July 23, 2009 at 12:00pm
President Obama took aim last night at the laissez faire attitude building among lawmakers over health-care reform.
In a press conference designed to make his case for change, Obama appealed directly to the American public.
It's usually an excellent strategy for this president; last night his words made perfect sense - honest, deliberate, and thoughtful.
At times, he sounded professorial and pondering. And at others, he was brutally frank.
But in the end, he didn't close the deal.
To those members of Congress, senators, and the media pundit class asking what's the rush, he exposed the duplicitous nature of the question, and of the people who ask it.
His sense of urgency isn't about him, he said. He has a doctor on call 24/7.
But for the thousands of Americans who are losing their insurance every day, he said, the health-care crisis is real.
Obama's question: If you knew about a plan that guarantees health-care costs would double in the next 10 years, result in more Americans losing coverage, and would add to the federal deficit, is it the one you would chose?
Of course, the answer is no.
But according to polls, many Americans are still skeptical.
Obama can't seem to make the connection between our weakening economy and rising health-care costs. He didn't seem to make the most obvious point: if nothing happens on health care, the deficit still grows.
Some are calling health care the defining issue for this president.
And rather than helping troubled Americans, some of Obama's political opponents smell blood.
Republican Senator Jim DeMint, South Carolina, is calling health care Obama's Waterloo. Defeating health-care reform can defeat this president, he says.
But defeating this president on this issue may defeat the country.
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Comments for "MACALUSO: Obama hasn't sold health-care reform" (2)
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Gisela Kemper said on Jul. 25, 2009 at 6:50pm
President Obama is using the health care crisis for his own agenda. He does not care for the poor, it is not about that. It is about power and creating a bureuacracy for his own constituency and taxing hardworking Americans and retired persons who have worked all their lives to death. He has a payback attitude and I resent him for it and I resent this Congress for it. What about the 50 billion or so stimulus? What did the stimulus do but line the pockets of Acorn and other sweetheart deals for all these crooks on Capitol Hill. If he cared about the poor so much and uninsured by did you guys spend billions on non-job creation. I voted for Obama but I will never vote for him again and I hope he does fail. I thought I was one of the American people he was for, but apparently his idea of "American people " are the minorities, poor, unions, teachers, fireman, illegal aliens and the rest of us who supported him, work every, and pay the bills for all the entitlements that have been created can go to hell. I am disgusted. This is not a Republican Issue or Democratic issue this is a Constitutional issue of checks and balances. WE are supposed to have debates and we are supposed to read the legislation that is backrupting my country. I guess checks and balances are not important to the DNC. Shame on all of you and that includes the Republicans. All of you are destroying my country. All my life I have heard about the Germans who they could possibly follow someone like Hitler. I am a German immigrant. How are you guys any different. As a German-American, I am disgusted with all of you. He is nothing but another Far Left Democrat. The same old same old. I am disappointed.
Tom said on Aug. 05, 2009 at 7:14am
Consider me among those who were pre-sold on health care reform. Our current system with for-profit insurance companies who are in business to DENY coverage is horrible and I don't see how anyone can defend it along with the fact that too many people have no health care coverage.
I keep seeing people rave about our health care system compared to Canada. Open your eyes. For those of us with insurance, things are far from good. Why is it that the first appoint of the day my doctor has is with a salesperson from a drug company instead of an actual patient?
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