On talk radio, Obama stands by health care plan

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama said Thursday any health care overhaul bill he signs must reduce rapidly rising health care costs, protect consumers from insurance abuses and provide affordable choices to the uninsured -- while not adding to the federal deficit.

Obama listed those four "bullet points" as his basic requirements in response to a question from a caller to a Philadelphia-based talk radio show. Host Michael Smerconish interviewed Obama at the White House during the show and Obama took questions from several listeners.

Another caller said he sensed the administration's "knees buckling" under criticism of the proposals. Obama said he was as determined as ever and "I guarantee you, Joe, we are going to get health care done."

"Choice, competition, reducing cost, those are the things I want to see accomplished in this health care bill," Obama said.

The president insisted there has been no change in the administration's position that a government option for health insurance coverage should be considered as part of legislation to overhaul the system.

Responding to a question from Smerconish, Obama said, "The press got excited and some folks on the left got a little excited" when the administration last weekend made statements indicating that a federally run health insurance option was just one of several alternatives.

"Our position hasn't changed," he said.