Before a tense and packed House, the President told Congress:
“Millions of Americans are just a pink slip away from losing their health insurance, and one serious illness away from losing all their savings… And in spite of all this, our medical bills are growing at over twice the rate of inflation…”
That’s President Clinton, sixteen years ago almost to the day, in a speech about a complex health-care plan built on government expansion, with billions in hidden costs. Last night, a President – who was only 32 then – is now in the White House, out to prove that nothing has changed in the minds of the Democratic leadership since the Clinton debacle.
So begins my Forbes essay considering the President’s address to the joint session of Congress. The full piece can be found here.
More than a day has now passed since the speech. For the most part, the reviews have been favorable. Like President Clinton and his health-care speech 16 years ago, Americans have been given a remarkable oratory performance.
And, after a rough summer, Americans were reminded of why they voted for this gentleman – he’s superbly intelligent and knowledgeable on the issue.
But like President Clinton, Mr. Obama must defend legislation that is at odds with his own words.
And for this reason, while the big speech will most likely get a big bounce in the polls, I suspect a Clinton-effect – after a few weeks, when the shine of his words wane and we are back to discussing the nitty-gritty of the draft legislation, Americans will again be left with doubts. And with good reason.
2 responses so far
1 anotherdan // Sep 11, 2009 at 10:32 pm
In this health care conversation everybody calls the current system a “free market” system. Why? There is not much free market about it. When people get sick they don’t shop hospitals and doctors for best price or best value for the dollar. They go where ever, not even considering the price. If the visit cost $30 or $3000 it wouldn’t effect their decision because the big pot that they throw their money into (the insurance agency or government) will pay for it. For a diabetic who needs insulin, is the high priced insulin a luxury item that is a mere option or is their had forced? No amount of fiscal discipline would keep the diabetic from buying it and in the long run effect the price to go down (supply and demand is not in effect). Think about how similar our current health system is to a socialized system. No body pays for their health care. They throw their money into a pot. In the long run some pay for %1 of their health care and some pay %2000 of their health care. Instead of paying the government to organize the pot we pay insurgence adjusters and CEOs to organize the pot. Some people would would never trust a Big government to run such a big complicated industry that holds our lives in their hands…. well that is besides the big complicated military the government runs…. We trust the government to hold Guns, not scalpels. How inconsistent. Also is taking health insurance an option. I don’t know many people who would opt for using the money that gets pulled from their check for health insurance to discontinue, It seems to be not a reasonable option. Other things the government seems to do with great precision and efficiency is…. The IRS. Anyway, I’m just ranting cause I don’t think the “public option” is as black & white as a lot of conservative people are making it. Many of the holes you tear in the “Public option” concept could be torn into the “free market” system as well.
2 Kevin B // Sep 12, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Whatever bill crosses the President’s desk, Americans will have doubts. Americans will also be proud of the achievement.
Americans think Obama is the Worst. President. Ever. Americans think Obama is the new Messiah. Americans think other Americans’ ideas about Obama are too extreme.
Americans will argue with each other about the current healthcare problems, and Americans will receive a solution in the form of new legislation, which an American will sign into law. Americans will love this. Americans will hate this. Americans will challenge parts of the new legislation in courts, and Americans will hand down 5-4 decisions on these challenges.
The end result will be a system of healthcare that is uniquely American. In a few years Americans will think their healthcare system is the envy of the world.
The world will call Americans arrogant for thinking this.
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