Posted on 12/13/2010 6:41:31 AM PST by mandaladon
WASHINGTON -- Gov.-elect Nikki Haley challenged President Obama over his landmark health insurance law Thursday in a candid, personal exchange in front of Cabinet members and newly elected governors from across the country but away from reporters.
In an exchange recounted by Haley and confirmed by White House aides, Obama rejected Haley's request to repeal the health care bill - but said he'd consider letting states opt out of its mandates if they ran exchange programs, banned insurance firms from denying coverage of pre-existing conditions and enabled people to pool together for better rates.
With only four Democratic incoming governors joining 18 Republicans and one independent, Obama acknowledged the Nov. 2 elections hadn't gone as he'd hoped.
"I'm a very proud Democrat, as many of you in the room are, though not as many as I expected," Obama quipped.
Reporters covered Obama's opening remarks, but they weren't allowed in the room for the unusual exchange of questions from the newly elected state executives and answers from the president at Blair House, an elegant guest house across Lafayette Square from the White House.
Haley, in Washington for her second day of meetings with national leaders, asked two of a dozen questions the Republican-dominated governors asked Obama in the closed-door lunch session that lasted almost an hour.
In addition to their exchange about health care, Obama rejected Haley's request that he reconsider his decision to freeze development of the Yucca Mountain repository in Nevada to receive nuclear waste from the Savannah River Site and sites in other states.
Let's hope soon there will be even less Democrats.
God Bless that woman!
“I asked him if he would consider honoring the federal commitment and allow waste to go to Yucca Mountain. His answer was no.
“He went on to the fact that they feel like they had safety concerns. He was pretty adamant that was not an option that was on the table.”
Haley then made a direct demand.
“Then give us our money back,” she told Obama.
I love her reply!
She really strikes me as a no-nonsense type of leader. Among the, if not the, highest potential of the incoming guvs.
“Haley, who sat next to Vice President Joe Biden at the lunch, said afterward that she’d been impressed by Obama’s willingness to field questions from governors who’d won office by attacking his policies.”
Isn’t that special? Impressed by his willingness to field questions! Amazing...
Well, at least she got her shots in. Of course, this is like taking pokes at a pillow, it bounces back unaffected.
This guy has no intention of doing anything except providing an image of being open to cooperation. If anyone falls into this trap, wait to see what happens in a second term. The US will be like dunkirk.
Haley didn’t say much but ask questions. Not sure about the head to head. It was a good question to ask about nuclear waste. Why didn’t Haley have what the administration wanted in order to opt out of Health care? Had she worked hard to get those items, she would be free of Obama Care. Of course since she is not Governor yet, maybe she is waiting until January.
Again it’s the women in the Republican party that show they are the ones that have a pair.
“Then give us our money back,” she told Obama.
I did not see that in the article. No wonder the title is as it is.
We are hopeful that she will be able to save us from the Federal Government! Perhaps she will bring some dignity back to our state image as well.
When he is openly defied like this, he has lost much of his authority.
All governments are dependent upon people assenting to their authority. When that assent is suddenly and generally withdrawn, that government ceases to exist. Witness the death of Soviet tyranny.
I think it’s amazing (and yes, special) since Obama rarely even lets the press “corpse” question him on his policies.
Obviously, Boehner is missing his pair in my opinion.
Sorry to say, but looks to be improvement beyond original “I WON, now shut up” position.
This nobama is never going to be someone that can work with honestly. With no power of the 2 sides of Congress, he will just muddy the water. The sooner he is out of our hair the better!
What a disappointment you had with Sanford!
We’ve got too many GOP pols as it is, and it sounds like she’s already not intimidated by Obama. If she helps deliver the state for Palin in ‘12, her national presence will be clear—even while I imagine she’ll be rightly focused on governing SC well.
Looking at the laundry list of what the administration wanted, it's pretty much just Obamacare with a different label, isn't it?
What is the Obama Waiver Count up to now? Last I heard it was 222.
Including The Big One that Obama invoked over and over again as an example as to why UbamaCare was necessary in the first place: Wal-Mart.
Ha haaaaaa!!!
That's my next Tea Party sign.
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I’d love to have been there. If for no other reason than to cheer Nikki Haley on!
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