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President Obama Address on Health Care Law From Iowa

Aired March 25, 2010 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Let's stay in Washington for a second. Let's go to the U.S. Senate right now.

They are voting now on the bill that was voted on and passed in the House. Then the changes to the original Senate bill, those are now being voted on.

As you know, senators were up until the wee hours of the night. There were some changes made to that, so they've got to pass it in the Senate and then they've got to send it back to the House for another vote. That should all happen today. But the voting is under way right now in the Senate.

We'll keep you posted as soon as that bill is passed. That is what you're looking at right now, however. It doesn't take a long time to get this vote done. We will bring it to you as soon as it's done.

OK. New hour, new "Rundown."

I'll give you three guesses what President Obama is going to talk about any moment now. He's in Iowa City. If you guessed health care all three times, you're right. His reform bill is being shuffled back to the House after that vote is finished in Senate.

Outside Capitol Hill, the battle over health care is turning ugly and, in some cases, outright dangerous. We're talking bitterness, bricks and bullets.

Plus, I don't know if you've seen the commercials. Take your gold watch, your gold bars, put them in an envelope and get cash back. Guess what? Some people say they got ripped off and they're going to court. We'll talk to the CEO of Cash4Gold.

Plus, we're talking to a very special little man. No matter where you stand on health care reform, whether you support it or oppose it, you are downright furious about it, you need to hear Marcelas Owens' story, and you will right here.

We're watching two big developments -- the process of overhauling health care in America. The process does go on two days after the president signs the bill.

In a moment, the president will campaign for the bill which is now actually the law. He's in Iowa City, Iowa. That's where he first pitched health care reform back when he was candidate Obama back in 2007.

Now, this is the introduction. This is Kathleen Sebelius. She is getting ready to introduce the president. We will keep monitoring that. That is in Iowa.

Now, back in Washington, we just showed you senators are wrapping up two days of work on the companion to the health care reform which is called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. They have turned away reams of Republican amendments, but overnight two small provisions were ruled out of order by the Senate. And as a result, there was one vote to go, now there are two votes to go.

One of those votes is under way right now. That means under the rules of reconciliation, those provisions have come out of the bill. Once this vote is done, it has to go back to the House for a revote.

The final Senate vote is under way right now. I don't know why I keep saying "final," because nothing about this process has been final.

And what are those disallowed provisions? Let me just tell you what they are. This is the stuff that the Senate parliamentarian deemed not to be in order.

They have to do not with health care. They're part of an unrelated rewrite of the federal student loan program.

Now, remember, this program, we talked about it earlier this week. Generally speaking, about a third of all the student loans go right from the government to students. Two-thirds go through banks.

Now, what this provision is, is it cuts out the banks. The government will lend directly to the students. And the money that the government saves by not going through the banks will be applied to deficit reintroduction and increasing the amount of loans that are available.

That is what they're voting on right now. It's not actually about this, it's about provisions to do with this. OK. That's the process.

Now I want to spend a moment on the passion, the raw and venomous anger being aimed at lawmakers from both parties, mainly against Democrats. But they are being leveled against Republicans, too.

In the wake of that historic vote on Sunday night, death threats, vandalism, primarily from radical opponents of health care overhaul. I did use that word intentionally, "radical" opponents, and its impact on abortion in particular.

I want you to hear a highly unpleasant voicemail that was left for Michigan Representative Bart Stupak. You'll remember, Stupak is a Democrat, but he is vehemently anti-abortion. He was pivotal in passing health care reform after a side agreement that the president would sign outlining that the health care bill is not going to be funding abortion. Take a listen to this message that was left on his answering machine.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stupak, you're a lowlife, baby-murdering scumbag pile of steaming crap. You're a cowardly punk, Stupak. That's what you are.

You and your family are scum. That's what you are, Stupak. You're a piece of crap.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

VELSHI: In the last hour we played a different voicemail which actually implied threats against Bart Stupak.

House leaders met yesterday to talk about security. Top Republicans are joining in condemning the nastiness.

Here's what House GOP Leader John Boehner had to say this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), MINORITY LEADER: I know many Americans are angry over this health care bill, and angry at Democrats here in Washington for not listening. But as I said before, violence and threats are unacceptable. They have no place in a political debate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELSHI: Boehner went on to say that there are avenues to voice your opposition, including volunteering, getting involved in political campaigns, running for office, but that violence isn't an option.

Now, that is the backdrop against which the president visits the heartland at this hour.

After a break, we're going to go to Iowa City. White House Correspondent Dan Lothian standing by while Kathleen Sebelius introduces the president.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: Right to Iowa City now. President Barack Obama campaigning about the health care bill that has now become law. It's where he first talked about health care.

Let's listen in.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hello, Iowa!

(APPLAUSE)

Are you fired up? Oh, it is good to be back in Iowa. I've got to take off my jacket when I'm in Iowa.

It is good to be back in Iowa. It's a little colder than it is in D.C., I've got to admit. But I can feel spring coming.

I want to make a couple of acknowledgements.

First of all, University of Iowa president, Dr. Sally Mason, and the entire Hawkeye community. Thanks for hosting us.

(APPLAUSE)

The outstanding governor of the great state of Iowa, Chet Culver, and first lady, Mary Culver.

(APPLAUSE)

There he is back there.

A couple of great friends -- Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge.

(APPLAUSE)

The co-chairs of my campaign here in Iowa, Attorney General Tom Miller and Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald.

(APPLAUSE)

The former governor of Iowa who's now I think going to end up being one of the greatest secretaries of agriculture in history, Tom Vilsack is in the House.

(APPLAUSE)

I want to acknowledge Iowa City Mayor Matt Hayek.

(APPLAUSE)

The entire Iowa delegation could not be here because they are still busy finishing business, crossing T's and dotting I's in Washington. But I want every single person to know that this celebration would not be happening if it were not for your members of Congress -- Leonard Boswell, Bruce Braley, your own personal congressman, Dave Loebsack, and Senator Tom Harkin.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, thank you, Secretary Sebelius, for the introduction, but more importantly, for all the amazing and tireless work that you've done to make health care reform a reality. I, too, feel your pain, because in my bracket I had Kansas winning it all. I feel a little bitter.

The president of Northern Iowa came here, and he was just a big smile. He was gloating. (APPLAUSE)

I know. I'm sold.

I want to congratulate all the Northern Iowa fans in this part of the state on their big win. And since you ruined my bracket, I'm rooting for you now. I want you to just go ahead and take it. Go all the way.

I also want to start things off -- oh, there's one other thing. Some of you know that I have a military aide that travels with me wherever I go.

This is one of the things the president does, he carries a big satchel with all kinds of important stuff in there. And the military aide I have with me today is a guy named Lieutenant Colonel Dave Kalinsky (ph). And Dave was strong safety for the Hawkeyes.

(APPLAUSE)

There he is, right there! There's Dave Kalinsky (ph), strong safety.

See, that briefcase is big, so you've got a former strong safety carrying it.

I want to start off by telling folks here how inspired that I've been by your continued resilience in the wake of the floods that devastated this region a few years back. And I remember traveling here right after they happened and how tough things were.

I know the rebuilding's been difficult, but you should know that you always have a committed partner in this administration to support the road to recovery. And we know that Iowa City's going to be as good as new, and better. Cedar rapids, all across the state, we're seeing that rebuilding take place.

So, it's just good to be back in Iowa. This is the state that first believed in our campaign.

(APPLAUSE)

When all the pundits had written us off, when we were down in the polls, this is the state that inspired us to keep on going, even when the path was uncertain. And because of you, this is the place where change began, because --

(APPLAUSE)

Three years ago I came here, to this campus, to make a promise. Just a few months into our campaign, I stood at the University of Iowa Hospital, right around the corner, and I promised that by the end of my first term in office, I would sign legislation to reform our health insurance system.

(APPLAUSE) On Tuesday, after a year of debate, a century of trying, after so many of you shared your stories and your heartaches and your hopes, that promise was finally fulfilled. And today, health insurance reform is the law of the land all across America.

(APPLAUSE)

AUDIENCE: Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!

OBAMA: Yes, we did.

Just like the campaign that led us here, this historic change didn't start in Washington. It began in places like Iowa City, places just like this, with Americans just like you.

It began when people had the courage to stand up in town hall meetings and talk about how insurance companies were denying their families coverage because of a pre-existing condition. It began when folks wrote letters about how premium hikes of 40 percent and 50 percent and 100 percent were forcing them to give up their insurance. It began when countless small business owners and families and doctors shared stories about a health care system that works better for the insurance industry than it does for the American people.

So, this is your victory. Because when the special interests sent an army of lobbyists to Congress, they blanketed the airwaves with millions of dollars of negative ads, you mobilized, and you organized, and you refused to give up. And when the pundits were obsessing over who's up and who's down and how's this affecting the Obama administration, and what's going on over in the House, you never lost sight of what was right and what was wrong.

You knew this was not about the fortunes of one party. This was about the future of our country. And today, because of what you did, that future looks stronger and more hopeful and brighter than it has in some time because of you.

(APPLAUSE)

Three years ago we made a promise. That promise has been kept. Of course over the last year there's been a lot of misinformation spread about health care reform. There have been plenty of fear- mongering, plenty of overheated rhetoric.

If you turn on the news, you'll see the same folks are still shouting about there's going to be an end of the world because this bill passed. I'm not exaggerating.

Leaders of the Republican Party, they called the passage of this bill Armageddon. Armageddon, end of freedom as we know it.

So, after I signed the bill, I looked around to see if there were any asteroids falling or --

(APPLAUSE) -- some cracks opening up in the earth.

It turned out it was a nice day. Birds were chirping. Folks were strolling down the Mall. People still had their doctors.

From this day forward, all of the cynics, all of the naysayers, they're going to have to confront the reality of what this reform is and what it isn't. So, I have to finally acknowledge this isn't a government takeover of our health care system.

They'll see that if Americans like their doctor, they'll be keeping their doctor. You like your plan, you'll be keeping your plan. No one's taking that away from you.

Three months from now, six months from now, you're going to look around, you're going to be sitting in a doctor's office, reading through the old-people magazines, and you'll say, hey, this is the same doctor, same plan. It wasn't Armageddon.

What this reform does is build on the system of private health insurance that we already have. So, does that mean that it's going to solve every health care problem that we have? No. But it finally tells -- oops, it looks like somebody may have fainted.

That happens sometimes in the crowd. Just give them some space.

If the medics can make sure to check on them. In the meantime, just make sure that they've got some air. All right? And if anybody has some water down there, that would be great.

They'll be all right.

So -- but here's what the bill does. It finally tells the insurance companies that in exchange for all the new customers they're about to get, they've got to start playing by a new set of rules that treats everybody honestly and treats everybody fairly.

(APPLAUSE)

The days of the insurance industry running roughshod over the American people are over. So, if you already have insurance, this reform will make it more secure and more affordable. If you can't afford insurance right now, or if you've been denied coverage -- and I'll bet there are some folks here who don't have insurance or can't afford it or have been denied coverage -- you're going to finally be able to get it.

Costs will come down for families and businesses and the federal government, reducing our deficit by more than $1 trillion over the next two decades. That is what reform is going to do.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, it's going to take about four years to implement this entire plan because we've got to do it responsibly, we need to do it right. So, I just want to be clear. That means that health care costs won't go down overnight.

Not all the changes are going to be in place. There's still going to be aspects of the health care system that are very frustrating over the next several years.

But we have built in the law all sorts of measures that in the years to come, health care inflation, which has been rising about three times as fast as people's wages, is finally going to start slowing down. We'll start reducing the waste in the system from unnecessary tests to unwarranted insurance subsidies so that over time Americans are going to save money.

And meanwhile, there are a set of reforms that begin to take into effect this year, so I want to talk about this.

This year, millions of small business owners will be eligible for tax credits that will help them cover the cost of insurance for their employees. This year, millions of small businesses will benefit.

So, let me talk to you about what this means for a business like your own Prairie Light bookstore downtown.

(APPLAUSE)

This is a small business that's been offering coverage to their full-time employees for the last 20 years. Last year, their premiums went up 35 percent, which made it a lot harder for them to offer the same coverage.

On Tuesday, I was joined at the bill signing by Ryan Smith, who runs a small business with five employees. His premiums are going up, too. He's worried about having to stop offering health insurance to his workers.

So, starting now, small business owners like Ryan and the folks at Prairie Light, they're going to have the security of knowing that they'll qualify for a tax credit that covers up to 35 percent of their employees' health insurance.

(APPLAUSE)

Starting today, small business owners -- starting today, small business owners can sit down at the end of the week, look at their expenses, and they can begin calculating how much money they're going to save. And maybe they can even use those savings to not only provide insurance, but also create jobs.

This health care tax credit is pro-jobs, it is pro-business, and it starts this year, and it's starting because of you.

(APPLAUSE)

Starting this year, tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with a pre-existing condition and parents whose children have a pre- existing condition will finally be able to purchase the coverage they need. (APPLAUSE)

You know, on Tuesday, right after I signed the bill, I met David Gallagher (ph), whose daughter Lauren (ph) had written me a letter last year. When Lauren's (ph) mom lost her job, the entire family lost their health insurance. And when they tried to get new insurance, David was denied coverage because he once had a complication-free hernia surgery.

So, Lauren's (ph) been worried sick about what would happen if her father became ill or injured. But now, because of this reform, David Gallagher (ph) can finally have access to health insurance again. That starts this year because of you and the work that you did.

(APPLAUSE)

This year, insurance companies will no longer be able to drop people's coverage when they get sick, or place lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care they can receive.

(APPLAUSE)

This year, all new insurance plans will be required to offer free preventive care. And, by the way, for all the students who are here today, starting this year, if you don't have insurance, or if you're about to graduate and you're not sure what your next job's going to be, or there's a little gap between getting that job with insurance, all new plans and some current ones will allow you to stay on your parents' insurance policy until you're 26 years old, starting this year.

(APPLAUSE)

Because as you start your lives and your careers, the last thing you should worry about is whether you go broke just because you get sick.

This year, for the seniors who are in the audience, if you fall in the coverage gap known as the doughnut hole, you're going to receive $250 to help pay for prescriptions, which will be the first step towards closing that doughnut hole, that gap, completely.

(APPLAUSE)

And I want seniors to know -- I want seniors to know that despite what some have said, these reforms will not cut your guaranteed benefits. In fact, under this law, Americans on Medicare will receive free preventive care without co-payments and deductibles.

Darlene Neff (ph) is here today. She's a breast cancer survivor. She's fought her heart out for reform over the last few years.

Today, the preventive care she needs will finally be covered without charge. That's what this reform will do. That's what's happening because of you. (APPLAUSE)

And once this reform is implemented, then health insurance exchanges are going to be created. This is the core aspect of this bill that is going to be so important to Americans who are looking for coverage.

Basically we set up a competitive marketplace where people without insurance, small businesses, people who are having to pay through the teeth because they're just buying insurance on their own. Maybe you're self-employed. You're finally going to be able to purchase quality, affordable health insurance, because you're going to be part of a big pool.

By the way, with members of Congress, so you will be able to get the same good deal that they're getting, because if you're paying their salary, you should have health insurance that's at least as good as theirs. That's what's going to happen in the next few years. And when this exchange is up and running, millions of people are going to be getting tax breaks to help them afford coverage, and the credits add up to the largest middle-class tax cut for health care in history.

That's the basic aspects of reform. (INAUDIBLE) that's not in it because we didn't get it through Congress. There's no need to shout, young man. No need to shout, 32 million people are going to have health insurance because of this legislation. That's what this was about, all right? So, that's what's going to happen. Now, I want to just make this point. This legislation's not perfect, as you just heard.

This young man's dissatisfied with an aspect of it, which is fine. I mean, that's part of what democracy's about, but -- but what this is a historic step to enshrine the principle that everybody gets health care coverage in this country, every single person. And it's absolutely true, it's absolutely true, this is a middle of the road bill. It isn't single payer, some people wanted. It's also not what the Republicans were looking for, which was basically to deregulate the insurance industry, arguing that somehow this would cut down costs, something that defies the experience of everybody who has dealt with an insurance company out there.

So, yes, this is a commonsense bill. It doesn't do everything that everybody wants, but it moves us in the direction of universal health care coverage in this country, and that's why everybody here fought so hard for it. This is all -- this is the reform that some folks in Washington are still hollering about, still shouting about. Now that they passed it, now that we passed it, they're already promising to repeal it.

They're actually going to run on a platform of repeal in November. You've been hearing that and my attitude is, go for it. If these congressmen in Washington want to come here in Iowa and tell small business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest. If they want to look Lauren Gallagher in the eye and tell her they plan to take away her father's health insurance, that's their right.

They want to make Darlene Neff pay more money for her checkups, her mammograms, they can run on that platform. This young man out here thinks this is a bad bill. He can run to repeal it. If they want to have that fight, we can have it. Because I don't believe that the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver's seat. We've already been there. We're not going back. This country's moving forward.

You know, the road to this victory, Iowa, has been long. It has been difficult. It's a struggle that a lot of brave Americans have waged for years. For others like our friend Ted Kennedy, it was a struggle that was waged for nearly a lifetime. But what this struggle has taught us, about ourselves and about this country, it's so much bigger than any one issue, because it's reminded us what so many of us learned all those months ago on a cold January night here in Iowa, and that's that change is never easy, but it's always possible.

It comes -- it comes not from the halls of power, but from the hearts of our people. Amid setbacks, it requires perseverance. Amid calls for delay, it requires the fierce urgency of now. In the face of unrelenting cynicism, it requires unyielding hope. And when I came here three years ago, I told the story of when Lyndon Johnson stood with Harry Truman and signed Medicare into law. That wasn't perfect either. I'm sure there was somebody who was dissatisfied with it at the time.

And as he looked out over the crowd in independence, Missouri, that day, he said, "history shapes men, but it is necessary -- it is a necessary faith of leadership that men can shape history." What this generation has proven today is that we still have the power to shape history. In the united states of America, it is still a necessary faith that our destiny is written by us, not for us. Our future is what we make it.

Our future is what we make it, but this is not the end of difficult times for America. From creating jobs to reducing deficits to making sure every child has a decent education, we still face enormous challenges in this country. And as we meet those challenges, we're going to face more resistance. We're going to face more doubt. We're going to face more cynicism. We're going to hear more voices who will warn us that we're reaching too far, that we're going too fast, who are going to tell us that we can't wait, who are going to just make wild ac accusations about what we're trying to do.

And when that happens, we've got to remember the promise that we've already fulfilled and the people who fulfilled it and the generations before us who made it possible. We're going to have to respond with the creed that continues to define the character of this country we love, and it's my favorite memory of Iowa, that creed that says, "yes, we can." Iowa, yes, we did, because of you. And it's because of you that we are going to keep on going, to make sure that we fulfill every promise to every child in this country for a brighter future.

Thank you. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

VELSHI: President Barack Obama in Iowa City, Iowa, where he first talked about his platform on health care back when he was a candidate in 2007. Talking about Republicans who opposed health care, possibly running on a platform of repealing health care, his words, was that if they want to go into the midterm elections talking about the repeal, campaigning on that front, in his words, quote, "go for it."

We'll have some analysis on this and more conversation about health care and about a scandal that continues to erupt encircling the Vatican when we come back. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: All right, let me bring you up to speed on some of the top stories at CNN.

A dangerous health care reform backlash aimed at both parties. Today on Capitol Hill, House number two Republican Eric Cantor said someone fired a bullet through the window of his campaign office in Richmond. We've also heard and seen evidence of threats and vandalism aimed at pro-reform Democrats.

As for the legislation itself, the health care companion bill cleared the Senate a few minutes ago and now because of some changes it goes back to the House where it's expected to pass as soon as this evening.

At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has announced relaxed guidelines on don't ask, don't tell, among other things the military is raising the threshold for launching any inquires in to alleged homosexual behavior.

And new threats supposedly from Osama Bin Laden. There's a new audiotape said to be from the al Qaeda leader. It threatens to kill Americans if the U.S. executes Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/11 mastermind. Mohammed faces an upcoming trial.

As if the Vatican needed more bad PR, "The New York Times" now reporting that the catholic church got tons of warning about a pedophile priest in Milwaukee and did nothing about it. At the time the future pope, Benedict XVI, was in charge of the office that disciplines priests. An American bishops' warnings went directly to him, now the Vatican said it was unaware of the case until 20 years after civil authorities investigated it and then dropped it.

OK, in a minute we'll go to the White House. We're going to talk to Ed Henry, standing by, he's our Senior White House correspondent. He's got "The Ed henry Segment," and we've got some interesting news for you about Tom Hanks, making good on a promise that he made to our own Ed Henry. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: Excellent song choice. 2:45 Eastern, every day this time, we talk to Ed Henry, our senior White House correspondent. I don't know if you can see me, but I'm enjoying a remarkable little chocolate chip cookie here, and the only thing that can make it better is a little espresso.

ED HENRY, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: A little espresso, and you know on this segment a couple weeks ago, I made a public appeal to Tom Hanks, who was coming to the White House that night, that he had kindly bought the White House press corps about a $1,000 espresso machine maybe a decade ago.

But it was getting a little old, it still works, but I was saying it would be kind of nice if he got us a new one. The next day you weren't here, because you were sick, Brooke was here, but Tom Hanks showed up, and here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

TOM HANKS: You know, because I never served in our military, I'm going to get you another -- another espresso machine, because that one --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Hanks, point out the coffee pot, would you?

HANKS: We have a fine American model, based on the history of the pony express.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you bought this?

HANKS: Well, long ago, I would have bought this probably $990. Let's see what I can do for the poor slobs of the fourth estate.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

HENRY: So, there it is and "let me see what I can do for the poor slobs of fourth estate." We didn't take offense, but this was over two weeks ago, he said you'll have a new espresso machine next week.

VELSHI: And you don't have one?

HENRY: I want to report to you, we still don't have one, Mr. Hanks. I know you're out there. You saw us last time, when we made the appeal, you made a promise. We keep people honest around here.

VELSHI: How can we expect Ed Henry to work around the clock as you do without good coffee? We're not taking care of that.

Now that said the, president clearly has good coffee machines, because he was on fire. It sounded like -- in fact, it was a campaign speech. He talked about the campaign.

HENRY: I mean, look, 2007, Iowa City, he went back to the spot where as a candidate he really launched the push for health care reform, he gave the address in that very city. Winning the Iowa caucuses in '08 is really what propelled him and I thought the fact that he was saying the fierce urgency of now, we haven't heard him talking like that as president.

He's been busy governing. It's been a much different time. He's had his struggles as we all chronicled, but you can see him beaming about the fact that he's now got the health care victory behind him. As you noted a moment ago, he had not commented yet on the appeal effort by Republican attorney generals across the country and when he said go for it, he's ready for a fight obviously.

VELSHI: Yes, he definitely sounded like that. He was talking about if they want to run a campaign of repeal, go for it. Ed, it's good to see you. By the way, you want to stay tuned for the next segment, see who my special guest is. This is "The Ed Henry Segment," everyday at this time.

This next guy you're going to listen to, you've got to stick around for this. He lobbied Congress and he was standing next to the president when the health care bill was signed. He's 11 years old and he wears a vest. We have Marcelas Owens, there he is standing by right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: If you've been watching TV the last few days following, any part of this health care bill, you may have followed the part where the president sign the bill into law, and next to him was this kid, Marcelas Owens. I noticed him because he was wearing a fantastic vest, which he's wearing right now. There he is sitting there. Marcelas is 11 years old and he has been campaigning for health care reform, and he joins me now. Marcelas, it's good to see you. Thank you for coming on the show. Welcome.

MARCELAS OWENS, CHILD CAMPAIGNING FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM: It's good to be on the show.

VELSHI: Marcelas, your mom passed away, and there are some people who think it was because she didn't get health care. She lost her job. How did you get involved in this whole effort to -- to get health care reform done?

OWENS: Well, Washington can help me get all the interviews and start doing public speeches, and they all led up to this.

VELSHI: Did you ever do anything like this? Have you been a public speaker? Have you been on TV before all of this?

OWENS: Before I became a health care activist, no.

VELSHI: All right, well, listen, you -- you talked to my friend, Ed Henry, the other day, and people asked you, how did you feel when you were up there? How were you when you were with the president? Were you nervous when he was signing that bill?

OWENS: I wasn't nervous. I was excited that the bill was being signed.

VELSHI: And he asked you how -- what you think your mom would have thought about it.

OWENS: I think she would have been really proud.

VELSHI: Yes? What does this mean for your life? How has it changed for you? You're an 11-year-old kid. Most 11-year-old kids are busy going to school and playing afterwards and doing video games. What's your life like now?

OWENS: I've been meeting more people who are involved in -- and I've been not having people just think of me as an 11-year-old kid, and I'm now known as a health care activist and giving speeches.

VELSHI: How do you feel about that? Do you like that?

OWENS: Yes, I feel good.

VELSHI: You've got called back in for a little private meeting with the president. How did that go? Are you allowed to tell me what happened there?

OWENS: Well, he started taking pictures and signing autographs for everybody, and after the end of the meeting, he said he couldn't do it without everybody who got involved.

VELSHI: And so you got called back in there, and you were taking those pictures?

OWENS: Yes.

VELSHI: Did you get his autograph?

OWENS: Yes.

VELSHI: What -- what does the future hold for you? You now played some part in this health care reform. You feel good about being a health care activist, now what does a guy like you do?

OWENS: I believe -- believe there are more interviews, but other than that, I don't know yet.

VELSHI: And where did you get into the snappy dressing? I like that idea. You know, I wear a vest, too.

OWENS: Well, we were -- on my first trip to D.C., I asked my grandma if we could go get a suit and tie, but all they had were vests, and I chose the vest and because everybody in D.C. always is dressing up.

VELSHI: And you -- and you didn't realize it by choosing that vest, you were making this remarkable fashion statement and joining a very, you know, sartorial group of people?

OWENS: Yes.

VELSHI: Well, I think you should stick with it. You are a hard worker, and very impressed to see a guy of your age, no matter what your -- whatever your politics are, that you went out there and made a difference. I think that's a great message.

Do you have friends who you talk to about this sort of thing who say, Marcelas, man, what are you doing going on TV? What are you doing? You're an activist, you're 11 years old, what do you tell them?

OWENS: I say that I'm doing it for my mom, and my teacher, Matt, is really excited that I'm doing all of this and that he's been following my every move.

VELSHI: I'm almost afraid to ask you what you want to do when you grow up, because you're more grown-up than a hold lot of people that I know. Have you ever thought about that? What do you want to do when you grow up?

OWENS: I want to become the president of the United States.

VELSHI: All right, you heard it first here, he declared his intentions to run for the presidency of the United States, this may not mean much to all of you out there right now, but remember, I had the first declaration live on my TV. Marcelas, we wish you very well. You just keep smiling like that and it could work out for you and remember, stick with those vests, no matter what anybody tells you.

OWENS: OK.

VELSHI: Marcelas Owens, 11 years old, health care activist, proud of it, and one snappy dresser. Keep this image in your mind. I got to take a break and pay the bill. See you, Marcelas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: OK, now it's time for "the XYZ of it." You just heard my conversation with 11-year-old Marcelas Owens. Earlier this week he stood beside President Obama as the health care reform bill was signed. He earned that coveted spot in the hardest way possible, he lost his mother to a severe form of high blood pressure, and it is believed she died because she couldn't afford health care after she lost her job.

Marcelas is a handsome, charming, self-assured young man who some say is being exploited by supporters of health care, and there is no denying that he works his charms for a cause, but he paid the real price, he lost his mother and he's going about making his voice heard in a way that belies his age. He's not bitter. He's not angry, his approach is singularly mature and even more so in light of racial and homophobic slurs hurled at members of Congress.

The baby killer accusation leveled by one member against another and now acts of violence. A gas line was cut at a home belonging to a congressman's brother. A brick was thrown through a window at another office and now reports from number two House Republican, Eric Cantor's office, that someone shot a bullet through his Virginia campaign office window. A bullet, what is wrong with people?

It's a democratic and free society. Legislation is what Washington is supposed to be doing, if you don't like the legislation passed, you push back. You get your voice heard, in a civil manner.

So, if some people in this country are resorting to violence and intimidation to get their point across, Marcelas Owens is fighting back the way we're supposed to, with class, persistence, and style well beyond his years. We can all take a lesson from this 11-year- old. That's "the XYZ of it."

Let's go to "RICK'S LIST" with Rick.