Two minute warning (less now) Obama to start with opening statement
Here we go, he's at the podium in the East Room
Starting off with a pitch on healthcare reform (no surprise on that)
Obama: we spend much more on healthcare than any other nation, but aren't any healthier for it
Obama talking about consequences of inaction says if we do not control these costs, we will not be able to control deficits (he's using a lot of hand gestures)
Obama points out he has great health insurance and so does every member of Congress (there's a message for the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue)
first question healthcare, Obama says before talking about how to pay for it wants to talk about what needs to be done
It's the paying for it that's got some members of Congress up in arms, so let's see how he comes back to the how-to-pay-for-it question
Obama says he will oppose any proposals that rely primarily on taxing the middle class
But he doesn't have any problem on a tax surcharge on wealthy couples making $1 million or more
Reuters question to Obama: why the rush?
His answer: families getting clobbered every day on healthcare costs
Hand gestures ramping up. There's pointing, counting out with fingers, the wide bookends that narrow in, and he likes to point both hands to his left
third question in a row on healthcare.... Obama's response -- he wants to cover everybody
He's talking about foot amputation due to diabetes (yikes)
Obama gives a tip of the hat to Republicans Grassley, Enzi and Snowe for working with Democrats
fourth question on ... healthcare
Obama response: Americans are going to have to give up on paying for things that don't make them healthier
Here's more clarity from the president: if there's a blue pill and a red pill and one pill is half the price but works just as well, why not use that pill
Despite what his critics say, Obama says he is worrying about the deficit -- "the debt and the deficit are deep concerns of mine"
He points out that he inherited a huge deficit (does not name any names but pretty clear who he's talkin' about)
Question five is on (take a guess) ... healthcare reform
Obama's talking about seniors who have a "doughnut hole" in their plan
And question six is (drumroll please) on healthcare...but wait it's morphed into a question on transparency
Obama's response: his adminstration has provided transparency
seventh question on those Wall Street types who took a taxpayer bailout and then took bonuses
Bailing out the banks "was the right thing to do" (this time he names names) saying it originated in the Bush administration
The answer, Obama says, is "we've got to pass financial regulatory reform"
Question 8 back on healthcare...
He's talking about reports that insurance companies are making record profits
Now it's kids' tonsils and allergies
And this is why the healthcare debate is not about him: "I'm the president of the United States, I've got a doctor following me every minute"
Press antics... obama called on one reporter but another one stood up instead and got his question in...
Last question to Obama from his hometown paper the Chicago Sun-Times asking about arrest of black Harvard scholar for trying to get into his own house... Obama jokes that if he tried it at the White House he'd probably get shot
"Race remains a factor" in the society... "I am standing here as testimony to the progress that's been made" ... "this still haunts us"
And that's a wrap
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