The Herald (South Africa)

Obama calls for political courage in healthcare battle

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FORMER US president Barack Obama has urged politician­s to follow their conscience and protect vulnerable Americans, as a Republican-backed bill that tore up his namesake healthcare reform law heads to the Senate.

Obama, speaking in Boston where he received a Profile in Courage Award from the John F Kennedy Library Foundation, said: “Courage means not simply doing what is politicall­y expedient, but doing what they believe deep in their hearts is right.

“It is my fervent hope that today’s members of Congress, regardless of party, are willing to look at the facts and speak the truth, even when it contradict­s party positions.

“I hope that members of Congress recall that it actually doesn’t take a lot of courage to aid those who are already powerful, already comfortabl­e, already influentia­l.

“But it does require some courage to champion the vulnerable and the sick and the infirm.”

Republican­s in the House of Representa­tives narrowly pushed through a bill last week that repeals the divisive Obamacare reforms – a major campaign pledge by President Donald Trump.

Republican­s blame Obamacare for sending insurance premiums soaring, while reducing options for millions.

Democrats counter that the law helped 20 million Americans gain health coverage and saved thousands of lives by barring insurers from denying policies to people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Opponents of the latest bill warn that it will expose millions of vulnerable Americans, and a bitter fight over the details is sure to come in the Senate, where Republican­s hold a slim majority.

Obama did not mention Trump by name during his speech, but said that politics “remains filled with division and discord, and everywhere we see the risk of falling into the refuge of tribe and clan and anger at those who don’t look like us or have the same surnames or pray the way we do”.

“At such moments, courage is necessary,” he said.

“At such moments, we need courage to stand up to hate, not just in others but in ourselves.”

The VIP crowd at the award ceremony included Obama’s vicepresid­ent, Joe Biden, and secretary of state John Kerry.

 ??  ?? CALL TO CONGRESS: Caroline Kennedy presents the Profile in Courage Award to former US president Barack Obama
CALL TO CONGRESS: Caroline Kennedy presents the Profile in Courage Award to former US president Barack Obama

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