Obama rallies Pa. audience, challenges insurers in health reform speech

"Trying to rally the public and put more pressure on Congress to act quickly, President Obama on Monday took to the road to castigate insurance companies and urged voters to lobby for passage of the healthcare overhaul," the Los Angeles Times reports. The Times notes that Obama's approach during the speech was "reminiscent of his campaign mode ... rather than the cool, contemplative president."

"'How much higher do premiums have to rise before we do something about it?' Obama asked an enthusiastic, mostly young audience at Arcadia University in Glenside, Penn. Obama argued that his healthcare proposal trumped politics. 'I don't know how passing healthcare will play politically, but I do know that it's the right thing to do,' he said." He also urged those who share this view to back him up. "'And I ask you to help us get us over the finish line these next few weeks'" (Nicholas and Muskal, 3/9). 

Business Week/Bloomberg: "Insurance companies have made a calculation that higher premiums can more than make up for the loss of customers who can't afford coverage, Obama said. ... 'We can't have a system that works better for the insurance companies than it does for the American people,' Obama said. He cited rising premiums including a proposal by WellPoint Inc., the largest provider by membership, for a 39 percent rate increase for some policyholders in California" (Brower and Jensen, 3/8).

The Hill's Blog Briefing Room: During the speech, "Obama directly sought to address GOP criticisms that his health plan doesn't do enough to contain rising health costs, with the president arguing that he's incorporated serious Republican proposals to do just that into his plan."

Obama said, "You keep on hearing from critics and some of the Republicans on these Sunday shows say, well, we want to do more about costs." He continued, "We have now incorporated almost every single serious idea from across the political spectrum about how to contain the rising costs of health care, ideas that go after waste and abuse in our system, including in programs like Medicare" (O'Brien, 3/8).