His hopes for fundamental reform to America’s troubled health-care system endangered by a revolt from within his own party, Barack Obama Wednesday night staked his presidency on an ultimatum.
Americans “are looking to us for leadership, and we must not let them down,” the President vowed in a prime-time press conference.
“We will pass reform that lowers cost, promotes choice, and provides coverage that every American can count on. And we will do it this year.”
With that stark declaration, Mr. Obama threw down a gauntlet to his Republican opponents and to nervous Democrats worried about what reform might cost.
With opposition growing and Mr. Obama’s popularity slipping, hopes that legislation could be passed before Congress rises for its August vacation at the end of next week are fading.
By nonetheless imposing an end-of-year deadline for final passage of a bill, the President is gambling all of his political capital on success. If the year passes without his signature on a bill, the political costs of such failure will be enormous. (more…)
