Kennedy "extracted" a promise from Obama that he would push *hard* for healthcare reform .....

[Stinky The Clown]

...... in his first term in exchange for his endorsement.

So reported Roger Simon of that right wing operation, Politico, on Matthews' show, just minutes ago.

Is this true? Does anyone actually know (as opposed to speculation in response to this post).

[babylonsister]

1. From CQ Politics...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8612852&mesg_id=8612852

snip//


Kennedy made Obama pledge to make health care a first-tier priority — a promise the president fulfilled by staking much of his first-term agenda on an ambitious and controversial plan to retool the U.S. health care system.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Thanks!

Isn't it interesting that only on this day do we learn this.

[bobbolink]

5. Staked? When did he actually get INVOLVED?

[Stinky The Clown]

8. There are other days for that

I may or may not disagree with you ..... but that discussion is for another day.

[saracat]

12. Healthcare as a true memorial is very fitting for today as the real warrior

has put down his baton.The question is will anyone pick it up? Teddy's "Cause of his lifetime is not inappropriate to think or speak about today.

[bobbolink]

13. Authoritarian much?

I wasn't aware you had been appointed Dictator Of DU.

[polichick]

2. I've heard it from a couple of other reporters today, so maybe it's true. nt

[berni_mccoy]

4. Extracted is inaccurate (typical RW bullshit) and Obama is a man of his word

[saracat]

7. Really? What about the Obama promise to Planned Parenthood that FOCA would be the first piece of

legislation he signed? And what about the promise he made to Edwards, regardless of what you may now think of the man, that he would place major emphasis on poverty? And what about the promise NOT to hire lobbyists?
If he is sincere in keeping a promise to Kennedy regarding health care , he needs to endorse the Kennedy Bill,man up, and NOT take no for an answer.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Please ......

..... another day for that.

You know me ...... but another day for that.

[saracat]

10. Today is a day to mourn and honor Teddy, a great man and a true liberal.

It is NOT the day to make unjustified comparisons with anyone else. Ted stood alone.The only way to truly honor him and to "Keep the promise" would be to dump the bipartisan crap, as suggested by Helen Thomas, and Obama should push the Kennedy Plan and insist the Senate pass it in its entirety.

[bobbolink]

14. .

:applause:

[Pirate Smile]

6. I have a feeling that wasn't a hard promise for Obama to make. I've also read that some of

Obama's advisers didn't want to try for Health Care this year because of everything else that was going on but they got overruled by someone who said they had to do it now - of course, that was President Obama.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

11. That's why I trust Pres Obama when he said he was going to use his political capital on healthcare!

We're going to get a GOOD Public Option for ANYONE who wants it...

I just know it.