Vitriol has dominated much of the debate about health care reform, infusing the issue with a caustic tone and creating an atmosphere of confusion. In the wake of disastrous town hall meetings and heated protests, it was hard to imagine that any significant changes to the nation's health care system could be enacted. Before watching President Obama's speech to Congress, I cynically expected him to compromise on parts of his program by diluting his plan in exchange for bipartisanship. Fortunately, my expectations went unmet.
The President could have made health care reform more palatable to Republicans by backing down on his goals for change, but instead he chose to stand by his plans, offering strong and tempered defense against the charges brought by conservatives and their allies. His speech addressed the current deficiencies of the health care system and offered prescriptions for alleviating and improving it. Though he made some concessions to the right (no funding for abortions and an agreement to consider a change to malpractice laws, for example), he generally stood by his plans for changing the system in ways that improve health care for all Americans.
Beyond explaining what reform would do in clear and cogent terms, the president also called conservatives out on their bad behavior in recent months with regards to health care. The president admonished the Republicans' fear mongering (a political technique that they mastered during President George W. Bush's time in office) and scolded them for their use of unfounded and irresponsible rhetoric. President Obama specifically went on the offensive against politicians who fabricated tales of "death panels" and accused him of being a socialist.
President Obama also pointed out the hypocrisy of Republicans who criticize him on fiscal issues relating to health care. While Republicans give the Democrats flack on the cost of reform, they expressed few qualms with the deficit under the Bush administration where they sat idly by as their irresponsible policies increased the deficit.
By pointing to this fact, the president not only held Republicans responsible for their actions in the past, but also called into question their ability to create good policy in the future, as he emphasized that the war in Iraq and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans contributed greatly to the deficit.
Though he meted out criticism to conservative opposition, overall, the President offered a way to move forward on health care reform. In recent months, substantive debate has been stymied by sensationalist claims and outlandish exaggerations. President Obama rightfully criticized these issue-obfuscating tactics, but unlike his conservative opposition, his message was not grounded in partisan politics.
Under the Bush administration, Democrats who had qualms with the handling of foreign policy and security issues were vilified as weak; in sharp contrast, the president, while criticizing those have made unfounded claims, made clear that Republicans are welcome to the debate on health care and that their ideas will be valued and considered and did not demonize those who oppose his plans for reform. Health care is an issue that affects all Americans, and it is in the best interest of Americans to see the health care system reformed. President Obama seems to get this point; let's hope Republicans do too.
