President Obama Healthcare Speech

[Professor S]

This has been a hot topic amongst the political animals on this forum for a while now, so I thought I'd make a special area just for discussion on what many pundits believe is President's Obama's "make it or break it" speech for healthcare reform, and some believe perhaps his presidency.

So, before the speech happens, what are you looking to hear from President Obama?

Before the Speech

If you are a firm supporter, what does he need to say to convince an unconvinced and somewhat angry/distrustful populace?

If you are not a supporter, what does he need to say/do to convince you his solution is the best or good enough to approve?

[manasecret]

I'm somewhere in the middle. Basically I want details on a plan that will make everyone have health insurance but at the same time not completely hose those who have it now, and also reduce costs.

[TheGame]

Originally Posted by manasecret

I'm somewhere in the middle. Basically I want details on a plan that will make everyone have health insurance but at the same time not completely hose those who have it now, and also reduce costs.

I think that's what everyone wants, but all signs point to that not happening.

As for the topic, I'm not a firm supporter of Obama, so I guess the second question fits me better.

If you are not a supporter, what does he need to say/do to convince you his solution is the best or good enough to approve?

This speech won't really convince me either way, actions speak louder then words. There's only one thing he could do that'd make me approve of him at this point:

Explain to people how his idea for healthcare reform will both increase coverage and lower costs. I will not accept one without the other.

Plus he needs to explain to people how much of their tax dollars are being spent on healthcare. Explain to them that when a person goes to the doctor without insurance and gets those ridiculous bills that they can't pay off, that tax dollars ends up taking the tab. Explain that when someone goes bankrupt because of health issues that tax dollars get wasted too.

He needs to explain WHY healthcare reform is needed even from a financial standpoint, and how his plan will result in lower taxes in the long run.

He also needs to draw a line in the sand, there's been enough time debating. He should mention that he'd veto any bill that doesn't increase coverage and lower costs. Reassure people that he's not going to pass anything that's not real healthcare reform.

That's just what I think he should do. Its hard to say what he's really going to do though, he's not stupid enough to duck his head and just say no more public option.. but.. I'm about 99% sure the public option is not happening.

[Vampyr]

I'm going to be pretty disappointed if a public option is not pushed for.

Anything less will be unsatisfactory - although I guess it could be made up for if strict enough regulations on private health care companies are enforced.

He should also spend some time dispelling the rampant myths about a public option that have people so terrified of it.

[TheGame]

Oh speaking of the public option...

More than three out of every four Americans feel it is important to have a "choice" between a government-run health care insurance option and private coverage, according to a public opinion poll released on Thursday.

A new study by SurveyUSA puts support for a public option at a robust 77 percent, one percentage point higher than where it stood in June.

But the numbers tell another story, as well.

Earlier in the week, after pollsters for NBC dropped the word "choice" from their question on a public option, they found that only 43 percent of the public were in favor of "creating a public health care plan administered by the federal government that would compete directly with private health insurance companies."

Opponents of the president's agenda jumped on the findings as evidence that backing for the public option was dropping. Proponents responded by arguing that NBC's tinkering with the language of the question (which it had also done in its July survey) had contributed to the drop in favorability for a public plan.

SurveyUSA's poll, which was commissioned by the progressive group MoveOn.org, a proponent of the public plan, gives credence to those critiques. While arguments about what type of language best describe the public option persist --"choice" is considered a trigger word that everyone naturally supports -- it seems clear that the framing of the provision goes a long way toward determining its popularity.

In asking its question SurveyUSA used the same exact words that NBC/Wall Street Journal had used when conducting its June 2009 survey. That one that found 76 percent approval for the public option: "In any health care proposal, how important do you feel it is to give people a choice of both a public plan administered by the federal government and a private plan for their health insurance--extremely important, quite important, not that important, or not at all important?"

To ensure that its respondent pool was composed of people from similar demographics and political mindsets, SurveyUSA asked respondents a question pulled directly from NBC's August survey. The results were nearly identical.

Read a description of the president's health care plan, 51 percent of Survey USA respondents said they "favored" the approach, while 43 percent opposed it. In the NBC poll, 53 percent of respondents said they favored the president's plan, 43 percent said they opposed it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_264375.html

I don't think Obama will waste time dispeling the myths of the public option because I don't think he wants it to pass. But I'll stick at my 99% chance.. meaning there is some hope!

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by TheGame

As for the topic, I'm not a firm supporter of Obama, so I guess the second question fits me better.

Sorry for the confusion, but the support part of my a questions was about government health care, not President Obama approval.

Also, I won't be watching the address tonight so I'll abstain from comment until I catch a replay.

[TheGame]

Originally Posted by Professor S

Sorry for the confusion, but the support part of my a questions was about government health care, not President Obama approval.

Oh, well then you already know how I feel about that. I support a public option for healthcare insurance, as long as its an option and not manditory.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by TheGame

Oh, well then you already know how I feel about that. I support a public option for healthcare insurance, as long as its an option and not manditory.

The question was as follows:

If you are a firm supporter, what does he need to say to convince an unconvinced and somewhat angry/distrustful populace?

I agree with Bond, though, it doesn't look like he's going to take a stand on a government option. But the problem is, if he's not going to take a stand on a specific type of plan, how is he going to lend specifics to paying for health care, etc. like his administration officials have been saying he would?

I fear this will 45 minutes of the same rhetoric of generalities (lower costs, cover more people, increase competition) that he's been saying for months, as if to say to everyone that they simply haven't been paying attention, and I don't think anyone on either side of the issue want to see that.

If he breaks out personal anecdotes of people suffering in the current environment, I think we can be confident he really misunderstands the current discussion. It's not about whether or not to address health care; all sides agree it needs to be addressed. It's about how to go about addressing it and if his comments are "pull on the heart strings" I think he will cause more frustration and exasperation as he'll show himself to be behind the curve.

Once again, we'll see.

[Bond]

He'll mention a public option to appease the progressives, but he won't make it a requirement. A bill with a public option would never get through the house with Conservative Democratic and Republican opposition, and the White House is quite knowledgeable of this. Pres. Obama needs some kind (any kind) of bill more than he needs the approval of the left-wing of his party.

[BreakABone]

My biggest gripe is payment.

He says, he will cut costs and overhead, but if that's happening.. shouldn't it be cut now... and then work into payment.

Anyhow, the man delivers a great speech, but I need some tangible words to actually digest it all, it was a 45 minute speech and all.

[TheGame]

All I'll say is, media will twist things as they please. You should listen to the whole speech for yourself and judge it.

I would call it his most sucsessful speech in a very long time personally.

[KillerGremlin]

Joe Wilson is a vagoo and I am going to enjoy watching his career blow up in his face like the orgasm that Michael Duvall gave to his two mistresses.

Stay classy politicians.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

Joe Wilson is a vagoo and I am going to enjoy watching his career blow up in his face like the orgasm that Michael Duvall gave to his two mistresses.

Stay classy politicians.

I agree his venue was inappropriate and shameful, but his point was not. Those pushing government care constantly point to "48 million uninsured"... the problem is the census says 9+ million of them of them are illegal aliens. Now perhaps President Obama clarified that last night in saying no illegals will get coverage... but then they have to stop using the 48 million number in their arguments...

So one way or another, there is a lie in there somewhere.

EDIT: Also, for the record there is no mechanism in the current plans to actually check for citizenship, and an amendment to verify citizenship before care is given was voted down on party lines. So in the end under current plans there is no need to state "we cover illegals". We will by default.

I'm going to see whether or not I can see the whole speech during lunch today, and offer my full thoughts.

[BreakABone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xboKq4rzYZg

The Republican Response if anyone wants to check it out.

[Professor S]

Here is the response without having to sit through Keith Olberman's nonsense at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAuPB54ObU8