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Loading...Engaged Presidential Leadership on Health Care Reform
Polling
CNN polling shows that the President’s speech was well received. From their website:
“About one in seven people who watched the speech changed their minds on Obama’s health care plan. ‘Going into the speech, a bare majority of his audience — 53 percent — favored his proposals. Immediately after the speech, that figure rose to 67 percent,’ says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. ‘But the real question is whether those conversions will last. Bill Clinton got similar numbers after his 1993 address to Congress, but five months later a majority of the country no longer supported his plan.’”
This may lead to the conclusion that a good percentage of the public agrees with the entire proposal for health care reform and that Congress will pass the President’s proposals.
Maybe.
While the public does want solutions to various problems with health care in America some aspects are more popular than others. Ending the insurance company practice of refusing coverage on preexisting illnesses or illnesses that occur during coverage is popular. The 800 billion dollar price tag of the reform package, less so.
Leadership is key
However, what the positive feedback to Mr. Obama’s speech demonstrates, only weeks after the public debate turned negative and chaotic, is that the public responds to presidential leadership on this issue.
There is, of course, both a substantive and political battle in Congress on health care. Republicans have different ideas for reform, and will attack the President’s plan for political advantage, unless he puts their very ideas in front of them. He dangled them a bit with support for malpractice reforms, but not so much that Republicans will yet go along.
“Bill Clinton got similar numbers after his 1993 address to Congress”
The point is that President Obama must stay in charge and directly responsible for health care legislation, if he wants the public with him. If he publishes his list of legislative details quickly and lets it be known that he will only add or subtract from this list in public view in a televised address, he can manage the debate. Let others say what they will, if we can look to the President for a consistent and careful approach, we will.
The public wants to trust this President. But they need to know that he is in control of the legislation.
They do not trust Congress to maintain fiscal responsibility or to serve the public interest. The “he said/she said” of partisan politics will undermine the credibility of the legislation unless the President maintains control from this point on.
Showdown ahead
If the President takes the lead, maintaining a clear message and using responsible ideas supported by both sides in the debate, he will still have to fight for enough votes in congress to pass his plan. That is a good fight. The public will know what they are getting and can hold their representatives accountable as they see fit.
Excellent commentary on the speech in the New York Times, especially Robert Reich’s and Arnold Relman’s concerns.
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When was the last time you said, I know you are but what am I? Or everybody I know has a big but?
thanks for the article.. :)
That's fine . Name the restaurants so we can boycott them into bankruptcy !
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+ add your ownThe Public Option, although better than the status quo seems good on paper, but the cost will still be horrendous. Once it becomes accepted as law, we nave no recourse but accept this system. Personally, this will trap people into a system that may never work.
The medical establishment have been profiteering for years and they are fixated on a system that works for them, but is failing and leaving many small businesses and individuals who will most certainly lose their policies. I think even with strict guidelines and regulations, costs will still rise. The question of medicine has been at risk for a long time anyway. It has been corrupted by policies of the insurance companies and Big Pharma. Any purpose of health isn't followed through by the medical establishment. The profiteering is accepted policies of doctors who do not seek remedy through proper diet and simple remedies. The dispensing of drugs has become part of mainstream practice. The hospitals use high cost systems with expensive procedures and high tech equiptment that are many times unecessary, and very costly. Corporate decisions are untilized to benefit the use of these practices. Of course, it won't change. The people have to change their habits, become educated on healthful ways. Stop eating and drinking horrible foods, and take care of their bodies. Also complain to the food corporations and the GMO, pesticide people to utilize green and organic methods. Maybe corporations have it all figured out?
"I'm from Portugal, and I advise all americans who read this, and pass on to others, to consult on the Internet about the NHS system that is installed in Europe, particularly in the European Union. Try to consult the differences that occur and think what is best for the USA. One thing is for certain... you should have universal health care system!"
Obrigado, Sergio!
To Gomer, There is no freedom from fire, or police protection. There used to be independent fire companies who would watch a house burn next to one they protect. Health care has become a fire storm. When some get sick, we all catch the cost. That cost must be spread among all citizens and the means to fight disease must be universal. There are still independent fire and protection services for those who wish to pay for extra, but basic services must be a total community service.
Joe F.: I've been looking for that info. Could you please direct me to the site. Very good post. Thank you for the info. I just hope it's accurate.Mimi
I totally agree. I think that Obama has demonstrated that he has a firm and determined grasp on this issue and is ready to take the reins. It is important for him to stay out in front of the hysteria and the propaganda that is continually trying to drag this debate down into the mud.
The fear that has gripped the conservative majority needs to be met with cool, rational discussion. The president must continue to be clear about his goals. It is essential that he consistently meet the conservative charges head on - leaving nothing to the imagination. Obama opponents have shown that there is no end to the hysterical accusations about his agenda, his methods and his supposed attempts to subvert the American way of life. He must counter these accusations, word-for-word, leaving no dark corners where political lies can fester and grow.
The President's view and plan of Health Care Reform was right on the mark. The Republican Party of "NO" always fought for complete private and unregulated health care as they line their pockets, not to mention they get the finest health care at tax payer expense.
@Steve Gomer:
What you are saying is a PYLE of the same "rhetoric" that the insurance lobby, their shills, and their bought-and-paid-for legislators have been spewing for months now! Do you have any concept of reality? I find it odd, yet interesting that you and those of your ilk always seem to randomly capitalize words in your rants, as if this somehow equates to emphasis. Also intriguing are the mis-spellings and claims of personal poverty ("If insurance cost $15 a month", etc.) What do you do when you get sick? Emergency Room visits by the uninsured are among the forces that drastically inflate the costs of medical care, so if that is your "solution", try again. As far as being "forced" to carry insurance, this would apply more to the Republican ideas of what a healthcare plan should be, negating the public option, thus forcing us to support the current bloated, corrupt system. Are you aware that ours is the MOST expensive healthcare system on the planet, while its effectiveness (by any objective measure) doesn't even rank in the top 20?
mcconnell $3.3M, hatch $2.9M, baucus $2.8M, grassley $2.7M,lieberman $2.6M, burr $2.4M, ensign $2.4M, cornyn $2.2M, kyl $2.1M,conrad $2.1M, cantor $1.8M boehner $1.7M, coburn $1.2M, j wilson 800K were paid by the Medical Industrial Complex to kill Health Care Reform.
Citizens for Tax Justice discovered the tax legislation enacted under GWB from 2001-2006 will cost $2.48 trillion over the 2001-2010 period. Over the upcoming decade (2010-2019), the costs of the health care proposals approved by 3 committees in the House are projected to be around $1 trillion and deficit neutral(that means they're paid for). In 2010, when all the Bush tax cuts are finally phased in, a staggering 52.5% of the benefits will go to the richest 5% of taxpayers. The Bush tax cuts were deficit-financed, which means GWB borrowed every penny from China. So, for the price of bush's tax-cuts for the wealthiest 5% of taxpayers, we could have had Health Care for every American. Instead Americans got bupkus and cheney/bush's republican buddies got filthy rich off of the Blood Money from No-Bid, Cost-Plus Federal Contracts.
Call Congress and demand, Single-Payer Health Care for All!
(House and Senate)
1-866-338-1015_______________1-866-220-0044
1-800-473-6711_______________1-866-311-3405
Don't let the Medical Industrial Complex steal your Health Care from you and your family by donating huge sums of money to Crooked Politicians in order to maintain the Status Quo. Keep up the good fight.
SEMPE
I'm from Portugal, and I advise all americans who read this, and pass on to others, to consult on the Internet about the NHS system that is installed in Europe, particularly in the European Union. Try to consult the differences that occur and think what is best for the USA. One thing is for certain... you should have universal health care system!
all of those who are cheering this plan are not looking at all the facts. Fact 1, your not given a choice to join any insurance, you are forced to do so. Failure to comply will simpley result in your income tax return being taken away. This forced nature signifies the rape of your rights to Freedom Of Choice (which is guaranteed)By Our Constitution. And the only reason this part of the plan is in the bill at all is because the insurance Companies Have forced Government to put it there so they can make even more money off of the allready slighted American People. This forced Insurance(if people will just quit cowering in their high chairs and stand up for their rights,cannot hold up in a legal battle in court.It should not be allowed to remain.Its our choice not the governments who has and does not have this insurance. And never mind that fact that many cannot afford this even at reduced prices.If insurance cost $15.00 a Month, I certainly could not afford it without giving up food or some other need.
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