The president faces a number of hurdles in his push for health care changes, as the effort has gone from platitudes and rhetoric to cold, hard legislation, with tough choices on how the program will be paid for, or whether it will include a public, government-run health insurance plan. Obama wants to see health care legislation pass through both the House and Senate before the August recess, but Republicans, and even some Democrats, say that is unlikely.
The president today had stern words for those critics.
"It's the same Washington thinking that has ignored big challenges and put off tough decisions for decades. And it is precisely that kind of small thinking that has led us into the current predicament," Obama said while announcing Dr. Regina Benjamin as his pick for U.S. Surgeon General. "So make no mistake. The status quo on health care is no longer an option for the United States of America."
"We are going to get this done. Inaction is not an option. And for those naysayers and cynics who think that this is not going to happen, don't bet against us," he said. "I understand people are a little nervous and a little scared about making change. ... The muscles in this town to bring about big changes are a little atrophied, but we're whipping folks back into shape." - ABC News Story
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