Presidential Town Hall Meeting on Health Care

Aug 11, 2009

White House | Domestic Trip

President Obama participated in a town hall meeting on health care at Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In his remarks he outlined his case for health care reform and addressed recent claims that health care legislation included "death panels" that would deny care to senior citizens. He also talked about recent disruptions at .. Read More
President Obama participated in a town hall meeting on health care at Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In his remarks he outlined his case for health care reform and addressed recent claims that health care legislation included "death panels" that would deny care to senior citizens. He also talked about recent disruptions at town hall meetings held by members of Congress, saying that debate is necessary but "to talk with each other and not over each other." He answered questions from the audience.

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TRANSCRIPT

TIME SPEAKER TEXT
00:03:58 Obama, BarackPresident

Hello, Portsmouth! Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Everybody have a seat. Oh, thank you...

00:04:13 AUDIENCE MEMBER

We love you!

00:04:15 Obama, BarackPresident

I love you back. Thank you. (Laughter.) It is great to be back in Portsmouth. (Applause.) It's great...

00:04:40 Obama, BarackPresident

There are a couple of people that I want to acknowledge who are here today, some special guests. First...

00:05:40 Obama, BarackPresident

Two of my favorite people, they are just taking Congress by storm, outstanding work -- Paul Hodes,...

00:06:11 Obama, BarackPresident

Now, I want to thank more than anybody, Lori, for that introduction, and for sharing her story with...

00:06:55 Obama, BarackPresident

I believe it is wrong. It is bankrupting families and businesses, and that's why we are going to pass...

00:07:18 Obama, BarackPresident

Now, this is obviously a tough time for families here in New Hampshire and all across America. Six...

00:07:47 Obama, BarackPresident

That's why we acted as fast as we could to pass a Recovery Act that would stop the freefall. And I...

00:08:27 Obama, BarackPresident

Now, that was a third -- that was a third of the Recovery Act. Another third of the money in the Recovery...

00:09:25 Obama, BarackPresident

Now, the last third of the Recovery Act is for investments that are already putting people back to...

00:09:56 Obama, BarackPresident

So there is no doubt that the Recovery Act has helped put the brakes on this recession. We just saw...

00:10:12 Obama, BarackPresident

But, New Hampshire, that doesn't mean we're out of the woods, and you know that. It doesn't mean we...

00:10:42 Obama, BarackPresident

If we want this country to succeed in the 21st century -- and if we want our children to succeed in...

00:11:14 Obama, BarackPresident

Now, health insurance reform is one of those pillars that we need to build up that new foundation....

00:11:46 Obama, BarackPresident

But it's just as important that we accomplish health insurance reform for the Americans who do have...

00:12:16 Obama, BarackPresident

Now, let me just start by setting the record straight on a few things I've been hearing out here --...

00:12:35 Obama, BarackPresident

You will not be waiting in any lines. This is not about putting the government in charge of your health...

00:13:15 Obama, BarackPresident

Now, we just heard from Lori about how she can't find an insurance company that will cover her because...

00:13:57 Obama, BarackPresident

And I have to say, this is personal for Lori but it's also personal for me. I talked about this when...

00:14:30 Obama, BarackPresident

And I've heard from so many Americans who have the same worries. One woman testified that an insurance...

00:15:01 Obama, BarackPresident

Another lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because the insurance company discovered he...

00:15:30 Obama, BarackPresident

Under the reform we're proposing, insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage because...

00:16:18 Obama, BarackPresident

Now, when we pass health insurance reform, insurance companies will no longer be able to place some...

00:16:44 Obama, BarackPresident

And finally -- this is important -- we will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups...

00:17:16 Obama, BarackPresident

So this is what reform is about. For all the chatter and the yelling and the shouting and the noise,...

00:18:08 Obama, BarackPresident

Now, before I start taking questions, let me just say there's been a long and vigorous debate about...

00:18:52 Obama, BarackPresident

Where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations...

00:19:25 Obama, BarackPresident

So this is an important and complicated issue that deserves serious debate. And we have months to...

00:19:58 Obama, BarackPresident

America's doctors and nurses know firsthand how badly we need reform. We have broad agreement in Congress...

00:20:33 Obama, BarackPresident

But let's face it, now is the hard part -- because the history is clear -- every time we come close...

00:20:58 Obama, BarackPresident

We can't let them do it again. Not this time. Not now. (Applause.) Because for all the scare tactics...

00:21:35 Obama, BarackPresident

Our deficit will continue to grow because Medicare and Medicaid are on an unsustainable path. Medicare...

00:22:13 Obama, BarackPresident

New Hampshire, I was up here campaigning a long time. (Laughter.) A lot of you guys came to my town...

00:22:53 Obama, BarackPresident

That's what we need to do right now. And I need your help. If you want a health care system that works...

00:23:11 Obama, BarackPresident

Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.)

00:23:21 AUDIENCE

Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can!

00:23:27 Obama, BarackPresident

Thank you. I remember that.

00:23:32 Obama, BarackPresident

Everybody have a seat. All right, this is the fun part. (Laughter.) Now, first of all, by the way,...

00:23:48 Obama, BarackPresident

All right, here's how we're going to do this. We do a lot of town hall meetings in New Hampshire,...

00:24:46 Obama, BarackPresident

All right, so we're just going to go around the room and I'm going to start with this gentleman right...

00:24:56 Peter Schmidt

Thank you, Mr. President. Welcome to Portsmouth and New Hampshire. My name is Peter Schmidt. I'm a...

00:25:46 Obama, BarackPresident

Well, let me make a couple of points. First of all, you make a point about Medicare that's very important....

00:29:53 Julia Hall

I go back to school September 3rd.

00:29:56 Obama, BarackPresident

September 3rd, okay. What's your name?

00:29:58 Julia Hall

Julia Hall from Malden, Massachusetts.

00:30:00 Obama, BarackPresident

Nice to meet you, Julia. (Applause.)

00:30:04 Julia Hall

I saw -- as I was walking in, I saw a lot of signs outside saying mean things about reforming health...

00:30:17 Obama, BarackPresident

Well, the -- I've seen some of those signs. (Laughter.) Let me just be specific about some things...

00:35:32 Bill Anderson

Good afternoon, Mr. President. Bill Anderson from New Hampshire. In reference to what you just said...

00:36:17 Obama, BarackPresident

Well, I think that's a legitimate point. I don't know all the details, but it sounds to me like they...

00:36:38 Bill Anderson

Correct, to save money.

00:36:40 Obama, BarackPresident

Well -- right. Look, there may be -- in nine out of 10 cases, the generic might work as well or better...

00:39:14 Jackie Millet

Good afternoon, Mr. President. I'm Jackie Millet (phonetic) and I'm from Wells, Maine, and my question...

00:39:43 Obama, BarackPresident

Well, first of all, another myth that we've been hearing about is this notion that somehow we're going...

00:42:45 Ben Hershinson

Good afternoon, Mr. President. My name is Ben Hershinson (ph). I'm from Ogunquit, Maine, and also...

00:42:56 Obama, BarackPresident

We're happy to have you. We're happy to have you. (Applause.)

00:43:04 Ben Hershinson

Mr. President, you've been quoted over the years -- when you were a senator and perhaps even before...

00:43:46 Obama, BarackPresident

Well, I think it's an excellent question, so I appreciate the chance to respond. First of all, I want...

00:48:55 Linda Becher

Hello, Mr. President. My name is Linda Becher (ph). I'm from Portsmouth and I have proudly taught...

00:49:02 Obama, BarackPresident

Well, congratulations.

00:49:02 Linda Becher

Thank you. (Applause.)

00:49:07 Obama, BarackPresident

What do you teach?

00:49:09 Linda Becher

I teach English and Journalism.

00:49:11 Obama, BarackPresident

Excellent.

00:49:13 Linda Becher

Yes, thank you.

00:49:13 Obama, BarackPresident

Sure.

00:49:15 Linda Becher

And in those 37 years, I've been lucky enough to have very good health care coverage and my concerns...

00:49:33 Obama, BarackPresident

Well, you raise the -- (applause) -- you know, mental health has always been undervalued in the health...

00:50:51 Justin Higgins

Hello, Mr. President. I'm Justin Higgins from Stratham, New Hampshire.

00:50:54 Obama, BarackPresident

How are you, Justin?

00:50:56 Justin Higgins

Fine, thank you. There's a lot of misinformation about how we're going to pay for this health care...

00:51:11 Obama, BarackPresident

They've already got enough problems paying your college tuition. (Laughter.)

00:51:15 Justin Higgins

Exactly. Exactly.

00:51:15 Obama, BarackPresident

I hear you.

00:51:17 Justin Higgins

Also I'm looking towards my future with career options and opportunities and I don't want inflation...

00:51:29 Obama, BarackPresident

Right, it's a great question. First of all, I said I won't sign a bill that adds to the deficit or...

00:56:42 Q

Thank you, Mr. President. I've worked in the medical field for about 18 years and seen a lot of changes...

00:57:16 Obama, BarackPresident

It will probably -- I just want to be honest here. There are about 46 million people who are uninsured....

00:57:39 Q

Okay, I'm off a little bit. (Laughter.)

00:57:39 Obama, BarackPresident

No, no, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't over-selling my plan here.

00:57:43 Q

That's okay, Mr. President. (Laughter.)

00:57:49 Obama, BarackPresident

She's okay --

00:57:51 Q

He winked at me. (Laughter.) My concern is for where are we going to get the doctors and nurses to...

00:58:38 Obama, BarackPresident

I just said that.

00:58:38 Q

Okay. Also, you know, I'm very, very concerned about the elderly. I don't know if this is also correct,...

00:59:11 Obama, BarackPresident

Of course. Well, first of all, I already mentioned that we would be taking savings out of Medicare...

01:03:12 AUDIENCE MEMBER

And nurse practitioners.

01:03:12 Obama, BarackPresident

And nurse practitioners, too. (Applause.) And nurses, you've got a whole other issue which you already...

01:05:42 Michael Layon

I am a skeptic.

01:05:42 Obama, BarackPresident

Good.

01:05:42 Michael Layon

Thank you, Mr. President, for coming to Portsmouth. My name is Michael Layon (ph). I'm from Derry,...

01:06:00 Obama, BarackPresident

Before you ask this question, just because you referred to it, can I just say this is another example...

01:06:42 Michael Layon

And appreciate it. (Applause.)

01:06:43 Obama, BarackPresident

And I just want to be clear that all we're trying to do is answer questions.

All right, go ahead.

01:06:50 Michael Layon

So my question is for you, and I know in the White House the stand which you're on has often been...

01:07:07 Obama, BarackPresident

Well, look, first of all, if we don't have health care reform, the gap between what Congress gets...

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