If Barack Obama was really the “post-partisan” President that he promised to be, tonight’s speech would start with the words “America, I hear you”. He would tell the world that he understands the opposition is not “astroturf” or “un-American” and that protesters are not “evil mongers”. If President Obama really believed in a new Washington and getting away from the politics of old, he would step back and let the process start over. He would actually LEAD the way and try to include some of the many proposals on the right and come up with some real solutions for real reform. If he really wanted to usher in a new era in Washington, he would get a group of people from all sides of the aisle and various ideas on health care and sit down with them and hammer something out.
VIRTUALLY ALL AMERICANS WANT REFORM. WHAT WE DON’T WANT IS GOVERNMENT-RUN CARE OR THE CRAP COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON. How about Tort Reform? How about ending the employer-based system? How about allowing real competition across state lines? How about allowing the same tax benefits for individual purchased insurance? How about you start talking to Doctors instead of demonizing them? How about you start talking to Americans instead of criticizing them? How about you start talking to Republicans instead of leaving them out of the debate?
Unfortunately it doesn’t look like President Obama will take this path. Instead of the post-partisan high road that he promised during the campaign, all signals are that the speech will be more fear-mongering (more Americans will die if we don’t pass his plan), more lying politics (painting opposition as the status quo), and more threats and more mis-information (you will be able to keep your plan regardless of what HR3200 says).
President Obama has the chance the change the debate and prove he is a leader tonight. Hopefully it will be more than just words and finally, finally be something of substance and leadership. I’m not holding my breath.
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