Taking only the actual words used in the article.....
"Even though I do not believe we can extend coverage to those who are here illegally, I also don't simply believe we can simply ignore the fact that our immigration system is broken," Mr. Obama said Wednesday evening in a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. "That's why I strongly support making sure folks who are here legally have access to affordable, quality health insurance under this plan, just like everybody else."
[1] No health care coverage for those here illegally.
[2] Access to affordable, quality health care for those here legally.
That much is clear, I hope.
Mr. Obama added, "If anything, this debate underscores the necessity of passing comprehensive immigration reform and resolving the issue of 12 million undocumented people living and working in this country once and for all."
[1] No where does "amnesty" appear.
[2] No mention of health care for illegals.
And yet, the very first paragraph of this commentary (can't call it a news story, since there's so much interpreting going on) .....
President Obama said this week that his health care plan won't cover illegal immigrants, but argued that's all the more reason to legalize them and ensure they eventually do get coverage.
But President Obama said no such thing - they included his exact words, and still reported that he said something else.
Republicans said that amounts to an amnesty, calling it a backdoor effort to make sure current illegal immigrants get health care.
Republicans say a lot of things. But Republicans, or at least the reporter at the Washington Times, used the word "amnesty" - the President did not.
Also,
He also staked out a position that anyone in the country legally should be covered - a major break with the 1996 welfare reform bill, which limited most federal public assistance programs only to citizens and longtime immigrants.
There's a really big problem with this paragraph, and that is, health care reform is not a "federal public assistance program" like welfare. The President has consistently talked about
affordable, quality health care - and affordable means that people pay for it.
Even the public option - if the final legislation includes it - is NOT free. Just like any health insurance policy, there would be premiums ... people would pay. See section 222 of
HR 3200.
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