I had some major concerns going into the speech last night. Mostly, I was terrified that all those rumors and silly leaks coming out of the White House were actually factually.
That he was throwing the public option away.
That he was listening to those that would turn this into a give away to the insurance companies.
That all of this was a done deal.
I walked away from the speech, once again, freakin' ecstatic this man is leading the country.
The speech Obama gave last night was, to my ears, pitch perfect.
That is not to say everything that he said was perfect, or that I’m just thrilled with all the proposals laid out. I am just dammed impressed with the political savvy that was obvious throughout.
* He blasted the outright lies as juvenile, counterproductive, and even UNAMERICAN. An aside...Thank you, Congressman Wilson, for your help in making this point obvious even to members of your own party. That sort of douchebag brilliance can’t be bought.
* He pointed out the needed reforms as a deeply MORAL issue, and pointed out the Republicans have been on the wrong side of these issues (Social security, Medicare) since, like, forever. Even mentioned the redundancy of their scare tactics, um... I mean talking points.
* He said having a public option was essential in creating an option for those that fall through the cracks, but down played its role as anything else. Now, I want a single payer system. Period. But, I’m a flaming, communist, fascist liberal. What he managed to do was to make the PO sound economically sound, but not something you HAVE to choose, AND THAT is the fear that all those fuckers on the right are trying to capitalize on. The left is going to make you stand in a BREAD LINE! For your MEDICINE!!! If there is anything American's hate it HAVING to do something. The whole public universities comparison as spot on.
* Mentioned the "left" of his party as not being willing to compromise, but then only used examples of the Republican’s bullshit tactics. In my mind this sets us up as the boogeyman, but being the boogeyman can be useful. It says the left is being as loud as the right, and considering the noise the right can make... we’re being heard. It says we’re at the table, which a week ago, I seriously doubted. By not pointing out any specifics against us, he basically admitting the substance of our arguments is legitimate, and he is going to take our concerns seriously. It also means he expects us to compromise. Also useful, the whole "the lefties are being unreasonable" sets him in the middle, and yes, being in the middle is where the American electorate is told he needs to be. It makes all of the Republican blathering about SOCIALISM!!!! Look cynical and petty.
* Also.
* His seriousness, his determination, and his calls to our better selves were a glaring contrast to the sullen churlishness displayed by the republican members of Congress. Seriously, even minus what’s his nuts little tantrum, they looked like teenagers getting called to the carpet for underage drinking. In John Boehner’s case, orange teenagers.
* His having them give him a standing ovation by mentioning tort reform, then having them sit down to hear he’s going to "study" it, brilliant.
* His giving John McCain props for the program he supported while he was trying to get people to vote for him, (but I’m guessing isn’t real big on now), brilliant. The frozen look on McCain’s face was priceless. "I said WHAT!"with a big side of "Mother.Fucker."
* He set up the Right to look like fools for trying to scare seniors about their Medicare benefits, pointed out THEY are the ones that wanted to cut those benefits, then stood back and let them be seen by millions sitting on their asses while he vows to make sure Medicare is NOT messed with. Brilliant. Granted, he couldn’t have done it without their help. So, THANKS! Republicans, you were Right. On. Cue.
* The Ted Kennedy letter was unbelievably moving. The character of our nation, indeed. Man.
So, all in all, he done did good. He changed the nature of the argument from "Will Healthcare be reformed?" to "How will healthcare be reformed?". He told the republican’s "Daddy’s back, now grow the fuck up, or you will be treated with the respect you deserve." Most importantly, in my mind, he connected the Moral issue of the healthcare debate with the common sense issues of the unsustainability of our present course. Setting up healthcare reform as not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing; laying out the public option as something that isn't radical, but rational as well as ethical.
Did he lay it all on the line? No. Did he unequivocally support a public option? No...
However.
He did say having a public option struck him as the best way to be able to keep costs down, managing to couch it in terms every good little republican can appreciate. Self-sustaining. Market competition. He also made clear he was comitted to making sure NO ONE went without healthcare. He defined the nation as one that will do the right thing in the end, defined the Right as the ones in the way, and basically stated that is where they've always been, but we manage to get stuff done anyway and we will do so again.
He made sense, and after a month of Teabaggers and Birthers, the calm authority was striking. He made it all seem so reasonable.
I was proud of our President, if not in full agreement on every detail, and honestly believe that if we keep the pressure on, a good outcome is attainable.