After watching the health care press conference/speech last night I watched the pundits. And they were quite impressed with themselves, but Obama - not so much. In smug, repetitious comments, they found fault with Obama's presentation, his seemingly greater animation over Gates than health care, and various other non-substantive aspects of the press conference.
In the hours after the press conference, how many of us heard real discussion and critique about Obama's plan? Or was the focus on how he appeared less animated and disinterested? Does anyone really believe Obama's disinterested in health care?
Have we have become such a culture of sound bites, celebrity and appearances (by the way, what's happening with Octomom and Jon and Kate?) that we don't even know what to do with a substantive speech about significant issues? We've spent eight years listening to lies, which the mainstream media ate and regurgitated like mama birds, and now the mainstream and progressive media can't wait to criticize.
We elected a brilliant legal scholar and talented politician, who is promoting change on a number of topics all at once. Six months into his presidency he has achieved many goals, and hasn't let up. But the man we elected, as we knew during the campaign, is not an actor. He doesn't use backdrops (Mission Accomplished!) or gimmicks. Instead, he appeals to our intelligence, attempting to persuade with logic and facts. And in the anti-intelligence climate that still lingers after the Bush years, that target may still be out of reach.