takes 8th Floor Plunge
Zuma defends minister, demands spats end
|
"The Last Song" Star Hallock Beals Talks New Movie And Miley Cyrus
US breaks up vast China, Malaysia smuggling ring
Hidden Camera Reveals Babysitter Abusing Infant
Top Colombian rebel gets 20 years prison in U.S
FIFA excludes Indonesia's World Cup bid
Obama says history is nigh on health care
Pakistan arrests halt UN contacts with Taliban
Dutch PM slams 'disgraceful' Srebrenica gay comments
The Economist not published in Thailand
Russia, US on 'brink' of new arms treaty: Clinton
Activists urge Australia to charge Japanese whalers
Japan PM hints at leaving disputed US base on Okinawa
NKorean loggers in Russia making defection bids
Net produces new generation of China activists
SKorea appeals to France over looted royal books
Trial starts in British teen's slaying in India
Bollywood, Hollywood join hands against piracy
Somali rebels join forces in cyberspace: U.N. report
|
S.Korea rebuffs N.Korea threat to seize assets
Secrets unravel as "Breaking Bad" returns to TV
Losing the battle to keep female flesh off Afghan TV
Pakistani stocks, o/n rates flat; rupee firmer
German celebrity magazine admits fake interviews
Bharti to sell iPhone 3GS in India
Patti Smith to be honored by music industry
China warns US not to politicise yuan debate
Soviet space dogs blast-off to animated immortality
Street kids stage their own World Cup in South Africa
French makes inroads in Africa
Risque sex film arouses interest in Bollywood
Bollywood, Hollywood join hands against piracy
Court rules against Anna Nicole Smith in estate
|
FCC kicks off cable-broadcaster review
|
McLachlan to release first album in seven years
|
Losing the battle to keep female flesh off Afghan TV
|
Secrets unravel as Breaking Bad returns to TV
|
Neil Young documentary captures raw energy of live show
|
Sports endorsement firm eyes music world
|
MySpace trail leads US police to teen burglar
New venture from Facebook co-founder to promote charity
Obama to Iran
Opposition red shirts try to win over Thai capital
|
British boy receives pioneering stem cell surgery
US-TECH Summary
Supposed 'ETA terrorists' are just holidaymakers:report
New York food trucks turn to Twitter
Mousavi vows 'year of perseverance' against Iran regime
Israel strikes in Gaza after deadly rocket
|
Albanian stalemate can hit EU ambitions: official
Black and white meets new technology at photo show
Gunmen block roads in Mexico's drug-plagued north
|
'Red Shirts' take to streets to win over Thai capital
North Korea parliament to meet, Kim and cadres in focus
|
YouTube creators cashed in big on sale to Google: documents
Serbia-Kosovo row overshadows EU-Balkans summit
U.S. eyes early summer for airwaves auction process
US tanker bid war heats up with Airbus, Russia in wings
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
Legal adviser to U.S. Haiti missionaries arrested
|
Republican Leader Besieged After "Punk Staffers" Remark
High Number Of Student Suicides At Cornel University Causes Concern
Sanin wins Colombian conservative candidacy
|
$940 Billion Democratic Healthcare Bill In Final Lap Ahead Of House Vote
Appeals Court Orders Federal Reserve To Release Bailout Details
U.S. Markets Dip On Global Concerns, Dow Snaps Winning Streak
US, Russia, will sign nuclear treaty in April: report
Year's biggest sandstorm turns Beijing sky orange
Obama reaches out to Iranian people
Thai protesters begin weekend march around capital
Opposition "red shirts" try to win over Thai capital
7th anniversary of Iraq War passes, little noticed
Music biz insiders say Sony-Jackson deal makes sense
Yachting Team NZ draw first blood over Italians
North Korea sets date for parliament session
Putin offers U.S. hints of support
Pakistan army chief leaves to attend talks in US
'Red Shirts' take to streets to win over Thai capital
Obama optimistic on weekend healthcare vote
Nigeria "moving on" from political crisis
NKorean loggers in Russia making defection bids
U.S. envisions troop surge in northern Afghanistan
Sandstorms blanket Beijing in yellow dust
Smartphones not enough for carriers at CTIA
|
Japan marks 15th anniversary of subway gas attacks
New York food trucks turn to Twitter
|
U.S. eyes early summer for airwaves auction process
|
Pakistani c.bank buys 62.15 bln rupees of govt paper
Serial killings highlight Indonesian child abuse
India unexpectedly hikes rates a quarter point
SKorea vice fin min sees MSCI upgrade in H1-reports
South Korea national oil firm eyes Ghana's Jubilee
US to host 2011 APEC trade talks in Montana
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
'A dad like any other,' son says of drug lord Escobar
Bands explore promo potential of Chatroulette
Aretha Franklin does own thing with new album
|
Music biz insiders say Sony-Jackson deal makes sense
Bands explore promo potential of Chatroulette
|
"College" kid outdoes rap stars in digital sales
Childhood memories inspire new songs for Frampton
|
Ellen, Web site give gay teen $30,000 in prom flap
Aretha Franklin does "own thing" with new album
Childhood memories inspire new songs for Frampton
McLachlan to release first album in seven years
US weighs more troops for north Afghanistan: official
British Airways strike grounds flights but passengers fly
Pope's shame and remorse over Irish child sex abuse
|
Obama to Iran: U.S. offer of dialogue still stands
|
Israeli troops kill Palestinian in W.Bank: medics
|
Allawi edges ahead of PM again in Iraq election
|
Swarm Of Bees Attack 3, Critically Injures 2 Women
U.N.'s Ban in West Bank pushes for peace talks
|
India to get access to U.S. man on Mumbai attack
|
Thousands rally against Putin, dozens detained
|
Obama urges Senate action on finance reform
Nepal's Maoists say Koirala's death a blow to peace
|
Indonesian Muslims protest Israeli settlement plan
New threat puts Hemet officers on heightened alert
Thai protesters' caravan wends through capital
US official: India to question US terror convict
Bloated lake haunts North Dakota town again
Elderly Man Calls 911 Before Killing Wife And Himself
Tokyo marks 15th anniversary of subway gas attack
Trendy Sushi Restraunt Accused Of Selling Whale Meat Closing
Clerics tell Filipino Muslims to reject Estrada
Cambodia to build memorial for slain journalists
Aust. state named disaster zone as cyclone nears
Thai protesters stage weekend march around capital
Veteran Nepal politician Koirala dies at age 86
Cambodia bans citizens from marrying South Koreans
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights