Prime Time President

" Lot of what in the president's going to say -- and tonight -- address at 8 o'clock however white house press secretary Robert Gibbs notes and he joins us right now. From the north lawn of the White House where India Robert. Good morning yes very you do okay so I know you way you don't wanna spill the beans too much but what can you tell us telepresence -- I'm. --"

" I think the president will play clearly out what what's in this plan what he's proposing for healthcare reform. I think he'll leave people -- too big impressions one if you're fortunate enough to have health insurance like I'm sure you guys do. But media people are struggling with a high cost of insurance. Pat of these reforms provide them security and stability in -- changing marketplace and for those that are. Not fortunate enough to have health care and have to go to the emergency room. For healthcare and give us the bill he's canal lot of way to provide affordable accessible insurance. For those books as well."

" But Robert -- seems as though the president is in a bit of a pickle because if you support the public option the government run -- plan he loses the support of Republicans and even blue dog. Democrat if he -- The public option he then loses the support of Liberal Democrats so what's he gonna do."

" Well look at what I think you hear him talk about tonight is the valuable tool that a public option provides. In a private insurance and small group market keep in mind I know you guys but don't tell your viewers this enough. 480 million people to get their insurance through their employer the public option is a good impact them. If you're on Medicare or Medicaid or get your health -- to the VA the public option doesn't impact you. It's just for people lot of private insurance. Individual or small group market place. This is gonna get the additional opportunity. Through competition to compare. What insurance company vs another in providing -- choice to cover their families and cover their small business."

" Right but critics do say that the public option would then fourth -- employers to just. Use the public option because -- it that much more affordable. It will put private insurers out of business."

" Well that a first of all as as we've stated this entire time. This is not gonna be something that runs unnecessarily. On big government subsidies they're gonna have to operate by the -- with the premiums they collect. But they've probably will be somewhat more efficient in this way. They're not gonna have being camera after being -- looking through forms trying to cherry pick the healthiest people among us to provide insurance. When you do that through that type of natural selection what you're doing is creating a market for. Unhealthy. For people that are sick. Not to be able to get insurance that."

" Doesn't help the system. Robert how much does the president regret licensing out this whole plan to Nancy Pelosi. And the whole option out to an anti Pelosi and Harry Reid why isn't this the president's plan your wedding congress respond -- are. Congress respond the president -- by the congress and plan."

" Well look this has been tried a couple of different ways strike. Fifteen or sixteen years ago that an administration put out of planned first. I went to congress -- that rather than doing the doing it the way we did it. Prior to the healthcare reform is now through four out of the five committees in congress. And we're closer than ever before to getting healthcare reform. Passed into law and helping the American people I know I'm not gonna second guessing anyway the way we've done this because again we're closer that we."

" Ever been definitely you know yet there's a poll out from the Gallup people been doing it awhile. Should have more people why -- represented 39% want their representatives to vote against it then wanted to vote for so how could you show you winning."

" Because they get work closer to getting this done that we ever have been before. That's the reality. The president isn't governing by Gallup polls if we were governing by Gallup. We'd have done a lot of things differently we wouldn't have a domestic auto industry there would be many banks in this country lending small businesses money. To be able to meet their payroll each day for -- military. I'm wrong for the president to listen to his references representatives and for the represented to listen to their people that put him in office not. Absolutely not that they give representatives and senators and the president listened to the American people what they're telling them quite clearly is that we have to do something about health -- we've talked about this for decades. And during those decades we've watched premiums double time after time after time even for those that are fortunate to have health insurance. One quick thing I do hope that the viewers of fox will find a way to watch his speech tonight I know that the network instead of dealing with the reality of millions of people. On health insurance reform had decided this show a reality show. Called something like So You Think You Can Dance -- On the Fox News Channel will be covering that tired right. But I do hope people will we'll check into the reality of what's going on in America. Rather than the distraction of -- reality TV show."

" Well now of course fox -- owns a broadcast network they -- in news channel and it will of course Robert do great here on the Fox News Channel. Work why you don't want to cited the Gallup poll why do you think the president's poll numbers are going down."

" That will look I think the president is trying to do a lot of difficult things I think the president is dealing with an economy that continues to struggle. I think the president is having to make a lot of important decisions about foreign policy. But look look again -- if the president -- governed by Gallup. Then obviously we'd be making a lot of different decisions. Not all of which are in the best interest of their economic well being for our national security but that's what leadership is all about -- it's making tough decisions -- When you say if they did the president didn't governed by Gallup he would go for a public option because that's something that he did. It's ultimate path and said is a very important is essential for a lot of book. Congressional Democrats really want that so if you what you look at the polls to forget about the pull this idea why wouldn't go for -- right. But I think if you look at the polls. You you'll see that the public option is quite popular. Because people like my friend Alabama. You have to go on to a private insurance market when they start a small business. And realize that only this. 90% of the state is controlled by exactly one health insurance company that's not choice and competition. Guys you started cable news network because. You thought the company there wasn't enough choice and competition for viewers out there that's the same type of choice and competition -- the president wants to put the health insurance market. So that people like my friend can start a small business without the fear right not being able to provide health insurance for their family and -- We'll explain to us with a shrink your plan is if we're gonna hear about that tonight from the president. Well I think as I understand that triggered this being proposed on Capitol Hill is. Did if certain reforms are -- in a region of the country if it region of the country's dominated disaster like Alabama is one health insurance provider. If there aren't enough options for people in that region that that would trigger a public option. That's one of the ideas that's been discussed up on Capitol Hill and I anticipate the president will discuss. Pretty robustly the public option tonight."

" Hey Robert you a lot of table but I I also read it minority leader Mitch McConnell senator says you know what. William Gray the status quo is not acceptable. We just don't like the players we've seen. We gotta talk about caught still got to talk about access if you have a minority party. It says I agree things have to be changed do you regret not embody that minority party unison let's get this together by George Bush did with okay. Kennedy like Bill Bradley game with Ronald Reagan. When it came to catch reform."

" you guys just talked about the president's proposing and then congress disposing or what have you looked. Did the Republican Party in Mitch McConnell Miller are free at any time to offer their ideas we hope they will. The president has talked with Democrats and Republicans. This week on how we get health care reform done but I would tell -- to Mitch McConnell you've heard your constituents say it's time to do something about healthcare reform while. -- give -- did he constantly brings up. Tort -- I'm always the water I'm fine how about."

" Suddenly you only have to do is pick up a paper -- and at -- were any networking need to hear that. Republicans talk about tort reform that they want brought into the -- they want that insurance companies could be because."

" State lines they wanna have. They wanna have different elements in terms of health savings accounts brought in one that brings some --"

" Well look at me the president will talk about. Meaningful now practice reform tonight. What how bad does his cause Republicans understand that we're close to getting something truly significant done for the American people truly significant for those that are struggling with a high cost of health insurance. People like my friends who have delayed for years starting their own business because they were worried about. How -- they gonna get insurance to cover their family while they while they try to run after the American dream of working for themselves. You're gonna hear a lot of ideas that Republicans have talked about tonight the president will talk about them what we hope that causes Republicans to do. It stopped protesting and come on -- Work with -- some reform and unfortunately I don't has been with the Democrats now with the Republicans don't you agree with that."

" No I again if Mitch McConnell Scott solutions and want to see things and help your sorry. Come down to the White House so let's let's let's get this thing solved we can do this guy's okay. Robert Gibbs figures from the north lawn of the White House thank you very much and -- thank you -- Iraq."