Obama will sign the health bill in a ceremony in the East Room at 11:15 am eastern. At 12:05, Obama will remark on the health insurance at the Department of the Interior. You can watch both here. WhiteHouse.gov and CBSnews.com will also have live streams.
Vice President Biden, Vicki Kennedy, Connie Anderson, Ryan Smith, Marcelas Owens, Secretary Sebelius, Senator Reid, Senator Durbin, Senator Baucus, Senator Harkin, Senator Dodd, Speaker Pelosi, Representative Hoyer, Representative Clyburn, Representative George Miller, Representative Waxman, Representative Levin, Representative Dingell. Other members of Congress who supported the bill also will be there.
James Clyburn nails it. Tea partiers feel as though healthcare for others takes away something from them. They wrongly feel that they are the hard working souls of America and everyone else is just sucking them dry.
Obama, in fine form, made a moving appeal to democrats at the Capitol today. Invoking Lincoln, Obama said: "I'm not bound to win but I'm bound to be true." I think it's what the House democrats needed. The best thing he said in my mind was: good policy makes good politics. If the bill does what it's supposed to do, democrats will be heralded. Republicans? Well, they'll go down in history as trolls.
Meanwhile, as Obama inspires, tea partiers showed their true colors today instead of hiding under their usual cover of fiscal conservatism, invoking gun violence and bigotry. Luke Russert's tweet:
Clyburn: I heard people saying things today I've not heard since Mar 15th, 1960 when I was marching to try and get off the back of the bus.
And another:
Dem Aide: John Lewis called N-word by screaming Tea Partier.
The loathsome Michele Bachmann and Jon Voight (video) were leading the tea partiers:
Tea Party protesters held a rally outside the Capitol on Saturday, which included speeches by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and actor Jon Voight, and then proceeded into the halls to lobby members at the 11th hour.
Lewis was one of the leaders of the civil rights movement alongside Martin Luther King. Jr.
Asked if racial epithets were yelled at him, Lewis responded, "Yes but it's OK. I've heard this before in the 60s. A lot of this is just downright hate." the Hill
And still more, they called Barney Frank a word I won't mention, but you can read about here.
Let's just put it this way. I'll believe it when I see Obama with his signing pen in his left hand.
Democratic congressional leaders are coalescing around their last, best hope for salvaging President Barack Obama's sweeping health care overhaul.
Their plan is to pass the Senate bill with some changes to accommodate House Democrats, senior Democratic aides said Monday. Leaders will present the idea to the rank and file this week, but it's unclear whether they have enough votes to carry it out. MSNBC
Even the House and Senate democrats are battling each other. It's gotten ridiculous and reality show worthy.
"[Senators] tend to see themselves as a House of Lords and they don't seem to understand that those of us that go out there every two years stay in touch with the American people," he said in an interview with Fox News Radio. "We tend to respond to them a little better." Clyburn referenced the British upper chamber of Parliament, on which many member of the nobility sit. Read all about it at the Hill
"We had a very uplifting meeting," said Representative James Clyburn on the leadership's meeting with Obama. "...On this day when we will be making history with our vote," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Let's hope so.
Blue dog democrat Ron Kind of Wisconsin says he's willing to give up the August recess to get healthcare done. He also says he's behind Obama on health care. James Clyburn also says he'll skip vacation. Can we have more of this kind of support please? Obama has been a one-man show and he needs some backup. I'm with Ed. No vacation for Congress. Get this done and then take a recess.
What Obama is up against: republicans who are only looking to get back in power and could care less about health care reform and a slew of stories such as this one by Howard Fineman on why Obama might fail on health care. If Obama fails, we all lose. No Obama. No health care.
Yesterday, you could see the smirk on Mitch McConnell's face as he turned away after saying that the democrats own the government (video). I'm sure he was exploding with laughter inside. John Boehner always enjoys himself. Eric Cantor piled on today too. But what was the republican plan? How were they going to grow jobs? The only suggestion they had was tax cuts. Sure, that could've put money in our pockets but it wouldn't have grown jobs by now. The stimulus was enacted mid-February. Come on people, it takes longer than four months. It's not even feasible. All along, the White House has said that unemployment, a lagging indicator, would rise. Unemployment will continue to rise through the rest of the year. By first quarter next year, things will turn around. Republicans just see another opportunity to be political. They need to mind their sorry house and stop with the criticisms unless they're also offering solutions.
Brad Pitt is doing a bang up job in New Orleans with his Make It Right project. Read about it here. Nancy Pelosi is weird, or shall I call her eccentric:
there's no question that obama will have enough delegates and superdelegates at the end of the night to be the nominee.
Today, two Michigan superdelegates endorsed Barack Obama. DNC Members Debbie Dingell and Rick Wiener backed Obama today. Earlier this morning, Michigan superdelegate Joyce Lalonde also backed Barack Obama.
Obama is 35.5 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.
Debbie Dingell said, “Senator Levin, Governor Granholm and other Michigan leaders have fought hard to change the Presidential nominating process to be fairer and more representative of the American electorate. While this election season may have been challenging at times, Michigan has been a significant participant in the fight for real and fundamental change. And because Michigan Democrats have led the fight for significant change, I believe that we should also be leaders in the unity process. That is why today I am joining with Rick Wiener to endorse Barack Obama for President.
“Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have run vigorous campaigns, demonstrating to the American people that Democrats are ready to lead on reform for our broken health care system, to protect and create American jobs and to responsibly end the war in Iraq. Now, as the nominating process comes to an end, it is time to unite behind Barack Obama, who will be our Democratic nominee for the White House. Senator Obama has shown me and he has shown the American people that he represents change – a change that this country desperately needs after seven and a half long years of the Bush White House. He will lead our party to victory in November, carrying Michigan for the Democrats by running a campaign focused on bringing change to working families.
“I commend Senator Clinton on a well run campaign and while she would have made a terrific President, I know that she will continue to be a tremendous leader in the United States Senate fighting with the same dynamism that we all admire her for.
“This campaign has often been marginalized in the media, with the focus frequently on race or sex or age. That is not what the campaign is about. This campaign is about the future of the United States.”
Rick Wiener said, “We have had many outstanding candidates. It is clear that Senator Obama will prevail as our nominee. It is time to unite as a party behind our candidate and close a historic primary season.”
Chicago, IL – Today, United States Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (MI-13) endorsed Barack Obama.
Obama is 36.5 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.
Congresswoman Kilpatrick said, “We are at a very important time for our nation today and we must unite together to win in November. I am proud to announce my support for Barack Obama. From his years fighting for the poor on the South Side of Chicago to his proven commitment to working families in the United States Senate, Barack has proven he can lift up our nation and put the needs of our families and children first. We need change in our country today, and we need a leader who will end the war in Iraq and end the eight years of the failed policies of George W. Bush. Our families and our children deserve more – they deserve a President who has fought for change his entire life, and brought real results. Today we are uniting behind Barack Obama, and together we can win in November.”
“Today the primary process draws to a close," said House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-SC, in a statement this morning. "From the beginning, I have made it clear that I would put the Democratic Party’s best interest first and remain publicly neutral as this process ran its course, but it is now time to make my preference known. Today I am pledging my delegate vote to Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States."
Clyburn has been officially neutral until yesterday, though he has publicly expressed disappointment at the way Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, and her husband conducted themselves during her campaign.
In addition to praising the "levels of energy and excitement that I have not witnessed since the 1960’s," the highest-ranking African-American in Congress also trotted out an electability argument about Obama, perhaps to contrast with Clinton's argument that she is more electable.
“Recent surveys indicate that Senator Obama is by far the most preferred presidential candidate among Democrats and independents," Clyburn said, "and I believe he is the most electable candidate that Democrats can offer. He will be able to dramatically change the electoral map for Democrats which will in turn expand our majorities here in Congress, and help elect more Democrats at the state and local levels. Furthermore, I believe that Senator Obama is the Democrat who can unite our people, help heal our nation’s wounds, improve our standing on the world stage, and steer our country in a new direction. What is especially exciting about Senator Obama’s candidacy is its attraction to young and independent voters. Our Party cannot hope to continue our recent successes if we don’t continue to attract new voters. Senator Obama has demonstrated the ability to draw a new map for Democrats by putting traditionally red states like Colorado, Virginia and North Carolina, and swing states like New Mexico, Missouri and Iowa in play."
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, D-Amherst, an undeclared superdelegate, told the Republican today that he is pledging his vote at the Democratic National Convention to U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., who is expected to capture the party's nomination for the presidency after today's primaries in Montana and South Dakota.
"I think he gave more of a vision where he wanted to go," Olver said, in explaining his ultimate decision to back Obama over U.S. Sen. Hillary R. Clinton, D-N.Y. "Hillary was all about competence and experience," Olver said, but added that he was critical of her vote to allow the U.S. invasion into Iraq and that her experience was largely due to her role as First Lady and not through executive experience.
"I though Barack made a good case for himself in his presentation," Olver said. "He does a wonderful speech and really inspires people. The last several years have been really a bummer."
State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, a national Democratic superdelegate from University City, plans to announce today that she's endorsing Barack Obama for president.
Chappelle-Nadal, 33, has been among six Missouri superdelegates who've remained neutral in the combative contest between Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. The state's other 10 superdelegates earlier had split 5-5 between the two.
Last weekend, Chappelle-Nadal said she received more than 500 e-mails from supporters of Obama or Clinton.
She said she privately had shifted between Clinton and Obama for months. But in the end, the deciding factor was the enthusiasm that Obama has generated among young people and unaligned independents, said Chappelle-Nadal.
At 33, she is the state's youngest superdelegate.
"This is a year that the mere existence of a single candidate, Barack Obama, has inspired people in my district to believe in the greater good," Chappelle-Nadal said.
can it be? over tonight? hillary has no scheduled travel this week and is in new york tonight, while obama will be in st. paul, minnesota, the site of the republican convention. enough superdelegates are expected to announce their support for obama tonight after polls close.
nyt: Sensing an opportunity to shut down the nominating contest, Obama campaign advisers said that they were orchestrating an endorsement of Mr. Obama by at least eight Senate and House members who had pledged to remain uncommitted until the primaries ended, and that the endorsements would come the moment the South Dakota polls closed on Tuesday night.
The group will be led by Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, who on Monday met with three other uncommitted Democratic senators — Ken Salazar of Colorado, Thomas R. Carper of Delaware and Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland — at the offices of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in what Mr. Salazar called a unity session. more
newsweek: Not that anyone will be sleeping with the fishes with Hillary in the White House, but with the Clintons it's business and it's personal. Just think of all the scores to settle, the grievances to indulge. Bill Clinton provided a preview this week, blaming the Obama campaign for playing the race card against him. Tricky maneuver, but perhaps the only way the former president can come to grips with his loss of standing in the African-American community, once his strongest constituency. (South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, an undeclared superdelegate who is African-American, told the New York Times this week that the black community had supported Clinton during his impeachment and that "I think black folks feel strongly that this is a strange way [for him] to show his appreciation.")
and getting deeper and deeper... the clintons have been exploiting the race issue whenever it works for them, in ohio, in pennsylvania. bill just can't help himself. neither can hillary. it's a power thing.
nyt: The black leader, Representative James E. Clyburn, an undeclared superdelegate from South Carolina and the third-ranking Democrat in the House, said “black people are incensed over all of this,” referring to statements Mr. Clinton has made in the course of the heated race between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
Black leaders widely criticized Mr. Clinton after he equated the eventual victory of Mr. Obama in the South Carolina primary in January to that of the Rev. Jesse Jackson in the 1988 primary, a parallel that many took as an effort to diminish Mr. Obama’s success in the campaign.
In a radio interview in Philadelphia on Monday, Mr. Clinton defended his remarks and said the Obama campaign had “played the race card on me” by making an issue of them.
In an interview with The New York Times late Thursday, Mr. Clyburn said Mr. Clinton’s conduct in this campaign had caused what might be an irreparable breach between Mr. Clinton and an African-American constituency that once revered him.
“When he was going through his impeachment problems, it was the black community that bellied up to the bar,” Mr. Clyburn said. “I think black folks feel strongly that this is a strange way for President Clinton to show his appreciation.”
Mr. Clyburn added that there appeared to be an almost unanimous view among African-Americans that Mr. and Mrs. Clinton were committed to doing everything they possibly could to damage Mr. Obama to a point that he could never win in the general election.
