Obama: Census shows need for reform

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By Christina Bellantoni

President Obama on Thursday morning returned to bat for health care reform, arguing that new Census Bureau data showing the number of uninsured people increased in 2008 is another example of how the plan cannot wait any longer.

Mr. Obama, at a White House event with nurses, cited Census data that shows the number of uninsured people swelled by nearly 6 million -- or 17,000 men and women "every single day."

In addition, the number of adults getting insurance coverage through work decreased by 8 million in 2008, said Mr. Obama, who blamed insurance companies, which he said must change their ways.

Full story on Census report: Uninsured rises to 46.3 million

Mr. Obama detailed letters he receives from Americans with sad health care stories.

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"It is heartbreaking, it is wrong and nobody should be treated that way in the United States of America," he said. "I will not permit reform to be postponed or imperiled by the usual ideological divisions," Mr. Obama said on the morning after he made an appeal to a joint session of Congress. "We have talked this issue to death."

He also outlined many of the same points made during his speech Thursday night. The president will hold a rally Saturday in Minnesota to further spread the message to Americans.

The president was introduced by a nurse from the American Nurses Association, who said health care is too important to be bogged down by partisan fighting.

Mr. Obama said he "love nurses" and talked about how they always were there to help during his daughter Sasha's health scare and when his mother died of cancer.

"You're the bedrock of our medical profession," he said.

He added that because Americans trust nurses, they are the perfect spokespeople for health care reform and covering all Americans.

"That's our goal; we are going to meet it this year with your help," Mr. Obama said.