President Obama's address on Healthcare

I can't help it - I have got to start this up again..

I believe him. He meant what he said to congress, and you can call me naive, but darnit - he was truly an inspiration.

And he finally addressed the fact that this is a moral issue - and faced down all those critics.

Good job. Mr. President.

I thought he did a good job. I think this was especially illuminated against Congressmen Joe "You Lie!" Wilson of South Carolina who clearly doesn't have any manners at all. The Republicans looked like hyperpartisan jerks with no manners. The president looked presidential.

I truly believe this speech will help at least stem the eroding of support for healthcare.

I just don't understand why this has never been resolved before.   The UK adopted a national health service shortly after WWII on the basis that good health was a right and not a privilege.  Isn't perfect, by any means, but at least poverty doesn't preclude anyone from treatment.  The US is a wealthy, modern nation but - up to now - seems to have taken the opposite view.  If you're poor or you don't have a job, somehow you're not entitled to be in good health.   The 'I'm all right Jack' attitude from some of the right-wing congressmen is really unsavoury, especially when a lot of them get elected on the platform of being men of faith. 

He's not going to convert any Republicans, clearly, but I hope he's put a rocket under his own supporters. 

What truly annoys me is that Republicans ran on healthcare reform, too!

Everyone wants it fixed. If they don't they haven't experienced the system as it exists today.

I didn't watch the speech (7 hour time difference), but I did read the transcript.  I did, however, watch the classy segment where Joe Wilson of South Carolina yelled out "you lie!"  I still can't believe he did that.  ::sigh::

As for my opinion, I thought President Obama did a good job.  I particularly liked the part where he said that he will call out liars.  All of the toxic lies that have been spread around by hyper-partisan right-wingers need to stop.  The lies have been proven wrong over and over again and it is just polluting the discourse. 

The sad thing is, I don't think it is going to change any of the Republicans' minds.  They are so dead set on ruining Obama that it doesn't matter anymore whether or not a bill has sense.  I just hope that all of the Democrats can get behind a bill like the one Obama laid out. 

If you can get youtube, I would recommend watching at least the last part where he talks about Ted Kennedy. I was bawling with pride by the time he was done with them. :)

I watched the President's speech last night. He did a great job! In my 37 years of life; I have sat through several different Presidential addresses to Congress. I was always taught to respect the "office" of the president regardless of if I agreed with their policies. NEVER have I witnessed the blatant disrespect that was shown to President Obama by Rep. Wilson (R - SC). HOW DARE HE SHOUT OUT AT THE PRESIDENT "YOU LIE"?!? Before last night I had no idea who this "goober" was. This is not about policy. It's about the Republican party being completely out of touch with the working class. Instead of taking care of the interests of their constituents they just line their pockets and the pockets of their rich friends in various industries (AG, Haliburton, United Healthcare, etc. ectc. etc....) Here's a thought...TAKE CARE OF YOUR STATES!

I am really fed up with the state of SC right now. I mean I was mostly raised in NC. We had Sen. Jesse Helms (an admitted racist) for years as a senator. However; NC was never as low in rankings regarding jobs/education but SC has stayed in the top 10 as long as I can remember. At least Sen. Helms actually took care of his state. His office even stepped in when the VA was making my dad jump through hoops to "prove" his duty related disability. There are some great colleges here but now I truly understand why most of the college educated people from SC leave the state after they graduate. There are so few opportunities here and the few that there are; well, those jobs go to family members and friends regardless of their education or qualifications. At my last job, the manager over our Billing Department was a waitress at the Waffle House prior to getting that job. WTF?!? Where I work now most of the people don't have degrees. When they find out that I have a degree and 14 years of work experience they get a funny look on their face because the position that I am in is not fully utilizing my skill set.

I had hoped to settle here as I do consider it my "home" state and have lots of family here. After 3+ years of the "Good Ole Boy" system, I am seriously considering moving. At least it seems that I will be able to have health insurance in the future as I don't even have that right now in the great state of SC (and I contract at a health insurance company - one of the Big 5)!

I was pleased by President Obama's response to that shout- although it did seem to throw him off his rhythm a bit. No doubt he was furious, but controlling it.

Yes, his address to Congress was excellent.

I preferred reading the text at the white house website (complete with the "You lie" and booing from the lower elements in attendance).

It is at best mean spirited to continue to allow so many in this nation to be without health care. Latest figures have that at over 30 million. In America. Richest country around. That is unacceptable.

President Obama quite clearly reached to both sides in his address.

No, he will not convert the closed minded. As long as any solution is penned by a liberal, they will oppose it. Even if it was quite clearly bi-partisan and generally conservative. Their hatred runs too deep for clarity of thought.

Yeah, I didn't realise what was called out either, but "you lie" is a classic, isn't it?  It didn't bother me much.  We used to live in Australia and there's quite a bit of yelling out in their parliament :)

Great speech by Mr. Obama.  He did a terrific job addressing all the rumours that have been swirling around out there.  One thing that had me laughing though was all the standing up and clapping by the Democrats.  Nancy Pelosi seemed to lead the way there...  Oh my, just had a google to make sure I spelled her name right.  I didn't know she's from California :)

Good point about the added expense of diagnosis and testing because doctors are worried about a lawsuit.  I'm all for that government option, bring it on.  

I missed the speech, but lucky me...I got to see the coverage on FOX at the gym. (I hate that station)

That was pretty tacky what the senator did. I am really tired of the craziness that I keep seeing from the other side.

I just read that Republicans were also holding up signs and "copies" of the bill.  And that more was said than what was said by Mr. Joe "You Lie" Wilson.  Someone apparently also called out (less loud) "Read the bill!"  If Democrats had done such a thing to President Bush, the Republicans would be screaming treason or something.  I cannot believe that that kind of behavior was displayed in Congress.  It is disgusting and disrespectful to the President. 

Meh. I have no problem with the outbursts. We got the free speech adder, after all. :)

edit: Plus it makes them look stupid. Always a plus.

Original Post by kathygator:

Meh. I have no problem with the outbursts. We got the free speech adder, after all. :)

edit: Plus it makes them look stupid. Always a plus.

Agreed, but I still am just in shock that they did it.  Also, isn't there some sort of rule that the person having the floor (in this case, Obama) shouldn't be interrupted?  Maybe I'm wrong....

The great thing about free speech is that they can say what they want, and I can say that I think that are freaking out of their minds

Congress has a past when it comes to this sort of behavior. There have been many instances of shouting and even fisticuffs a time or two. I think there was some shouting out during one or two of Bush's addresses as well.

I think obama did a good job.  The republicans are not going to budge but I think he was trying to persuade the dems. and the public(independents maybe?).  If some kind of health care plan does not get passed I will be voting against the "just say no" persons in 2010.  It is time to move forward on this.

If I recall correctly, it was just boo-ing, which is fine.  But calling the president a liar (especially when he's telling the truth)?  It's a bit rude.

The GOP response after the address came off as whiny and full of misrepresentations. And it was another guy from Louisianna. What's the deal with that?

Original Post by kathygator:

The GOP response after the address came off as whiny and full of misrepresentations. And it was another guy from Louisianna. What's the deal with that?

Charles Boustany is a Birther as well. He's one of the lunatics that doesn't believe Obama was born in the United States.

I thought the president's speach was inspirational and very well executed. I especially liked that he finished on a note regarding humanity and the character of the nation, rather than budgets and numbers. I think that's what this is really about in the end...our duty to each other as a human race, and the right everyone should have to healthcare.

I am not American, but I was actually a little proud of your country last night for the first time in a long time.

They used him because he's a doctor...a heart surgeon I believe.  The fact that he is a doctor does not make him extra qualified to comment on health insurance.  It means he's qualified to perform a routine check-up and possibly do heart surgery, but just because he is a part of the medical field does not make him an expert on health insurance. 

I find it funny that he said that it is going to be a government takeover of health care, when that was precisely one of the things that Obama said was a lie (and actually is a lie).