Obama to UMD Students: 'I Need Your Voice' on Health Care

President Obama tells the largely student crowd: "You think you're invulnerable." He warns them they're not. (Newsline photo by Kelly Brooks; Video by CNS-TV)

Newline Slide Show: Photos from the rally Views from the Line: Two share why they showed Related Stories: Obama Draws Large UMD Crowd, But Much of Campus Undisturbed Md. Democrats Say Obama's Health Plan Could Save State Money From the Blog: Obama Heckler Has History of Disruptive Behavior Background Story: Emotions Expected to Run High at Obama Health Care Rally Chat About It: What are your thoughts on Obama's plan and his appearance in College Park?

By Jon Sham
Maryland Newsline
Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009; posted at 12:29 p.m.; last updated at 4 p.m.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – President Obama today channeled his health care reform proposals through a largely student audience, calling on them for support.

In a style reminiscent of his election campaign rallies, the president spoke to a crowd of between 12,000 and 15,000 students and others at the University of Maryland’s Comcast Center.

"The last time I was here it was in the heat of a very long and very tough campaign," Obama said. "In that campaign I promised to be a president who didn't just clean up yesterday's crises; I didn't want to be a president who was just content with standing still."

The president tried to connect with the student audience, speaking about their health insurance plans and offering statistics about the high numbers of young people who are uninsured—nearly one-third, he said.

"You think you're invulnerable," he said. But, he told them, they're not.

‘This school should be proud that every student is required to have health insurance,” Obama said. But he added that young adults lose their coverage after they graduate.

Under his plan, the president said, students would be able to keep their family health plan until they are 26.  

After several minutes of Obama's speech, a heckler in the crowd rose to his feet yelling, "You kill children!" It was reminiscent of the interruption by Republican Rep. Joe Wilson last week, during Obama’s address to Congress.  “You lie!” Wilson had blurted out.

Many of Obama’s words echoed those in his speech to Congress last week. He said in both remarks he would not add “one dime to the deficit.”

The crowd didn’t seem to mind the repetition, however. Nearly every statement was met with cheers and applause.

The president’s outline for reform includes three main principles: more stability and security for those with insurance, quality and affordable insurance for those who don’t, and eliminating unnecessary costs to businesses and the government.

Some Republicans argue that the Obama plan would allow illegal immigrants to seek health care and would swell the already engorged federal deficit.

U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Wednesday unveiled  the most recent attempt at reform—a bill priced at $856 billion that aims to address all of the president’s concerns, as well as GOP trepidation.

Baucus’ bill was an attempt to find “common ground,” he said, but lacks the public option that many Democrats have fought for. That option, a government-run health insurance program, would be available to anyone.

The president mentioned Baucus’ bill—which was met with boos from some crowd members—during his speech in College Park, but did not outright support it.

Instead, he lightly touched on the need for expanded insurance options. “If there are affordable options and people don't sign up, we pay for everybody else's care,” he said.

Baucus expressed confidence Wednesday that legislation would soon be passed with votes from both parties. “By the time the Finance Committee in this room votes on final passage for health care reform, there will be Republican support,” he said. 

But his bill was met with immediate criticism from key GOP leaders.

“This partisan proposal cuts Medicare by nearly a half-trillion dollars and puts massive new tax burdens on families and small businesses, to create yet another thousand-page, trillion-dollar government program,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Ky., in a statement following Baucus' announcement.

The president Thursday challenged his opponents in Congress. He said some politicians have raised money by "killing Obama care," but when asked for a solution, they "just give the same old, same old. …

“I will not accept the status quo as a solution,” he said. “The time for bickering is over. Now is the time to bring health care to the United States.”

Obama closed his speech with a rallying call: “Fired up! Ready to go!” which was answered by the crowd.

“Let’s go change the world!” he said.

Copyright © 2009 University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism

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