The summit got underway just a few minutes after 10:00am ET. President Obama walked from the White House across LaFayette Park with Vice President Joe Biden and a large presence of Secret Service. The President made his way around the room, shaking hands before taking his seat at the top of the hollow, rectangular shaped table.
10:07 am ET - Preisdent Obama begins the health care summit with his opening remarks. He talks about the importance to wrangling in the country's deficit. He also gets personal, bringing up the story about his daughter Malia's bout with asthma and Sasha's case of menengitis. Asking for everyone to set aside party affiliation today, the Preisdent says, "Everybody here wants to make sure we have a system that works...this concern is bipartisan."
10:20 am ET - Sen. Lamar Alexander opens up for the Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tossed the baton to Sen. Alexander, preferring for him to speak for the GOP. Senator Alexander said that he hopes today's summit is productive saying, "We want you to succeed…but we’d like for you to change direction.”
10:35am ET - Speaker Pelosi invokes the memory of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy in this health care debate. The Speaker makes sure to make the point clear that "We don’t have time to start over on health care.”
10:45am ET - Senate Majority Leader Reid brings up a point we've heard a lot over the past few months: “You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts”
At the 50 minute mark, the President asks that the summit participants keep track of their time better...
