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Obama calls for 'courage' to oppose Obamacare repeal
CNN.com1 hour ago
Former President Barack Obama called on members of Congress to oppose the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, his signature health care law, in a speech Sunday night at the John F. Kennedy Library...
Obama calls for 'courage' to oppose Obamacare repeal
Story highlights
- Obama's remarks are his first since the House voted to repeal and replace Obamacare on Thursday
- They mark a rare post-presidency appeal on a policy matter for Obama
(CNN)Former
President Barack Obama called on members of Congress to oppose the
repeal of the Affordable Care Act, his signature health care law, in a
speech Sunday night at the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in Boston.
Obama's
remarks, which he gave upon receiving the 2017 John F. Kennedy Profile
in Courage Award, are his first since the House voted to repeal and
replace Obamacare on Thursday. They mark a rare post-presidency appeal
on a policy matter for Obama, who has steered clear of discussing
political issues since leaving office.
Obama
called on lawmakers to have the courage to "champion the vulnerable and
the sick and the infirm." He said he hopes they understand that
"courage does not always mean doing what is politically expedient, but
what they believe deep in their hearts is right."
The former President also said there was a reason why health care reform had not been accomplished earlier: "It was hard."
In
his acceptance speech, Obama talked about the need for courage in times
when politics "remains filled with division and discord, and everywhere
we see the risk of falling into the refuge of tribe and clan."
The
former President also spoke about challenging the status quo and
"fighting the good fight." Although Obama did not explicitly mention the
health care vote from last week, he focused on the need for health care
for all Americans. He spoke of the courage of the men and women who
were in Congress when he was President, who risked their political
futures to pass the Affordable Care Act.
"They
had a chance to insure millions," Obama recalled. "This same vote would
likely cost them their new seats and perhaps end their political
careers. And these men and women did the right thing, the hard thing,
and theirs was a profile in courage."
The
House narrowly passed the GOP's American Health Care Act on Thursday,
sending it to the Senate, where Republicans, who tend to be more
moderate than in the House, have expressed concerns
about provisions that would freeze the expansion of Medicaid in 2020
and make changes to the mandate on coverage for preexisting conditions;
several Republican senators have said they expect to write their own
bill over the coming weeks.
Obama
alluded to the coming legislative fight when he said of the current crop
of lawmakers: "This great debate is not settled, but continues, and it
is my fervent hope and hope of millions that regardless of party, such
courage is still possible."
The
award Obama received Sunday is given to a public official or group of
public servants "whose actions demonstrate the qualities of politically
courageous leadership," according to the John F. Kennedy library's
website.
Songwriter James Taylor was also at the ceremony and said it is a "great relief" to be in the presence of the Obamas again.
Taylor
said there were similarities between the Kennedy and Obama
administrations in that "both summoned the very best of our spirit and
generosity."
Obama was introduced
by former Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy and her son and grandson
of President Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg.
Former Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush have also received the Profile in Courage Award.
The
John F. Kennedy Library Foundation said Obama received the award for
"expanding health security for millions of Americans, restoring
diplomatic relations with Cuba and leading a landmark international
accord to combat climate change."
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