Obama Calls Health Plan a ‘Moral Obligation’

[tekisui]

Source: NYT

WASHINGTON — President Obama sought Wednesday to reframe the health care debate as “a core ethical and moral obligation,” imploring a coalition of religious leaders to help promote the plan to lower costs and expand insurance coverage for all Americans.

“I know there’s been a lot of misinformation in this debate, and there are some folks out there who are frankly bearing false witness,” Mr. Obama told a multidenominational group of pastors, rabbis and other religious leaders who support his goal to remake the nation’s health care system.

As the president returned to the health care debate after two days of silence, the administration encouraged Republicans to take part in the negotiations. Still, Democratic leaders moved ahead with plans to advance a measure next month with or without Republican cooperation.

The White House acknowledged that its handling of the debate had been inconsistent, with Robert Gibbs, the press secretary, saying, “I don’t think anybody here believes we’ve pitched a no-hit game or a perfect game.”

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/us/politics/20obama.html

[avaistheone1]

1. Yes, health care for our people is a moral obligation. I believe it is a human right.

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Cha]

2. Somebody somewhere was rec'd

that it should be done that way. I've read so much lately..maybe someone around DU?

It is a moral issue and an economic one.

[dflprincess]

3. If he truly believed that he would be supporting Medicare for All

not looking for ways to protect the private insurers.

[OHdem10]

4. I would prefer he not refer to Morality and then pass a GOP Bill.

[saltpoint]

5. Obama is at home with the group he spoke with this evening

and they are likely to feel enjoined to a greater good.

Likely they already felt that way. But to have their work and thought and feeling validated by this president helps quite a few more people than were in attendance in this phone conference.

And let it lift many boats.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. But does Obama have the courage to push actual reform

Instead of the DLC nonsense that he has in the works? If there's a moral obligation, then he needs to pull his spine out of storage and do the right thing.

[seafan]

7. Health care for everyone is a human rights issue and a moral issue.

People understand this.

I'm glad Obama is emphasizing it.

[Odin2005]

8. Healthcare is a FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT, not a commodity!