Obama said "we know there are those who will try to scuttle" the program no matter what. He said that "because these fear tactics have worked, things have kept getting worse."

One such "scare tactic" the president cited Monday was an assertion that he favors socialized medicine. Obama again denied that, although he did say he thought that a "public option" should be available as a choice for those who currently have no insurance coverage. Obama said "we know the moment is right," citing the passage of legislation giving the government unprecedented control of the marketing and sale of cigarettes.
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