With attitude and severity not present in most of his speeches this year, President Barack Obama presented his view of the current legislative process and discourse of recent months. He "went historical" on the audience noting the concessions already achieved from doctors, nurses, the pharmaceutical industry and hospitals. His words were crisp, like a stern lecture to a disobedient child.
He gave short shrift to the twenty four hour news cycle as an opener and rolled on from there. He tallied several areas of consensus already achieved in congress around lower cost, more choices and dependable coverage.
Then Obama did in fact draw a line in the sand, saying twice: "Let me repeat: health insurance reform cannot add to our deficit over the next decade, and I mean it."
He notes "Our proposal will change incentives so providers give patients the best care, not just the most expensive care...This is what we mean when we say, delivery system reform."
A new highlight in his speech is a pledge to set up a board of medical experts to deal with the long term trajectory of cost cuts and savings.
He holds the line on his deadlines: "I realize that the last few miles of any race are the hardest to run, but I have to say, now is not the time to slow down...Now is not the time to lose heart."
And he reemphasizes the magnitude of the issue when he says: "If we don't achieve health care reform, we cannot control the costs of Medicare and Medicaid and we cannot control our long-term debt and our long-term deficits. That is not in dispute...If we do not get this done now, no one's health insurance is going to be secure."
No questions taken.
Sayonara.