Obama's Speech: The Doctor Is In - A Powerhouse speech to Congress (David Corn)

[jefferson_dem]

Obama's Speech: The Doctor Is In
With a powerhouse speech to Congress, Obama moves to take control of the health care debate. Will his political skills match his rhetoric?
—By David Corn

Wed September 9, 2009 7:34 PM PST
Can a speech change a political dynamic?

President Barack Obama and his political wizards obviously hope so. Together they came up with an address that at least on Wednesday night made it seem as if Obama was in charge of the health care reform process--which has not been the case since he handed off the hard work to Congress months ago. Obama finally defined fully the debate, the policy, and the values underlying the need for reform. He was both practical-minded and passionate. He was combative at moments, and reasonable-sounding at others. He showed some of his cards, though not all. The question is, can a powerhouse of a speech at this point in the process--when various camps have dug their trenches--alter the terrain? Can Obama, with words alone, truly seize control of the messy endeavor of overhauling the nation's health care system?

Much of the speech was not a surprise. Obama outlined his own plan, as the White House posted it online. He craftily focused first on people who have insurance, noting that his plan would provide them "security and stability." Given that most Americans have insurance and many are somewhat satisfied (or used to) the coverage they have, a large chunk of the public is not responsive to a call for systematic change. After all, things can always get worse. But Obama zeroed in on the well-justified anxieties of the already-insured, noting that his version of health care reform would force insurance companies to end many of the practices that frighten and enrage consumers--such as denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, capping coverage, and refusing to pay for routine checkups and preventive care, such as mammograms and colonoscopies.

Obama hammered the insurance companies, reciting nightmare stories, such as the tale of a Texas woman whose breast cancer treatment was cut off because she had forgot to declare a previous case of acne. He made his point in a simple manner:

As one former insurance executive testified before Congress, insurance companies are not only encouraged to find reasons to drop the seriously ill; they are rewarded for it. All of this is in service of meeting what this former executive called “Wall Street’s relentless profit expectations.”

Even some Republicans stood and joined the on-their-feet Democrats when Obama blasted the insurance companies for such actions. This placed Obama in a combative role, and it served him well. It's tough--maybe impossible--to achieve significant change in Washington without mounting a fight, and one way for a commander-in-chief to show he is in command is to wage a battle. Obama looked like he was ready for a fight.

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http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/09/obamas-speech-doctor

[msongs]

1. maybe he needs to go all LBJ on dems in congress to match the wonderful rhetoric nt

[Lifelong Protester]

2. And that is what I wanted to see

Folks, I think this is FAR from over, and all the hand-wringing over the 'lost Public Option' need to keep their powder dry. This is just the opening salvo. The battle is ON, and far from over.