Summary

NAME: US OBAMA 20090811Ix TAPE: EF09/0763 IN_TIME: 11:01:01 DURATION: 00:02:26 SOURCES: ABC/POOL DATELINE: Portsmouth, 11 Aug 2009 RESTRICTIONS: SHOTLIST: POOL Portsmouth, New Hampshire - August 11, 2009 1 US President Barack Obama walks on stage 2 Pan, zoom out as Obama walks to podium 3 Mid of audience 4 SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President: I don't believe anyone should be in charge of your health insurance decisions but you and your doctor I don't think government bureaucrats should be meddling, but I also don't think insurance company bureaucrats should be meddling That's the health care system I believe in 5 Side shot of Obama 6 SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President: Your health insurance should be there for you when it counts, not just when you're paying premiums, but when you actually get sick And it will be when we pass this plan 7 Wide of audience clapping 8 SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President: Where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real Not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that's actually been proposed 9 Wide of Obama and audience 10 Mid of Obama thanking audience and setting down microphone 11 Obama turning and shaking audience members' hands 12 Pan to follow Obama exit ABC - No Access NAmerica/Internet Portsmouth, New Hampshire - August 11, 2009 13 Pan from protesters in favour of health care reform to protesters opposed 14 Mid of protesters opposed to health reform efforts, one holding sign reading: No, Nancy we aren't Nazis (this refers to conservative allegations that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened protesters to Nazis when she noted that some carry signs with swastikas) 15 Protesters with signs against health reform efforts 16 Protesters carrying signs in favour of health reform 17 UPSOUND: (English) Demonstrator leading chant, no name given: What do we want? Health care When do we want it? Now 18 Signs in favour of health reform, pans down to demonstrators 19 Tight of sign reading It's time pulls out 20 Demonstrators from opposing camps facing each over fence 21 UPSOUND: (English) Anti-health Reform Demonstrator, no name given: Capitalism is America 22 Anti-health reform demonstrators, one holding sign reading: Stop Obama Care Your Life May Depend On It STORYLINE: Hoping to blunt the momentum of critics, President Barack Obama went on the offensive in support of his health care plan on Tuesday, urging the country not to listen to those who he said sought to scare and mislead the American people Retooling his message amid sliding support, Obama poked at critics who he said were trying to scare people He said there should be a vigorous debate over health care, but with each other, not over each other Where we disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that don't bear any resemblance to anything that's actually being proposed, Obama said, trying to wrest back control over a debate at the core of his political agenda Addressing a town hall in New Hampshire, Obama also flayed the insurance industry in an attempt to attract a vital - and sceptical - audience: the tens of (m) millions of people who already have health insurance and are just fine with the care they get He said the overhaul is essential to them, too, contending it is the way to keep control in their hands Your health insurance will be there for you when it counts, not just when you're paying premiums, Obama said to applause at a local high school I don't think government bureaucrats should be meddling But I also don't think insurance company bureaucrats should be meddling, he said Obama's pitch came as angry crowds have put many lawmakers on the defensive as they try to talk about health care with their constituents, leading some to replace public forums with teleconferences or step up security to keep protesters at bay The disturbances come at a critical time as lawmakers - mostly Democrats - return home for the August recess and host the meetings to boost support to overhaul the nation's costly health care system The questions Obama faced were straightforward and there were no immediate outbursts Toward the end of the session, Obama went so far as to ask for someone to give him a sceptical question The best he got were queries about why he doesn't chastise Congress more and where the nation would find the additional doctors and nurses it needs Heading toward a pivotal autumn debate, Obama is scrambling to get lawmakers and the public behind what would be the most ambitious and costly changes to the health care system in decades Obama reiterated that the plan would be paid for without adding to the nation's soaring deficit His broader mission amounted to try to shoot down what he described as erroneous claims that have risen as the debate in Washington and the nation has developed