Jimmy Carter Says Joe Wilson's Attack on Barack Obama Was 'Based on Racism'
THE TELEGRAPH: Former President Jimmy Carter has said that Joe Wilson's outburst during President Barack Obama's speech to Congress last week was an act "based on racism" and rooted in fears of a black president.
"I think it's based on racism," Mr Carter said at a town hall held at his presidential centre in Atlanta. "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president."
The Georgia Democrat said the outburst was a part of a disturbing trend directed at the president that has included demonstrators equating Mr Obama to Nazi leaders.
"Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care," he said.
"It's deeper than that." >>> | Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Obama Takes the Americans Down the Road of Socialism to a National Health Service
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama gave an emotional, sometimes contentious address to Congress on Wednesday, combining tough talk to opponents with olive branches on policy in a bid to break the impasse on revamping the health-care system.
Calling the initiative "my plan," Mr. Obama set the size of a health-insurance plan at $900 billion over 10 years, a figure smaller than versions approved in the House and fully paid for, he said, by spending cuts and tax increases. Most individuals would be required to purchase health insurance, but the costs would be mitigated by generous tax credits. Large employers would also face a requirement to offer health coverage to employees or pay a fine, while most small businesses would be exempt.
The president pledged to tackle medical-malpractice lawsuits in an overture to Republicans. He singled out his former presidential rival, Sen. John McCain, in embracing one of the Arizona Republican's health-care proposals. And he promised new cost controls that could scale back his plan if health-care inflation isn't brought under control.
But Mr. Obama chastised Republican leaders who talked of death panels. The president called it "a lie, plain and simple." He warned, "I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it....If you misrepresent what's in the plan, we will call you out. And I will not accept the status quo as a solution, not this time, not now."
Republicans in turn held aloft copies of health-care bills they have drafted in a quiet rebuke to a president who has said they have offered nothing constructive. One, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, shouted "lie" when Mr. Obama said his plan wouldn't cover illegal immigrants, though the Democratic bills circulating in Congress do exclude illegal immigrants from eligibility for subsidies. Mr. Wilson late Wednesday issued a statement apologizing to Mr. Obama for "this lack of civility."
Overall, Mr. Obama tried to make the case to consumers that his plan would provide more stability for those who already have insurance, and coverage for those who don't. Republicans said the plan is too expensive and will lead to excessive government control. President Makes His Pitch: Health Plan Cut to $900 Billion With Tax on Premium Coverage; GOP Unconvinced>>> Jonathan Weisman and Janet Adamy | Thursday, September 10, 2009
Barack Obama Makes Passionate Case for Health Care Reform
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama has condemned the "collective failure" of Americans to provide health care coverage for all, presenting reform as a moral imperative while lambasting opponents for "scare tactics".
His prime-time speech to both houses of Congress was punctuated by standing ovations but when Mr Obama said it was "false" that his plan would cover illegal immigrants one Republican congressman shouted out: "You lie!"
Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina later apologised for his dramatic outburst, which shocked Mr Obama and drew a disapproving shakes of the head from Michelle Obama, the First Lady.
"This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill," Mr Wilson said in a statement.
"While I disagree with the President's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility." Mr Obama's speech alternated between high-minded calls for Americans to come together to show the strength of the nations character with hard-edged partisan attacks on Republicans.
The time for "bickering" was over, he insisted, and asked politicians to "replace acrimony with civility, and gridlock with progress".
But he also blasted Republicans for mounting a "partisan spectacle" over the summer. "Instead of honest debate, we have seen scare tactics," he said. Some have dug into unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise." Although he did not use her name, he left no doubt that he was calling Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor, a liar. >>> Toby Harnden in Washington | Thursday, September 10, 2009
Barack Obama Health Care Speech: Republican Calls President a Liar
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama opened his key address on health care by noting that he wasn't the first American head of state to grapple this most intractable of issues, but that he was determined to be the last.
Joe Wilson: Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, pointing angrily at the president, blurted at the top of his voice: 'You lie!' Photo: The Telegraph
That remains to be seen, though after a passionate and self-confident speech, he is more likely than not to get his way.
But about half way through his 40-minute address, Mr Obama certainly became the first president in living memory to be called a liar in front of a joint session of Congress.
The president was dispelling a list of myths and "bogus claims" spread by opponents of his plan, when he denied the assertion that his proposed reforms would not provide health insurance to illegal immigrants.
Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, pointing angrily at the president, blurted at the top of his voice: "You lie!"
His outburst prompted cries of "Shame!" from the Democratic benches, while the president looked startled and Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, shot a furious look to the left of the dais. First Lady Michelle Obama, watching from the public gallery, shook her head in dismay. Even the Republican colleague to Mr Wilson's left patted his arm to calm him down.
As soon as the president had uttered the last word of his speech, Mr Wilson bolted from the chamber of the House of Representatives on a media-evasion mission. Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff and a former whip in the House, moved rapidly towards the area where Mr Wilson had been sitting and remonstrated with Lindsey Graham, the senator from South Carolina and whichever Republicans were listening.
Veteran Congress watches had never heard anything like it. Previous presidents have been subjected to the odd ironic chortles, a disapproving murmur or perhaps a jocular heckle, but not a full-throated insult like this. >>> Alex Spillius in Washington | Thursday, September 10, 2009
President Obama in Passionate Plea on Health Reform in Live Broadcast
TIMES ONLINE: President Obama vowed last night to honour “the character of our country” and the legacy of generations of reformers by forcing through sweeping reforms of a healthcare system that had led the United States “to breaking point”.
In a passionate and often pleading address to both houses of Congress, he confronted head-on critics who have threatened to derail his presidency by accusing him of plotting a government takeover of the healthcare industry.
He called rumours that proposals in Congress would lead to the establishment of “death panels” for the elderly “a lie, plain and simple”. Minutes later he was himself accused of lying from the floor. The heckler was identified as Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who later apologised.
Challenged to stamp his authority on a debate that has drained his authority and split his own party, Mr Obama insisted that “the time for bickering is over”. He said that his door was still open to constructive proposals from any party — and won a rare standing ovation from Republicans by promising medical malpractice law reforms that they have long sought — but in a warning to the scaremongers who have dominated the health debate for months, he added: “Know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it”.
The 45-minute speech was carried live on every major network and was partly a last-ditch effort to persuade the millions of Americans who are happy with their coverage that the $900 billion (£544 billion) plan he supports is affordable and necessary. >>> Giles Whittell in Washington | Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Tea Party Express Hits the Road in Protest at Obama Healthcare Plans
TIMES ONLINE: On a warm, wet night in Michigan, Jan Crandall stands to attention while Taps is played on the sound system in honour of America’s war dead. Then she explains why she is carrying a placard bearing an astonishingly large number: $11,801,149,166,949.
It is the US national debt — and it is rising by $3.5 billion a day. “We came out tonight because of the excessive spending,” she said. “We don’t like the Government trying to take over everything. We are for healthcare reform, but they are not going about it the right way.” After a pause Mrs Crandall added: “Gee, are we going to talk about Barack Obama? We might get on his hit list.”
A powerful cocktail of hard-headed conservatism and wilful paranoia is driving a quixotic bus convoy from California to Washington, where Mr Obama will try tonight to rebut its claims and regain the initiative in the most important domestic policy speech of his presidency so far.
The Tea Party Express has no leader, no big donors and no formal goal except to “take back our country” from an Administration it believes has fundamentally misunderstood the role of America’s federal Government — and from Republicans who abandoned fiscal restraint to bail out the country’s banks last year.
The convoy consists of two 12-berth coaches built for rock band roadies and a permanent crew of two singers, two speakers and a supporting cast of mild-mannered political consultants from California. It would be no more than a fringe attraction had its members not already wrong-footed the White House in the health reform debate with talking points for hundreds of Republican town hall meetings over the summer. One of the brains behind the movement is Sal Russo, of Russo, Marsh and Associates, a Sacramento campaigning firm, formerly an adviser to Ronald Reagan and Rudy Giuliani.
The Tea Party people are now targeting congressional districts won last year by Democrats that they think can be won back in next year’s midterm elections. The coaches have stopped for four rallies in Michigan in the past two days, including one attended by Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher — known to followers of John McCain’s presidential campaign as Joe the Plumber. Yesterday he railed against big government at a meeting in Brighton, and signed copies of his new book, Fighting for the American Dream.
Mr Obama’s version of that dream has always included universal healthcare. His speech tonight to both houses of Congress will be a “very forceful” argument for wholesale reform, aides said, and a reply to a misinformation campaign by opponents that has encouraged conspiracy theories about state-run “death panels” and “population control experiments”.
The President’s problem is that no US legislation this ambitious has ever been passed with a majority of Americans opposed to it. A Gallup poll yesterday showed that only 37 per cent of voters back the Bill now being worked on by the Senate Finance Committee.
Tonight’s speech will, therefore, stop short of demanding the public insurance plan — the “public option” — even though Mr Obama still supports the idea and even though it is considered non-negotiable by about 40 liberal Democrats in the House. >>> Giles Whittell in Jackson, Michigan | Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Bush and Congress Bedazzled by Sarkozy; Sarkozy Aims to Be ‘Ally-in-Chief’
TIMESONLINE: President Sarkozy of France yesterday dazzled President Bush and Congress by proclaiming his love for America as he sought to rekindle a long alliance that turned soured over war in Iraq.
His address to both Houses of Congress was delivered in French. He began by breathing warm words of fidelity into the translation earpieces worn by almost all the US legislators.
To the first of many standing ovations he spoke of the shared values and history of the two nations, dating back to the War of Independence, and declared: “France is the friend of the United States of America.”
At a dinner held in his honour the previous evening, Mr Sarkozy had signalled his amorous intentions when he toasted President Bush, saying: “On behalf of all Frenchmen, I want to reconquer the heart of America.”
Mr Bush replied by making a rare foreign-language foray, welcoming his guest with the words “Bienvenue à la Maison Blanche.” The White House — as it is more usually known — has been enthralled by Mr Sarkozy, who appears ready to slip into the role of “ally-in-chief” so recently vacated by Tony Blair. Je t’aime, Nicolas Sarkozy tells America as he aims to be the ‘ally-in-chief’ (more)
