“Yes we did”
It’s terrific news that at long last President Barack Obama has managed to win health care reform and extend coverage to some 32 million Americans. But it was a close call won only after enormous effort and much compromise.
Last night, the House of Representatives approved the bill passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve by 219 votes to 212, with 34 Democrats joining voting against it and not a single Republican voting for it. So much for Obama’s genuine efforts to promote bipartisanship,
You can see the President’s reaction here.
The result is not just a victory for Americans. It has important implications for the world. If Obama had failed, his authority would have been seriously weakened and his ability to influence world events much diminished. Instead his authority is strengthened and now he can and must use it on global issues such as climate change and the Middle East.