President Obama will acknowledge in his speech tonight that his health care reform push has become politically damaging–a fact he blames on misinformation and a complicated political process. But, hailing the reform’s salutary effects on the federal budget, and the good it will do for the uninsured, he will implore Congress to finish the job.
I did not choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt,” read Obama’s prepared remarks. “And by now it should be fairly obvious that I didn’t take on health care because it was good politics.”
I took on health care because of the stories I’ve heard from Americans with pre-existing conditions whose lives depend on getting coverage; patients who’ve been denied coverage; and families – even those with insurance – who are just one illness away from financial ruin….
Our approach would preserve the right of Americans who have insurance to keep their doctor and their plan. It would reduce costs and premiums for millions of families and businesses. And according to the Congressional Budget Office – the independent organization that both parties have cited as the official scorekeeper for Congress – our approach would bring down the deficit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades.
Still, this is a complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became. I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. And I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, this process left most Americans wondering what’s in it for them….
As temperatures cool, I want everyone to take another look at the plan we’ve proposed. There’s a reason why many doctors, nurses, and health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo. But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. Here’s what I ask of Congress, though: Do not walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.
Will this be enough to convince Congressional Democrats that Obama is engaged in the project? We’ll know soon.
