Obama Fires Up College Crowd At Health Care Rally

President Barack Obama
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President Obama, continuing his efforts to rally his base around health care reform, spoke at the University of Maryland today to a loud and sometimes rowdy crowd of students.

“Health care is more than details on a policy, it’s about what country you want to be,” he said. “We don’t fear the future, we shape the future.”

As Obama told stories about patients getting shafted by insurance companies — a common tactic in his speeches — the crowd booed so loudly Obama had to pause and ask what was going on.

“We’re doing OK, everyone’s doing OK,” he said, and the boos turned to cheers.

The audience booed again when Obama mentioned the proposed bill released yesterday by Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus. The President replied, “Each bill has its strengths.”

He appealed to the students’ sense of service, calling reform a “responsibility.”

“Improving our health care system only works if everyone does their part, and I think Americans are ready to take on that responsibility,” he said.

Obama wrapped up his speech with the “Fired up!” anecdote, one he used often on the campaign trail and has dusted off for recent health care rallies.

“We need the voices of young people to transform this nation,” he said. “I need your voice.”

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