Obama in Chicago: Reform 'isn't about me'
FUND-RAISERS | Obama rips opponents' 'scare tactics' against health-care effort
President Obama confided to his Chicago friends Thursday night just how frustrating it is having to fight what he considers false arguments against his proposed health care reform effort.
"Knowing that every other advanced nation in the world spends 50-70 percent less than we do and gets at least as good, and in some cases better, outcomes," the president trailed off. "It gets on my nerves. It frustrates me when we're suggesting that the status quo [on health care] is the best we can do."
(Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
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Obama in Chicago
What does $15,200 buy, in addition to a little face time with President Obama at his national finance chair Penny Pritzker's Lincoln Park home?
Gazpacho (cold vegetable soup) shooters; beef sliders; watermelon/feta cheese/radish salad and pasta salad were among the treats. Attendees also got to pose for pictures with Obama.
At Obama's second fund-raiser Thursday night, about 800 guests who paid $250 to $2,500 for their tickets were treated to roast beef and turkey carving tables, as well as vegetable and desert tables.
The Pritzker event had premium spirits at the liquor stations. The Hyatt Regency event offered beer and wine, with the exception of the VIP room.
Abdon M. Pallasch
Standing without a teleprompter in the living room of his campaign's former national finance chair, Obama complained to 110-130 high-end donors about "The scare tactics and the special interest and the lobbyists, and, I'll be honest with you, the incapacity for a sustained focus on the part of the media on the facts and the arguments."
Bears Coach Lovie Smith; QB Jay Cutler and former Bull B.J. Armstrong were among the attendees at the fund-raiser.
Obama followed up a visit to a Cleveland Clinic Thursday with a pair of fund-raisers in Chicago that raised $2 million to $3 million for the Democratic National Committee.
Guests at Hyatt Hotel heiress Penny Pritzker's Lincoln Park home listened to Obama against a backdrop of modern art sculptures in her garden, visible through glass walls. Guests paid $15,200 to listen to Obama and pose for a photo with him.
Obama spoke to a bigger crowd at the Hyatt Hotel, this time with a teleprompter but appearing to ad-lib for the hometown crowd.
"We want a system in which doctors and nurses are free to give the best care to their patients, not just the most expensive care," the president said, earning a hearty "Thank You!" from a woman in the crowd.
Echoing Republican South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint's comment that by defeating health care reform, they could "break" Barack Obama, Obama told the crowd, "Let me tell you something. I'm from Chicago. I don't break."
The crowd cheered wildly.
"This isn't about me. This is about a health care system that is breaking America's families and breaking America's businesses," Obama said.
Obama gave shout-outs to Gov. Quinn; state Comptroller Dan Hynes; Obama's hoops buddy, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias; state Sen. President John Cullerton, and "A great friend, somebody who helped look after me while I was down in the state Senate, former president of the state senate Emil Jones."
When Obama got off Air Force One at O'Hare, he shook hands with Mayor Daley and Secretary of State Jesse White and he gave man-hugs to Quinn and Hynes.
Entire families camped out near Pritzker's house in Lincoln Park in the rain hoping to catch a glimpse of Obama. Kids sat in strollers and wagons, moms and dads held umbrellas and glasses of wine.
Obama talked a lot Thursday about how proud he was of White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle's perfect game. He told Buehrle from Air Force One that he should buy DeWayne Wise a steak dinner for his help.
Using that as a metaphor for his push for help in his health care campaign, Obama said "Even when your pitching a perfect game, you still need help. It's all about team, so many of you have been a part of our team."
The president made a brief stop at his Kenwood home Thursday night before heading back to Washington.
About 110 to 130 higher-earning fans of the president paid about $15,000 each to meet the president at the elegant and modern Lincoln Park home of his chief fund-raiser, Hyatt Hotels heiress Penny Pritzker.
The second fund-raiser, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, allowed 750 to 800 people the chance to see the president for $250 to $2,500.
The two events were expected to raise about $2 million to $3 million for the Democratic National Committee, headed by Obama's appointee, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.
Unlike donations to individual federal candidates or Obama's eventual re-election campaign fund, which are subjected to stricter limits, so-called "soft money" donated to the party can still be given in larger chunks -- $15,200 per individual -- that the party can then spend on behalf of other campaigns.
Abdon M. Pallasch