As the process unfolded last year, critics complained not just about closed Congressional negotiations on health care, but about deals the White House worked out behind closed doors with pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, hospitals and unions. At times, Republicans and liberal Democrats have joined in the complaints.

"Let's just clarify. I didn't make a bunch of deals," Obama told ABC

LOL

"There is a legislative process that is taking place in Congress and I am happy to own up to the fact that I have not changed Congress and how it operates the way I would have liked."

This is true.

Like i said weeks ago, Obama should not have made a promise that was impossible for him to keep.

Glad he owns up to his lie.

But what he should do is get the american people riled up to go after congress.

Congress is mired in douchebaggery.

They need transparency, term limits, a more willingness to compromise.

Unfortunately the great people of the usa aren't f'd over enough to do anything about it.

we'll keep changing our president from R to D

or individual congress people

but we won't go after the real problem... congress as a whole

our legislative procedures are just a big fat waste of tax payer money.

Looks like the honeymoon is over for Obama.

honeymoon??

looks like it doesn't matter if you guys get a republican in the presidents seat...

you are going to have a continuation of the same problem.

people are so into partisan hackery they forget that its our lives all these R's and D's are playing with.

their games might be fun to comment on but taking sides hurts us.

but go ahead be idiots.

The president called the lack of transparency "my responsibility," but moments later in the interview he suggested that decisions to handle key discussions in private were made by Congress.

In other words:

"The buck stops here! It was their fault!" -- Obama

In other words... the Executive branch has provided transparency, and the Congress, which he does not control, has not.

Did Obama or anyone in his administration ever pressure the Democrat leaders in Congress towards transparency? If not, why not. Pelosi and Reid should take this one on the chin, but Moomanfl in #6 is correct in that Obama is quick to deflect any potential blame away from himself.

"There is a legislative process that is taking place in Congress and I am happy to own up to the fact that I have not changed Congress and how it operates the way I would have liked."

Does that include the record amount of Lobby money that flowed into DC last year? Wasn't one of his broken promises to reduce or eliminate special interest money? He should be blaming himself for thinking the likes of Pelosi or Reid were up to the task of fulfilling his campaign promises.

"Did Obama or anyone in his administration ever pressure the Democrat leaders in Congress towards transparency? If not, why not. Pelosi and Reid should take this one on the chin, but Moomanfl in #6 is correct in that Obama is quick to deflect any potential blame away from himself."

I agree with your opening questions. That said, what president has ever not deflected potential blame? Hell, what human hasn't?

Okay, okay, I railed against Bush when he didn't. But then I got better and started looking at reality as it is rather than as I'd like it to be. Pretty tough realignment for a wannabe radical leftie. : )

I am happy to own up to the fact that I have not changed Congress and how it operates the way I would have liked."

This is the most laughable part. Funny how the lack of transparency on so many levels worked to the admin's advantage for nearly a year. Now that it has backfired on the largest issue of all, Health Care, he has some regrets.

#10 Pragmatist> That said, what president has ever not deflected potential blame?

Maybe it's hardcoded into a politician's DNA? (laugh)

Some of my long-term friends are hardcore Republicans. They used to have trouble accepting my complaints against Republican Presidents or Republican congresscritters. I told them over and over I was a conservative, and as such was just as willing to hold a Republican's feet to the fire as I was a Democrat (not that there is much difference between the two anymore).

Just last week I reminded one of those friends that I used to complain about how unemployment numbers were not accurate under Bush and the same thing is true under Obama. I think I saw a tiny glint of light in their eyes...

Sorry but giving $300 nillion to Louisiana to for a yea vote in the Senate in not a legislative process

"I am happy to own up to the fact that I have not changed Congress and how it operates the way I would have liked."

OMG! CHANGE!!!

So, Obama admits a mistake.

That's one more than GW ever admitted to.