Obama ramps up push for healthcare overhaul

[0:50] ..." 72%. Six months ago today that its 56%. We asked about the deficit is handling the deficit only 43%. Approved who was handling the deficit what that tells us is that. Combination of the Republican attacks. On his economic policies and more significantly. The persistent unemployment rate nine point 5% is not a single person listening to us this morning. Who's not directly affected by that it's not if"...

[1:41] ..." think they are connected and their connected by one number that's the deficit. You know you because of the enormous expenditures on the stimulus package on bailing out the banks. The deficit this year is expected to hit one point eight trillion dollars that's four times larger than any of the deficit in history. And on top of that when President Obama says we're gonna spend a trillion dollars. Extending health care benefits. A"...

[3:39] ..." in -- theoretically. Of reform but when it comes to the drug companies that doctors the hospitals they want everybody else to pay for -- not themselves so what does the president need to do"...

[4:08] ..." and health care cost is sapping Americans competitiveness it is. Fueling the deficit. And that prosperity -- prosperity of every individual America. Depend on controlling health care costs it's not just a case of finding money for the folks who don't have health care insurance. He's trying to say everybody has a stake in this that's the argument he's gonna have to make effectively can do that. I think congress will pass something but it I'm not absolutely convinced is gonna get through this year area that's ABC political analyst Steve Roberts I'm Kendall buhl WBZ. Newsradio 1030."...

[0:35]" Well overall Obama's. Approval ratings still pretty good at 59% but when we ask more carefully and ABC about the economy. There are growing doubts for instance we asked do you think Obama's policies will improve the economy it was at 72%. Six months ago today that its 56%. We asked about the deficit is handling the deficit only 43%. Approved who was handling the deficit what that tells us is that. Combination of the Republican attacks. On his economic policies and more significantly. The persistent unemployment rate nine point 5% is not a single person listening to us this morning. Who's not directly affected by that it's not if there and they themselves and out of -- their kids are their friends their relatives and neighbors. And I think that's what's really drag him down a sense of optimism about the economy. -- this growing caution about the president's major economic issues comes as -- begins to campaign for health care overhaul. How much is -- what affects his porch would affect legislation that's a good question and I think they are connected and their connected by one number that's the deficit. You know you because of the enormous expenditures on the stimulus package on bailing out the banks. The deficit this year is expected to hit one point eight trillion dollars that's four times larger than any of the deficit in history. And on top of that when President Obama says we're gonna spend a trillion dollars. Extending health care benefits. A lot of Americans a star in the same way can we afford this and if we do this are my taxes gonna go up to pay for art and of course that is a lot of talk in Washington. About either taxing health care benefits to pay for raising taxes on the rich to pay for -- Which just opened the door to -- most powerful Republican argument of the last two generations which is Democrats are just taxes and spend it. So -- As the two are connected and businesses and Obama. Feels that this is his moment on health care industry doesn't get it done now and might never get them. While that sounds -- sixteen years ago when Bill Clinton was saying the same thing do you think that it's possible that the Obama plan is going to same direction. Well the now."

[2:53]" She is a fair one there are some differences I think Obama is more popular than Clinton I think he has stronger majorities in the congress. I think and the single most important changes in an American business. Which almost uniformly opposed Clinton plans now understands how burdensome and the rising health care costs are on them. We got whom do is look at the auto industry in the enormous. Staggering burden to of trying to pay health care for room workers and retirees. So the political landscape has changed their business in the and they health care industry is more favorable. To reform ideas. But. It's still an enormous change in 16 the economy and a lot of stakeholders here. -- in -- theoretically. Of reform but when it comes to the drug companies that doctors the hospitals they want everybody else to pay for -- not themselves so what does the president need to do in order to get this pushed through congress well he's gonna try over the next couple of weeks to. Go before the American public he's going to be extremely visible and active public schedule. And his argument is going to be doing nothing is not an option that. The enormous spike and health care cost is sapping Americans competitiveness it is. Fueling the deficit. And that prosperity -- prosperity of every individual America. Depend on controlling health care costs it's not just a case of finding money for the folks who don't have health care insurance. He's trying to say everybody has a stake in this that's the argument he's gonna have to make effectively can do that. I think congress will pass something but it I'm not absolutely convinced is gonna get through this year area that's ABC political analyst Steve Roberts I'm Kendall buhl WBZ. Newsradio 1030."