"firedup!" "Ready to go!" "tonightonfrontline... yourvoicecanwin an" "Election!" "hepromisedchange." "yourvoicecancreatethe" "Kind of america we dream about." "thenhetookononeof" "Washington's toughest issues." "let'sbethegenerationthat" "Says, "we will have universal" "Health care in america."" "We can do that." "whathappenednextsurprised" "Everyone." "theonlywaytheycouldget" "It through was to bribe their" "Members." "hundredsofmillionsof" "Dollars spent on lobbying." "verypolitical,very" "Aggressive at creating deals." "thosedealscanbepretty" "Smelly." "anotherday,anotherheadache" "For president obama." "isthisjustthe dirty" "Reality of politics?" "newsofabackroom deal ." "allthosebackroomdeals," "It's just wrong and we can do" "Better." "therewasawake-upcall that" "President obama wasn't" "Everything that they thought he" "Was." "thepresidenthasstakedhis" "Entire first term on this." "there'salwaystwosidesof" "Obama." "You have to lift up people, but" "At the end of the day, it is" "About deal-making." "tonightonfrontline," ""obama's deal."" "what'satstakerightnowis" "Not just our ability to solve" "This problem, but our ability to" "Solve any problem." "it'stheinaugurationday of" "The nation's first african" "American president." "narrator:" "Barackobamahad" "Promised change." "hespokeof no lessthan" "Remaking america." "narrator:" "Hissignature" "Issue:" "Universal health care." "inthiseffort,everyvoice" "Has to be heard." "thisisahugeissuethe" "President is taking on now." "everyideamustbe" "Considered." "everybodylovestheideaof" "Health care reform." "everyoptionmustbeonthe" "Table." "There should be no sacred cows." "thequestionis ,couldhealth" "Reform really happen?" "narrator:" "Fromthevery" "Beginning, even inside his own" "West wing, the issue would test" "President obama." "thewhitehousehad adebate" "About whether they should" "Actually go forward with it." "narrator:" "Nopresidenthad" "Ever made headway on" "Comprehensive health care" "Reform." "first,itbecame,"let'snot" "Do health care."" "Then it was "scale health care" "Back."" "vicepresidentbidenwas" "Opposed to do it, absolutely" "Opposed to doing health care." "Biden had seen too many" "Universal health care programs" "Die in his long time in" "Washington, and he warned obama" "And his aides not to do it." "theeconomicteamwas saying," ""oh, listen, we've got to spend" "All our energy on fixing the" "Recession." "We can't launch a big spending" "Program at this time."" "narrator:" "Thepresidenttook" "It all in, and then it was chief" "Of staff rahm emanuel's turn." "he'sa brilliantpolitical" "Strategist-- hard-nosed," "Profane, just a force of nature." "verypolitical,very" "Aggressive at creating deals." "In fact, probably more so than" "One would anticipate someone" "From the obama administration" "Being." "narrator:" "Obama'schoiceof" "An inside dealmaker like" "Emanuel had surprised many of" "His supporters." "he'ssortof theoppositeof" "Obama in a lot of ways." "It was an immediate indication" "That this white house was not" "Going to be about "kumbaya" and" "Getting along and trying to do" "Everything they could to win" "Republican votes." "They were going to try and win." "narrator:" "Emanueltoldobama" "To win, he needed to move fast." "herecognizedthatthe moment" "Obama was going to be at his" "Strongest was the beginning." "narrator:" "Intheend ,the" "President decided to go for" "Health care right away to make a" "Larger point." "weweresittingintheoval" "Office, and we were sort of" "Having a debate around health" "Care at one point, and the" "President said, "it's about" "Health care, but it's not really" "About health care." "It's also about proving whether" "We can still solve big problems" "In this country."" "And this was going to be the" "Test case for that." "( sirens ) narrator:" "Inhisfirst" "Address to congress, the" "President wasted no time putting" "Health care on the nation's" "Agenda." "lettherebe no doubt:" "Health" "Care reform cannot wait, it must" "Not wait, and it will not wait" "Another year." "( applause ) thepresidenthasstakedhis" "Entire first term on this." "there'snobiggerpriority" "Than health care." "wecanno longeraffordto" "Put health care reform on hold." "We can't afford to do it." "( applause ) narrator:" "Atthetime,it" "Looked like an easy victory for" "The president." "failuretodo thiswouldbe" "Viewed as a failure to govern," "An inability to use the 60-vote" "Majority that we have in the" "Senate and the significant" "Margin we have in the house." "( applause )" "Idon'tthinkanyoneinthe" "White house or on capitol hill" "Believe that failure's an option" "Here." "They have to be successful in" "Getting health care reform done," "Or they'll pay a tremendous" "Political price." "narrator:" "Rahmemanuelknew" "About the political price an" "Administration pays when it" "Loses the battle for health care" "Reform." "16 years ago, he worked in the" "Clinton administration." "theclintonefforttodo" "Health care was sort of a" "Classic "smart people will solve" "Your problems" approach to an" "Enormously complex, messy" "Political issue." "billclintondelivereda,you" "Know, thousand-page plan unto" "The doorstep of congress after a" "Year and said, "my wife came up" "With this." "It's a really good plan." "Pass it."" "At which point the chairman," "Who'd been there longer than" "Them and were going to be there" "Longer than them, basically" "Tossed it aside and killed the" "Bill." "Irememberpatrickmoynihan," "The senator from new york," "Telling me in his very thick" "Irish accent that he just got" "This document-- a 1,273 pages" "Describing how health care" "Reform should be done and" "Basically says, "I'm not even" "Going to read it."" "narrator:" "Theclintonwhite" "House also angered powerful" "Special interests." "theamaopposedthem." "The insurance companies opposed" "Them." "The doctors, across the board," "Hospitals, you name it, they" "Were on the other side, and the" "Clinton administration" "Understood that there was little" "Hope that they would ever bring" "Them around." "butthiswascoveredunder" "Our old plan." "narrator:" "Theyburiedthe" "Administration in an avalanche" "Of negative tv commercials." "thegovernmentmayforceus" "To pick from a few health care" "Plans designed by government" "Bureaucrats." "havingchoiceswe don'tlike" "Is no choice at all." "theychoose." "welose." "theharryandlouiseadscost" "And cost and cost us in the" "Clinton years." "itisclearthathealth" "Insurance reform cannot be" "Enacted this year." "narrator:" "Theywerehandeda" "Devastating defeat." "Emanuel had seen it all." "16 years later, as president" "Obama's chief of staff, he would" "Try do things differently." "whatdidhe do that's" "Different from what bill and" "Hillary did?" "Everything." "Everything." "thegreatlessonthat" "Everyone shared, both folks like" "Rahm who were there and" "Historians, is you need" "Congressional buy-in on the" "Front end." "narrator:" "Thewhitehouse" "Would hold congress' hand every" "Step of the way." "Obama and emanuel had stocked" "The west wing with an all-star" "Lineup of former congressional" "Insiders." "he'sgotpeterouse,who" "Served as both daschle and then" "Senator obama's chief of staff." "theheadof managementand" "Budget, peter orszag, was the" "Head of the congressional budget" "Office." "melodybarnes,whoisthe" "Head of the domestic policy" "Council, was for years a top" "Aide to ted kennedy." "philschiliro,whowas the" "Top staff guy for henry waxman." "inthecommunications" "Department, robert gibbs, who" "Worked in the senate, who's now" "The press secretary." "sotheyhadavery ,very" "Strong team of people who knew" "The hill, knew how to work the" "Hill, knew how to have success" "On the hill." "narrator:" "Andto runit, they" "Brought back the quintessential" "Washington insider, former" "Senate majority leader tom" "Daschle." "itwasan enormoussignal" "That this really is a priority" "For the administration." "They're not messing around." "They're bringing in the pros," "They're bringing in the big guys" "To get this done." "narrator:" "Obamadecidedhe" "Would stay in the background." "He would encourage congress to" "Come up with a plan, fast-track" "It, relying on good will and" "Personal relationships to get it" "Passed." "But the idea of hiring insiders" "Almost immediately hit a snag." "abcnewshaslearnedof" "Problems faced by another of" "President obama's cabinet" "Choices, tom daschle... tomdaschleis tryingtosave" "His nomination to become... anunwanteddistractionfor" "The obama administration... andI thinkthatjustshowsa" "Problem with integrity, and we" "Cannot afford that in our" "Government right now." "narrator:" "Theoncepowerful" "Senate majority leader had made" "Enemies." "The finance committee chairman," "Max baucus, a democrat from" "Montana, was an old rival." "daschlewasnothelpedbythe" "Fact that max baucus was not" "Necessarily a close friend or" "Ally." "narrator:" "Baucusallowed" "Republicans on the committee to" "Tear into daschle's personal" "Finances." "youhadaveryrigorous" "Senate finance committee staff" "That was scrubbing the tax" "Returns of the nominees that" "Were going through that" "Committee that's unlike anything" "That I think we've seen in many" "Years." "narrator:" "Senate" "Investigators found income tax" "Problems." "Daschle had left the government" "And cashed in, making millions" "At a washington law firm." "Along the way, a client had" "Provided a limo for daschle's" "Personal use." "Eventually, he paid more than" "$140,000 in taxes and penalties" "On the gift." "tothisday,Ithinkthere" "Are people in the greater" "Daschle universe who say that" "The reason that tom daschle did" "Not make it through the" "Confirmation process is because" "Max baucus gave him such a hard" "Time dragging out the" "Confirmation, and the details," "And all the financial" "Disclosures." "thereisplentyofdramain" "Washington at the moment." "republicanstalkingabout" ""limousine liberals" who don't" "Even pay taxes on their" "Limousines." "it'sa verybadcloudover" "This nomination." "it'sdisheartening." "Obviously, it frustrates me." "doesthisreally" "Represent the kind of change" "That mr." "Obama said he would be" "Bringing to his administration." "narrator:" "Daschlehadbeen" "Around long enough to know he" "Had become a liability for the" "New president." "obamaquickly,calmly" "Accepted the resignation offer." "Did not pause, did not look" "Back." "narrator:" "He'dcampaignedas" "A political outsider, but" "Surrounded himself with" "Insiders, and watched as one of" "Them was taken down in a" "Political knife fight." "Seven weeks into his presidency," "In March of 2009, the new" "President gathered in one room" "At one time, friends and" "Potential enemies alike." "you'retalkingabout" "Lawmakers, doctors, nurses," "Hospitals... bringingtogetherlawmakers" "And interest groups, cabinet" "Officials, members of congress," "The white house team," "Conferring on how to overhaul" "Health care." "Iknowpeopleare afraid" "We'll draw the same old lines in" "The sand, give in to the same" "Entrenched interests and arrive" "Back... manyoftheseplayers,for" "Years, if not decades, had a" "Record of opposing any sort of" "Health care reform efforts." "narrator:" "Rahmemanuel" "Engineered this strategy." "Everyone remembered how special" "Interests had sabotaged the" "Clinton plan." "theywantto getpeopleto" "The table." "They don't want this to be-- at" "First, at least-- a fight" "Against the insurers, a fight" "Against the medical industry," "They want..." "The pharmaceutical" "Industry." "They want to get buy-in." "I'mgoingto switchgearsand" "Get some groups in here... narrator:" "Obama'sadvisors" "Had told him that many of the" "Lobbyists in the room were" "Prepared to cut a deal." "ignani?" "narrator:" "Karenignaniisthe" "Chief lobbyist for the insurance" "Industry." "whydon'tyouwaitfora mic ," "Karen?" "weenteredthisyearbeing" "Committed to change, being" "Committed to restructuring, and" "Committed to actually helping to" "Get this done." "We hear the american people" "About what's not working." "We've taken that very seriously." "You have our commitment to play," "To contribute, and to help pass" "Health care reform this year." "good." "Thank you." "Karen, that's good news." "That's america's health" "Insurance plans." "( applause ) thiswasreallyastonishing." "Here she was, on record, saying," ""we're going to help you," and" "So, too, were the drug" "Companies." "karenignaniwantedtobe" "Sure that she was at the white" "House, representing the industry" "In its most positive way that" "She possibly could." "It was part of the industry's" "Charm offensive, as I call it." "The industry knew that it was" "Going to be under attack this" "Year, or at least the" "Legislation would focus very" "Heavily on the insurance" "Industry." "andyouknow,look,they" "Could read the political tea" "Leaves." "You know, the saying in" "Washington was, "you can be at" "The table, or you can be on the" "Menu."" "narrator:" "Privately,ignani" "Was playing hardball." "She said she'd support the bill" "Only if everyone was required to" "Buy health insurance." "theysaid,forthe first" "Time, they would support" "Universal coverage with one" "Caveat, and that is that we have" "An individual mandate requiring" "People to buy insurance, so it's" "Not just the sick that buy" "Insurance, but everybody." "That was the quid pro quo." "narrator:" "Obamahad" "Campaigned against the mandate." "Ignani was insisting he reverse" "Himself." "theywantto makesurethat" "They get a requirement that all" "Of us buy health insurance." "They want to make sure that we" "Are all forced to buy products" "From them, and they want to make" "Sure that there's no alternative" "Other than the private insurance" "Market." "That's why they're so adamantly" "Opposed to the public option." "narrator:" "Obamahadalso" "Supported the public option, a" "Government health plan." "And ignani wanted him to walk" "Away from that, too." "itisnotwipingoutthe" "Private insurance industry; it's" "Just creating a public insurance" "Plan that would compete with" "Private insurers." "But they wanted no part of that." "narrator:" "Emanuelwouldkeep" "Obama away from direct" "Deal-making with ignani." "But with tom daschle gone, and" "Health care's most powerful" "Advocate, ted kennedy, dying of" "Cancer, the negotiations would" "Have to be handled by that" "Powerful chairman of the senate" "Finance committee, max baucus." "whodotheyget afterlosing" "Tom daschle and, largely, ted" "Kennedy?" "Max baucus." "Not the first choice of most of" "The people in the west wing." "he'snotglamorous." "He's one of the senior-most" "Senators." "Very few americans know anything" "About him." "he'sfrommontana,amore" "Conservative democrat than a lot" "Of people in the white house." "Worked with the bush" "Administration on things like" "Tax cuts and issues that are an" "Anathema to a lot of the liberal" "Base." "narrator:" "Cuttingdealswith" "Health care industry groups was" "Right down max baucus' alley." "in2008,duringhis" "Reelection campaign, which is" "Really when this debate began," "He raised well over a million" "Dollars only from the health" "Insurance sector." "That's a pretty astounding" "Amount for somebody who's going" "To have a central role in this" "Debate." "narrator:" "Inall,baucus" "Received more than $2.5 million" "From special interest groups in" "The health industry." "whatthecampaign" "Contributions often do is that" "They open doors." "They give industries entree to" "Important congressional staffers" "And lawmakers." "narrator:" "Privately,ignani" "Pushed baucus for a bill that" "Would include the mandate to buy" "Insurance and kill the public" "Option." "That didn't sit well with the" "President's liberal supporters." "thesenatebill,you know," "Frankly, is just an insurance" "Company bill." "The insurance companies," "Actually, literally, did write" "It." "There were two senior staffers" "In max baucus's office-- one who" "Used to work for united health" "Care and one who used to work" "For wellpoint-- who wrote the" "Bill." "It was a great bill from the" "Insurance company's point of" "View." "It doesn't happen to do a whole" "Lot to change the system and to" "Bring reform." "narrator:" "Theleft" "Counterattacked at a hearing in" "May." "goingtotakeyou livetoa" "Senate finance committee" "Hearing looking at health care." "( gavel pounds ) thecommitteewillcomeback" "To order." "narrator:" "Liberaloutrage" "Arrived in baucus' own hearing" "Room, as health care activists," "One after another, shouted him" "Down." "withallrespecttosenator" "Baucus, this hearing is public," "But the public is not being" "Heard." "( gavel pounds ) you'retakingmillionsfrom" "The insurance industry, the hmos" "And the pharmaceutical" "Companies, and you're denying" "The people a voice." "wewantaseatatthetable." "whyaretheirvoicesnot" "Being heard?" "Every health care lobbyist in" "America is at the table." "sir,ifyou'djust... narrator:" "Theactivistswere" "Especially angry that ignani had" "A seat at the table, but they" "Did not." "whenwereceivedthe listof" "The dates of the hearings and" "Who was being invited, and we" "Saw who was invited, we" "Requested that we have one" "Person invited in the, you know," "The series of the three" "Hearings." "They were inviting 41 people in" "Total to testify, and they said" "No." "committeewillbe in order." "The committee will stand in" "Recess until the police ca" "Restore order." "Ithoughtsenatorbaucusdid" "A spectacular job of handling" "That, not getting rattled in any" "Way, handling it in a not only" "Very professional way, but an" "Empathetic way." "narrator:" "Baucushimself" "Declined to discuss his role" "With frontline." "fivepeoplewerearrestedat" "A senate finance committee" "Hearing on health care reform" "And charged with disruption of" "Congress." "so,whatchairmanbaucushas" "Decided, this option cannot be" "Part of the discussion at a" "Senate hearing?" "I think that's wrong." "I don't think it's fair." "I think it's... narrator:" "Thatspring,baucus" "And the white house were also" "Secretly negotiating another" "Deal, this time, with the" "Pharmaceutical industry." "Their top lobbyist was a classic" "Washington character." "billytauzinis anew orleans" "Politician-- very colorful," "Lively figure who took over the" "Pharmaceutical industry trade" "Group, phrma." "billytauzinis a..." "Isa" "Formidable negotiator." "And billy tauzin knows how" "Things work on the hill, and he" "Knows how things work in this" "Town." "narrator:" "Hismostnotorious" "Act took place when" "Then-congressman tauzin and" "Senator baucus pushed through a" "Medicare prescription drug bill." "weareabouttopass a$400" "Billion insured drug account for" "These citizens who have no drug" "Insurance today." "narrator:" "In2003,inthe" "Middle of the night, tauzin kept" "The house voting machine open" "Until he could scrounge and" "Wheedle just enough votes to" "Pass the controversial measure." "itwasapayofftotwo" "Industries, the drug industry" "And insurance industry." "There was no question about it." "They did very, very well out of" "This bill." "narrator:" "Itmeanthundreds" "Of billions of dollars for the" "Pharmaceutical industry." "thecomptrollergeneralsaid" "When we passed the medicare" "Prescription drug bill that it" "Was the worst piece of" "Legislation, fiscally, that he" "Had ever seen." "And he said, over time, it was" "Going to be a disaster." "narrator:" "Itcontinuestobe" "A classic washington story of" "Money and behind-closed-doors" "Maneuvering." "It made tauzin's reputation." "youknow,smartmoney's" "Always going to be on billy" "Tauzin in a negotiation, because" "He knows what he's doing." "narrator:" "Andjustovera" "Year later, tauzin was hired as" "The pharmaceutical industry's" "Top lobbyist." "Billy got a very good job with" "Phrma." "I think he makes around $2" "Million a year." "At least that's what I've been" "Told." "Many of his staff people went" "With him or went to work for" "Pharmaceutical companies." "And billy was the main pusher of" "The bill." "I'mbarackobamaand I" "Approved this message." "narrator:" "Inthe2008" "Presidential campaign, the" "Incident became one of barack" "Obama's favorite complaints" "About the washington political" "Culture." "thechairmanof the" "Committee, who pushed the law" "Through, went to work for the" "Pharmaceutical industry making" "$2 million a year." "Imagine that." "That's an example of the same" "Old game-playing in washington." "You know, I don't want to learn" "How to play the game better;" "I" "Want to put an end to the" "Game-playing." "( applause ) narrator:" "Butsecretly,one" "Year later, at max baucus'" "Senate office, the obama white" "House was negotiating with billy" "Tauzin." "it'sa veryrahmemanuel" "Idea." "Get them at the table, make them" "Agree to something with a threat" "That something worse could be" "Out there if they don't." "And once you get this buy-in," "That should eliminate pockets of" "Opposition." "narrator:" "Billytauzinknew" "That during the presidential" "Campaign, barack obama had" "Promised to slash drug prices." "phrmahadsomerealconcerns" "That there would be an effort by" "The democrats to enable the" "Government to negotiate for its" "Prices on medicare prescription" "Drugs." "And this could be a," "Potentially, very big hit to the" "Industry." "narrator:" "Tauzinalsoknew" "The white house was eager for" "Any early deal that appeared to" "Contain costs." "Ithinkhe wassmartin" "Saying that, "if I get in early," "I can make a deal that my" "Members can live with."" "narrator:" "Heproposeda" "Complicated formula which he" "Said would cut drug costs by $80" "Billion over ten years." "White house aide jim messina" "Took the deal to the oval" "Office." "Emanuel and obama believed there" "Was an implicit threat attached." "If they didn't agree to the" "Deal, billy tauzin could do real" "Damage." "fromthepointofobamaand" "The finance committee, it's a" "Huge advantage to have this" "Interest group on your side." "phrmacertainlyhaddeep" "Enough pockets to do some real" "Damage, advertising-wise, if it" "Wanted to." "ifyoucanstop$100 million" "From being spent to attack your" "Plan, that looks very, you know," "That's not such a bad deal." "narrator:" "Buttakingthe deal" "Meant the president would back" "Off his campaign promise to" "Dramatically cut drug prices." "wetalkedaboutit." "It's always been my practice not" "To reveal conversations I've had" "With the president or people in" "The white house." "narrator:" "Tomdaschle" "Continued to visit the oval" "Office in an unofficial" "Capacity." "thepresidentsawitasan" "Opportunity to seize the moment," "You know, to get signatures on" "The line, to say, "this looks" "Like an opportunity we haven't" "Had before." "So let's lock them in, to the" "Extent we can." "I'm going to seize the moment."" "theybroughtstufftothe" "Table and were willing to work" "With us." "And the president said that" "Having people at the table is" "Better than having them throwing" "Stuff at the table." "interviewer:" "Butnotaneasy" "Thing to do?" "no,certainlynot." "Certainly not." "And went in with full eyes open" "That there are going to be" "People in our party who would be" "Critical of that." "narrator:" "Thepresident" "Accepted the deal." "there'salwaystwosidesof" "Obama." "You have to have the sort of" "Inspirational message, you have" "To have something to lift up" "People." "But at the end of the day, when" "You're passing legislation, it" "Is about deal-making." "There's no other way to do it." "narrator:" "InJune,the" "President announced the broad" "Outlines of the phrma deal." "goodmorning,everybody." "narrator:" "Hedidnot mention" "What he had given up to get it." "thisisasignificant" "Breakthrough on the road to" "Health care reform, one that" "Will make the difference in the" "Lives of many older americans." "narrator:" "Itdidn'ttakelong" "For the secret to leak." "anotherday,anotherheadache" "For president obama." "isthisjustthe dirty" "Reality of politics?" "newsofabackroomdeal riled" "Fellow democrats." "narrator:" "Onceagain,itwas" "The liberals in the president's" "Own party who began to criticize" "The deal." "there'salsogrowingconcern" "That the obama administration" "Secretly made concessions to" "Drug companies." "theliberalswerewatching" "What was going on with" "Increasing alarm, because what" "They saw was the new white house" "Getting in bed with the people" "That they thought they had been" "Fighting against for all these" "Years." "obama'srewardedthedrug" "Companies in a big way." "whatdidthepharmaceutical" "Industry get in return?" "Ithinkpeoplewho thought" "That the pharmaceutical industry" "Was still reaping profits that" "Were excessive were unhappy with" "That deal, and were particularly" "Unhappy that it got cut behind" "Closed doors." "itwasawakeupcall ,really," "To a lot of liberals, that" "President obama wasn't" "Everything that they thought he" "Was." "narrator:" "Formonths,the" "President had been doing deals" "Insurance and pharmaceuticals." "Now, it was time to write a" "Bill, and to fulfill another" "Campaign promise-- to create a" "Washington beyond partisan" "Politics." "abipartisanoutcome,evenin" "A minimalist sense, was" "Certainly a very, very high" "Priority of president obama." "narrator:" "Again,maxbaucus" "Would have to be the point man." "Getting through his senate" "Finance committee would be the" "Crucial test." "iftheycouldget five,ten" "Republicans, that would have" "Been enough." "And max baucus was, they" "Thought, their key to getting" "That." "narrator:" "Baucushadaclose" "Relationship with the ranking" "Republican, chuck grassley." "senatorbaucusandIwere" "Still working on what we thought" "Ought to be, not just a" "Bipartisan bill, but a kind of" "Consensus bill." "In other words, something that" "Would get 75 or 80 votes." "narrator:" "Butotherssaid" "They saw nothing for the" "Republican party in baucus'" "Proposals." "Ifoundmyselfcomingoutof" "Those secret meetings, those" "Private meetings, and" "Criticizing virtually everything" "They were doing." "So I talked to max, I talked to" "Chuck grassley and others and" "Said, "look, I don't think I can" "Support this."" "narrator:" "Andfromthe" "Beginning, grassley was under" "Intense pressure from his own" "Party." "charlesgrassleyis in line" "For a committee chairmanship." "The republican party plays" "Hardball with its members." "I think the message got through" "That he was jeopardizing his" "Standing in the party by playing" "Too nice to health care reform." "itbecameclearthatthe" "Republican game plan was going" "To be just to say no, to deny" "This president any victories." "therewasenormouspressure" "From the republican leadership." "They did not want to be part of" "This." "They did not want to make a" "Deal." "The word went out." "youhadthesenateleadership" "In mitch mcconnell and john kyl" "Saying, "don't get involved." "This is going to be the" "President's waterloo." "It's our way to win back the" "Congress."" "narrator:" "Andas thesummer" "Wore on, winning grassley over" "Became harder and harder for" "Baucus." "theprocess,particularlyin" "The finance committee, just felt" "Like that race that was being" "Run, starting on January 20, all" "Of a sudden hit some mud, and" "People's shoes got pretty..." "Pretty soggy and pretty heavy." "everythingkindof bogged" "Down." "I mean, here we were on this..." "This March to produce this bill" "And at least get it through the" "House floor before the August" "Recess, and all the wheels came" "Off." "narrator:" "Impatient,emanuel" "Began a campaign to convince the" "President to change course, to" "Scale back their ambitions." "rahmemanuelis allabout,as" "He says, putting points on the" "Board." "Just get a deal and get it over" "With." "rahmwastheguy who was" "Skeptical about trying to go for" "Major comprehensive health care" "Reform." "He saw what happened..." "He was" "There during the clinton" "Debacle." "He knows how much it takes out" "Of a presidency." "itwasentirelya" "Conversation of feasibility." "Option a:" "Pass the comprehensive" "Bill; option b:" "Smaller bill;" "And option c, which no one would" "Entertain, would be to do" "Nothing." "narrator:" "Thepresidentmade" "The final decision." "obamaweighedin andsaid," ""no, I want to try and get what" "I campaigned on." "I want to try and get the full" "Bill."" "narrator:" "Butcongresswas in" "No hurry." "somemembersof congress" "Telling the president to slow" "Down, don't push so hard." "theydon'tliketimetables" "Over there at the finance" "Committee, rick." "narrator:" "ByAugust,as" "Congress headed home for the" "Summer recess, there was still" "No bill." "Some in washington wondered" "Whether health care reform could" "Survive the recess." "headingintothesummer" "Recess is a period of great" "Frustration for the white house." "Everything was getting stuck," "Everything was sort of slowing" "Down." "And as they head in to August," "They don't recognize what's" "About to hit them." "youwantto killmy" "Grandparents, you come through" "Me first." "godwilltakecareofhealth" "Care." "youdirtythieves!" "yes,wecan!" "Yes, we did!" "wecan'taffordit!" "afro-leninism!" "narrator:" "Angrycitizens," "Stoked by economic fears," "Outraged about bailouts and" "Expanding government... thethingsthatobama'sdoing" "Are the exact things that hitler" "Did." "nopublicoption." "narrator:..." "Focusedtheir" "Rage on the healthcare bill." "boom,thesummertownhalls" "Literally blow up in our faces." "radical,communistsand" "Socialists." "thefatreallyhit the fire" "When we went home in August for" "What usually is a fairly" "Leisurely stroll through the" "District... yes,wecan!" "you'repathetic!" "...Totownhallhere... ( yelling ) babykiller." "Abortion is murder!" "...Asummerparadethere,an" "Ice cream social here." "No, it was all health care all" "The time." "And people were..." "Were red hot" "About it." "It was a radioactive issue all" "Summer." "wewon'tpayfor murder!" "We won't pay for murder!" "thesurpriseis justhow out" "Of hand these town hall" "Meetings are getting." "thereisan uglinesswith" "These fringe people who are" "Comparing the president to" "Hitler." "thisoppositionwasreal." "And this opposition rose up, and" "This opposition let individual" "Members of congress from across" "The country know that they had" "Problems with this health care" "Plan." "inthatfirstweekofAugust," "The anger was spilling out." "It was spilling out so much that" "Guns were spilling out of" "People's coat pockets at town" "Hall meetings." "I'mnotalobbyistwith all" "Kinds of money to stuff in your" "Pocket!" "andI thinkthatthe members" "Themselves were a bit taken" "Aback by the intensity of that" "Anger." "andtherestofyour damned" "Cronies up on the hill." "therewasangerout there." "And members of congress" "Listened, and they were scared." "youhadthishorrible" "Backlash." "I mean, there were moments in" "August when it looked like it" "Was done." "This was the end of health care" "Reform." "( applause ) narrator:" "Senatorgrassley," "The swing-man in the president" "And max baucus' bipartisan" "Strategy, felt the fire from his" "Conservative base." "Ihadpeoplecometomy town" "Meeting with sheets of paper" "That thick off the internet and" "Quoting from the bill." "You know, I've never had that" "Happen before." "People were up on it, and people" "Didn't like what they were" "Reading." "democratorrepublicanfor" "Whoever, senator or congressman" "Vote for this bill, we will vote" "You out." "( cheers ) suddenly,theideaofcutting" "A deal with president obama no" "Longer looked like it was good" "Politics, no longer looked like" "It was good policy." "there'sa billoutofthe" "House of representatives put" "Together under speaker pelosi's" "Leadership." "I'm a... ( booing )" "I'm..." "I'm a..." "I would not vote for that." "( applause ) it'snotaprofilein" "Courage." "It's someone who becomes" "Convinced that health care, if" "He supports it in any version," "Will, you know, end his career" "Politically down the road." "thankyouallverymuch for" "Coming." "oncetheysortoflost" "Grassley, they lost, arguably," "Their last chance to really get" "A bipartisan bill." "killthebill!" "Kill the bill!" "Kill the bill!" "Kill the bill!" "Kill the bill!" "narrator:" "Justas thetown" "Hall anger was reaching it's" "Boiling point, the president" "Received more bad news." "( phone rings ) senatoredwardmoorekennedy," "The patriarch of the kennedy" "Clan, has died." "thelastin thelineofthis" "Extraordinary american dynasty" "Is gone." "lastnight,an american" "Political era came to an end." "hut." "Hut." "narrator:" "Themostpassionate" "Advocate of health care reform" "Was dead." "But some believed kennedy's" "Death might change the tone of" "The debate." "tedkennedy'slifeworkwas" "Not to champion the causes of" "Those with wealth or power or" "Special connections; it was to" "Give to give a voice to those" "Who were not heard." "itwasan emotionalrallying" "Point for democrats for a" "While-- "win this for teddy"" "Kind of thinking." "somepeoplethought,"well," "Gosh, maybe in memory of senator" "Kennedy, some of these old" "Republican friends of his would" "Rejoin the effort."" "narrator:" "Thepresidentwould" "Redouble his efforts to achieve" "Kennedy's dream." "afterconsultingwitha" "Number of people, including" "Senator daschle and others, I" "Think the president concluded," ""I need..." "I need to take back" "Control of this."" "madamspeaker,thepresident" "Of the United States!" "( cheers and applause ) theyknowthattheirmost" "Powerful tool is barack obama" "Always has been, probably always" "Will be." "hisaudience,really,inthat" "Speech wasn't the public in" "General, it was the people" "Sitting in that chamber." "thetimeforbickeringis" "Over." "The time for games has passed." "( applause )" "Now is the season for action." "Now is when we must bring the" "Best ideas of both parties" "Together and show the american" "People that we can still do what" "We were sent here to do." "itwasan attempttosort of" "Recapture the high ground." "It was an attempt to, you know," "Bring the debate back to a" "Loftier level." "moresecurity... narrator:" "Butthetone" "Immediately sunk to a new low." "therearealsothosewho" "Claim that our reform efforts" "Would insure illegal immigrants." "This, too, is false." "The reforms..." "The reforms I'm" "Proposing would not apply to" "Those who are here illegally." "youlie!" "( gasps ) that'snottrue." "alonecongressmansays,"you" "Lie!"" "youlie!" "narrator:" "Itwasrepublican" "Representative joe wilson from" "South carolina." "itcrystallizedthis..." "This" "Moment in washington." "It crystallized the anger, it" "Crystallized the fervor of the" "Opposition." "Iwasin thechamberwhen the" "Speech was being given, and" "There was a gasp on both sides" "Of the aisle." "Iwasupsetwiththat ." "That was inappropriate." "I was sitting there and I" "Thought, "what in the world?" "Why would anybody do something" "Like that?"" "anoutburstthatcontinuesto" "Reverberate across the country." "totallydisrespectful,no" "Place for it." "heislying." "President obama is, from the" "Moment he opens his mouth until" "He ends the speech." "howdidwe gettoa point" "Where it's okay to yell "you" "Lie" at the president while he's" "Speaking to congress?" "narrator:" "Theefforttoforge" "A bipartisan agreement was, for" "All practical purposes, over." "Now, the president would turn to" "The democrats." "They pressured max baucus." "Emanuel wanted a bill asap." "theyjustignoredmax inthe" "End." "They just felt they could ram" "This right through to heck with" "Republicans, to heck with" "Conservatives." "Idon'tthinkthatrahm" "Emanuel ever worried much about" "Bipartisanship." "He was focused on winning." "narrator:" "Senatemajority" "Leader harry reid would take" "Control of the bill." "Talk of a public option was" "Back." "The mandates the insurance" "Industry had fought for were" "Watered down." "Karen ignani didn't like what" "That might mean for the bottom" "Line." "Iwasconcernedaboutwhat we" "Were seeing from our actuaries," "What we were seeing from our" "Economists." "We were very concerned about" "What was happening." "andtheinsurancecompanies" "At that point decided, "we've" "Got to fight back on this."" "america'shealthinsurance" "Plan said the finance bill" "Could result in dramatically" "Higher insurance premiums." "theinsurersaretryingto" "Scuttle the health care bill." "whitehouseofficialstoday" "Said they feel broadsided." "These are the... narrator:" "Atthewhitehouse," "They decided a war with the" "Insurance industry was just what" "The doctor ordered." "In his weekly internet address," "The president let them have it." "theinsuranceindustryis" "Rolling out the big guns and" "Breaking out their massive war" "Chest to marshal their forces" "For one last fight to save the" "Status quo." "it'salwaysgreattohave an" "Enemy in politics, there's no" "Question about that." "However, we didn't pick the" "Insurance companies as the" "Enemy; they decided to play that" "Role when they decided to spend" "Tens of millions of dollars to" "Defeat health reform." "they'refloodingcapitolhill" "With lobbyists and campaign" "Contributions, and they're" "Funding studies designed to" "Mislead the american people." "Ihaveahearingdisability." "I wear a hearing aid, and I" "Didn't have my hearing aid in." "And I thought to myself, "this" "Can't be true."" "I ran around looking for my" "Hearing aid, because I was sure" "That I was mishearing, not" "Hearing it correctly." "it'ssmokeandmirrors." "It's bogus." "And it's all too familiar." "narrator:" "Karenignaniand" "Her allies fought back." "newhiddentaxesthat" "Congress wants on your health" "Care." "Hidden health care taxes on" "Medicines, medical devices and" "Health insurance." "narrator:" "Theysecretly" "Funneled millions of dollars to" "A tough ad campaign by the" "Chamber of commerce." "callcongress." "Tell them no hidden health care" "Taxes in a recession." "narrator:" "Andpowerful" "Senators stepped up to support" "Her cause." "therewerestillsome" "Senator lieberman was one," "Senator nelson of nebraska was" "Another-- who still said there's" "Merit to what the insurance" "Industry is saying." "And those were critical swing" "Votes." "narrator:" "Emanuelandharry" "Reid were now doing deals just" "To win over democrats." "They killed the public option," "Pleasing senator lieberman and" "Others." "They lowered proposed taxes for" "Medical device makers for evan" "Bayh." "The final holdout was the" "Democrat from nebraska, former" "Insurance executive ben nelson." "bennelsonis oneofthemore" "Conservative members of the" "Democratic caucus in the senate," "And they needed his vote, they" "Had to have his vote." "thatmeantsittingdownand" "Hammering out a deal, really" "Giving him almost what he" "Wanted, anything he wanted." "thefocusat theend ofa" "Bill like this is always how" "You're going to get those last" "Two or three votes." "And compromises are made and" "Thrown at senators' feet in" "Order to get them to vote." "narrator:" "Innelson'scase," "The cost was $100 million." "The costs of expanding" "Nebraska's medicaid would be" "Covered by the u.S. Taxpayers." "toa lotof us ,we werevery," "Very upset about it." "It was very poorly done." "But the only way they could get" "It through was, basically, to" "Bribe their members." "narrator:" "Thepresscalledit" "The "cornhusker kickback."" "Nelson promised to vote for" "Health care reform." "prostitutionhasbeen" "Legalized in washington, d.C." "isthisdealfor ben nelson," "Forever and ever, amen?" "Forever and ever, and only for" "Nebraska." "Ithinkit stinks." "I think it's sleazy." "thisisn'tsleazy,thisis" "Gangster." "you'vegotto complimentben" "Nelson for playing "the price" "Is right."" "it'snotaprettyprocess." "There is deal-making." "That's the way it's been done" "For a long time." "But those deals that get done in" "Your front parlor can be pretty" "Smelly." "The public was already up to" "Here with what they were seeing" "In washington, and I think it" "Just put them over the side." "thatwasverysourstuffto" "Most people in this country." "They realized that this was not" "The way to legislate." "( gavel pounds ) mr." "Mcconnell." "No." "Mr. Menendez?" "aye." "thesenateconvenedtosend" "President obama a hard-fought" "Christmas present." "mrs." "Mikulski." "No." "it'sfirstrollcallvote on" "Christmas eve since 1895." "mr." "Nelsonof nebraska?" "aye." "theayesare60, the naysare 39." "H.R. 3590 is passed." "( applause ) tonight,theayeshaveit." "The senate passes an historic" "Health care bill... thiswasastrictlyparty" "Line vote-- all the democrats" "Voting yes, all the republicans" "Voting no." "The final tally-- 60 to 39." "onchristmasmorning," "Everyone was sitting around" "Thinking that he was an lbj-like" "Genius, because it appeared that" "He was on the verge of" "Accomplishing what no president" "Had for 70 years." "theywereso close." "They were inches away from" "Getting this bill." "theyhad60 votesonrecord" "In the senate." "They had the house bill in hand." "The emerald city was right there" "In the distance." "In the distance." "narrator:" "Thewhitehouse" "Wasn't paying attention, but up" "In massachusetts, that" ""cornhusker kickback" was still" "Hanging in the air." "It was almost election day." "At stake was ted kennedy's" "Senate seat." "thepollingnumbersare all" "Over the place." "thiscouldbe abreakthrough" "For the republicans." "Ithinktheheadlineinthe" "Boston herald this morning" "Says it all-- "mass hysteria."" "thisisthescottbrown" "Campaign." "narrator:" "A political" "Newcomer was on the verge of" "Taking a seat the president was" "Counting on to pass health care" "Reform." "republicanscottbrownis" "Riding the wave." "brown'scampaignlanguagehas" "The aura of a revolutionary" "Crusade." "businessasusualisnotthe" "Business we like." "And all those back room deals" "From nebraska and others, it's" "Just wrong and we can do better." "( cheers ) scottbrowneffectivelyused" "That as a way of saying that" "Change has not come to" "Washington." "narrator:" "Thedemocrat," "Martha coakley, was sinking in" "The polls." "onlybelatedlydoesitdawn" "On the white house what's about" "To happen." "The president's not going to go" "Up there to campaign for her" "Until the Friday before the" "Election, when martha coakley" "Calls david axelrod personally," "And says, "I need him to come" "Up."" "presidentbarackobama." "( cheers ) theyfranticallysentobama" "Up to massachusetts the weekend" "Before." "hemakesit verycleartothe" "Massachusetts electorate what's" "At stake here is the obama" "Presidency, and do they want to" "Hand the republicans the power" "To stop his agenda on health" "Care and on everything else?" "narrator:" "Byelectionday ," "The president knew they would" "Lose." "January19,6: 30p.M.,about" "An hour and half before the" "Polls close in massachusetts," "Obama calls for pelosi, reid," "Biden and rahm emanuel to come" "To the oval office." "narrator:" "Theyimmediately" "Convened an emergency meeting." "fromtheverymomentthat it" "Was clear that scott brown was" "Going to win that seat, he began" "Thinking through what the next" "Steps would be to be able to" "Right the ship and get health" "Care done." "narrator:" "Thepresidentasked" "Speaker of the house nancy" "Pelosi if she could get the" "House to pass the senate bill." "pelosiisannoyed,and quite" "Adamant that there's no way she" "Can sell that to her house" "Members." "Almost kind of lecturing saying," ""you don't understand the" "Realities in the house." "This won't work."" "And obama finally snaps," "Uncharacteristically for him," "And he says, "I understand that," "Nancy." "What's your suggestion?"" "And there is no suggestion." "wewentfrom,basically," "Beginning to plan how and when" "The president would sign the" "Bill to if we could even" "Resuscitate the bill." "scottbrownis thewinnerof" "The massachusetts United States" "Senate race." "( cheers and applause ) brown'svictoryshakesup" "Massachusetts, and it shakes up" "The nation." "usa!" "Usa!" "arepublicantakingoverthe" "Seat that ted kennedy held for 46 years." "usa!" "Usa!" "Usa!" "hereheis ,theUnitedStates" "Senator from massachusetts," "Scott brown." "( cheers and applause ) peopledonotwantthe" "Trillion dollar health care plan" "That is being forced... ( cheers ) inoneelectionwas a" "Composite of all that ill" "Feeling from the grassroots of" "America, and if it can be" "Expressed in liberal" "Massachusetts, they know it's a" "Lot worse in montana and" "Wyoming." "iftheyreplacethe so-called" "Kennedy seat with a republican," "Then, my gosh, you'd better wake" "Up." "narrator:" "Thepresident's" "Super-majority was gone." "The republicans now had their 41st vote." "The worst blizzards in history" "Buried washington in February." "gettinga healthcarebillq" "Passed now looks more difficult" "Than ever." "alloftheoptionsforhealth" "Care get very ugly." "narrator:" "Itclosedthe" "Government." "Idon'tseeany way you go" "Forward from here with health" "Care." "I'm not saying... they'reshell-shocked." "They're going to need a whole" "New strategy on health care" "Reform." "narrator:" "Barackobamawas" "Coming to terms with what looked" "Like his first significant" "Failure as president." "thisisacomplexissue,and" "The longer it was debated, the" "More skeptical people became." "I take my share of blame for not" "Explaining it more clearly to" "The american people." "theprocesswasmessy,andso" "It turned people off." "It ended up being behind closed" "Doors." "It was filled with a lot of" "Partisan wrangling, people" "Yelling at each other across the" "Table." "We ended up having a process" "That represented a lot of what" "The american people hated about" "Washington." "thepresidentis ,in some" "Ways, kind of re-balancing" "Himself." "The year had been very hard on" "Him." "The massachusetts defeat," "Symbolically, was terrible and," "Practically, had a devastating" "Effect." "thepresidentadmittedhe's" "Made some mistakes in his first" "Year in office, but said he" "Won't quit." "achastenedu.S.President" "Barack obama concedes he's made" "Some mistakes in his first year" "In office." "he'sgotan uphillfight" "Here." "narrator:" "Whilethecountry" "Waited, obama formulated a new" "Plan." "He would personally sell the" "Bill to congress and the" "American people." "thepresidentsaidtousthat" "He would do anything, he will" "Call anyone, meet with anyone." "He will speak anywhere." "He will do whatever it takes to" "Make the case." "He was going to have to be the" "Primary spokesperson for health" "Reform." "He was going to have to force" "Action." "narrator:" "Hedeployedrahm" "Emanuel to work with speaker" "Pelosi." "They would try to get enough" "Democrats on board to push" "Through the senate bill." "theyrealizedthattheir" "Political operation had come way" "Off the tracks, and they needed" "To quickly right that operation." "mr." "President!" "narrator:" "Theybegantheir" "Comeback by staging a showdown" "With the republicans, out in the" "Open, on national television." "lookingforwardto listening." "thepresidentis gathering" "House and senate leaders," "Democrats and republicans, to" "Try to save health care reform." "it'sa high-stakesgamble" "That could be all or nothing" "For the president." "everybodypleasehaveaseat ." "thesummitwasanopportunity" "To hit the restart button on how" "People viewed the process, to do" "It all on live on tv, open for" "The american people to see, make" "Them feel more comfortable with" "The process." "here'sthebottomline--we" "All know this is urgent." "suddenly,thepresidentwas" "In the driver's seat." "thisbecameavery" "Ideological battle." "theyneededto showthat" "Obama was back in charge." "narrator:" "Politicaltheater" "One by one, he took on" "Republicans." "thecongressionalbudget" "Office report says that premiums" "Will rise." "no,no,no ,no ." "This is an example of where" "We've got to get our facts" "Straight." "Let me respond to what you just" "Said, lamar, because it's not" "Factually accurate." "thatwas,Ithink,themoment" "That he stepped up in a way that" "He hadn't before." "letmejustmakethis point" "John, because we're not" "Campaigning anymore, the" "Election's over." "I'mremindedof thatevery" "Day." "( laughter ) yeah,um... there'snoquestionthat" "There was a change in his style." "He took ownership of this health" "Care issue." "He challenged everybody on this" "Front." "...Ofhowwe actuallyget a" "Bill done." "narrator:" "Andthen,for a" "Month, barack obama the" "Campaigner hit the road to sell" "The bill." "donotquit!" "Do not give up!" "We keep on going!" "( applause )" "We are going to get this done!" "We are going to make history!" "We are going to fix health care" "In america with your help!" "God bless you!" "And god bless the United States" "Of america!" "( cheers and applause ) narrator:" "OnSunday,March 21, the president waited to see" "Whether he had convinced just" "Enough members of his own party" "To push the bill through." "downtothewireonhealth" "Care reform." "The house votes just hours from" "Now." "aftermonthsof rancorinthe" "Streets, the vote takes place" "In just a few hours." "memberswillrecordtheir" "Votes by electronic device." "sittingintheroosevelt" "Room, the president, the" "Vice president, we sat there," "And there was a small bit of" "Anxiety as we watched the votes" "Tick up." "itisa15-minutevote ." "we'vehadvictorysnatched" "From us before." "onthisvote,the yeasare 219, the nays are 212." "The motion is adopted." "( gavel pounds )" "( cheers and applause ) the216thvotecomesover ,a" "Big cheer erupts." "219to212." "No votes from republicans." "alldemocrats,no" "Republicans." "thisisahugevictoryfor" "This president." "fordecades,they'vebeen" "Trying to do it." "It has now been done." "goodevening,everybody." "This legislation will not fix" "Everything that ails our health" "Care system." "But it moves us decisively in" "The right direction." "This is what change looks like." "narrator:" "Itwasvictory,but" "Experienced washington knew the" "President would pay for it." "itcameat ahighprice." "The entire first year," "Basically, dedicated to this." "Having their hopes for" "Bipartisanship dashed." "And the white house still is not" "Certain how this will sell in" "The country." "thereisarealismthat it" "Has come with a cost." "We don't know what's going to" "Happen in the November" "Elections." "We don't know what's going to" "Happen in 2012." "But there is no question that" "This health care battle has put" "His party at risk.S" "And how they deal with that is" "The next chapter." "But this was a historic moment." "there'smoreto exploreon" "Our website." "healthcarereformwillnot" "Wait another year." "watchtheprogramagain" "Online." "Ihadpeoplecometomy town" "Meeting with sheets of paper" "That thick of the internet and" "Quoting from the bill." "readtheextendedinterviews." "weendedup havingaprocess" "That represented a lot of what" "The american people hated about" "Washington." "hesays,"I understandthat," "Nancy." "What's your suggestion?"" "And there is no suggestion." "getmoredetailsonthe" "Lobbying... itwasagreatbill forthe" "Insurance company's point of" "View." "...Deal-making... it'snotaprettyprocess." "There is deal-making." "That's the way it's been done" "For a long, long time." "...Andkeyturningpointsin" "The long road to health care" "Reform." "Then join the discussion at" "Pbs.Org."