Who's Desperate Now?

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama told the nation's leading experts on health care Thursday that Americans are "desperate" for an overhaul of the expensive system, and he urged them to "get to work" to pass legislation this year.
Fifteen years after Democratic President Bill Clinton failed in a similar effort, Obama embarked on the most ambitious task of his young presidency: He assembled top members of Congress and leaders of health care interest groups -- some of whom have blocked health care changes in the past -- to a health care conference to debate ideas for overhauling the system.
"There are a lot of people out there who are desperate. There's a lot of desperation out there," Obama said, digressing briefly from his prepared remarks in the East Room of the White House.
By fixing problems of access, cost and quality once and for all, he said, "all of us could share extraordinary pride in finally dealing with something that has been vexing us for so long."
Melody Barnes, the president's domestic policy adviser, said the roughly 140 people invited to the session know that "one undeniable truth brings everyone to the table" -- that the status quo is "simply unsustainable."
Obama joked that an invitation to the forum was "the hottest ticket in town."
"Today's forum is so important, because health care reform is no longer just a moral imperative, it is a fiscal imperative," he said. "If we want to create jobs and rebuild our economy, then we must address the crushing cost of health care this year, in this administration."
"They are coming to the White House and coming to the table because they want to get this done," Barnes said.
Rather than being prescriptive, she said, the president will be pragmatic.
The half-day session included presentations by average Americans caught in the health care maelstrom.
About 46 million people are uninsured, according to the most recent census figures. Others are paying more than they can afford.

The status quo is unsustianable? huh? keeping what you have, (the status quo) and improving it, not replacing it is what we need. But the American Idol President doesnt want, or understand that is what is needed. He and his goose steppping Liberal drones just want to tear down what we have and replace it with some mutant goverment system that will have all the care and concern of the DMV...
I don't have insurance. I have major medical problems, and am self employed.
I am the "focus group" that the media construct resident of the White House is talking about.
I don't want his or anybody elses "help", not if it comes at the cost they have placed on it.
I am too much of a patriot for that.
I love my country, but not the goverment. I want it as far out of my life as possible.