For President Obama: A Day Combining Shutdown And The Exchanges’ Launch
The president is promoting the health law by meeting with people who will be helped by it.
Reuters: Obama Spotlights Healthcare Launch As Republicans Try To Block It
President Barack Obama is due to lead officials spotlighting the opening day sign-up on Tuesday for his landmark healthcare program even as staunch Republican opposition to the plan shut down government operations. Obama is scheduled to meet and pose for pictures in the Oval Office with a group of people who stand to benefit from the healthcare law's provisions, while an interview with Vice President Joe Biden promoting the plan will air on 450 college radio stations in critical states, the administration said (Felsenthal, 10/1).
USA Today: Obama: A Shutdown, A Health Care Law
And, throughout the day, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and other administration officials will be interviewed on African-American radio shows. The White House list includes the Tom Joyner Morning Show, the Al Sharpton Show, the Yolanda Adams Morning Show, Sway on Sirius HM, the Russ Parr Morning Show, Rickey Smiley Morning Show, and the Joe Madison Show (Jackson, 10/1).
Meanwhile, Obama discussed the current impasse with Congress and the health law's implementation during an NPR interview -
NPR: Obama: 'Perpetual Cycle Of Brinksmanship ... Has To End'
During a wide-ranging interview with Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep, President Obama assumed an indomitable posture as he talked about his negotiations with House Republicans. He said he will not negotiate with Republicans when it comes to a cornerstone of his health care law, and he will not negotiate when it comes to another congressional battle to raise the debt ceiling in a little more than two weeks. ... Steve, let's be clear: We're not going to delay the Affordable Care Act. There are millions of Americans right now who do not have health insurance. And they are finally, after decades, going to be in a position where they can get affordable health care, just like everybody else. And that means that their families, their kids, themselves, they've got the basic security that you and I enjoy.And the notion that we would even delay them getting that kind of peace of mind, potentially going to a doctor to get treated for illnesses that they currently have, simply because the Republicans have decided ideologically that they're opposed to the Affordable Care Act, is not something that we're going to be discussing (Peralta, 10/1).
