the buzz log

There was a lot riding on President Obama's primetime address on health care reform. Some political experts insisted that the speech could be a make it or break it moment. Mr. Obama was clearly aware of its importance — sources say he was tinkering with the speech up until the last minute.

The aim of the speech, Obama explained prior to giving it, was to "make sure that the American people are clear exactly what it is that we're proposing; to make sure that Democrats and Republicans understand that I'm open to new ideas, that we're not being rigid and ideological about this thing... to dispel some of the myths and, frankly, silliness that's been floating out there."

Did he succeed? Was the President able to cut through the confusion, get his point across, and bring the two sides of the debate together?

Strong Reactions
The speech drew strong reactions from both sides of the aisle. In one town hall-like moment, Rep. Joe Wilson of North Carolina shouted, "You lie" at the President. Mr. Obama acknowledged the heckler, but moved forward. Meanwhile Nancy Pelosi, seated behind Obama, looked down on Wilson, very displeased. In another telling moment, Rep. John Boehner appeared upset when the President called on Congress to stop bickering. A not-too-subtle dig at Boehner, perhaps? Still, it wasn't all frowns and boos. Sen. John McCain smiled when Obama lauded his idea to offer Americans with pre-existing conditions "low-cost coverage to protect them against financial ruin if they become seriously ill."

Down to Specifics
One of the president's chief goals was to clear the air and explain in his proposal in simple terms. On this front, a few moments stood out. When Mr. Obama said his plan will not add one dime to the federal deficit, the audience (for the most part, anyway) erupted with applause. Another moment drew unexpected laughter. Obama acknowledged that his plan for health care reform had "significant details to be worked out." The gross understatement drew a smattering of laughter. Folks seemed to be saying, "Yeah, tell us something we don't know."

Tough Talk
While President Obama expressed his willingness to compromise on the details of reform and acknowledged that good ideas come from both sides, he also laid down the law at several points. When talking about how he is willing to listen, Obama also included a caveat to those who use fear and cynicism for political gain. "My door is always open, but know this, I will not waste time." It was a moment many Democrats clearly enjoyed.

Wrapping it Up
President Obama is known for being a spectacular speaker. This time, he relied on an old friend to tie things together. Near the end of his address, Obama spoke of a letter that Sen. Ted Kennedy had written months before he passed away. The letter was to be delivered to Obama upon Kennedy's death. The key message Kennedy wished to convey was that health care reform isn't a political issue. It's a moral issue that will determine the character of America. As Obama envoked the late Senator's words, Kennedy's widow, Vicki, sat next to Michelle Obama, both smiling and crying.

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Filed under: Barack Obama

There are no shortage of opinions when it comes to the health care debate. But how many of those chattering voices from either side actually know what they're talking about? With news that the government-run option may be doomed, people are searching for more specifics on the proposal. What exactly is this public option that has so many people up in arms?

Over the past 24 hours, lookups on "public health care option" and "what is the public health care option" have both surged into the thousands. That's largely due to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who on Sunday said the public option is "not essential."

Those remarks were later contradicted by former presidential candidate Howard Dean. In an appearance on "The Early Show," he talked forcefully about the public option, which the Obama administration has begun to back off from. "You can’t have reform without a public option," said Dean. "If you really want to fix the health-care system, you’ve got to give the public the choice of having such an option."

OK, OK, but what the heck is it? Here are some of the Buzz's most popular articles that explain the controversial choice: 

• The New York Times explains that the public option "is a new government insurance program akin to Medicare."
• CNN writes that by giving Americans a public option, private insurers would have to drive down costs.
• A blog from The Grio proposes solutions to the proposed public option's potential problems.
• The Washington Post hosts an interactive chart with real world examples. For example, if you already have insurance through your employer, do you stand to gain or lose with public health care?
• Oh, and what about home nurses? Will this idea survive? 

Interestingly, despite the sudden interest in the public option, the question of what it may or not mean could now be moot. Statistical expert Nate Silver writes that the public option is "probably" dead.

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Filed under: Health and Personal Care, Barack Obama