7:03 – Hillary Clinton and Turbo Tax Tim arrive. The scene has all the pomp and circumstance of a State of the Union address. Interesting.
7:13 – Obama is announced. I’ll be watching to see if he addresses tort reform, rationing, his language on the public option, and any remarks he has about this summer’s town hall gatherings.
7:14 – Katie Couric asks whether or not the president is expending too much political capital on this issue.
7:17 – Obama says that we’re not out of the woods – we’re in the smack middle of the forest. He cites a job loss figure that has been energetically disputed.
He asserts that “we’ve pulled the economy back from the brink.” How? In what alternate universe has that happened? We’re at a 9.7% unemployment rate.
7:21 – Obama says that we’re the only nation of its kind that “allows for such a hardship” of not having universal healthcare. He’s focusing on the uninsured now, which signals that his direction on this and for the rest of the speech will emphasize left.
7:23 – The examples that the president is citing, while heart-breaking and emotionally charged, are not the norm. Sure, insurance companies need a modicum of reformation but what the Democrats are proposing is suicide.
The president says that there is a burden on small business – but completely ignores the irony; his plan will PENALIZE small businesses who buck the federal mandate.
7:25 – Obama hits on single payer – he’s trying to walk an even line and he completely goes moderate by saying that the current healthcare system doesn’t need to be rebuilt. Very interesting. What’s the trigger?
7:27 – He calls town halls “scare tactics.” Annnnd he lost me. He said let the bickering stop – DUDE. There hasn’t been ANY debate, except that at the town halls, of this health care legislation.
7:29 – How will the costs for this be offset? He just stole a page from the Patients’ Choice Act with regards to preventative care.
7:32 – Tax exchange equals bigger government. WHY NOT make it portable, let employees have the tax incentives to go and purchase insurance on their own.
7:35 – Obama mentions younger people who “take the risk” of not getting coverage. Penalizing them; he mentions a hardship waiver … waiver from penalties.
Now he’s talking about penalizing business. “We all have to do our part.”
7:37 – He said it! “Misinformation!” He’s hanging left.
7:38 – Obama mentions abortion. Unless the language is amended to explicitly state that abortion is not included in family planning, they will be loopholed in. Dudes, just the messenger.
7:40 – Nooow he mentions the not-for-profit public option. “Only an option for those who don’t have insurance.” So NO mandate? Who pays for it? “It would rely on the premiums it collects.”
He blames Wall Street and insurance companies for being profitable. Following the American dream and and making a success of yourself is bad, apparently.
7:45 – Obama says that no one will get between you and the care that you need. Except for maybe the government.
He says that he won’t sign it if it adds “one dime to the deficit.” Pesky CBO figures …
7:47 – OMG he can’t go one speech without trying to blame the previous administration for the Wall Street bailout. Obama has pledged to send more troops to Afghanistan. That’s not consistent with being against war time spending.
7:52 – He finally mentions tort reform. No mention of trial lawyers.
7:54 – Obama asks for politicians to come to come to him with serious proposals, alternatives. Patients’ Choice Act?
7:55 – Ted Kennedy lives again! Cameradude: “FOCUS ON THE WIDOW. Omg, is she crying? ZOOM IN.”
I am totally convinced that they need to do a “Weekend at Bernie’s” with Kennedy and healthcare.
8:01 – The contrary statements are unreal. He speaks of small government but everything that he’s proposed thus far flies in the face of small government.
Yeah, Mr. President, it sucks to be called “a domestic terrorist” and “unAmerican” for disagreeing with this administration. Especially when it’s your campaign website.
8:03 – I don’t need the government to define my character.
8:09 – Why does the Republican response looks like an SNL skit?
*Jim has video of Rep. Joe Wilson hollering “Liar!”
