Obama Health Care Speech Reactions: HuffPost Readers Share Their Thoughts

President Obama said himself Wednesday morning that he hasn't been clear enough on his plans to reform health care:

"I, out of an effort to give Congress the ability to do their thing and not step on their toes, probably left too much ambiguity out there, which allowed then opponents of reform to come in and to fill up the airwaves with a lot of nonsense," Obama told ABC's Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America."

Let us know if the president redeemed himself Wednesday night with enough information to help you understand his plans to overhaul health care. You can also just sound off on the speech. Hit the participate button, add your comments, include a photo and your location on a map. We'll include you in our roundup of reactions to the speech.

Obama's Health Care Speech

 

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Comments

[Nanningyan]

02:40 PM on 09/12/2009

A lot is being said about Obama's ability or inability to motivate congress to pass a health care bill. The truth of the matter is that the health insurance industry and not necessarily the health care industry in total has corrupted congress to such an extent that whatever passes will be a bill that benefits them with little or no regard for the citizens that the President is intent on helping. I have attended "Tea Bag" protests and spoken with a number of people there carrying signs about Socialism and communism only to find that they have little or no knowledge of the issues that they are protesting. Every person who I spoke with about the issue only spoke about Obama and how he was going to turn the country to socialism and how they don't like him. None of those people could speak to a single element of health care or government spending, they could only recite the hate filled rhetoric that permeated the group that had gathered. I also found that there were very few protesters at those rally's but the press reports of them largely over stated their numbers.
The only conclusion that I can draw from this is that the protests and the disrespect from people like Joe Wilson are driven by hate. It is not that a Democrat won the election that they fear it is the fact that we have a black president.

[websmith]

10:19 PM on 09/10/2009

It was amazing that there was no uproar when Obama talked about republican lies, but when Wilson spoke about Obama lies, it was as if god himself had been smitten and everyone's heart stopped momentarily until they could grasp what had just happened. The resulting calls for decorum and civility were even more astonishing considering that, in Emanuel and Clinton, Obama has surrounded himself with two of the most foul mouthed individuals in the history of the United States government. Between the two of them, they manage to keep the four letter words flying in the halls of Congress and the White House which both just happen to belong to American citizens. This man is a just public servant entrusted to administer the power and will of the people and he should be available to be spoken to and berated by each one of us.

In the end, Wilson let us down. Our new leader will only yell louder when people try to hush him and say to the President to bring it on when he is threatened because he criticizes and discredits bad policies and untruths. He also will tell Emanuel where to stick it. Wilson is not our guy.

[JamesinDentonTX]

01:38 AM on 09/11/2009

There is a section in HR3200 specifically barring illegal immigrants from free government health insurance. I wa shocked because Mr. Wilson obviously hasn't read the bill, can't read the bill, or is a liar himself. Which one?

[Robert Rose]

05:02 PM on 09/10/2009

My focus is to make lasting changes in how we handle our personal health.
I have seen the effects of our inadequate teaching of how the human mind and body operates. It has resulted in our inability to listen to and properly respond to what our body needs and is telling us. This means we are seldom proactive in the many ways we could be preventing illness and not optimizing our health.
Science teaching has been hampered by political restrictions of what can and cannot be taught about science. We are losing our scientific leadership to other countries with devastating social, economic, and financial consequences.
By focusing on the human body and mind I was able to teach students to respect their body/mind and show the same respect to others. By projects and individualized instruction I encouraged their interests in other aspects of science and share this with their classmates to further reinforce the scientific method.
If Pres. Obama could use his influence to encourage the teaching of mind//body, it would free districts, schools, and teachers to find the time to emphasize preventative healthcare. It would make an immediate impact in coping with obesity, ADHD, diabetes, allergies, colds, and many other reasons for doctor’s visits, expensive prescription drugs, and unnecessary hospital tests and high insurance rates.
In the future it would come to trillions in health care savings. I would be glad to fill in the details.
Robert Rose, Ph.D.

[jwile]

02:06 PM on 09/10/2009

Dear Presiden Obama:
I was beginning to feel that you had become a fallen idol. Part of my disillusionment was because of your weak stand on health care reform. I didn't think you seized the moment as you should have, and I felt you were backing off a public option, which I believe to be critically essential.
Last night, you redeemed yourself to an extent. The main thing you brought to us was PASSION. In your closing remarks about the moral imperative of health care reform, you were the Obama I believed in, fought for, contributed to, phoned people for, wrote letters about. and all-around loved. I felt your ethical fervor, your compassion for the sick and needy. I knew absolutely that your heart is in this mission.
So, I have come back to your fold. I only wish you would fight harder for a public option. And, to help prod you in that direction, I give you here a link to a song I wrote, "PLEASE COVER ME," which I have put into a 2-minute video with visuals of people sick and despairing. Will you watch and listen to it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3M_iGyer_g
Joan Wile, ASCAP, and author,
"Grandmothers Against the War: Getting Off Our Fannies and Standing Up for Peace" (Citadel Press, 2008)

[ram1952]

12:35 PM on 09/10/2009

all right! I agree BO could have done better. But, just imagine, John McCain in his place, with his sedative "My friends" line with the wolf killa' from Wassilla standing behind him and winkin' away furiously!

[HeartT]

12:24 PM on 09/10/2009

The President's understanding of the issues and their effect on the people never ceases to amaze me. I find it, encouraging though sometimes frustrating, that this man, who has vowed to be our leader, takes in all perspectives and carefully defines what can work for us all. Not an easy task considering the complexity and varying aspects of the opposition.
As a Progressive, I would like to see a single payer system in place. But I find myself asking what is the next best thing? I'd like to see the insurance companies held accountable. I'd like to see it be against the law to deny coverage when you lose or change jobs. To lose everything because you get sick. Or be denied coverage because you have a pre-existing condition. I'd also like the comfort of knowing that my government is there to step in and break the fall should these things happen.
I think our President did a good job last night of laying out why we need to reform healtcare insurance. We need to get behind him on this, get this reform and make it work and use the success to fight for the ultimate--single payer.
Thank you, President Obama. You are a thinking and thought-provoking leader, even for those who are unkind and narrow minded.

[apolloguide]

12:09 PM on 09/10/2009

I was so relieved to hear the President use the word "lies" regarding the Republicans. Hopefully a renewed sense of candor will come from this.

I was engulfed with a sense of helplessness hearing his tortured explanation of the public option as a useful fiction that is in the heads of 77% of Americans and was used as a carrot to bring the progressives on board (and of course once on board they wouldn't jump ship for fear of looking unsporting. He basically admitted that it was merely a clever manipulation.

After you've hooked a fish then You can decide what You will do with him.

Cynical politics fueled by insurance and bank money which bought the administration in August of last year. Will we never get this albatross off our neck?

[Constance Young]

12:06 PM on 09/10/2009

Everything sounded great -- that is, up until the time when he began to waffle about the so-called public option [the "robust" -- or not, kind]. The alternatives to public option are confused and not-well stated so I just don't know what to think about them. I want a public option but the consensus seems to be that he is ready to cave on this, and his weak response seems to verify this assessment. The ending was rabble-rousing and good but I wish he could have used some of that passion to press for the public option as well.

[WhatsLeft]

11:20 AM on 09/10/2009

It was a wonderful speach and has renewed my HOPE that we can get this done. Years ago under the Clinton admin, when this issue was again being considered, the health care industry as well as hospitals and doctors began to scale back their billing/charges. We saw, for the first time, an actual drop in health care costs. Not this time. This time the insurance companies are doing everything they can to stop any and all changes to their way of doing things. Wonder why?

[Paulo1]

11:00 AM on 09/10/2009

"redeemed" ??
Not sure. I am certainly a disgruntled Progressive.
President Obama is by far the best political orator of our age. Cadence, presentation, style, you name it and he gives 110% to his speeches. This one was a barn burner and he fed those of us on the left a lot of what we wanted to hear.
The problem is that I am now very used to brilliant speeches and not at all used to brilliant action.
Those of us who are anti war see him upping troops in Afghanistan
Those of us who are pro gay rights see his justice department writing some of the worst briefs and writing off our rights as not politically expedient
Those of us who wanted a roll back of the draconian Homeland Security/Patriot act laws get nothing
Those who want justice to follow those who performed and authorized illegal torture are told to just move on.
In short, in his actions he has sold out Progressives, in his words he remains our champion. So how did I feel about his speech? Uplifted, inspired and incredibly cautious of another sell out.

[fishingriver]

11:08 AM on 09/10/2009

Well said Paul.

[jwile]

02:36 PM on 09/10/2009

Very well put, Paulo 1. Although because of his speech I am now back in his fold, at least for the moment, I share your concerns about his upping the troops in Afghanistan and other matters. I hope he applies the same passion and detailed scrutiny to those issues as he is trying to do with health care. We will wait and hope.

[Bocababs]

10:55 AM on 09/10/2009

I called the White House this morning. After waiting 10 minutes on the phone......A good sign....I sent them an Email. I told the President's Office that last night.....he hit a Grand Slam with 2 out in the 9th Inning. I was moved to tears over the part about Teddy.

I will say this....no matter what comes out of this.....it will need to be tweaked over the years. But the other side has NEVER been louder because WE have never been closer to passng Healthcare Legislation.

[fishingriver]

11:10 AM on 09/10/2009

It won't "get tweaked over the years". If there is a mandate without a public option right from the start you will never have one. If they don't do ir correctly from the start, the victor will be the insurance giants.

[KimoSave]

10:49 AM on 09/10/2009

Obama and the liberal left need to get this passed. They need to call out the rethugz on their spewed venom. They need to stand up and fight for the American people. also, it is time the American people stood up to the lunatic fringe that always tries to hijack our country and make it a corporate fascist state.

[KimoSave]

10:40 AM on 09/10/2009

we just need this bill to pass, so in the future, we can push the insurance companies out of the way and form a single payer. all we need to do is pass this bill..........................

[fishingriver]

10:56 AM on 09/10/2009

If it doesn't start with a public option we will never have one. The trigger will never work because the insurance industry will always be able to justify their price increases. If we pass this without an alternative, we will be turning our health future costs and accessiblity entirely over to the insurance giants. Congress isn't going to have this majority in two years. It is now or never. The insurance industry is getting exactly what they want. They will grow more powerful after this victory. They will control even more votes and get more concessions. To be mandated amounts to corporate servitude. Think this through. We won't be able to if it is passed without an alternative.

[fishingriver]

10:37 AM on 09/10/2009

If there is no public option to compete with the insurance industry, there should be no mandate to purchase coverage. Otherwise, we are rewarding the insurance industry for effectively ki.lling any real alternative to their complete take over of America's health care.

[bagelmaven]

10:33 AM on 09/10/2009

He renewed my hope again. A FABULOUS and FABULOUSLY delivered speech. The Republicans need to reform their party from the bottom up. They are about NOTHING. And worse they are about public incivility and are to boot often immoral. They are tied to the corporate trough and lead their white base to think they care about them and their religion. THEY DON'T. They are about two things or mainly one MONEY and the power it gives them and dupes the rest of those not too bright masses. WAKE up white southern America, Wilson's outburst was for you and will get you NOWHERE.

As for Obama and the Democrates, now you have the best delivered possible speech of all time, so run with it and PASS the health care the president wants!!