American Morning
Obama on Day 200: 'Incline is not as steep,' official says
Programming Note: Have the last 100 days of the Obama administration been days of change or days of frustration? Get the results from YOUR vote. Tonight 8 p.m. ET on CNN.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/06/art.obama.afp.gi.jpg caption="President Obama still enjoys broad support, but his approval rating has dropped some."]
CNN White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON (CNN) - If the White House was downplaying President Obama's first 100 days, it's downright ignoring the second hundred.
"It's the second hundred days?" quipped a senior administration official when told about the approaching date.
On reflection, the official was only too willing to take us behind the scenes as he settled back into his desk chair.
Two hundred days in, "the incline on the treadmill is not as steep," the official said, but added, "it's still moving very fast."
Obama has not slowed since coming into office. Restructuring the auto industry, a speech to the Muslim world in Cairo, Egypt, and his big push to get health care reform are just a few of the president's ambitious efforts since the last "Hallmark holiday."
- Don't Miss: Grade Obama's second 100 days
Health care reform has proved to be especially difficult, because the White House isn't just battling Republicans but also fiscally conservative Democrats who are concerned about how to pay for it.
And then there are critics who say Obama should have gotten more involved earlier in the nitty-gritty, instead of relying on Congress to condense several plans into something he could support.
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I am in favor of health care and/or health care insurance improvements. I am not in favor of a full scale government takeover of the entire system. I believe improvements can be accomplished in a thoughtful focused manner.
The debate currently is really not a debate at all. The government is attempting to ram this down our throats in a mad rush and not allowing time for a debate. This is causing the people (voters & tax payers) to become disruptive. I think it’s normal human behavior to use these tactics to slow down the process to allow some focus and more time to think through the issues.
I'd like to comment on other comments made regarding senior citizens who oppose health care. Some say that these people have medicare so they don't care. In my case I had my own insurance and was forced to get medicare as well at 65. NOw I pay for medicare, and the other insurance and my level of benefits have dropped. I must pay 59.00 for every office call and this is out of pocket as neither insurance pays it. I guess neither want to be the payee so no one does. I'd love to go back to the way it was without medicare!
No, seniors are very afraid and it doesn't matter if they are democrat or republican because of the proposed counseling to end their lives among other things as well as the rationing of health care. This is why they are at town meetings in force.
you have people making less than $10000per year uninsured,they
go on medicaid.you have pepole not eligible for medicaid who are just
uninsured with no way to turn if their income is low.you have pepole working and making a fair wage 20 to 50 who have either medical insurance with their emplorer or they buy an individual plan.at that age
they can get great plans for $100 PER MONTH or so.you have people
55 to 65 working or in their own business who have to pay $400 per
month or more to get a plan with a $5000 deductible.my point is you have all different catigories some need to be reformed some are ok as is.
here is what to do.reduce mrdical care by
doing what florida did years ago to rid it's trivilous laws suits on auto
accidents,partially elliminate tort on small claims and have a threshhold where it can be put back on to sue.law suits have to be pyed by insurance companys and then they pass the cost back to the insureds.form a plan similar to medicare only by changing the laws
put controls and limits on hospital bills,drug charges doctor bills.
the plan could be written by an insurance company,such as blue cross or any other carrier just to service it.all payments of premium would be payed by either emplorer or individuels as we do now.the government would not have to do anything other than pass laws to do this.people who are in a plan that is cheap and pays good can stay ther.anyone in need of a better plan could buy this,hopefully at a low price.doctors could choose to either participate or not.i am sure my plan has some problems in it to work out but i think it is the general plan to work on.
Healthcare Reform
Since nothing can be accomplished at those town hall meetings because of the radical republicans, why can't we have a decent discussion on the details of the bill on TV. There is no need to report the lies thats going on. You have enough of panels going on. Why not a truth panel for healthcare. I am soooo tired of the crap the republicans are putting out there. Its so discusting!
i am following through the discussion of health care program for the US citizens. i think this is the right and appropriate time for the elected officials to give back to the common people the benefits like health care to lift up their lives and morale too. if canada government have done it for a long time and we are even a beneficiary of it who are new to canada, why american can't have it? they deserved it too. just polish what you think beneficial to the government and to the people. make it a legacy in your term guys!
Nice job president Obama.keep up with your courage.By the way where were all this folks when bush and the republicans were destroying the economy.CNN because you people never stuck to the issues,George bush and the republicans got their chance and ruined the economy now you are committing the same error by laying too much emphasis on baseless issues instead of helping the American people to know the truth..Tell me how do you people come up with the CNN poll of polls.Wake up CNN two wrongs can never make a right.now is the time to make it right.sail with the American people to a coast of milk and honey.
READ THE BILL! You are ALL being misled here! READ THE SCARRY DOCUMENTS! I am keeping a close eye on them. Do NOT believe ANYONE! Look for yourself! I have faith in the American People! Check out Fox News also, and see what they are trying to show the American People, that others may not wish for you to seee or even to know about! Interesting things are being kept from us ever finding them out! Stifeling of Freedom of Speech! It is us, the American People speaking! Hear our words! We are Americans and need our words heard!
As you can read for yourself here, they are calling for the demos to speak out, after they misled you completely! You can read that above, and who id sending out whom? The demos are sending out the thugs to stop the American People from even being heard! SPEAK UP, SPEAK CLEARLY, and BE KIND TO ONEANOTHER! We are to be a more civilized people! I have faith that we are!
if things are improving are are state governments still face deep deficits? They say the numbers for unemployment are looking better but they are giving us month to month numbers of who filed for unemployment. Tell us how many have gotten off the unemployment roles. The gov't tells us a percentages of who filed govt. needs to tell us how many in numbers are on the roles getting benefits. Its. who tells us half the story and tries and shields the public for the truths. the system has been set up that way not blaming obama not blaming bush govt decided some time back in how to report this information to the public and most for that and brush it under the rug even the media forgot.
He could be a hero..
Step inand don't let the Gov. buy any more Jets, and slow down on health care plan..
My guess if he dosen't do things like this it will cost him the next election.
health care reform in america is just what the white people have always belive that those who canot afford it are the minorities and don,t care if they or leave died.I think america is not a democracy after all.america is spending alot of money in other countries of the world but canot afford health for its own citizens that is sad.
My goodness – no one even cares about what's in the health care bill. They simply back thier Government leaders like thier favorite sports team. What a mess. I love America and it's traditional values. That's why my family and I are vocal.
I as a US citizen am feeling humiliated of what the world must be thinking of the chaos that is going on in our country. What example are we setting for our children. We can't seem to agree on anything.
Has anyone heard of united we stand divided we fall. We are all contributing to the demise of this country. As for our president, show the man some respect and put your prejudice aside. No matter what decisions he makes he will always be challenged. What a shame that in my lifetime we've accomplished nothing. My son has been deployed to Irac and afghanistan risking his life in a blackhawk helicopter everyday fighting for our freedom why? We have our own war going on in our own front yard. Give the president a chance, and let's put aside our black and white issues. God Bless Our Troops
Why doesn't CNN ask the health care questions that may actually result in some reform? Namely,
What do the various health care bills include that will reduce obesity which has been shown to have increased costs 10%? I have seen no data that supports the statement that having insurance reduces obesity.
What portion of the health care costs are spent on malpractice insurance and medeical and pharmaceutical related law suits? And why don't the healt reform bills address this issue. I get no value from these excessive costs?
Sad news for those who think Brenda Costello is the MINORITY in her way of thinking! These "polls" are so unfairly biased and inaccurate it's pitiful. If you would come to my town or my job and ask how many people here on the Army base approve of this BS Communist takeover disguised as a healthcare plan, you would have a commanding "NO" for an answer!
NOONE that I have met at work, at the funeral I recently attended for a big time businessman, or in public at the grocery store,etc. has one inkling of respect for Osamabama OR his plans to ruin our country!!!
The only way she is a minority is the fact that we whites ARE, NOW, the minority and we are being forced to pay for every illegal immigrant scumbag on the face of the Earth and those on Welfare who have NOT contributed ONE DIME to the pot AND WE WILL STAND AND BE COUNTED AND WE WILL BE HEARD WHEN WE FINALLY SAY ENOUGH AND STORM THE WHITE HOUSE AND OUST THAT SOB AND EVERY OTHER SOB IN WASHINGTON THAT INSISTS ON SELLING OUT THE DECENT TAXPAYERS TO PAD THEIR POCKET!!!!
Re: Brenda Costello comments, you are in the minority in your way of thinking. Obama is our president and he will help every american get access to health care for everybody including minorities which obviously you don,t care about. I am glad you are happy about the health care you have but you do not live here alone and the world does not revolve around you. You need to accept the fact that we have an african american president and get over it and move on.
How can you judge your President on his performance after only 200 days or even a year? Your President start at the white house with a deficit that no one else as done before and an economy that was well done by president Bush and vice-president Cheney. It is clear to me that if you are judging someone who is doing every thing at his power to get back America on his feet and that you judge him with a C – overall, you did not understand how bad the situation was. I may not like my Pime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, but I can't judge him for what was done in the past. I can't blame him for Bernard Merdoff actions that put thousands of people in deep problems and others like him in Quebec.
In regards to health care:
Who told you our system was bad. Republican, most probably. Did they come here to find out how it work and how we do. Is it perfect? No. Is it working? Yes. Did it happen that people did not receive certain treatments because of rare disease and therefore, it was not paid or plan to be pay for? Yes. But every citizen in our country has health care and is treated with respect. If I compare private insurance vs National health care, the prise went done. One of the reasons is that doctors are proposing alternative medication so it cost less.
P.S.: for the older folks, don't worry it is free for you here, so I don't think your president want to charge you.
You will however, have t think about how to not do the same mistake we did and sometime continue to do. However, man problem is that we have incompetent administrator who are thinking about there job instead of the health of the system.
I understand you are scared, but don't let politician dictate you how you should think. Take facts so you can judge on your own.
President OBAMA he is what you should be proud of. He seeks better life for you, not worst. Listen, ask questions and then decide what is best not only for you, but for your naiber, your mother or father, your uncle or ant. One president once said, don’t asked your self what the country can do for you but what you can do for your country. You have that opportunity today to do something important for your country..
Good lock
I think and hope his administration is in serious trouble. Below is an email I wrote to Obama:
I will never promote your proposal for Health Care. I have great health care insurance and prescription coverage. I never see anything about prescription coverage in your plan, yet you are going to ruin mine with your proposals. I doubt the company I retired from will be able to continue with our plan due to what you are doing. You are going to put all of the insurance companies out of business and everything I worked for years for will just go down the drain. You don't care about people who are happy with what they have, you only care about the minorities and those who choose not to have insurance and paying for abortions (amazing!!!). I have emailed and called everyone I know and all of my senators, congressman, etc., telling them if they want my vote they had better not vote yes for this proposal. There are millions like me that hate what you are doing. You are in the process of ruining the best health care there is. If someone needs health care and doesn't have insurance all they have to do is go to the emergency room. I know, I've been there and have seen all the illegals lined up for their free care.
By the way, you are not fooling me, by changing the name to Health Insurance Plan.
My husband and I plan to attend a town hall meeting on the 15th and we don't belong to any radical protestor group and we are not being paid. We are like the majority of people attending these meetings and sick of what the president is doing to our country and way of life. If his plan passes (I pray to God every night for it to fail) this country will never be the same and we will never be able to repair the damage this plan will cause. He is trying to destroy everything we have worked for and give it all to those who are illegal or haven't worked for anything. I have no interest in free health care for illegals, for people who choose not to have it, for minorities who had rather live off the government rather than work or for funding abortions. Obama doesn't represent me or the majority of this country.
Fear mongering by republicans and private interest is fueling these ridiculas mob like protest. This is a desperate attempt to stop real health care reform from moving forward. They have alot lot to lose if this administration get,s this done in the next election. Hopefully the american public will not be decieved. These protesters are are just a few people that are easily scared into believing what is being fed to them. We need the media to help keep this honest by exposing the truth about who is behind all this.
When it comes to Health Care. I think the problem with these protesters getting so violent is because the Republicans are lying to them. They are getting them afraid they are going to end up like the people President Obama is trying to help. The Republicans just about have them thinking they are going to be treated like the Jews during World War II.
You know who are being treated like the Jews in WWII? It's the people who don't have insurance, it's the individual who have to buy his own insurance. Who is the Hitler? It's the Republicans and the insurance companies who want to deny people health care by dening the health insurance or deny coverage by exclusions. Go figure, they are the Hitler here. Don't let them fool you.
We can help people all around the world but we can't help our own people here because the Republican and the health insurance companies are greedy. They are so greedy they want to chose who will live or die to increase their profit.
If you want to kill people go out and protest and deny people health insurance, enable the true Hitlers.
OK, so the insurance companies are the Hitler, so the Republicans are being paid by the insurance companies to go out and shot down health care so they are the SS.
When it comes to Health Care. I think the problem with these protesters getting so violent is because the Republicans are lying to them. They are getting them afraid they are going to end up like the people President Obama is trying to help. The Republicans just about have them thinking they are going to be treated like the Jews during World War II.
So far Obama's presidency has been very refreshing and amazingly productive. The nation was on the verge of depression when he took office and it appears his administration has defused this issue. Our foriegn policy appraoch is gaining respect from our allies and countries around the world. President Obama is smart, works really hard and truly inspires our nation.
President Obama,First Lady Michele,and Staff,are doing a fine job,without their critics,always throwing negatives their way.They are handling the negatives,as any other polished,well rounded attorny
would do.Smile and say thank you for those kind words,and go about
their buisness,as they normally would do.And not pay atttention to the negatives that just slow you down.As I have stated in the past,just watch President Obama,and the ground that he has covered so far.
No President in the history of this country has achieved more then
President Obama.He is just like the energizer 'rabbit,that just keeps on going,with nothing to deter him.Remember his statement,"WE WILL NOT FAULTER" and he stands by those words always.He is tackling the toughest problems first,and boy is he ever.Tackling world peace,health care,education,etc.This President should be admired
for his agressive fight to keep this beautiful nation where she should be,back to where it was before.We certainly made it that way from hard work by all of us together,and by golly,we can certainly bring her right back,with unity by all of us working together,without desention by the left,that doesn't have a clue,as of true politics.The President is the very one we voted into hisoffice,so let him run his office the way it should be run,Professionally and Intellectually,as he was trained as a prominent attorny.We need an attornies as smart as THE OBAMAS to
turn this country around,with the help of all of us,because without our
help,he can not do it alone.So please give this fine President and his staff what they truely deserve,"YOUR COOPERATION FROM MEDIA
TO HIS CRITICS.As I was told as a child by my mother and father,was
before you make any accusations,know how to defend those accusations,because if you can't,they should have never been said
in the first place!Let President Obama do what he does best,RUN OUR GREAT NATION<THE WAY SHE SHOULD BE RUN!THE RIGHT WAY!
ALL OF MY VERY BEST ELLIOT RIEBMAN