After two months of having his health care reform propositions be muddled, twisted, and turned in every which direction, the president is ready to take matters into his own hands. It is about time. Frankly, it has taken him to long to take initiative on the health care issue--and he has quite the mountain to climb to make up for his passiveness. As history has proved, a home run speech in front of congress simply won't do the trick to pass an effective health care reform bill--Obama needs a grand slam. Anything short, will be ineffective. Here is what Obama needs to do in his speech to be effective.
First thing, dispel all rumors quickly and decisively. Obama, to put it bluntly, has let the GOP walk all over him with their fear mongering tactics. Aside from a few defensive comments, he really hasn't done much battling these rumors-- really it has been the media doing the dirty work for him. The first thing he needs to do, before getting into the plan itself, is let everyone know, in an authoritative, commanding, almost aggravated fashion that these rumors about "death panels", veteran health insurance, gov. take over of health care, all of it...is nothing but false. However, because he has done such a poor job battling these rumors in the past months, dispelling these false notions won't be enough to get the job done. He is not only trying to win congress, but the American people as well. He needs to reprimand those elected politicians who encourage the rumors--let everyone know that anyone who has progressed these rumors are doing so for political reasons. Point out the hypocrisy in the rumors. Get the message across, these far fetched ideas have no place in the health care debate, and anyone who introduces them should be ashamed.
Second, clearly,concisely, and emphatically address the problems with the current health care system. Make sure everyone understands the problem with the health care industry is the private insurance companies. Too often the President glosses over this section of the argument, leaving the question to many conservatives, who have this notion of American infallibility, that there really is nothing wrong with the health care system. Part of this explanation should be emphatic. President Obama recently gave a speech on health care where he showed more emotion than I have ever seen him show, and it was incredibly effective. When he talks about the horrors of the health care system today, he must, MUST, utilize his incredible charisma, arguably more than any other part in his address to congress. The reason is because congress really already knows a lot of he details in bill--they are writing it. This is for the American people. It seems that of those who understand what the bill proposes, the majority supports it. The chunk of nay-sayers are people who don't understand the need for reform, and don't really understand the bill. These type of people are not going to be persuaded by by facts, or by a clear cut plan. They will be persuaded by rhetoric filled with the pathos of an ailing nation in dire need of reform. Obama's charisma, if used effectively, has the potential to sell this idea to reform to Americans, who simply don't, and really will not, understand the contents of the bill that is being proposed.
Thirdly, clearly address the details of the proposed plan. Most importantly, Obama needs to be clear, crystal clear, on what he wants in a plan, and how he plans to pay for it. This is more for Congress than for the American people, but it definitely wont hurt to have the public hear his plan. He needs to be stone cold on the idea that a public option is must. No more of this wishy washy, maybe co-op, maybe public option crap. We need a public option. That's what we want. That's what you are going to give me. That's the attitude the President needs to take. When it comes to details of the plan, so far, Obama has done a pitiful job explaining. When asked about competition between private sectors and the public option, or about costs or raising taxes, he has either beat around the bush or sugar coated it. He needs to make up for that Wednesday. Give congress a clear cut answer on why private insurance company will be able to compete with the public option. Most of all, explain how he plans to pay for his proposed health care plan. In gaining votes this is the most important part of his speech. If he can effectively produce a rational answer to come up with the 1 billion dollars needed to fund this thing, he will be able to win over the moderate democrats, and maybe even a 1 or 2 republicans.
In short what needs to happen, is the timid, passive, Obama that has shockingly emerged for these last two months needs to disappear. He needs to show the American public and congress, with the confidence and authority he had campaigning that he has full faith in the public option. Any speech that doesn't radiate confidence is a failed one. Any speech that doesn't address these three steps is a failed one. Obama has dug this whole through his passiveness, lets see him get out of it.
I invite anyone to give us what you think is necessary for Obama to do in his speech. I am interested to see what everyone thinks.
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