As my friend Kevin Tracy accurately predicted, there was little new information in this speech. However, there were a few key points that are very worth noting.
First of all, the positive. Obama made it a point several times to point out good ideas that were proposed by Crongessional Republicans. Most notably was reigning in “junk” malpractice suites against doctors, and saying that although he supports a government option, all options are on the table and should be considered. Is this just rhetoric? There have been several Republican proposed bills floating around for some time now, and it does seem a little funny to me that although he spoke of reaching across the aisle he didn’t really seem to start doing so until support for HIS health care reform began to wain. As always, I will give him the benefit of the doubt, and hope that this is a true change of heart and future change of how he works with Republicans, but I have to say that I’m not going to hold my breathe. Although I will give him credit on two things that they have changed in the bill: the wording has been changed to exclude illegal aliens and also the mandatory end of life counseling has been taken out (see the paragraph at the bottom for my opinion on the “death panel” thing).
Now, the negative. First of all, somebody tell Nancy Pelosi to sit her ass down for more than 30 seconds at a time. This is the second time shes been like a friggin’ jack in the box. Second: as far the costs, either Obama is incredibly naive or is just flat out lying. I’ll be keeping an eye on whether or not he holds true to his statement that he will not sign a bill that adds one cent to the deficit. Also, he seems to completely ignore the CBO reports that suggest this reform will cost A LOT more money than he and the other Democrats say. And of course there is the government option that is still on the table, and is the reason that many Americans are nervous in the first place. In my opinion? Work across the aisle on reform, but if there is still a government option vote no and make the Dems OWN this bill (although it won’t hurt Obamas chance of reelection, since many of the reforms aren’t enacted until 2013).
Now, the neither positive nor negative. Obama, of course, felt the need to criticize the Republican Congress spending, and to a degree that doesn’t bother me, since its true. There was A LOT of spending (some needed, some unneeded) during that time, and so I hope its a lesson to Republicans to reign in the spending next time their in power or it’ll bite em’ in the butt. Also, his lambasting of Republicans about “death panels”. No, there won’t be “death panels”. However where I do think there is legitimate concern with this kind of thing is the fact that if there IS a single payer system, rationing would be inevitable, leaving the government to decide who gets treatment. HOWEVER there is no panel of men who decide who lives and who dies. Not anywhere in the near future. IF a government option is passed, and 30 years later it evolves into a single payer system, and then 30 years after that rationing is required because SURPRISE we can’t afford it, then yes. “Death panels” could come around in 60 or so years. However I think that before that would happen Republicans would have majority again and turn it around.
Regardless, tonight was the night that was Obamas “all in”. He had all of his chips on this one subject, and he needed to deliver a miraculous speech to bluff his hand. Did it work? Well, I wasn’t impressed and learned little new, so I don’t think so. He still sounds like hes campaigning to me. He doesn’t make me think: heres Mr. President, like all of the other Presidents in my lifetime did (Democrats or Republicans). But, you never know. We’ll just have to keep watching.
This post cross posted at www.ktracy.com and linked at www.mattersofopinion.net
