Obama: I've Backed Some GOP Health Care Ideas All Along

1 year ago

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President Barack Obama said Saturday he hopes neither political party tries to turn the upcoming White House summit on health care reform into "political theater with each side simply reciting talking points and trying to score political points."

Obama has invited Republican and Democratic lawmakers to the White House on Thursday in an attempt to break the Capitol Hill stalemate on health care legislation.

In his weekly radio address, the president insisted that he had "sought out and supported Republican ideas on reform" from the outset,

"Some Republicans want to allow Americans to purchase insurance from a company in another state to give people more choices and bring down costs. Some Republicans have also suggested giving small businesses the power to pool together and offer health care at lower prices, just as big companies and labor unions do," Obama said. "I think both of these are good ideas -- so long as we pursue them in a way that protects benefits, protects patients, and protects the American people."

Republicans leaders have approached the meeting warily, not wishing to be upstaged by the president of the United States.

Filed Under: Senate, House, Democrats, Republicans, Barack Obama, John McCain, Economy, Abortion, Budget, Health Care, Taxes, Obama Administration, 2010 Elections, Congress, Conservatives, Campaigns, Public Option, Deficit, Jobs

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