Obama in battle to win over rebel Democrats ahead of healthcare vote | Mail Online

I know dailymail.co.uk is not a website for serious issues such as politics. But, I put the source here because the article is easy to digest.

Barack Obama is on the verge of a historic victory in his crusade to overhaul America's health care system.

Democrat leaders confidently predicted they had enough support to pass the President's £600billion health plan in two make-or-break votes on Capitol Hill.

The rocky passage of the bill, coming after a thwarted mutiny by rank-and-file Democrats, was seen in Washington as one of the most significant legislative triumphs in decades.

It could be a defining moment for Mr Obama who made health reform his top domestic priority, setting off a tumultuous debate that deeply divided the country.

The divisions were underlined when thousands of protesters chanted 'kill the bill' outside the Capitol building.

Some shouted the 'n-word' at Congressman John Lewis, a black pioneer of civil rights who was nearly beaten to death during a march for equality in the 1960s. Congressman Barney Frank, who is openly gay, was also harangued.

But barring any last minute setbacks, Democrat whips in the House of Representatives were sure they had secured the 216 votes they needed.

Mr Obama cancelled a trip to Australia and Indonesia to lead the arm-twisting and cajoling that carried on right up until a few hours before the rare Sunday congressional session.

Eventually, a key group of Democrats who opposed the bill because they claimed it could open the way for state-funded abortions relented and said they would vote in favour.