He made no opening bids, but instead called on the two parties to abandon their talking points and engage in a real unscripted discussion, even as he conceded that it might not result in a bridging of the deep philosophical divide between them.
One of the liveliest exchanges came when Mr. Obama clashed with his former Republican rival for the White House, Senator John McCain of Arizona, who unleashed a pointed attack on the president for the process that Democrats used to produce the bill — even as Mr. Obama tried to redirect him to talking about its substance.
In his own remarks, Mr. Obama got personal, recounting the story of his mother’s death from ovarian cancer, and the illnesses of his daughters: Malia, 11, who was rushed to the hospital after complaining she couldn’t breathe and, the president said, was diagnosed as having asthma, and Sasha, 8, who had a potentially dangerous case of meningitis as a baby.
infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the meninges (the tissues that surround the brain or spinal cord) usually caused by a bacterial infection; symptoms include headache and stiff neck and fever and nausea
In his own remarks, Mr. Obama got personal, recounting the story of his mother’s death from ovarian cancer, and the illnesses of his daughters: Malia, 11, who was rushed to the hospital after complaining she couldn’t breathe and, the president said, was diagnosed as having asthma, and Sasha, 8, who had a potentially dangerous case of meningitis as a baby.
of something done as a final recourse (especially to prevent a crisis or disaster)
The forum, which the White House intended as a back-and-forth between Republicans and Democrats on health care policy, is an extraordinary last-ditch effort by Mr. Obama to revive his health care bill.
“John McCain’s talked about how rising health care costs are devastating to middle class families,� he said, referring to his Republican opponent for the presidency, who was sitting in the room.
“I’m glad that more than a year later you are,� the senator said, going on to deride the 2,400 page bill as the being produced “behind closed doors� with “unsavory deals.�
preoccupied with the pursuit of pleasure and especially games of chance
The White House is betting that the public will tune in and conclude Democrats have better ideas for reforming health care; Republicans are betting the public will favor their ideas.
“I’m glad that more than a year later you are,� the senator said, going on to deride the 2,400 page bill as the being produced “behind closed doors� with “unsavory deals.�
have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to
WASHINGTON — President Obama opened his much anticipated health care forum on Thursday by calling on Democrats and Republicans to “focus not just on where we differ but focus on where we agree,� as Republicans called for the president to scrap his bill and start over.
a committee appointed to consider financial issues
Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana and chairman of the Finance Committee, said Democrats welcomed many of the ideas suggested by Senator Alexander and other Republicans.
In his own remarks, Mr. Obama got personal, recounting the story of his mother’s death from ovarian cancer, and the illnesses of his daughters: Malia, 11, who was rushed to the hospital after complaining she couldn’t breathe and, the president said, was diagnosed as having asthma, and Sasha, 8, who had a potentially dangerous case of meningitis as a baby.
But Senator Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who was selected to give his party’s opening remarks, called on the president to renounce “reconciliation,� the controversial parliamentary maneuver that would enable Democrats to pass the president’s bill with only Democratic votes.
Throughout the morning, Democrats echoed the president’s theme that there was more agreement than disagreement, and sought to make the case that their bill had incorporated Republican ideas.
WASHINGTON — President Obama opened his much anticipated health care forum on Thursday by calling on Democrats and Republicans to “focus not just on where we differ but focus on where we agree,� as Republicans called for the president to scrap his bill and start over.
One of the liveliest exchanges came when Mr. Obama clashed with his former Republican rival for the White House, Senator John McCain of Arizona, who unleashed a pointed attack on the president for the process that Democrats used to produce the bill — even as Mr. Obama tried to redirect him to talking about its substance.
a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
Mr. Obama, speaking to lawmakers from his seat at the table they shared, not from a podium or with a teleprompter, used his opening remarks to make the case that reforming the health care system is critical to the nation’s economy.
Mr. Obama, speaking to lawmakers from his seat at the table they shared, not from a podium or with a teleprompter, used his opening remarks to make the case that reforming the health care system is critical to the nation’s economy.
wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
“John McCain’s talked about how rising health care costs are devastating to middle class families,� he said, referring to his Republican opponent for the presidency, who was sitting in the room.
In his own remarks, Mr. Obama got personal, recounting the story of his mother’s death from ovarian cancer, and the illnesses of his daughters: Malia, 11, who was rushed to the hospital after complaining she couldn’t breathe and, the president said, was diagnosed as having asthma, and Sasha, 8, who had a potentially dangerous case of meningitis as a baby.
Throughout the morning, Democrats echoed the president’s theme that there was more agreement than disagreement, and sought to make the case that their bill had incorporated Republican ideas.
But Senator Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who was selected to give his party’s opening remarks, called on the president to renounce “reconciliation,� the controversial parliamentary maneuver that would enable Democrats to pass the president’s bill with only Democratic votes.
give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
He made no opening bids, but instead called on the two parties to abandon their talking points and engage in a real unscripted discussion, even as he conceded that it might not result in a bridging of the deep philosophical divide between them.
WASHINGTON — President Obama opened his much anticipated health care forum on Thursday by calling on Democrats and Republicans to “focus not just on where we differ but focus on where we agree,� as Republicans called for the president to scrap his bill and start over.
But Senator Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who was selected to give his party’s opening remarks, called on the president to renounce “reconciliation,� the controversial parliamentary maneuver that would enable Democrats to pass the president’s bill with only Democratic votes.
devastate
