President Obama gave a rousing speech on health care reform today at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, and said that though the press covers the debate like it’s “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots,” this legislation “is going to be enormously important for America’s future.”
Obama began by railing against the insurance industry, and pointing out that “if this vote fails, the insurance industry will continue to run amuck.”
They know this, he said, and “that’s why their lobbyists are stalking the halls of Congress as we speak. And pouring millions of dollars into negative ads.”
“Are we going to let the special interests win again? Or are we going to make this vote a victory for the American people?” he asked. The crowd answered with chants of “yes we can!”
The president also addressed some of the rumors about health care reform: “We have heard every crazy thing about this bill,” but “it turns out, at the end of the day, what we’re talking about is common-sense reform.”
Obama also talked about cable news networks that “like to talk about the politics of the vote.”
“‘What’s this gonna mean for Obama?’ they ask. ‘Will his presidency be crippled? Or will he be the Comeback Kid?'”
He went on: “One of the things you realize is basically that a lot of reporting in Washington is just like Sportscenter,” or “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots.”
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“I don’t know how this plays politically,” Obama continued, but “this legislation is going to be enormously important for America’s future.”
Follow all the latest developments at our Countdown to Reform Wire.
