Obama: Time to Stand Up

While the President spoke to school kids today about taking responsibility, we notice that tomorrow night he may be saying to the same thing to congress. His message to them, I think will be is that it's time to take responsibility to pass health care reform and include a public option.

The Republicans and the extreme right have been pushing the President around since this debate began. They pushed hardest in August to the point of ridiculousness. Their arguments of socialism, communism and then indoctrination have now been found to be totally without any merit and nothing but demagoguery.

Tomorrow night the President will get on the podium and say that "enough is enough" its time to do the peoples business and pass health care reform. The people have been waiting for nearly 40 years and the time is now. Time to get rid of the ability of health insurance companies from denying coverage and canceling policies. It's time to stop the upward climb of medical costs and premiums that are hurting Americans and American businesses. It's time to provide affordable health care for everyone.

The President has to tell the Republicans to "run with the big dogs or get back on the porch". They either have to become part of history or let history remember them as the ones who opted out in the debate to provide health care for all Americans.

I propose that we on the left consider a little give and take to get a bi-partisan bill through congress. We will trade, tort reform and the selling of insurance policies across state lines for a public option. This would put the Republicans in a quandry. They are adamant about tort reform and interstate selling of insurance and if they vote against the bill they would be voting against their own interests. Deep down they know that there will be a public option, either now or later and they need to get over it.

If not public option, then they should expand medicare to cover the unisured, unemployed and anyone over 45. Why 45? Because the odds of getting a serious illnesses after 45 years of age goes up dramatically. Illnesses that are bankrupting America.

In a study released a couple of weeks ago, it was found that insurance companies deny coverage 30% of the time. That means that for every 3 claims you submit, they will turn down at least one of them.

Another reason for the public option is to encourage competition. Did you know that in Alabama one insurance company serves 93% of all citizens, in Minnesota another serves 94% of it's residents. They can raise rates, premiums, deny claims, deny payments to doctors and cancel anyone they want to because they control almost all insurance and medical activity in the state. This, my friends, is not what America is all about. Yet, there are those in Congress and on the right that want to protect insurance companies who conduct business like this.

If you oppose Health Care Reform then you oppose what this country stands for, fairness and the ability for us to take care of other Americans. I mean, after all isn't that why our soldiers died in WWII...not just to stop tyranny but to take care of others at home by fighting in battle. Health Care is an American issue and to reform it is an American initiative.

So, tomorrow President Obama will stand in front of Congress and he will need to take off his gloves. Then he needs to come out punching. With every swing he needs to pound the message into his opponents and blue dog democrats...that they are responsible for the well being of this country.

He has to lay down the law and tell them that it's time to stand up and get Health Care Reform done.

Tomorrow: Critique of the President's speech to Congress