Earlier today, President Obama made brief remarks to reporters in the White House Briefing Room, following the AARP and AMA's endorsements of the health care reform bill.

Obama first thanked the AARP, whose support he called "no small endorsement." He continued: "They are endorsing this bill because they know it will strengthen Medicare, not jeopardize it. They know it will protect the benefits our seniors receive, not cut them."

Obama went on to address the AMA's support:

The same is true for the doctors and medical professionals who are supporting this bill today. These are men and women who know our health care system best, and have been watching this debate closely. They would not be supporting it if they really believed hat it would lead to government bureaucrats making decisions that are best left to doctors. They would not be with us if they believed that reform would in any way damage the critical and sacred doctor-patient relationship. Instead, they are supporting reform because they've seen firsthand what is broken about our health care system.

The President concluded: "We are closer to passing this reform than ever before, and now that doctors and medical professionals of America are standing with us, now that the organizations charged with looking out for the interests of seniors are standing with us, we are even closer."