EXCERPTS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S OPENING REMARKS TONIGHT

[Better Believe It]

EXCERPTS OF OBAMA'S REMARKS TONIGHT

From NBC's Mark Murray
The White House just released excerpts of the opening statement President Obama will deliver at his primetime news conference at 8:00 pm ET.

According to the excerpts, he will make these arguments:

1) that health-care reform will benefit all Americans, especially those who already have insurance.

This is not just about the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance. Reform is about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage if they become too sick, or lose their job, or change their job. It’s about every small business that has been forced to lay off employees or cut back on their coverage because it became too expensive. And it’s about the fact that the biggest driving force behind our federal deficit is the skyrocketing cost of Medicare and Medicaid.

2) that reform won't add to the deficit

I have also pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our deficit over the next decade – and I mean it.

3) that reform shouldn't be a political game

So let me be clear: This isn’t about me. I have great health insurance, and so does every Member of Congress. This debate is about the letters I read when I sit in the Oval Office every day, and the stories I hear at town hall meetings… This debate is not a game for these Americans, and they cannot afford to wait for reform any longer. They are counting on us to get this done. They are looking to us for leadership. And we must not let them down. We will pass reform that lowers cost, promotes choice, and provides coverage that every American can count on. And we will do it this year.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/22/2005173.aspx

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