In an interview on ABC World News (1/15, lead story, 6:00, Sawyer), President Obama criticized the crafting of the congressional healthcare reform measures, admitting to “a legitimate mistake that I made in the course of the year, and that is that we had to make so many decisions quickly in a very difficult set of circumstances, that after awhile, we started worrying more about getting the policy right instead of getting the process right. … I think the healthcare debate, as it unfolded, legitimately raised concerns, not just among my opponents but also amongst supporters, that we just don’t know what’s going on. And it’s an ugly process and it looks like there are a bunch of backroom deals.” Pressed about “these deals with Nebraska, with Florida,” Obama replied, “Let’s hold on a second, Diane. I think that this gets into a big mush. So let’s just clarify. I didn’t make a bunch of deals, alright. There is a legislative process that is taking place in Congress.”

(From the NAHU Newswire January 26, 2010)