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Health Care and Obama | 03/27/2009 8:50 am

Obama Draws on Sasha's Illness in Health-Care Talk

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© Getty Images

Barack Obama drew on his personal experience while lauding his health-care plans yesterday.

The president, speaking at an online "town hall" organized by the White House, spoke of his fear when his daughter Sasha contracted meningitis as a child. The nurses were invaluable and, sadly, the nation’s experiencing a shortage of such men and women:

"When Sasha, our little precious pea, she got meningitis when she was three months old. The doctors did a terrific job, but frankly, it was the nurses that were there with us when she had to get a spinal tap and all sorts of things that were just bringing me to tears. And we’ve got a problem in this country, which is we have a shortage of nurses."

Later, when the topic again arose, Mr. Obama invoked his mother’s battle with ovarian cancer: "She was, at the time, working as an independent contractor and so she had insurance, but when she was diagnosed and the medical bills started mounting up, this insurance company started saying, ‘well maybe this is a preexisting condition so we don’t have to reimburse you.’" The Obamas eventually got the bills approved, but millions of Americans still face uncertainty in trying medical times. And Mr. Obama says he hopes to change their fortunes. Whether Congress will approve, however, remains to be seen.

336 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

deber B

What this article says and nothing more is that Obama is human…he, like other Americans, has experienced his child being sick and a parent dying.   It, in no way, makes him ethereal.

I’m sure George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and other presidents all experienced going to the emergency room and being concerned when one of their children became ill.   I’m also sure that all have experienced losing one or both of their parents.  

????????

By deber B on 03/27/2009 9:28 am
Z ****

You’re right, it makes him human.  The point was obviously that he understood the need for good health care for the average citizen.   If you will recall, Bill Clinton also saw that need.   Clinton and Obama understand the need because unlike Reagan and Bush they did not live a life of privelege with money for private nurses around the clock.

Beyond that……..there is no mention of "ethereal"…….so where that came from — I guess you are just trying to divert the topic somehow………you really do seem to spend all your days and nights thinking of how to twist everything about presidency…….the negativity must just wear you down sometimes I would imagine.

By Z **** on 03/27/2009 11:06 am
Amanda C

Where exactly did this article tout him as anything MORE than human? Can you give me the quote?

 In addition, Bush and Reagan had a pillow of money to fall back on in times of crisis, and did nothing in their presidencies to try and assist those in this country who were born without that safety net of luxury. Clinton, on the other hand, passed bills supporting childrens’ health care that is sponsored by the state and other bills giving more monetary support to those programs.

This article basically states that Obama is aware of a rising problem of a shortage of nurses, and insurance companies backing out of their contracts to save money. Why are you twisting it around?

By Amanda C on 03/27/2009 2:24 pm
newzie snoozie

OK DEBER B.   I WANT TO AGREE WITH YOU.   I WANT TO TELL WHAT HAPPENED  TO ME WHEN  I WAS IN LABOR WITH MY 2ND CHILDSHE WAS COMING FRANK BREACH.   EBVER HERAD OF IT?   I BROKE HER LITTLE LEFT CALAVECAL WITH HER COMING DOWN THAT BIRTH CANALBECAUSENEVER WAS OFFERED A C-SECTIONSHE WAS PRETTY WELL PULLED OUT OF ME.    BECAUSE  WE HAD NO INSURANCE BACK IN 1956 OR 57. OUR 1ST 3 BABIES CAME  WITH NO INSURANCE AND WE STRUGGLED TO GET THEM BUT WE WANTED TO BECAUSE WE DIDN’T WANT OUR BABIES TOLD SOME/ANYDAY  THAT THEY WEREN’T PAID FOR YET.

MY MOTHER TOLD ME THIS  PARTICULAR DAY  THE KDIS ARE COMING HOME SOON FROM SCHOOL; I AM GOING OT HAVE TO GO. SHE TOLD THE NURSE THTA HAD BEEN IN AND OUT  WITH ME , I HAVE TO GO HOME  FOR MY KIDS ARE COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL. THIS IS MY OL;DEST DAUGHTER AND SHE IS HAVING A BAD TIEM OF IT . PLEASE GET ME  SOME COMFORT  IN THIS ROOM WITH HER.   GET ME AN OLDER R.N. SOMEONE WHO IS A MOMMY HERSELF. MOM WAITED UNTILL THERE CAME A NURSE WHO HAD 5 KIDS.    WHEN THAT WOMAN TOOK ME OVER ON   "HER  TEAM" OF BABIES BORN  ON HER TIME.   I WAS SOON TO LEARN THAT SOMEONE WHO HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO BABIES HERSELF —-KNOWS—- WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. SHE HAS EXPERIENCED BIRTH PAIN OF LABORYOU GET BETTER HELP  FOR SURE AND MANY GOOD HINTSTHE FIRST LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS WITH ME WAS TELLING MY MOTHER I WAS PRETENDING - THAT SHE HAS SEEN SO MANY OF THESE 1ST AND 2ND BABIES BORN  AND SHE COULD TELL I WAS PRETENDING.  I NEVER YELLED  OR SCREAMED  DURING HER TIME WITH ME NOT THAT FIRST ONESHE WAS MAKING ME A NERVOUS WRECK.   THEN HERE CAME MS ROUSHER.   A REALLY REAL MOMMY HERSELF.    THEN WE GOT TO HAVING SOME DILATION AND SOEM GOOD MOVES IN THERE./ DR HUMPHEYS  COMPLIMENTED THE 2 OF US  FOR SUCH AN EASY FRANK BREACH  BIRTH .   MS ROUSHER  AND I BOTH SAID WHAT . ONLY MINE WAS WHAT?  I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE HAD A MARTIAN OR SOEMTHING.-LOL!-  SHE KNEW WHAT IT WAS AND SHE SAID I’VE HELPED 5 GIRLS NWO  WITH A FRANK DELIVERY AND NO ONE EVER GOT THRU IT WITHOUT SCREAMING AND CUSSING AND DR HUMPHS SAYS STUFF THEN HERE COMES THE SAK - I THOUGHT I HAD TWINS AND THEN I GRUNTED OUTLOUDTHEY BOTH MADE FUN OF ME  AND NEVER FORGOT ME

WHEN YOU NEED SURGERY GET A NURSE WHO HAS BEEN THRU IT HERSELF OR HIS SELFTHEY KNWO WHTA IT IS ALL ABOUT.    I HAD THE OTHER 4 KIDS AFTER QWEN  AND FEARED A FRANK BUT NEVER GOT ANOTHER ONESHE WAS BORN WITH WHTA DR H. AND THE NURSE CALLED FROG LEGS. WHEN SHE GOT MARRIED  THTA NIGHT WE TOLD HER NEW HUSBAND  THEYVE BEEN MARRIED SINCE 75  AND THEY  STILL FIGHT OVER THE NICKNAME OF  FROG LEGSBUT  FOR ORIGINALITY  HE SPELLS IT  WITH 2 Gs. later all and GOD DOES BLESS US LAL .

By newzie snoozie on 03/27/2009 9:06 pm
rocky rocky
What a story, Newzie! So glad you found the right nurse just when you needed her. They do make all the difference, don’t they.
By rocky rocky on 03/29/2009 9:17 pm
Libra Lady
How scary that had to be for the obamas….when a child is sick, there is nothing worse….there is a shortage of nurses, and they are the ones who seem to be there for you when you are going through such trying times….some Drs. just do not have that "bedside manner"…..thank God for our nurses!!
By Libra Lady on 03/27/2009 9:30 am
Libra Lady
You don’t need to correct me….I have a reason I don’t cap their name!!!  But I will keep it to myself….
By Libra Lady on 03/27/2009 11:16 am
Libra Lady
Oooops….the previous comment was removed…looks like I’m talking to no one…???
By Libra Lady on 03/27/2009 2:43 pm
deber B

 

He delivered this towards the end of his question and answer session:

  "we will have a health care system modeled after Europe and it will be on my desk by the end of the year."  No hesitation there.  He is always clear when it comes to socialized medicine for our country.

By deber B on 03/27/2009 9:38 am
Libra Lady
Deber, I am so against socialized medicine and I pray this does not happen….we don’t want the govt. running our health care!!  Our health will become an open-book for the govt….this is not good for Americans!!!
By Libra Lady on 03/27/2009 9:46 am
deber B

Obama clearly stated that he wants socialized medicine modeled after Europe (he mentioned England and Canada) for all Americans.  He went further to state that Europeans pay "alot" in taxes for this socialized program.

So, let’s say, you have your classic "Clem Kadiddlehopper" American citizen…chooses not to work…sleeps on a park bench…rummages through the trash cans for cigarette butts and leftover takeout food cartons.   Sits on the corner with a cup to facilitate his daily income…..and he doubles over with stomach pains.   Clem doesn’t pay taxes.  Never did and never intended to because, well, he just didn’t see the point in working only to give 25% to the government.    He goes to the hospital via an ambulance and has his gall bladder removed.   He gets treatment.   He’s starting to feel better and is discharged to go back to his park bench.   Who pays for that?  

By deber B on 03/27/2009 10:15 am
C Hardy
Oh I know the answer, pick me, pick me!  It would be all us hard working individuals, who get up at 5am, drive an hour back and forth to work everyday and get home at 5 to spend 3 hours with your child before its bed time, just to get up and do it 5 days a week b/c I choose too and dont choose to live off of others. 
By C Hardy on 03/27/2009 10:21 am
deber B

C Hardy, good morning and afternoon!    Great answer….the republicans know who will be paying the health costs for those on "the lam" and those who, quite frankly, don’t see any reason to work….because they receive "assistance" or they’ve decided to live with someone….oh, the excuses will be endless.   Meanwhile, back at the ranch, many hardworking, responsible adults and young adults will be working and paying the huge taxes in order that everyone may have health coverage!!! 

What’s wrong with this picture?

By deber B on 03/27/2009 11:11 am
caren gittleman
How callous and assumptive that people who do not have health insurance and are not working are not working because they are lazy (which is what you inferred). I worked for 21 and a half years at Ohio’s largest newspaper, moved to Michigan in 2001 and have nine (count ‘em) NINE jobs. March 7, 2007 I was let go along with 14 others and have not been able to find a job since. I have applied for anything and everything, even a waitressing position but many employers do not want to train those of us over 50, hence I am STILL unemployed. I have a kidney and thyroid condition and had to have medical. Cobra is a joke, when that ended I had nothing because I couldn’t afford the astronomical cost of health care. I am one of the lucky ones, I now have HAP through my husband’s employer (we could not make a change during part of the time I was unemployed) others are not as lucky as I was. Please do not assume that people who may be out of work (due to our thriving economy) are lazy dolts who do not deserve care. I worked for 26 years and when I was working I am sure my being employed helped others. You never know what hand life will deal you so I would watch the haughty air of your blog, some day unfortunately it could be you on that park bench.
By caren gittleman on 03/27/2009 5:20 pm
deber B

My dear, if Obama’s entire budget is passed we will all be on the park bench.

By deber B on 03/27/2009 6:55 pm