How will health care reform affect Pres. Obama's legacy?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
"The time for talk is over. It's time to vote."
So says President Barack Obama about Health care reform, which has consumed almost the entire first year of his presidency.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/11/art.obama.jpg caption=""]
As this thing moves toward some sort of resolution - one way or another - it seems it will leave an indelible mark on Mr. Obama's legacy.
After nearly a year of debates, town hall meetings and angry Tea Partiers, closed-door meetings in Washington, thousands and thousands of pages of legislation, and a televised day-long summit - it's not clear if the Democrats have the votes to turn the president's signature issue into law.
Even though Democrats are poised to use a procedure called reconciliation in the Senate - where they need only a simple majority - it's far from a done deal. Over in the House - Nancy Pelosi may not have the necessary votes either, with some Democrats worried about abortion and others just worried about getting re-elected.
Critics say President Obama left too much power in the hands of Congress; he didn't step in early enough and assert his leadership. Instead he waited until the bill had become a mangled mess with everybody's fingerprints on it, except his.
Now the president is out there nearly every day giving campaign-style speeches... but it might be too little too late. A large majority of Americans don't want the current bill.
There are still more than two years until the president would be up for re-election; and it's worth pointing out that although Bill Clinton failed to pass health care reform during his first term... he went on to be re-elected.
Here’s my question to you: How will the fate of the health care reform bill ultimately affect Pres. Obama's legacy?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Mark in Oklahoma City writes:
Jack, For some inexplicable reason, Obama has focused like a laser on forcing the issue of health care reform when all along his number one task should have been creating jobs! We see now that he is going to accomplish neither. His time and energy wasted on trying to slay the health care dragon will come at a huge price to him come time for his re-election bid.
Chris in Philadelphia writes:
If it fails, he will be remembered as the president who let Pelosi hijack his domestic priority and lost and he may not recover. If he is successful with the vote, and the bill works as planned it will BE his legacy. He was able to do what others have tried for decades.
Layne in Illinois writes:
Jack, It's his Waterloo, pure and simple. If he had taken the reins in the beginning, and kept them all the way through, this would have been resolved one way or the other months ago. Instead, he proved what the rest of the country knew years ago: Congress is so grid-locked that it can't agree on what day of the week it is. I hate to say it, but after November's elections, he may well be a lame-duck.
Annie writes:
It's my hope that he will be the president who finally got something done for the people, against all odds, and the hundreds of millions of corporate dollars fighting him. We're getting crushed out here by medical costs – seriously.
Peg in New York writes:
Badly. Ramming it thru is no way to reform a thing. Yes, I am a Democrat.
Adem in California writes:
Big time, just like war was for George Bush!
Craig in Houston writes:
President Obama has learned a valuable lesson in his first year in office. He can't just point the way. He has to lead the Congress and the country by the hand. I think his biggest failing this past year was naivete. He assumed the system would work the way it was intended.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
So far, it won't have any impact at all, because it isn't going to pass, in its current form.
Amy , central Illinois – Obama's Hubris will cause his legacy to be held in a negative light... He has linked his legacy to an all or nothing conflict to pass **His** health insurance reform bill and not the healthcare reform that is so badly needed.
Either way it will be seen as having been a great distraction from solving the real problem at hand which is recovery of the the economy and the job market.
If it passes, he will be remembered as a great president who did the moral and responsible thing for the American people.
Depends on when it passes.
Would have been better to have had a public option. But the insurance reform is a good thing.
Tell me what was Bush's legacy on health care reform? Reagan?
Jack
It will affect it very badly.The lies and back room deals to build yet another entitlement crushing our budget and bankrupting our nation.
It will have to be repealed or we'll have no nation.Our nation is hurting
right now and these floks have been obsessed with health care for a year while we lose jobs. Its about "their image"...............completely misguided.And I hope our people have had a good taste of what the faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar left is about.
David
Either way it is a failure, just like Obamas presidency. We were promised a bipartisian administration that works for ALL Americans. The health care process was extremely partisan, locking out all Republicans and closed door dealings with the Democratic holdouts. The promise of transparency and that we would know what was taking place and being able to watch it on CSPAN were nothing more than the usual broken campaign promises.
The majority of people hate the bill he is pushing and the federal government's involvement in everything. After the Mass. election he should have gotten his Clinton wake-up call. he should have realized he is on the wrong path. Instead he is determined to let more pressing issues go unchecked and let his ego and hubris dictate his policy priorities. I do not think history is going to portray him as the great thinker that many Americans think he is. His policies or lack of, will be the anchor dragging down our country.
Irregardless of what happens re Health Care, Obama will go down as a "joke" inc his entire ADM.
Jake J
Wi
How many Americans really accredit the president responsible for Medicare? Some Americans do not realize that it’s a government program. The reality is that every modern president’s legacy is first subjectively tied in with the economy, national security, and war. If the economy regains prosperity status as before and the two wars are brought to an end, and there are not any major attacks on America’s soil, then Obama’s presidency will be view as a great success. If I know that and you know that, you have to know that Obama knows it.
Unless he gets an effective bill i.e. with a public option, and one that kicks into play by November, he is toast. He will lose his Democratic majority in Congress and thereby any ability to accomplish anything. That will render him a lame duck at the ruthless hands of the so-called Republicans who don’t give a damn about anyone or anything that doesn’t line their pockets.
Considering the bill they are trying to force upon us is NOT real health care reform, Obama will be considered a failure. The majority of Americans are against the current bill and the election of Scott Brown should be a wake up call for the Democrats. They seem to be running scared, knowing they have until November to get this rushed through before they are voted out.
We think, even though we initially supported him, Obama will go down in history and his legacy will be "I tried Marxism, but the American people got rid of me as fast as possible".
James T
Co
If so-called healh care reform works, he's the next FDR/LBJ. IF not, he's Jimmy Carter/Herbert Hoover. Given the cost, my expectation is Carter/Hoover, and the legislation gets dismantled in the next Congress after anew President is elected.
Considering that he has another two-plus years at least in office, to guess what the passage or not of the health care bill would do to his legacy is not possible.
Allen
Hartwell GA
JacK: His legacy will not be decided on one issue. His legacy will include his entire time in office. When President Obama signs into law health care reform it will be an accomplishment tried by 5 former president's over 5 decades. Health care reform was first an idea of President Teddy Roosevelt as National Health Care. I believe there will be health care reform, and President Obama will get a great deal of the credit.
If health care is not passed, his legacy as a one term president will be defined as the one that convinced Americans that it is more important to elect a leader and not an orator. If health care passes he will be known as the president that led the United States away from being a democratic republic toward the new American Socialist Republic. Either way he looks like a loser.
Jack if the president fails-Pres. Obama's legacy should not be any worst then all those other presidents that tried to get health care reform before him.
But what ever this president has done or have not done in some people views is always worst then all the other presidents of the USA.
can't you figure that out JACK...Why he is being viewed different?
No matter how it goes, it won't have the same affect on his legacy as the Iraq War will have on former President Bush's legacy. God forgive him.
Ed
Port Aransas, TX
If they can't get health reform through, then the Democrats are going to lose big in Congress in November, because people are going to say they didn't get anything done.
The "change we can believe in" won't have happened.
If the Republicans gain seats in November, Obama REALLY won't be able to get anything done for the rest of his term.
And in 2012, the Republicans will take the Presidency. And THEY won't be able to get anything done, either, unless they get rid of the filibuster in the Senate.
And while the Democrats don't have the guts to get rid of the filibuster, the Republicans won't have a problem doing it once they control Congress again.
Just one great accomplishment which no previous American President ever accomplished. National Health Care, ending two foreign wars back to back great accomplishments. A distinct reversal of direction compared to the horrific Bush-Cheney administration who ranks among the worst ever in America's history.
Hello Jack Cafferty and CNN friends,
If the American people accepted the health care reform bill,
than President Barack Obama really WALK THE TALK!
Otherwise President Barack Obama just talks and TALKS!
Conclusion:
OUR HEALTH IS IMPORTANT!
Advice
Let us Now make our world
a Better Healthier and Beautiful World
for You and for Me!
Greetings,
Jurgen R. Brul
Hometown: Paramaribo
Country: Suriname
Latin-American
Wealth care, i.e. jobs, not health care will decide his legacy. If we can,t afford to buy health insurance it's a moot point isn't it?
David, Las Vegas
i think what he is doing is not in the best interest of the majority of U.S. Citizens but it will help several million have access to some kind of care. After listening to Jesse Ventura last night when he compared Hawaii's state run health being a good thing, maybe we should take a look at their program. As far as what's best for the majority of we citizens in this wonderful United States of America, i wish the Congress really cared. Regardless of all else, we've got to get rid of the two party system as we know it today. They're all a bunch of crooks and we should be ashamed of ourselves for letting them get away with non representation of us and full consentration on their reelection for too long. Shame on us but hopefully it's not too late. George from Crofton, Kentucky, Veteran U. S. Army (Airborne)
Jack, it's his moniker. Without it much of his campaign base is eroded and unfortunately will greatly inhibit his reelection. It is just the trap set and needed by the Republican party to gain back control and keep us at war. Let's never use politic's for worthy causes, when there is so much in this world to destroy.
It is just too early to tell. It will depend on what, if anything gets passed. Until we know that, we cannot even guess at the future.
Regardless of what happens to this bill it is small potatoes compared to invading another country and killing thousands of innocent people. I hope the media doesn't ever forget to bring this up.
Jack,
Whether it passes or fails, the bill before the House (the Senate bill) has already damaged President Obama's legacy. If it fails, the health insurance industry wins. If it passes, the health insurance industry wins. Not much legacy enhancement to be found in either outcome. Too bad for decent Americans who were hoping for fair treatment, a choice, and relief from increasingly outrageous premiums.
Richard Green
San Clemente, Ca.
When will these guys get it. I would rather eat than have health care. My husband lost his job as a contractor so no unemployment benefits, been in loan mod hell for 13 months with Chase, reached out to our senators who wrote letters but haven't been able to get any help for us either. Our lender says our financial hardship is of a temporary nature. I emailed the white house 3 times and they sent me a canned response about their health care intiative...meanwhile I am losing my house! And yes Jack,whe we were in our mid 20's my husband had stage 3 hodgkins and we were a couple of kids with jobs and no health care. No one is listening in Washington. Food over healthcare ~ it's that simple!
We all know that it largely depends on whether he is successful in passing something useful or not. If he does, then I would hope that he continues to tweak it.
However, I'm quite sure that no matter how useful the reform bill is, the next election will feature platforms about improving upon it, which will have a tarnishing effect on whatever he does accomplish. When we finally do end up with a system that works, perhaps a decade or more down the line, maybe then people will look back and say, "He started all this."
The failure of heath care reform didn't seem to harm Clinton's administration legacy. Then again, that was before Gingrich's "Contract ON America" really kicked in, now the republicans are as forward thinking as the Taliban.
with it great or with out it a failure
Obama's legacy doesn't really matter to me at all. What does matter is how our gov't, For the people and by the people. Has become, For the lobbyists and by the lobbyists. Our country is about profits, not about the rights of the American citizens. Our jobs are gone, and our hopes and dreams are vanishing as fast as you can spell, o-u-t-s-o-u-r-c-i-n-g!
Jack,
I think his legacy is already gone. Everything that has been enacted, like credit card reform, is always effective months or years later,giving the credit card companies time to come up with ways to "beat the system". Health care reform...My wife and I will probably be dead before it takes effect! And, the bail-out was a complete shambles, what with the huge bonus those companies still pay out. Nothing done is analyzed to determine the pitfalls before enacting it.
Fred
Ocala, FL
It all comes down to both whether health care passes and if what passes is any good. If it doesn't, Obama will be another president that didn't live up to expectations. However, if it all works out, he could be like Tommy Douglas here in Canada. When he proposed the medicare system that would be come the country wide health care program, he was met with responses that seemed reminiscent of the Tea Partiers, but when people were asked to name the greatest Canadian a few years back, Douglas got the nod.
In other words, Obama's health care plan could be either America's greatest failure or greatest success for generations.
I hope he goes down as a president that has finally fixed our train wreck of insurance company that keep jacking up the prices that average people cannot afford.
Based on what I understand about the health care bill proposals from the House and Senate ( pending changes)neither produces worthwhile competition in lowering anyone's heath care premiums. I'm for a public option plan or single payor system open to everyone. Now your talking SERIOUS competition and SERIOUS reductions in health care premiums. I voted for him but I am very disappointed in the way he has handled this critical issue. I think his legacy will be one of letting the american people down in a very big way regarding healthcare reform.
Well, Jack, the pesky little gnats who call themselves "conservatives" are in a death spiral of gleeful disarray and senseless flip-flopping, Meanwhile, the insurance companies are turning suicidal in their final grab for power and profits.
In the end, the voices of reason from the real American majority will prevail, and this administration will achieve meaningful healthcare reform.
When one looks objectively at Obama's achievements so far, it is easy to see that the legacy he has already established is far more overreaching than this single piece of legislation. The ultimate DDT.
He'll be remembered for ending pre-existing conditions, closing the Medicare Doughnut Hole, and helping small businesses and the self-employed while blocking the Party of No with his other hand.
Jack,
I think Obama had some great ideas, having said that, he had no idea what he was getting into. In my opinion, our government is very corrupt and nothing but a big band of thieves, caring only about themselves, and most of the American people know this. I ask you Jack, how do we control greedy politicians who control there own moves and future, thats why it's just about hopeless. The politicians coming into office are just as bad as the ones going out. Politicians should serve just 2 terms, 1 in office and the other in prison.
I live in the corrupt state of Illinois
it will become known as his biggest lie ever. Saving costs in health care is an oxymoron – The better we do, the longer we live, the more it costs. Health care doesn't actually save lives – it extends them.
A rich person would spend their last dollar to save their life, and morally a poor person's life is worth the same – the problem is that it's not their money – it's ours or our children's.
it was already set in stone even after he authorized the bailouts the worst president to come with promise to help the averago the tax payer but go the other route and with this health care buill will put the topping on the cake
So far it has hurt it but we will not know the final result until we have action on a Bill. Even then, there may be future actions this year,
Jack we will all have to wait and see what the history books have to say about Mr. Obama and this health care fiasco in about 10 years and 950 billion dollars later. The sad thing is that this will only provide insurance for 30 million people for 10 years. Then the country must go further in debt to continue the coverage. With the economy taking a nose dive and two wars that does not seem likely. My personal opinion is that Obama's legacy is going to be failure and disappointment while he had the opportunity to do such good things if only he would have had a competent democrat congress. Then again perhaps all that talk about hope and change was just that. Talk.
I think if he can get enough members of his own party to grow backbones and pass a healthcare bill. This will help make his legacy a good one. Just as we remember Franklin Roosevelt for social security and Lyndon Johnson for Medicare he will also be remembered. But if this bill does not pass he will be remembered along with the democrats, for having a overwhelming majority in the house and the senate that could not get any major bills passed.
i think obama will be just fine–
It depends Jack, if it passes then he's done something that no one else could do for over 70 years and that's a good thing. If it doesn't pass then he can make the point that Congress didn't care about the American people enough to do what was right and that could be good for him and bad for us. I don't believe his legacy will be determined by just one thing and just like all of his predecessors, there are many more challenges in front of him.
Well Jack, In that he has become totally connected and obsessed to this sinking ship, he will go down in history the same as Edward Smith, Captain in command of the Titanic.
In a positive way, in my opinion. If we can "find" money to fight in Iraq for just about 7 years, we should be able to take care of Americans as far as healthcare goes. Driving is a privilege. Healthcare shouldn't be.
Obama's efforts to reform health care have made him a media darling. He's been before the cameras, in magazines and newspapers and even on the radio virtually 24/7 for the past full year and frankly, I'm sick of the guy. He's simply way too much.
Hopefully his legacy will be finding some other drum to beat and then, only on weekends.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
How did healthcare affect President Clinton? Are you running out of questions Jack.? We have no idea what will affect this president legacy. MSM is becoming ridiculous.
That depends, Jack. If the Public Option, which is preferred by a majority of Americans, is added through reconciliation, the President will be able to claim that the people's voices were heard. If the current bill is made law, the progress made by it in the face of Republican opposition will be harder to explain, but still better than doing nothing.
This is not the calamity that the press makes it out to be; we need a good bill and now.
It will affect his legacy by him doing something unpopular and controversial. It's good and bad because of some people adoring him while others are not fond of him.
Give the bill time to have a vote on it and then ask this question.
It seems like the media are always trying to run him down. We have an excellent President, let's wait awhile before you condemn him.
If this thing passes he'll never win re-election. This is one of the worst
bills a United States Congress has ever passed. This kind of legislation
should never be passed by only one party, this is every single persons
health care we're talking about. I predict if this goes into law, the democrats may never have control in this country again. The American people do not want this bill!!!!
It will add to his Greek mythology of being able to turn everthing he touched into Gold. Something that was not able to be passed for decades to pass in only 1 year is un-fathomable.
He has worked harder than almost any other President so far and seem to have been criticized and scrutinized the most. So whatever accolades he gets,, he surely deserves them.
How will the fate of the health care reform bill ultimately affect Pres. Obama's legacy?
It is the cornerstone of his presidency.
I really don't understand why Republicans are so opposed to it.
The Health Care Reform bill is about Regulating Insurance Companies so that Americans are protected.
The Public Option is nothing more than the government providing an Insurance service, in competition to the Big Insurance Companies. Why are the insurance companies so fearful – isn't this a Free Market society? Is the real problem that the CEO's won't make as much and these companies will have to provide more services to keep their customers?
Why are Republicans siding with Big Insurance Companies and not AMERICANS? Why are Republicans NOT honest about the Health Care Reform bill? Why are Republicans injecting fear into our nation once again??
Health Care Reform will happen. What we don't get in the bill we will gain through reconciliation and amendments.
Obama will prevail.
Jenna
Roseville CA
Even though the reform bill is highly flawed it does move important health care reform issues in a positive direction. This bill passage will provide more positives to the President's legacy.
If it is passed in it's present form he will be vilified once it goes into effect and several million people finally realize it's not 'free' health care.
If it gets re-written and actually does something he may be remembered as a good president.
I wish everyone would stop calling it "health care reform." It's "insurance coverage reform," nothing more. You can give every citizen in the country gold-plated insurance coverage. But when large swaths of low-income neighborhoods lack grocery stores, manufacturers can pollute our air, water and ground soil with impunity, educational opportunities for underserved communities continue to lag further behind, and consumer safety regulation remains a joke, nobody's health will be reformed. True health care reform requires a comprehensive look at a host of public policy and economic issues that interrelate with health care, but the payout for such reform isn't quick or politically expedient enough to warrant attention from politicians who want the low-hanging fruit.
Even if it is successful, which I hope it will be, the right wingers will never accept the fact. If it loses, they will have to accept the fact that they are the reason for the loss. I have never seen such hateful reaction to what is best for the people of this country. It is time to get over the pettiness of losing an election and once again put the people of this country first and I don't mean the rich. The middle class and the poor are the ones they are hurting by their consistent disagreement with everything that will help these folks. There is an old saying, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." No one knows what the future holds for any of us, maybe just maybe, some of these politicians who are so quick to deny health reform to the folks of this country might be in the same predicament as the citizens they are now trying to deny health care for. God forbid that should happen but one never knows!!!!
Given the fact that the "reform" is more political nonsense making no economic sense, I see it as proving that the man is just another political hack, with no regard to social and economic truths.
The only way it can be positive is to start over -or- dump the pork -or- make it really bi-partisan and not Pelsi-artisian. He will be a one-term not-so-good President, and I fear that racism will rear its ugly head against Presidents of color for some time to come.
How will health care reform affect Pres. Obama's legacy?
It will confirm that he is a socialist interested in sucking the life out of the self employed and private sector so that he can continue to fund his friends in corrupt corporations and corrupt government unions entitlements. Please let me know when he is going to strip the government of their entitlements to free healthcare and give the private affordable healthcare?
Jack
What I Hear is the new plan will work like this
1. People who already have insurance will pay more
2. People who are working will now be forced to pay for something they don't want or need
3.People who are unemployed will be covered ; although they will be forced to reconcile as soon as they get a lo paying job
4. Criminal aliens will be covered and pay nothing
This should guarantee a Obama library in 2012...
president obama is during 100% more then president bush did in 8 years you never ask the american people any of these questions . i know you need your job on cnn and you need some eye catching news making chat. i won't play these stupid games with you pp lon cable chat.
Jack: Ye of little faith. President Obama' legacy will be ,that he will pass healthcare reform.
Any guestions?
Jack, if Health Reform fails to pass, Obama will be just another president who couldn't get the job done. If it does pass, he will go down in history as the person who defeated not only the big business lobby, but their congressional tools as well.
The President's legacy – and re-election chances – depend primarily on two factors: First, how the economy is doing in two years and second, on what nincompoop the Republicans nominate to run against him. On the latter, I'd say it's looking pretty good for President Obama.
Susan
Tuscaloosa AL
After the bill is passed and the people find out what is in the bill it will destroy obama's legacy. If you like seeing 15 million people who make as much as $33,000. receiving medicaid while you have to pay 1,000. per month for your own health care plus their insurance you might not like this bill, if you like having the government mandate not only that you must buy health insurance but also what you must have in your plan, plus paying a 40% tax on your healh care, plus no public option, plus no antitrust exemption , plus billions in subsidies to the private insurance companies then you might not like this health care bill. If you already have health insurance this bill will do nothing for you except raise your premiums because of all the benefit mandates. Yes you will be angry with obama and the congress.
Legacy be damned. Anybody that cures the present insurance strangle hold on America, will never have to wait to see his Legacy of the future.
Help me now not later
Leave it to the punditry to ask if one piece of legistlation will define a Presidency. Whether or not this passes or fails will not determine Obama's legacy. This will simply be a part of it. My prediction will be that he will have learned his lesson from this mess and become a far more effective President in the years to come.
I do not know how this watered- down mess will affect his legacy. I can only say that the passage of universal health care legislation would have made his domestic policy the most courageous and important since Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Voting Rights Act.
Jack, ultimately history will show that Obamacare establishes a new, unfunded entitlement program that ends up costing the country $2.5 to $3 Trillion in the first 10 years and is a sign of the obvious lack of understanding and leadership that permeates his administration. History will label him, correctly, as the ultimate spend/tax president of the 21st century and berate his administration for the huge deficits that will forever be tied to his name. That will be his legacy, if the country survives.
Reform will pass.The bill will cost taxpayers fifty billion a year and reduces the deficit by a hundred billion a year after the first ten years. On the upside (in addition to the reduction to the deficit), the donut hole will be filled, medicare will be solvent for an additional nine years, almost everybody in the US will have some form of insurance, you won't be able to be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, you won't get booted off when you get sick, premiums will be lower for individuals and small businesses and about the same or a little lower for big businesses,there will be fewer bankruptcies, and jobs will be created. On the downside, cosmetic surgery will be taxed, so you'll fewer people with frozen foreheads and big round fake boobs, and more with hips and crowsfeet. Obama's legacy will be a healthier and more economically stable America, but with a few less people who look like they're made out of plastic.
Jack: Hopefully it will make him a one term President.
Jim
Hoffman Estates, IL
If health care reform is passed and works successfully, Obama will go down in history as one of our more famous Presidents. The operative words however is if it works successfully.
This is a really good leader. Unfortunately, most people don't have a good boss so they don't recognize one when they see one. A good boss DELEGATES and expects his employees to find solutions, come up with plans and be ready to implement and then he gives the ok. Congress can't think past it's nose and can't handle DELEGATE. These congressman are so worried about getting RE-ELECTED that they can't see that the reason they won't get RE-ELECTED is because they are not doing the job we sent them to do! HEATHCARE REFORM NOW!
Health care is for the living, his legacy will be defined as the president of mass suicides if congress doesn't create jobs or add more weeks of unemployment, since the jobs bill failed longest term unemployed.
Health care is for the living, his legacy will be defined as the president of mass suicides if congress doesn't create jobs or add more weeks of unemployment to the longest term unemployed, in which the jobs bill failed to do for us.
Like Iraq is, has been and will forever be for Bush, the health care debacle will hang around President Obama's neck like a dead albatross. I voted for Obama once, but given his performance on the health care debacle, I don't think I'll vote for him again.
It's much too early to write Obama's legacy, however, if health reform passes, and it proves to reduce cost and improve the system, he will be remembered as one of the most courageous President's we've ever had. I personally hope that this is his legacy.
Obama has accomplished more in his one year of presidency than any other president in my lifetime. Healthcare reform will only make his legacy better, as well as the 111th Congress Democrats. And trust me, we haven't seen anything yet. Obama is just getting warmed up. If it fails, it will not have much of an impact on his legacy because other accomplished goals may overshadow it's failure.
Jack,
President Obama's ranking in our presidential history will not really be known for generations. We are only now recognizing President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He did the right, sane and moral things that gave us peace, prosperity and world respect. Our military urged him to attack China. He held the generals under his control and protected the world.
His 1953 address to the nation told us of the coming military-industrial power and its costs to our civilization and freedom.
President Obama will likely be shown to have been bright and a president who cared for human needs with compassion and moral judgment, in an environment where wealth an greed were the rulers of the day.
The United States is at risk of loosing our hard earned freedoms now that we have chosen money as our sole goal. Cash is now well in control and is growing in power and control.
Obama is a one term president. He will have no legacy, unless you consider bankrupting the country a legacy.
It's going to effect his legacy in 1/2 ways:
1) If Health Care Reform is passed, future historians will say "President Obama was man of vision and despite some setbacks, delivered on his promise.
2) If Health Care fails, Historians will say "President Obama promised to much to fast and when the going got tough, he quit.
In other words, his legacy will all come down to the outcome of Health Care
Jack, It's his Waterloo, pure and simple. If he had taken the reins in the beginning, and kept them all the way thru, this would have been resolved one way or the other months ago. Instead he proved what the rest of the country new years ago; Congress is so grid-locked that it can't agree on what day-of-the week it is. I hate to say it, but after November's elections, he may well be a lame-duck. Layne A. Antioch, Il.
Jack,
I am more concered with MY legacy. I am battling cancer, umemployed, and would be paying twice as much for Corbra
if it was for the stimilus package. Only people with jobs and no real health concerns would be against this bill and how it's going to be
paid for. I'm living in the moment and I'd like to plan on a future.
CG
Park Forest IL
What's the legacy of letting 45,000 people a year die for lack of health insurance? What's the legacy for obstucting reform as your countrymen die? What's the legacy for filibustering, voting no no no just to make a political waterloo for the president?
Whether President Obama wins of loses on healthcare, he will improve his legacy when compared to those that obstructed, did nothing, and let Americans die.
(it is no wonder that people believe that 911 was an inside job that left 3000 of our own citizens dead. Here is an open example of our own government allowing the deaths of 45,000 every year. Both events for the sake of corporate interests)
it will put the country in bankrupcy and the end of u's'
If it fails he will be remembered as the president who let Pelosi hijack his domestic priority and lost and he may not recover.
If he is successful with the vote, and the bill works as planned it will BE his legacy... he was able to do what others have tried for decades...
At this point in time, we do not know the fate of the health care legislation. If it passes, those who were for it will praise him; those who were against it will keep us informed about how wrong he was.
In my opinion, a lot can be said for President Obama's willingness to stay with health care reform because it is the right thing to do, and will accept the possiblity of being a one term president because of it. I say more power to him! Now if members of Congress would do the right thing I would really be impressed.
Passing healthcare signifies the end of decades of procastination! Failing to do so means a heck of a coutnry in need to face therapy in answering why a nation continues such procastination and cannot face it most top priority which is to improve the lives and the wealth of its citizens not from some dream out there but from realistic steps.
If the bill passes, I suspect that President Obama will be soundly defeated in 2012 if he is even able to get the Democratic nomination. The bill is a giant unfathomable mass of hidden pork. As a Canadian, I love universal public healthcare, and feel terribly sorry for any American with no or inadequate medical insurance. But the proposed reform bill will most likely make the existing system much worse and of course totally unaffordable for the government.
If the President is lucky, the bill will be defeated, which will leave him with almost three years left to make a positive legacy for himself in other areas, and then he may well get re-elected.
Jack,
I f the bill go's through, there will be many amendments following as time marchs on. The president is trying to make a difference and we must give it a chance. Business as usual got us to this point. We must remember, he too has children that will endure the impact of any changes made. All in all, the president's popularity and vision of a second term in office will not only hinge on the medical reform success or failure but also the title wave of other issues such as jobs and the economy. There is alot on Obamas plate. But my wise mother had once said, take only what you are going eat, save the rest for later or others. America will rebound. We must fight many battles to win a war. A legacy can not be forcasted but the present can be broadcasted. Semper Fi Postal Joe, Rock Hill NY
Jack, for some inexplicable reason, Obama has focused like a laser on forcing the issue of health care reform when all along his number one task should have been creating jobs! We see now, that he is going to accomplish neither. His time and energy wasted on trying to slay the health care dragon will come at a huge price to him come time for his re-election bid.
Mark
Oklahoma City
If some changes are made that really help people pay less for co-pays, those who are not excluded from insurance due to pre-existing conditions and those who cannot be thrown out of their healthcare plan due to a new condition...then the plan will be seen as successful...as long as it doesn't take 5 years to enact.
I still believe getting out of wars in the Middle East will be seen as a bigger achievement.
Maria
Brunswick,MD
Big time, just like war for George Bush!
Jack,
Given how this administration has handled health care reform, I believe there will be a blight on President Obama's Legacy. I know he still has a few years until his term is done, but unless things turn around, I can't see Obama serving a second term.
I believe it will be his legacy...
It doesn't solve all the problems, but this is the first step to long term solutions. The real concern is that step 1 is the last step! Can Congress come together and find middle ground on the many remaining issues to lead to real cost savings?
President Obama has learned a valuable lesson in his first year in office. He can't just point the way. He has to lead the congress and the country by the hand. I think his biggest failing this past year was naivete. He assumed the system would work the way it was intended-as three separate branches with separate functions-rather than the way it's been twisted in the last couple of decades. Laying out the goals and leaving the legislature to, well, legislate just won't cut it. I think we will see him pushing congress more, and communicating to the American people more effectively like we've seen him do in the last couple of weeks on Healthcare. This first year showed the inexperience some feared. But, since he's probably the smartest individual to occupy the white house in a very long time, and he's shown himself to be a quick learner-Hope lives.
If he pulls it through, he will be a liberal icon forever.
I feel certain that health care reform will definitely affect the legacy of the president. Unfortunately, I disagree with the CNN take that this will have a negative impact on the president since I firmly believe the majority of americans do want this legistalion passed, contrary to what CNN seems to thinkis the case. I also feel strongly that the Reoublicans have made fools of themselves over this issue and may not do as well as they expect to in the fall elections. I'm getting the impression that the Republicans will not do well in the fall and that Obama may have a very good chance at being re-elected in 2012. If that occurrs I would expect the Democrats to make healthcare reform their first legislative issue all over again.. I guess you could say I expect a positive legacy for Obama on this issue in the long run.
Bill Clinton failed to institute health care reform in his first term, yet he got himself re-elected and became one of the more popular presidents of the 20th century.
No reason why Obama can do likewise.
Hugh Sherry
Stanhope NJ
President Obama's legacy won't be whether or not he gets the health care bill. It will be his ineffective management of congress to get them to work together. He ran a campaign for transparency and bipartisanship. So far neither has been used. He has 3 years to wrangle in congress to be more US focused than me focused.
His hope for change concept is going to backfire for all encumbents. Business as usual won't be forgiven.
What some of us sadly learned is that Obama is going to be called "the Fabricator in Chief"....his credibility is gone as we know now he lies like a trooper.
10 yrs of taxes and 6 yrs of coverage and we are not to figure that out....ya right ! Bribery, threatens, etc. makes us angry.
Jackson
Missouri
Health care reform might be one of the most important legacies of president Obama. If it passes, and if people begin to see that it works, it will make Obama a hero. If it does not work, Obama will be the scapegoat.
However, to some (many ?) oeioke it will not make a bit of difference what the president achieves during his tenure. Some people just hate him, and the only reason that I can see is that they hate him because he is black.
No amount of passage of bills, fixing of the economy, running the wars and getting us out of them will EVER change his race. And anyone who thinks race is not the main issue with this presidency is a fool.
Hi Jack: We need health care reform and we need it now!!!!!!!We think there should be a public option!!!!Everyone gets coverage except illegal aliens!!!!!!!!Too much scare tacitics from lobbiests and republicans.WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THIS COUNTRY
Thanks
The fate of healthcare doesn't matter to his legacy. For most of us, his legacy is already written- Get an education and work hard to achieve the American dream so he and his regime can take it from you and redistribute it to illegal aliens and high school dropouts while claiming to not be a socialist. As much government intrusion into and control over our lives and corporations as possible, as fast as possible while claiming to not be a communist. And driving the country of our founding fathers into the ground through excessive spending on symptoms while perpetrating the underlying problems and refusing to honestly define "fundamental transformation". For those who continue to idolize Obama, he'll be viewed as wonderful no matter what he does and his failures will be deemed to be the Republican's fault even though they don't control anything.
Jack it's sixes, half gonna love it and half gonna hate it the poor guy can't win.
Bill Clinton will always be remember for [ I did not have sex with that women] George W Bush will always be remember for starting a war in Iraq with a lie, Obama has to push health a cross the line his time is now.
If it fails I don't think it will hurt Pres. Obama, but it will hurt the two parties. When you hear those who say 'the people' don't want this Health care, it's propaganda from the Insurance parties and their pawns. The American people voted twice for Pres. Clinton and he lost the health care battle. Because...they feel the Democrats are more apt to fight for the middle and poor class. Which are the real American "We the people."
We have been duped long enough and with a deep recession, brought on by "corporate America's" bad behavior. This "we the people" is not in favor of the party of the rich taking charge any time soon. With the high cost of Insurance which is not full cost for a procedure or will not cover what the elderly American people need. This then leads them having to bankrupt their homes and possessions. I call that being swindled by the insurance companies.
Which with the profits leads them to grease the palm of our representatives in WDC whom are supposed to be working for us.
It goes like this Jack if the bill becomes law President Obama will be re-elected if it doesn't pass and become law and dies in the Senate he probably won't be re-elected! I sincerly hope it does pass because so many people in our country are without affordable health care and that is wrong, people that lose there coverage or don't have health care should have a goverment option available! Pass Health Care Right Now Washington or to the ones that vote no on health care we'll have to vote you out!
Scott Stodden (Freeport,Illinois)
Health care is going to pass and by November it will be more then clear to Americans that they were more than mislead and lied to by those Conservative Christian Republicans, heavy on that Christian bearing false witness part, and will vote accordingly. President Obama has learned not to let Congress play by itself, that bipartisanship is not viable and he will be more involved in creating and selling his future legislation. He will be remembered as the two terms President that stumbled at first, but took the lead and got America out of the disastrous Bush-Cheney Years.
March 11th, 2010 3:26 pm ET
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Considering that he has another two-plus years at least in office, to guess what the passage or not of the health care bill would do to his legacy is not possible.
Allen
Hartwell GA
I think passing health care coverage reform IS important to the Obama legacy... sadly, I think he'll be criticized for trying too hard to involve the "do-nothing" party of the GOP in the process, even after they declared all they were interested in was the failure of ANY bill for reform.
He simply should have stuck to universal, single-payer reform – a NOT FOR PROFIT solution to the greedy gouging of the insurance industry and their Republican (and Democratic) puppets in Congress.
Listen, Dems... if you're in trouble for THIS bill; if you are facing a loss in 2010... why not just do the right thing? Pass single-payer universal health care DESPITE the Party of No.
What is SO hard to understand about that?
Jack,
My drill instructor had told us a quote that equates to the legacy of Mr Obama and it goes: Some mothers may complain about cruelty, brutality and maltreatment but it is the undisciplined boy who dies 1st in combat!
Obamas 1st term will depend on discipline. His legacy will be determined on the outcome...The outcome is what we will endure. News at 11......
Postal Joe, Rock Hill , NY
Jack,
If this President insists on forcing his Health Care and Amnesty agendas on the American People, while we scramble to feed our families and pay our bills, his short stay in the White House will be a bigger FAILURE than the previous one!
Rory Murray
San Bernardino, CA
President Obama's chances for re-election in two years will almost entirely be tied to the state of the economy. If the unemployed are back to work and spending again, his chances for a second term are excellent. Since a majority of the people don't like the health care reform legislation as it stands now, they will be happy if it fails, and those that are in favor of the health care legislation will blame the Republicans if it goes down. Hopefully the President just got a Phd in leadership this past year.
Jack,
Health care reform will surely be this president's signature achievement for his first term. Whether it will be eclipsed by other achievements in his second term only time will tell. Obama will be remembered for his courageous struggle to push the health care bill over the finish line in the face of monstrous lies, spin, and vilification by the health care insurance providers and their Republican lackeys. I have no doubt that Obama's legacy will be seen as a shining beacon emerging from the dismal gloom of the Bush years.
Jim
Reno, Nevada
If he doesn't pass it his legacy won't be; That guy who forced us all to pay for prescription meds with side effects of decreased trust of big government and less money for healthy alternatives.
If the Democrats fail to pass health care reform, they will get slaughtered in the fall. If they can get it through, then it comes down to how it ends up working. When the "death panels" don't materialize and abortions fail to become mandatory for all Republicans we'll finally get the chance to measure the bill on it's own merits, instead of based on ridiculous talking points from both sides.
Health care reform Pass or Not?
If it passes:
Then Medical insurance will be affordable for many people who do Not have Health insurance now.
If it passes:
Then Health insurance companies can No longer Deny Life Saving Procedures.
If it passes:
Then Health insurance companies can No longer Drop Patients because of their illness.
If it passes:
Then Health insurance companies can No longer Deny or charge a lot more for Pre-existing conditions.
If it passes:
Then Health insurance companies can No longer Place a cap on the dollar amount of patient care, especially since patients are still continuing with their premium monthly payments.
If It Does Not Pass:
Then more people will no longer be covered and have a difficult time finding insurance to cover them at an affordable rate.
If It Does Not Pass:
Then more people will be denied life saving procedures.
If it Does Not Pass:
Then more People will be denied coverage due to Pre-Existing conditions.
If it Does Not Pass:
Then more people will be dropped because of their illness.
Obama's legacy is that against all odds – At Least He tried! –
It’s my hope that he will be the President who finally got something done for the people, against all odds, and the hundreds of millions of corporate dollars fighting him. We're getting crushed out here by medical costs – seriously.
who cares about his legacy, I only care if it affects my wallet.
President Obama's efforts, along with Roosevelt passing Social Security and Johnson passing Medicare, will be remembered as a brilliant president who tried to help the average American. The Republicans have done a good job of deception and have actually convinced many people to vote against their own best interests. The once-proud Reublican party has used every dishonest tatic possible. It seems Democratic presidents strive to help the average citizen while the Republicans, the party of "no", seem to say "What's in it for me and my rich friends." I pray each night that enough Americans see the value of medical coverage for all. It is the right and decent thing to do.
Obama will always be known for the Chicago-style corruption that went into this bill. There is still a $100 million hospital carveout in the bill as well as a power grid for Ohio - all to buy votes. Billions in bribes. That is what Obama will be known for – sadly.
Jack,
The real question should be, how will failure of health care reform harm our country, with health care soon to account for one out of every five dollars in our economy.
Partisanship makes me sick!
He already made history by being the first African-American president, and his name will be remembered forever regardless of how the health care deal turns out to be at the end.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Well, Jack, it depends on how much funding the bill will include for treatment of mental illness. If enough of those tea baggers start getting the real care they need for their inordinate rage and dangerous paranoia, we might start to see a turn-around among the vulgar masses. They might stop screaming about "death panels" and the "big red dog" and realize they were fighting against their own interests, those of the middle class, this whole time...
If wishes were ponies...
His legacy as already been determined. The administration that had the highest expectations from the voting class that will result in the lowest deliverabiles to what the public wants
It shouldn't matter one way or another to Obamas legacy whether or not we get health care. He tried, and just like Clinton, he will go on to do other things. You can't win them all, so what's the problem.....Why even bring it up.......it won't matter...
Doris
Ojai, California
Who cares - I suspect Obama least of all. All that matters is what sort of health care we get. What people think of Obama years from now is of no interest to anyone except news agencies that want to avoid the real subject.
Jim, Craig, CO
I don't think it will affect his re-election at all. You must remember that he wasn't suppose to be elected. And I don't know who CNN is polling but I see and hear from a lot of people who really need reformed health care. Stop asking people who can afford health care and ask some poor people who can't afford health care and see what they say.
Hi Jack,
If the health care reform fails it will be the fault of congress and the senate... President Obama is doing the right thing asking for a public health care system and history will show this. One only has to look at the aging population and see the mounting cost of keeping America sick instead of healthy. Heck if this fails I never want to hear from another person in the press talking about kids, or elderly getting denied coverage or family going bankruput from illness. I guess I'm sick and tired from all those who are not sick and tired!
Jesse J
Vancouver Canada
Let's not forget that President Clinton was fortunate enough for the economy to turn around during the first term of his presidency. He presided over the longest period of uninterrupted economic growth in history. I am not saying that he should get credit for that, but it definitely helped him get reelected. President Obama would need such fortune as well. If the economy does not turn around enough by 2012 then he will be blamed for focusing too much on health care and not enough on jobs. If it does then he has a great shot at reelection.
It depends on what he learns from this whole process. If he learns from his many mistakes throughout this whole healthcare fiasco, then he can recover. Whether or not it passes is irrelevant, as it was for Clinton.
Unfortunately, his rookie mistakes have put off healthcare for another decade. Leaving it in our incompetent congress' hands was a terrible idea.
A President's legacy is rarely interwined with his domestic achuievements. Just look at the sense of entitlement that Americans have about their entitlement programs, like social security and medicare. An accomplishment has to be extraordinary in order to be remembered. Is there time left to start another unprovoked war ?
It will be used by his critics as a ruined legacy if it fails and used as his supporters as a proof of success. But we have to remember that there are still 2 years left until the election of 2012. That's two years left for creating a legacy on other issues beyond healthcare. Whatever the outcome on healthcare, President Obama will have other chances to create a profitable legacy.
We finally have a President who wasn't a governor...and has let congress do what congress is supposed to do....legislate !!
and for that he is criticized.....he is letting congress do what
it was elected to do for God's sake....
The bill may not be perfect but it's a foot in the door....and will be regarded as the greatest achievement of Obama's legacy.
Lauren
Minneapolis, MN
President Obama will be recognized by historians as the first President to bring health care costs under control. The economy is stagnant because of the rapid dislocations caused by rising health care costs.
Like military spending, most health care spending today does not add to national productivity it drains resources, even beyond what people earned during their lifetimes. How many median lifetime earnings go into paying for one B2 bombing mission? The same question can be asked about one heart and lung transplant and its lifetime care.
It will be used by his critics as a ruined legacy if it fails and used as his supporters as a proof of success if it passes. But we have to remember that there are still 2 years left until the election of 2012. That's two years left for creating a legacy on other issues beyond healthcare. Whatever the outcome on healthcare, President Obama will have other chances to create a profitable legacy.
Greetings: It reflect his stubborn 60's menality doomed him. How? Because his reality is stranger then fiction. When a women says no, only a creep would keep calling, and hounding. Only a creep would rape her. Many in America have said no to Healthcare, no to Obama polluted policies. Yet he clenches his teeth and shakes his head in defiance to God and His creation. If the liberals weren't accountable to the law, what would they do? Islam uses the sword, there's no doubt Liberals wouldn't mind such tactics. Any people that can close their heart to the fruit of the womb, has no reagurd for the breath of others. Smile as they may, God reveals their wicked hearts. Jesus Christ is the way of TRUE change and hope...
It's too early to tell but each day I dislike the whole health care reform less and less!
he will be thought of as one of the most intelligent, hard-working, caring, selfless, committed, wise, honest, and fair presidents... he will be thought of as a great teacher, a great public servant, and a great executive... one of the greatest presidents in US history.
Obama will not recover from his Healthcare Obsession. He should scrap his plan and start over and implement incremental reforms, which work for everyone.
I also think he could make points with people if he stated that Congress and all government workers would have the same health care plan as the rest of the Americans.
Why you keep saying most of the people do not want healthcare? I never voted! I tell you what, I will not hate on President Obama if it does not pass. We know who to blame and it sure is not the President. Congress voted for viagra and not arbortion. Something is wrong with this picture. All cheaters, womanizers and liars.
With me it will not negatively affect my opinion of him. The Republicans and big corporations including the oil companies are doing all in their power to defeat this president. I stand by him! The road to hell is paved with Republicans!
The President says everything that can be said about healthcare reform has been said, its time for an Up or Down vote. Why is he spending all his days flying about the country talking about it? I assume he thinks it is all about his 1 term legacy
As long as the insurance company's have the politicians on their payroll a health bill will never happen. Not just this presidents but all presidents that try to get one. They have all the money and give it feely
President Obama will be known and remembered by the World that one man, hand in hand, with another man to create a better plan, that no man, not one should perish because America would not take a stand for their Human Right to have a Universal Health Plan.
It probably won't have any affect on his legacy or re-election. The American public changes their minds as often as they change their socks and underwear and elections are usually decided a couple of weeks before the election, regardless how bad they performed for their entire term. This can be confirmed by the way the polls change week to week, month to month, and year to year.
Is this one of those bills that would have absolutely no earmarks, and would not be debated behind closed doors in washington, and would be completely paid for? The taxpayers should be behind this bill with all the good change in washington this year.
Health Care reform will be a shining example of his leadership.
Despite the media repeatedly claiming America doesn't want this reform, he will get this done. The media could be educating America about the plan, but it seems easier to take the ugliest poll results from uninformed Americans and declare it a mistake.
This is not a mistake. It is time to stop ignoring the negligence of the insurance companies, and the debt problems faced by hospitals that treat those without coverage.
Obama's long pitch for this is to demonstrate that those that can't play need to leave the playground. He has gone outof his way to be inclusive to a Republian party that is insists they want reform, but do nothing and try to stall for more lobby dollars. The truth will be exposed soon enough.
Whether it passes or not health care reform will define this president as the one who took a stand against the powerful, self-serving, corporate run bureaucracy. At long last someone is considering the legitimate interest of working Americans, rather than the privileged few. Let the shrill protests, deflection and lies from the RIght Wing continue–we will win this.
Something told me that we couldn't answer a question about Obama without at least some of his supporters playing the race card. And I was right. Anyone who doesn't support his destructive policies is a racist in the eyes of some. Obama's legacy will obviously depend on who writes the history books.
This won't make or break Pres. Obama's legacy...neither did it for Pres. Clinton.
I do not think it matters one way or the other at this point, he will be remembered for it if it passes or if it doesn't. Obama's detractors will attack him on it either way and his supporters will stand behind him either way. I personally hope it does not pass because I would like to see nationalized health care and I feel this monstrosity they are trying to get passed has none of the benefits and all of the costs of socialized medicine.
Bla, bla bla... President Obama will go on to be President for two wonderful terms and his Legacy will be as great as any President before him. Why, because like JFK we love this President for saving us from the torture of eight years of the Bush Era!
I disagree with you Jack. Most American's DO want Health Care. I saw one post that said they would rather eat....guess what, if you can't take care of your health, eating won't be an option! You won't have a body to feed! Obama's legacy will be one of strength, one of a man who did not give up until followed up on his promise.
I know, Lets look ahead not behind. Just like we did with Bush Jerry/Iowa
I think it was Bill Clinton who put signs everywhere to keep him on topic.
They read "The economy, stupid." That should have been his great cause for at least one year.
The fact that he got involved with health care at the same time angered many people who are losing everything. If this health care bill goes nowhere, and I believe it will, it will underscore the opinion that many people have; he is too inexperienced.
Floyd
Ammon, Idaho
This does not compare to the time when Bill Clinton tried to pass healthcare reform. Obama made this his number one priority and if it fails, he fails. He can just forget about the 2012 election and should choose not to run in order to save the Democratic Party.
Mr. Cafferty, I'm under the impression you are a very intelligent Man... SOOO... INSTEAD of asking a question such as, quote, "has President Obama turned ofver too much POWER to Congress", unquote, PLEASE READ, and tell your audience to read, Section 8, Article I, of our Constitution ...
You will NOTE it is CONGRESS who HAS POWER !!!!
In my humble opinion, President Obama is giving us an excellent lesson in how our Constitution is suppose to work ...
Thank you, I do enjoy your comments ...
JAN
,
I dont think that it will affect his legacy in terms of how he views his term as President, on the other hand, the right wing groupies persist to spill out vengeance and hate on lower socioeconomic classes of people.
This is simply a divisive political set up we have here in America, and It definitely isnt President Obama's fault, he is a man of integrity, and a bridge builder, but if other parties are unwilling to help him build the bridge, but make no mistake Jack, the right wing are what I call "haters", literally.
Jimmy Carter echoed the sentiments himself, too much hatefulness and racism, if it were another White American in office, it would have passed already.
What looks "good" on paper will not translate onto the American people. By this fall's midterm elections, a good portion of Americans will find that their healthcare costs have increased, and those that see any decrease and those 30 million new Americans who Obama says this plan will cover might not even have a jobs! Democrats have already dropped the ball on this legislation, and shifting the blame to insurance companies is not an answer. What good are the Democrats if they can't even beat insurance companies in the political arena? The party of the donkey is making a true ass out of itself...
Obama has written his legacy by ignoring the American public on issues such as spending and healthcare. The president should wake up, people can't purchase health insurance without jobs and voters wont vote for a man that is focused on his own agenda and not that of the american public's.
Mel
Atlanta
The difference between the Clinton Health Care reform effort and the Obama effort is that Bill did NOT bet the ranch. He knew when to cut his losses. If Obama drags this thing on, betting his ranch, he cannot win. If it passes he'll lose if it fails he'll lose. If he stops now and goes on to address what people in America want him to address, jobs for instance, his chances for re-election will be far better. Unless he starts cutting taxes, he'll NEVER get people going back through the doors of business encouraging businesses to hire.
Jack, I believe that it will not reflect harshly on the president at all but congress is another story. As president, you are limited to what you have and what you get from people who are clueless to what solidarity really means. His legacy will be that he came, he believed, he tried, he found out the truth.
Tucson, AZ – It is impossible to know about a President's legacy until there are actual results. The health care debate is full of nonsense – there is no good excuse for the richest nation on earth to pay 40% more of its GDP for health care than does the second most costly nation, while achieving no better than 12th and as bad as 39th, overall 37th, outcomes. Not reforming health care will cost at least $24 trillion additional dollars over the next 25 years for the hospital dying costs of 40 million Baby Boomers. Opponents ot the present reform have either not done the math, or are committed to insurance companies continuing to rip off the government and the public. Current public opposition to the bill is based on ignorance – the lying attacks ads have been more convincing than the truthful wonks trying to explain the benefits. CBO says the House bill will cost $900B/yr. That is peanuts compared to the $24 trillion we lose without it. The CBO says the Senate bill will save $800B/yr. How stupid can we be???
His legacy will not be health care reform but rather health care decent. If he doesn't come up with something viable, and soon, with the unemployed citizens of this country growing, we won't need health care at all, we will need instead, millions of caskets. Each day that passes without new jobs and the affordability of health care to each citizen, then we are a day closer to the moment when the hypocritical oath will no longer exist, all because of money. Each day we wake up could be our last. What does it boil down to? Money, money, money. Will this ever end? The American people can agree on the simplest of health care. We are 300 million strong. Congress cannot agree on virtually anything and they are a few hundred strong. There is a civil war in congress and each side will not back down as they must feel that would be admission of defeat. What they don't realize is defeat is a win for the American people.
When one considers that over 50% of all health care is provided by the federal government, and maybe another 10% or more is provided by state and local governments, is it any wonder that about 60+% of Americans oppose health care reform. If America waits for a 50+% approval rating before reform is passed, we'll be waiting for a very long time. Whether President Obama suffers politically from a failure to pass reform depends on how smart the American people really are, and whether Republicans can exploit that scenario for political gain. It will hurt him, unfortunately.
When you say "some say" about health care .Is that what your saying ,If not where or who is saying this ? Or is this your negative media spin on your statement . Please pass health care, where waiting
What really amazes the hell out of me...is all these comments that state the "MAJORITY" of the American people...Where was this poll, this vote, this MAJORITY founded?
I haven't voted, been polled or asked what my thoughts were, so therefore you're not qualified to speak on behalf of the Majority of the American people! In addition Scott Brown, winning was nothing to do or not do with President Obama, it was the citizens of Mass. So in conclusion, if each of you have this type of wisdom of order and parlimentary precedure why are you venting here on a blog, why are you on a ballot for Congress? Just a bunch of angry people who need a mirror check...You paying for a wars now, that has been going on for seven (7) years on top of paying for prisoners to sit in your prison system and spew your venom on Healthcare because it will actually help someone...
He will be known as the arrogant, Tone-Deaf president who didn't listen to the people of the United States of America. While the people said his focus should be jobs, jobs, jobs, Obama instead made health care reform his top priority. He will be compared to Bill Clinton who said, "It's the economy, Stupid."
Maybe the question should be how will the fate of health care reform affect the American people. I talk to many people who are having financial problems or lack of professional choices because of the present health care situation. Doing nothing to reform health care means doing nothing to help American families.
Let's not forget that President Clinton was fortunate enough for the economy to turn around during the first term of his presidency. He presided over the longest period of uninterrupted economic growth in history. I am not saying that he should get credit for that, but it definitely helped him get reelected. President Obama would need such fortune as well. If the economy does not turn around enough by 2012 then he will be blamed for focusing too much on health care and not enough on jobs. If it does then he has a great shot at reelection.
Jack, Pres. Obama's legacy will be great no matter what happens to health care reform. I am 73 years old, an independent voter, not a liberal, and I consider Pres. Obama to be the greatest President in my adult lifetime. Period. I wish I could figure out why you dislike him so. You smash him every chance you get. I am so thankful for his being our President and you should be too.
Mr. Cafferty:
1/ What research supports your asserttion that "a majority of Americans dislike the Obama health care plan"?
2/ By entrusting the congress to develop a health care plan, President Obama exerted the most democratic form of action on this crucial matter. It was the republicans who never took up the mantle and instead became obstructionists.
Ralph Taylor, American living in Canada and enjoying great medical and dental coverage at $90.00 a month!!!
Polls are useless on health care. Less than 1% of Americans would pass a basic factual test on what details of the Senate health care reform bill. That means a 99% poll error.
If the legislation is passed, there will be a footnote of accomplishments to President Obama's term of office. And, a minor accomplishment of lessoning the National Debt.
If Health Care Reform fails there will be a large statement of how his attempts led to the demise of the 2 part system in our government. Both the Democrat and Republican Parties will suffer great loss; and, a new more complex system will arise. That will be a major mark of change in our history.
Jerry
Citrus Heights, CA
It's pretty simple..he'll be remembered as the Democratic President who's party lost in the midterm elections because of the health care.
What's coming to light is that Rush Limbaugh and the right are not the only ones that has set out from day 1 to see to it the first African American President fails..No matter what he says or no matter what he does on any issue the Republican response is going to be no. They have chosen simply not to participate in this Black man's administration period. It might as well be the dark ages.
If this President put our economy on top of the world and walked on water and passed a good health care bill it would not change what some people think of him. Their minds were made up for them by the nay sayers and they will take that to the grave with them.
I am also tired if those that take about this plan ruining our country. When ideas we have turn out to be bad decisions, we tweak them...like the Iraq war.
Also not one person here, can effectively state, or determine a persons legacy...as many people who claim that God is not real, and who believes in a God....but fighting of the cost of Trillions of Dollars, all backed by In God We Trust...America hasn't yet to see the time she will face not becasue of President Obama, but on the dule fact of the people that call themselves American!
We'll never know how passing or not passing a health care bill actually affects his legacy because the media (you too Jack) tells us what that legacy will be by the way you ask the questions. My fondest wish is that someday the media will let us common people make up our minds due to factual reporting rather than the slanted words we get. You really need to ask questions with a neutral air, rather than a negative one. All negativity does is make people fearful. It may not be as exciting to the media, but it is certainly be an exciting prospect.
His legacy will be either that of "a boy trying to do a man's job"; or doing exactly what he said, "transforming America". What he neglected to say was that it meant spending us into bankruptcy, and ending up like Greece!
affect the presidents legacy ?? I really don't think so..Its more of a reflection on just how SICK and pathetic the Senate and the House really are..If they would just grow up and act responsible maybe something would get accomplished.
These political state representatives act like tinkerbells and they are the ones who really belong in lock-up at GITMO, and they can then earn the right to live here, in continental U.S. Keep up the good work, Jack...Thank You, Mike
Jack, Heraslth are by itself may put the nail in the coffin for him. But no JOBS or the ECONOMY will certainly stop him from his next term. He better wake up and listen to us and get us jobs.
Terence , New Jersey
This has always been a "legacy" issue. At a time when this was not in the economy's best interest, it would seem then that to alter so drastically that which could impede economic progress is foolhardy unless it was about a trophy. Obama seems to want to say that four other specific administrations should have and could have created appropriate legislation to enact some reform. The extreme left salivated at this opportunity to significantly change entitlement by an enormous amount.
The effort to use welfare to secure a voting base is deplorable. Immigration policy to swell the racks of the electorate, buying off an ethnic segment is dispicable. If the dire cirmcumstances of Americans in financial pain was His drive, he woul be charged by the empathetic tug of his heart to do all he could do. When he spends money on an expensive dog, eats esoteric beef, flies to Chicago for an evening, sends Air Force One to fly over the Lady in the Hudson he says as Marie Antoinette "let the eat cake". He is another Sun King of the French court. He does not trulyfeel the pain of those he hypocriticly says he does.
I don't believe this will affect him as much as it will the ~ Blue Dog ~ gutless Democrats that have been fighting against OUR president of the United States. It woud appear that these gutless Democrats are more worried about saving their own necks rather than passing a health care reform that will not only help their districts but also that of the ( 39 Million ) or more that would have to face such a crisis as of not having health care. Let us all wish that Harry Reeds wife and children the very best ( That the Tax payers can Bye ). Get off your BUTTS and make this happen.
I do not believe President Obama is worried about his legacy. It is already written. He is an intelligent, decent, honorable leader, who has only the interests of a majority of the citizens of this country at heart. I blame the Republicans for many of the lies that are confusing a lot of people. I think that many of the people in the news media are also at fault for not going after the lies being told. Are some of these highly paid individuals worried that they may have to pay a little more in taxes? I wonder!
Who cares about his legacy!! What about our kids. He and everyone else in the house and senate should be working on saving our economy now and getting people back to work. Nothing else should be distracting them. They have wasted a year!! We don't want this. They just don't seem to listen.
Jim Trowbridge
Interesting that you have never asked a question (that I can recall) about the misinformation and outright lies spread by the republicans about the Healthcare bill. They claim it is so big that no one has read it – but interestingly they claim it contains all the lies they have been spreading about it.
It is not the bill I was looking for but it cetainly is a step in the right direction – it will pass and Obama will be remembered for its passage.
By the way, did you ask reagan's legacy question – remember, he promised balanced budget in both his campaigns and got elected twice on that promise but NOT one of budgets was balanced!! What a legacy?
His legacy would be great if he could put Americans back to work.So drop the HC bill because no one wants what he"s offering and lets get people out of the unemployment line and into JOBS CREATED LINE.
Jack, i believe that the health reform proposal will become law.
After historians have finish dissecting President Obama's presidency they will scratch their heads and wonder how any resident of the oval office could have accomplished anything during these most contentions times. This guy has _ _ _ _'S.
Jack, Health insurance by itself will not put the nail in the coffin. But NO JOBS and the Economy being soo bad will certainly stop him from winning his next term in office. He better wake up and listen to us and get is jobs, Terence , New Jersey
It's not the outcome; but Mr. Obama's poor handling of the this process that will be his legacy. He has shown himself (to Independents) to be either insincere or incompetent.
About the same as George Bush's for starting the Iraq War!
Obama's Legacy will be fine. Pass the Healthcare bill because it will be a jobs jobs jobs generator in itself. Many rust belt cities converted to healthcare service economies, so this bill will help with jobs for our economy as well.
Yes without it, the Republicans will turn our country into a fascist nation state at the 2010 elections! And we will lose all of our right to the Corporations, who they put all trust in to run our daily lives, at that point a free America ends!
Legacy? Legacy? He don't need no stinking legacy.
president Obama willbe just fine with or without HCR, encumbants in Congress not so much.......
This issue is not the legacy of the President, but of a government and a people.
There is an old adage that says the more we try to change the more we stay the same. It is shameful that when presented with change our fear causes us to flee. As those who speak loudest about a lack of change, are those who condemn it the most.
It is time we try what appears to be right and insist to Congress to put our needs before their wants.
Too early to talk about legacy or how one particular issue will influence it. If there is no public option there is no "Health Care Reform" (the term itself is a joke). The best scenario is they drop the whole "Reform" B.S. which is destined to be a hollow victory at best and put all efforts into a "public option" run by the government and paid for with taxes. We would be less agitated at tax time if we knew at least some of our tax dollars were going towards health care rather than paying to constantly renew the marriage vows of the Military and Corporations (which Eisenhower, a former General warned us all about when he left the oval office) so they can make big bucks bombing far off places.
Remember when George W. Bush said it was better to do the right thing ( in his belief) than to do the popular thing regarding the continuation of Iraq war? Bush ended up becoming one of the most disliked Presidents in years because the American people flat out did not want the war to continue. Same thing with Obama. The polls say Americans don't want his health plan, but he keeps pushing it. Just like the Iraq war ruined any chance for Bush to have a good record, so will Obama's health plan kill his chances at having a nice legacy
In the end we will all find out that Obama will leave a legacy as good as Clinton or better.
Why can't my fellow American see through the bull &^%$ and just listen to Obama instead of the talk radio jocks that go for ratings.
Democrats better pass some form of health care to break down the psychological barrier. Then they can take the republicans on their word, and use the step by step by step approach to get in the public option. Democrats who will vote against better run as republicans next time.
I will vote for Pres. Obama in 2012!!! BUT, he NEEDS to take control of Congress and STOP the lying the GOP/others... do about his bill proposals in order to stop them from going through and signed into law. THEY need to be "called onto the White House oval office carpet" to let them know, in no uncertain terms, THAT Pres Obama is the BOSS/PRESIDENT that the American People ELECTED and want to BE IN CHARGE!!! Congress needs to STOP their insane behavior...it is treasonist!!!! Thanks for listening...
His legacy would be great if he could put Americans back to work.So drop the HC bill because no one wants what he's offing and lets get people out of the unemployment line and into JOBS CREATED LINE. Thank you Skip Chandler Az
Speaker Pelosi has apparently decided to put the health care bill on life support in closed-door meetings with members of her party. Mark my words, for the duration of the election cycle this year, the Speaker's meetings will continue, and the date for a final vote on health care will remain uncertain. A bill that's forever being re-negotiated and re-written can't be described as having failed. Meanwhile, President Obama will attempt to define his legacy in terms of other issues. A century from now, the health care bill's success or failure will be attributed to Nancy Pelosi, not to Barack Obama. It was always been her bill and it always will be.
how about this for a question? When will Americans grow up and take back the Government? That would be a news story. I'm tired of rumors washing up on shore impersonating "news". WAKE UP PEOPLE. IT'S ALL A SCAM.
Nice guy and his heart's in the right place but he is spineless and not a man of his word. Whether it goes through or not this bill is so watered down it won't do the job, and it will be his fault for being an uncle tom unwilling to stand up the man. It will cost him the White-house and his will be seen as a failed presidency. Oh such a pity for our world!
He will be damned if it passes, damned if doesn't. Effective health care reform will require many years to evolve, if ever. If it doesn't pass, people will spin him as an ineffective President and he will become a one-termer. If it passes, Obama won't be in office to see it really change the lives of most Americans for the better, if ever, and he will be deemed again, an ineffective President. Americans need immediate gratification, and health care reform isn't going to give it to them.
I'm so tired of People and Polls...
Who are taking these polls...polls mean not a damn thing, when it comes to Life or Death....
I will not be moved by all this bias talking on Healthcare...the record will stand strong and we will continue on @ 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Congress is the blame for all of this not the President! We are far from stupid and understand Parliamentary Procedure...The President just signs what Congress has allowed...
So get off his damn back and get on your Congressman/woman...
Learn how Congress works and the Presidents Job before labels of Legacy and Stereotypical type thinking is rendered to the people
Very well. He is actually trying to do something about it and against the millions of dollars that the republicans and health care industry are spending to scare people and spead false information to stop it. Not only is he tackling health care but he is fixing the mess that was left to him by the republicans which almost sank our economy. People need to understand that this mess will not be fixed as quickly as they want. We are the generation of instant gratification.
As President Obama changes our 1950's government and programs into one that can deal with our 21st century problems, Health Care, alternative energy, international trade and finance, etc. he will go down in history, not as the Father of his country, but as the Father of the modern age.