I just finished watching President Obama’s address on health care. Don’t worry, I won’t go on and on about it; hopefully you watched it yourself, and if not, here’s the transcript. There are just two things I want to say.
The first is this: While I tuned in to hear what the president had to say, I was more than a little distracted (and entertained) by congressional Republicans. To be fair, the Democrats had it easy. Their job was to stand up and applaud every single time the president inhaled, and they did it well, but it was predictable. A little boring, to be honest, and I say that as a respectful member of the team.
All the fun stuff happened on the Republican side. Some Republicans brought props (the Baucus plan?) which they waved in the air periodically like Bic lighters at a rock concert. Representative Eric Cantor never looked up from his Blackberry. (Tweeting? Chatting? Playing Blackberry games?) And of course, for the Republicans, the whole clapping thing was more difficult. For those not furiously typing on their Blackberries, decisions had to be made. It’s not so bad when there’s just one statement to evaluate, but what about those pesky compound sentences? Clearly there were moments of confusion. I watched one Republican start to clap and then switch gears, rubbing his palms together and glancing about nonchalantly. (Damn those television cameras!)
I could talk about Representative Joe Wilson’s terrible behavior, but I won’t. He wasn’t amusing; let someone else blog about him.
The second thing I want to say is that there were parts of Obama’s speech that moved me, parts that made me feel I was hearing it – the answer to the question in yesterday’s post, what does it mean to be an American. And my favorite passage speaks to the ugliness I blogged about Tuesday - the danger of not listening, of not being able to engage in civil discourse…
… our predecessors understood that government could not, and should not, solve every problem. They understood that there are instances when the gains in security from government action are not worth the added constraints on our freedom. But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little; that without the leavening hand of wise policy, markets can crash, monopolies can stifle competition, the vulnerable can be exploited. And they knew that when any government measure, no matter how carefully crafted or beneficial, is subject to scorn; when any efforts to help people in need are attacked as un-American; when facts and reason are thrown overboard and only timidity passes for wisdom, and we can no longer even engage in a civil conversation with each other over the things that truly matter — that at that point we don’t merely lose our capacity to solve big challenges. We lose something essential about ourselves.
If you watched the speech, tell me your thoughts. If you didn’t, tell me your thoughts anyway! (We’re nothing if not amazing conversationalists on Zebra Sounds.)
Wild
It was the final portion of Obama’s speech that really brought it home to me. Someone wrote on Tom’s FB page that if politics is the art of the possible, Obama is a Da Vinci. I would agree.
Can you imagine what would have happened if someone in Congress had yelled out “You life” to Bush when he was ginning us up for war?
I love a great speech. I love a great partisan speech even better!
Irregardless of who backs what for health care reform I thought his points/items to enact into law were very strong. I just have problems with the ideas of funding most of the initial trillion plus package by cutting waste and abuse in the system. Now, come on, everyone has to think that’s funny! (heck, if its even partially feasible then can you start on it today at the DMV?).
Also, it was about time to stop hearing the “55 million people who don’t have health care” finally worded, and stated by President Obama in a major address, to “30 million American citizens”. If nothing else his administration just cut the number of the uninsured that keeps being pushed around by almost half — I am standing in applause!
Best speech of his administration, by far. And I like a guy that says this is going to get done, I believe in it, I am in charge, so get on board or get run over! Hopefully, the parts I like find their way into law!
Judy, I was awed and inspired by the speech. At the same time, I felt such sadness (again) knowing that his words would be twisted and used against him (again), even as he talks about the need for peace and cooperation.
I will remain hopeful that maturity, rational thought, and meaningful discourse can and will happen.
Oops. That was supposed to say “You lie.” Not “You life.”
That was a great speech; I’ve been rereading it last night and this morning. Obama’s speeches have been one of the many aspects of his presidency that make me happy to have an American accent (even though at times I’m tempted to learn Norwegian!)
Since I know you like lists, here are my three favorite phrases from last night’s speech:
1. “What this plan will do…”
2. “…the character of our country…”
3. “We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it.”
and one honorable mention:
“I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility, and gridlock with progress… Because that’s who we are.”
Great post and I wholly agree.
Here was one of the quotes I liked:
“…when facts and reason are thrown overboard and only timidity passes for wisdom…we lose our capacity to solve big challenges and something essential about ourselves.” – Obama
cmw
Wolfwriter, I never even noticed the “f”. The man can certainly give a speech – and as one who cannot, I am in awe. Now we have to get it done.
Bobby, Yeah, definitely liked the tone – it’s been sorely missing from this debate.
Tim, I liked the Kennedy line too – the one you tweeted. “What we face, is above all a moral issue… fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.”
cmw, I think people who wholly agree with me are super geniuses.
In looking back, I actually think the best part of the speech was not spoken at all. It was the head turn, finger in the air and ooohhh sooo close utterance of a retort from a guy that was upset at being called a name from the stands! Just think of the street cred he could have amassed by going Artest on the guy!
Lets face it, the President was seeing red allll night. Oh wait, that was just the pant suit worn by Hillary!
Jane, I know. Listening to the Republican response (the unofficial ones from republicans leaving the chamber), I wondered if they’d been listening to the same speech! I loved this piece by Washington Post writer Eugene Robinson. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/09/republicans_behaving_badly.html#more
It ends with this: “Americans, I believe, expect their leaders to act like mature adults. Tonight, the president did – and his opponents didn’t.”
Bobby, Think you’re right about the best non-verbal moment of the night!
Hillary rocked the pantsuit. (Though not as well as Amy Poehler might have!)
I apologize if you are not looking and I am pointing it out. I am looking because I am excited.
29,962! Holy Moly!
Terre, I love your noticing. (Happy dancing!)