for a different ending . Clinton and Obama faced similar climates . Both made health care their signature issue , even though most people were happy with their coverage and were more concerned with fixing the economy . Clinton presented Congress with a plan , whereas Obama instead presented broad guidelines and asked the lawmakers to come up with a bill . `` Much of the complaint about the Clinton-era attempt at this was how complicated it was , '' said Candy Crowley , CNN 's senior political correspondent . `` That has not been a complaint this time . But in the overview , there was no doubt that the steady drumbeat of criticism started out at a fairly low level and just has come to this deafening roar , and that 's very much like it was in the resistance to the Clinton plan . '' Like Clinton , Obama 's been accused of waffling on his proposals and failing to reach across the aisle . Following weeks of contentious town hall meetings , Obama this weekend appeared more flexible than ever on the idea of a government-sponsored , public health insurance option . Liberal Democrats have demanded
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- With his push for health care reform on the line , the president delivered a message of urgency to the public : President Bill Clinton , pictured in 1994 , greets members of a crowd following a speech on his health care reform plan . `` Do n't let the fearmongers , do n't let the dividers , do n't let the people who disseminate false information frighten the United States Congress into walking away from the opportunity of a lifetime . Tell the members of Congress you will support them . This is not partisan politics , '' the president said . The date was August 1 , 1994 , and the voice behind the 11th-hour battle cry was then-President Clinton . Within weeks , that battle cry was reduced to a whimper of defeat as Congress tabled plans to vote on his legislation . As President Obama ratchets up the pressure on Congress to pass health care reform this year , he 's following in the footsteps of the 42nd president . From his prime time push to his town hall meetings , Obama is taking the same path as Clinton , but hoping