国际英语新闻：Obama says to "wait and see" on health care reform

WASHINGTON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to Portland, Maine Thursday to sell the health insurance reform, touting its benefits to small business and asking the public to be patient about the reform.

Making fun of what happened before and after the reform became law last week, Obama said after he signed the bill, he "looked up to see if there were any asteroids headed our way," and "checked to see if any cracks had opened up in the ground."

"But you know what? It turned out to be a pretty nice day."

Obama said every day he saw "another poll or headline that says nation still divided on health reform, no great surge in public support."

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday signs into law the "fixes" bill of health care reform passed last week in the Congress at a community college in Alexandria, Virginia, a Washington suburb

"It's only been a week, before we find out if people like health care reform, maybe we should wait until it actually happens, " he advised, to an applauding audience of about 2,500 at Portland Expo Center.

The president went on to explain the benefits the reform would bring to small business. "Starting this year, millions of small business owners will be eligible for tax credits that will help them cover the cost of insurance for their employees."