A National Health Care Debate

This time, Obama said, "Each of us must accept that none of us will get everything we want, and no proposal for reform will be perfect." And, he said, "While everyone has a right to take part in this discussion, no one has the right to take it over."

At the same time, he blasted "those who say we should defer health care reform once again" even though, unlike the last time, there's widespread agreement that something needs to be done. He also called health care reform both a moral imperative, and now a fiscal imperative because of its huge stress on the nation's financial books. He blamed Washington politics and industry lobbying for past failures, while pledging to put the public's interest ahead of both this time.

Obama is setting a rigorous timeline to enact "comprehensive health care reform" by year's end, though he didn't precisely define what that would entail. His advisers say while he hopes for a bipartisan measure, he won't be deterred by ideological fights or interest group opposition.

Unlike Clinton, Obama isn't offering a specific plan, but rather is outlining general principles to guide the Democratic-controlled Congress as it writes the measure: increased coverage, improved services and better control of costs. The House and Senate will be left to do the heavy lifting.

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said Thursday they want their respective chambers to pass bills this summer, so lawmakers can spend the rest of the year working out a compromise and get a final bill to Obama's desk by year's end.