obama's term in office so far are two editorial page editors, nolan finley of the "detroit news" and john diaz of the "san francisco chronicle," and two columnists, cynthia tucker of the "atlanta journal constitution" and robert robb of the "arizona republic." john >> john diaz, we have the president pushing back. what do you see going on? has he lost ground on health care? >> he has lost ground, and the thing i would say the president was trying to do today, very wisely in my opinion is reshape this debate, because although we are talking about somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 million people who don't have insurance in this country, the fact remains, the vast majority of americans do have coverage and that's really the audience he was going after today, because the thing the president has to persuade them that this is going to succeed is that they have a stake in it, and i think there is a good case that we do when we look at things like cost shifting and things whether they have the coverage they think they have. >> lehrer: robert robb, what do you see? >> i think the president's ground h

president obama'serm in office so far are two itorial page editors, nol finley of the "detroit ne" and john diaz of the "san francisco chrocle," and two columnists, cynia tucker of the "atlanta journal constition" and robert robb of the "arizona republic." john >> john diaz, we have the esident pushing back. at do you see going on? has heost ground on health care? >> he ha lost groundand the thing i would say the president was trying to do today, very wisy in my opinion is reshpe is debate, because althou we are takingbout sowhere in the neighborhood of50 million peoe who don't have insurane in thi country, te fact remain the vast majority o amricans do have coverage and that's really the audiencee wagoing after today, because the thing the president has to persuade them that this going to sueed is that they have a ske in it, and i think the is aood case that we do when we lo at thingsike cost shifting and things whether tey have the coverage they tink they have. >> lehr: robert robb, what do you e? >> i think the president's ground has sifted dramaticay again him and it's byond the issue o heal

i'm john diaz, editorial page author of the wall -- we have a very active house here, with quite a few questions. so let's get right to them. first of all, i would safe probably half the questions that we received are in one way or another related to your criticisms of of the single payer system. let's start with asking you to elaborate a bit on the comment in your book that single payer system will break the bank. also i would add you did say one of your concerns is it's very difficult to impose cost controls for single payer system. how, many ask? >> how difficult? >> how would it break the bank. >> so let me say a few words about single payer. the fundamental structure of single payer is that we're going to have one national plan for everyone, that's going to cover a fairly robust set of services. we're going to get rid of the insurance companies and save money on the administrative costs. we're going of to a national drug form larry and save money by driving prices down. and continue with fee for service reimbursement system that we have now. so i have a -- wave i like to think of

i am john diaz, and now this meeting of the commonwealth club of the california celebrating more than 100 years of enlightened discussion is adjourned. [applause] >> ezekiel emanuel is the chair of the department of bioethics at the clinical center of the national institutes of health. dr. emanuel is the author all co-author of several books, including no margin, no mission. health care organizations and the quest for ethical excellence. he is the brother of rahm emanuel, president barack obama's chief of staff. for more information on the author, visit bioethics .in ih.gov. >> book tv today, the future of the american conservative movement with the direct-mail fundraiser and a panel with this year's freedom fest. today on c-span2. >> david kessler explains how american bodies and minds have been reprogrammed by too much sugar, salt and junk. politics and prose bookstore in to dc hosted this event. it lasts about an hour. >> it is very special to be here at politics and prose, to carla into barber, the owners, the fact is this is without a doubt my favorite bookstore in the whole worl

john david. she really knew how to get to me. everyone, i'll see you tomorrow night, 8:00 sharp eastern. and until then, good night, friend. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com >>> hello. i'm carlos diazn hollywood and this is a "showbiz tonight" news break. here's some of what we're covering for you on "showbiz tonight." the dog killer and tonight, disgraced football player michael vick's explosive first interview since going to jail after killing dogs, but why is one of the biggest animal rights groups now siding with vick? should he be forgiven? >>> and jon and kate plus the cops. police are called to their home. plus the very first interview with jon's young girlfriend, the daughter of kate's plastic surgeon. >>> brad pitt's brand-new confessions about getting high. >>> and we're revealing the new "dancing with the stars" cast. did paula abdul and la toya jackson make the cut? that's your "showbiz tonight" news break.