Although at times the pragmatist signaling a willingness to compromise came up for air, for most of the president's 45-minute call to action on health care, the "Community Activist" took center stage. President Obama left little doubt last night that health care reform to him is a moral issue that needs to rise above the partisan bickering that plagues Washington. The address before Congress would have been perfect if the pragmatist side of Obama did not signal that the public option was not a necessary part of his plan.

The president did, however, make a strong case for its inclusion in the final package:

I have insisted that like any private insurance company, the public insurance option would have to be self-sufficient and rely on the premiums it collects. But by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits, excessive administrative costs and executive salaries, it could provide a good deal for consumers. It would also keep pressure on private insurers to keep their policies affordable and treat their customers better, the same way public colleges and universities provide additional choice and competition to students without, in any way, inhibiting a vibrant system of private colleges and universities.

At the same time the president scolded members of both sides of the aisle for exaggerating the importance of the public option:

To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance-company abuses and make coverage affordable for those without it. The public option is only a means to that end - and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal.

And to my Republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care, we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have.

While many progressives will cry foul and say that Obama did not go to the mat for the public option, Adele M. Stan of AlterNet wrote:

That said, there's a chance that, as a result of this speech, he may avoid the mat and still get the public option. For at no time before has anyone offered so succinct and reassuring description of what that would look like and, for that, he just may generate the level of public support he needs for such a plan to get it passed."

I hope she is right; without a public option, there will be no incentive for private insurance companies to lower their rates.

The president was forceful and received universal applause when he addressed pre-existing conditions:

Under this plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a preexisting condition. (Applause.) As soon as I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it the most. (Applause.) They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or in a lifetime. (Applause.) We will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they get sick.

For most of the 45-minute speech Obama controlled the room, but at times the "party of no" was downright disrespectful. Congressman Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) even called the president a "liar." Wilson issued the following apology in a statement released to the press:

This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the President's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.

Wilson shouted, "that's a lie" when the president said that illegal immigrants would not be covered under his plan. According to factcheck.org the president was correct. In fact, the house version of the bill has a provision that states:

H.R. 3200: Sec 246 - NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS

Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.

In addition to addressing the misinformation on illegal immigrant's access to health insurance under the plan, Obama corrected the record on other false claims made by opponents to reform. He was very direct when it came to "death panels":

Some of people's concerns have grown out of bogus claims spread by those whose only agenda is to kill reform at any cost. The best example is the claim made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but by prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens. Now, such a charge would be laughable if it weren't so cynical and irresponsible. It is a lie, plain and simple.

Obama, in addition to making the technical arguments and addressing the false claims being made about health care reform, also evoked the memory of one of health care's leading proponents, the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Obama referred to a letter he received earlier this year in which Senator Kennedy:

... expressed confidence that this would be the year that health care reform - "that great unfinished business of our society," he called it - would finally pass. He repeated the truth that health care is decisive for our future prosperity, but he also reminded me that "it concerns more than material things." "What we face," he wrote, "is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country."

In a previous column, I called on Obama to be the community activist and not the pragmatist. Overall, I think the president was that organizer from the south side of Chicago. He laid out a call to action and made the case for health care reform in a clear and passionate manner. It was almost perfect; we just need a stronger commitment to the public option. He did leave it on the table; it is now up to the people to fight for it. The president showed he is ready to lead. Who will follow?

Source:
truthout.org
by: Scott Galindez, t r u t h o u t