Price: Obama failed to connect with voters

Rep. Tom Price, Georgia Republican, said Thursday that President Obama flunked in his effort to deliver a State of the Union speech that reconnected with disaffected voters.

“I’d give him an ‘F’ for listening to the concerns of the American people,” Mr. Price said during an interview on The Washington Times’ “America’s Morning News” radio show.

Mr. Price also backed comments Wednesday by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, that legislation forcing Americans to buy health insurance, if passed, likely would face a court challenge.

“I think the individual mandate has significant constitutional questions about it,” he said.

Mr. Price, a doctor and member of the Financial Services Committee, said he was “astounded” by the president’s failure to point out that Americans don’t want the health care proposals before the House and Senate.

“Health care is one the most personal — if not the most personal — decisions all Americans must make for themselves and their families,” he said.

Like many Republicans, Mr. Price wants improvements to health care but not through the legislation being proposed by the Democrat-controlled Congress.

“The status quo is unacceptable,” he said.

Mr. Price also said Mr. Obama supports mandated insurance but at the same time says American can keep the insurance they already have.

“The lie of that,” said Mr. Price, who gave the president a passing grade on the presentation of his Wednesday-night speech.