Obama tries to win popular support for health reform

WASHINGTON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- In a break from his usual composure, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a fiery speech in front of a Pennsylvanian audience Monday, accusing health insurance company of arbitrarily raising premiums, as he tries to win popular support for the health insurance reform.

"The price of health care is one of the most punishing costs for families and for businesses and for our government," Obama said in a campaign-style rally in the Philadelphia suburb of Glenside.

He went on to say the cost is plunging the federal government deeper and deeper into debt, forcing people to cut back or go without health insurance, and small businesses to choose between hiring or health care, making the case for reform.

Obama cited Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs as saying because there's so little competition in the insurance industry, the players in the industry don't care if they lose customers should they keep on raising premiums, as they'll still make more money.

"I don't know how passing health care will play politically, but I do know that it's the right thing to do... And I ask you to help us get us over the finish line these next few weeks," he said to an applauding audience.

After almost a year's efforts, the health reform issue has divided the Congress, with Republicans standing against it in a rock-solid position, making Democratic unity, which is far from certain, ever more important.

Arlen Specter, Senior Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania, who accompanied Obama to Philadelphia, said he thought "there's a lot more determination in the Congress now to get it (health reform) passed."

Obama has reached out to Democratic lawmakers last week, inviting dozens of them for meetings in the White House. This week, however, he is focusing on the popular support, with a trip planned Wednesday to St. Louis, Missouri.

White House spokesman Bill Burton said what Obama is doing is " to make the stakes of this issue very clear to the American people. "