Health Care Speech to CongressFollow

You should have listened more closely. He wants public assistance to get insurance for those who can't afforded and which would be funded through the expiration of the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans, etc. He explictly said that any public insurance agency would charge customers and would, presumably, be revenue neutral (much like the USPS used to be run).

He wasn't booed for not extending insurance to illegal immigrants, he was called a liar by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) who is apparently convinced that Obama wants to give illegals free health insurance or something.

Edited, Sep 9th 2009 8:39pm by Jophiel

I lol'd most heartily contrasting Obama's speech to the republican response's.

I can't imagine anything said here (Obama or GOP responder) being more than 20% substance (and that's generous considering the *********** of politics,) but at least when Obama tells me what I want to hear, he does it with style. I never know what to think about Obama really. One of three things can be happening: he can be totally faking his wants and vehemence, telling me what I want to hear, and doesn't intend to get anything done; he can be truly believing the things he says, but doesn't really intend (or can't) reform anything substantial because of the desire to keep up the bipartisan facade; or he could be truly believing what he says, and might actually reform something.

I just hope for the last and expect the first. If the last actually happens, I don't think I'd mind him only lasting one term from the inevitable backlash, because even just reforming that one major issue in four years would be more than enough substantial change/hope to count for eight.



I can't honestly believe that, but I don't think that I'd care if he broke that promise in order to salvage another one.

Rep Joe Wilson has already apologized, but Pelosi wrote his name down.

It reminded me of a high school assembly, when the head of the PTA was speaking to the students, and one of the students thought it'd be a fabulous idea to shout "Your mom!" after a particularly boring point. Everyone goes "OOOOOOH" and while he enjoys some momentary fame, the vice principal quietly writes his name down and he's given detention for a month.

Speculation is that Congress will issue an official censure.

His opponent in the next election go round already raised $16,000 in the last two hours.

Edited, Sep 9th 2009 10:54pm by catwho

I just spoke to someone who thought that Obama was too liberal when it comes to healthcare, as well as the economy, and upon my telling him that I was quite far to the left, further than Obama in fact, he questioned me as to why I would want to be so. That's ordinary enough.

He then proceeded to say that, instead of Obama's plan of subsidizing public insurance, the country would be much better off if we had a totally "free" one provider system, paid entirely by taxes of the rich and only the rich, such as in some places in Europe. He also said something along the lines of abolishing or severely reducing the income tax of only the middle and lower classes, instituting a federal sales tax to make up for it, and raising the income tax of the rich. I told him that I more or less agreed, and asked why he would think that Obama's plan was more liberal than that plan. He couldn't.

Would anyone else, conservative or liberal, (but preferably conservative, since the gentleman I spoke to identified as such) like to take a stab at the chain of reason behind this opinion?

***



I don't honestly care. His speech was emotional and strong, and if it inspires strong opinions, I prefer it to some ridiculous farce of civility that everyone tries to uphold, but no one honestly believes exists, in truth, anyway.

Edited, Sep 9th 2009 11:09pm by Pensive

So you're saying that the GOP no longer cares about these things now that their guy is out of office? Noted.

Not at all. Wilson's out burst was in bad taste just as when several members of the Democratic party did it to President Bush.

What gets me is so many Liberals and Left leaning Blogs wnow have their panties in a bunch over Joe Wilson.

Personally, I think wilson was tacky as hell to do that but if he wants to make the GOP look like a bunch of classless ***** while they're trying to fight the "Party of No" label, I say more power to him.

I owe you a deep apology. It was foolish of me to think you could connect your own statements and form a conclusion from them. I will never hold you to such basic levels of intellect again.

'kay



But it didn't. The responder mentioned something along the lines of being sorry than Obama did not attempt to discuss that issue (from memory, so not word for word): "He had an opportunity to talk about lowering costs through tort reform and unfortunately he didn't do that tonight."

Edited, Sep 10th 2009 12:42am by Pensive

I'm not implying that Obama ignored it; I think he "addressed" it about as much as he could realistically do without just lying or making crap up. What I mean is that anyone who is already using tort reform as a talking point isn't going to stop until it's talked about to the extent that other things are excluded. All "bipartisan" means whether it comes from a dem or rep is "why aren't you easier to influence? listen to me more and give up your ideas. I probably won't give up any of mine though."

Speech wasn't divisive, but it seemed most of the room already made up their minds before coming in. Hence why I'm not sure it'll be a game-changer, like Obama hoped; the obvious divide in the room had nothing to do with the speech (as it wasn't divisive), and everything to do with political posturing.

ThiefX, I am writing down your NAME!!

With an indelible pen.