President Obama made a surprise appearance at the daily White House press briefing on Thursday afternoon to announce that the nation’s leading advocacy group for the elderly as well as the largest doctor’s organization have endorsed the current health care plan being considered in Congress.
“We are closer to passing this reform than ever before,” Mr. Obama said, adding that he was “extraordinarily pleased and grateful” with endorsements from the AARP and the American Medical Association.
The president urged members of Congress to consider the viewpoints being offered from two distinct sides of the debate: elderly Americans fearful that a health care overhaul could cut into Medicare, and the nation’s doctors and medical professionals.
“The AARP knows this bill will make health care more affordable,” Mr. Obama said. “They know it’s a good deal for our seniors, and that’s why they are standing up for this effort.” He added, “The doctors of America know what needs to be fixed with our health care system.”
The president did not take questions from reporters or offer his view on the legislation, which is set for a House vote on Saturday. He sought to seize the spotlight on health care on a day when thousands of people gathered on Capitol Hill to rally against the legislation.
Mr. Obama will visit Capitol Hill on Friday to personally lobby for the health care bill.
At the briefing, he said he hoped the endorsements would lend credibility and ease misinformation circulating about the legislation, particularly from the elderly.
“They’re endorsing this bill because they know it will strengthen Medicare, not jeopardize it,” Mr. Obama said. “They know it will protect the benefits our seniors receive, not cut them.”
He added, “I want everybody to remember that the next time you hear the same tired arguments to the contrary from the insurance companies and their lobbyists. And remember this endorsement the next time you see a bunch of misleading ads on television.”
Mr. Obama did not directly address the demonstrations. But the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, criticized the protests on Capitol Hill, where many attendees were shouting, “Kill the bill! Kill the bill!”
“There is a rally going on without a solution on their side,” Mr. Gibbs said.