Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Obama hails 'historic' health bid US President Barack Obama has described a congressional vote on healthcare reform due on Sunday as a "historic" moment in a century-long struggle.Speaking at a rally in Virginia, he dismissed criticism of the bill from Republicans and some Democrats. Appealing to lawmakers and citizens to back the legislation, he said: "The time for reform is right now." Democrats are still working to secure enough House of Representatives votes to pass a Senate version of the bill. The BBC's Mark Mardell in Virginia says that Mr Obama's speech was fiery but the Democratic Party seems deflated, with no real desire to motivate the people. 'Hard debate'The reforms would deliver on Mr Obama's top domestic priority by providing insurance to some 30 million Americans who currently lack it. Not only can we afford to do this. We can't afford not to do this US President Barack Obama Q&A: US healthcare reform Your views on healthcare reform Calling the battle to create the bill, "messy", "frustrating" and "ugly", Mr Obama said the final proposal was the culmination of a year of "hard debate".[Read more...]