In an address to a coalition of faith leaders today, President Barack Obama reitereated his stance on the need for health-care reform, while seeking to dispel “ludicrous ideas” on the issue that have come from those who oppose his legislation.
Appearing on 40 Minutes for Health Reform, a live BlogTalkRadio special sponsored by more than 30 religious denominations and organizations seeking to make clear to Congress that quality, affordable health care for every American family is a moral priority, the president called on congregations nationwide to assist in his charge.
"We are closer to achieving reform than we have ever been," President Obama tells us. (Photo: Pete Souza)
“I’m going to need the help of all of you. I’m going to need you to knock on doors, talk to your neighbors; I need you to spread the facts, and speak the truth,” Obama said during the event, which was part of the “40 Days for Health Reform” cam- paign launched Aug. 10.
“Time and again, men and women of faith have helped to show us what’s possible when we’re guided by our hopes and not our fears.”
The president also analogized his health-care reform efforts to 20th century struggles for other, then-controversial social programs.
“Throughout our history, whenever we’ve sought to change this country for the better, whenever we’ve sought to promote justice, there have always been those who wanted to preserve the status quo,” he said.
“And these struggles always boil down to a contest between hope and fear. That was true in the debate over Social Security, when FDR was accused of being a socialist. That was true when JFK and Lyndon Johnson tried to pass Medicare. And it’s true in this debate today.”
To hear 40 Minutes for Health Reform, including President Obama’s full address, click here.
To read more about “40 Days for Health Reform,” click here.
Following is the full transcript of the president’s address. Continue reading
