In response to a report in the Washington Post that Republicans are threatening to give the health care summit a miss, one commenter writes:
Brilliant strategy by the MINORITY. "Our Way or the Highway." So, they've had their chance, now give them the Highway. . .
Most of us wish the president had done that months ago. Letting the playground bullies take over is not smart.
There are some signs, if press secretary Robert Gibbs is to be believed, that Obama isn't screwing around anymore.
The President is adamant that we seize this historic moment to pass meaningful health insurance reform legislation. He began this process by inviting Republican and Democratic leaders to the White House on March 5 of last year, and he's continued to work with both parties in crafting the best possible bill. He's been very clear about his support for the House and Senate bills because of what they achieve for the American people: putting a stop to insurance company abuses, extending coverage to millions of hardworking Americans, getting control of rising premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and reducing the deficit.
The President looks forward to reviewing Republican proposals that meet the goals he laid out at the beginning of this process, and as recently as the State of the Union Address. He's open to including any good ideas that stand up to objective scrutiny. What he will not do, however, is walk away from reform and the millions of American families and small business counting on it. The recent news that a major insurer plans to raise premiums for some customers by as much as 39 percent is a stark reminder of the consequences of doing nothing.
