The Daily OrangePublic health care debate rages on
By Rebecca Kheel
Posted: 9/10/09, 2:58 AM EST Section: News
The Daily Orange News Analysis provides insight into important news events while focusing on the background, context and future of the situation. The article is influenced by the writer's understanding, reporting and familiarity with the subject matter, but does not contain any personal opinions.
When President Barack Obama addressed Congress and the nation Wednesday night about health care, the stakes were high. His approval rating had steadily slipped since his inauguration, and many have accused him of not taking enough initiative in forming health care legislation. His party's viability rested in his hands.
"What the Democrats need to realize is that if Obama fails, that hurts all Democrats," said Kyle Rapone, president of Syracuse University's College Democrats. "The midterm elections are next year. So, the Democrats really need to get together and have something passed because if not, it could hurt them all."
Americans appear to be growing weary of the government's inability to agree and pass health care legislation. Obama's approval rating dropped from 62 percent in February to its current 56 percent rating, according to a New York Times and CBS News poll.
Obama has "over-learned the lesson" of the Clinton health care plan fiasco, said Robert Reich, Bill Clinton's former labor secretary, in the August edition of the Rolling Stone. Obama admitted Wednesday on ABC's Good Morning America that he "probably left too much ambiguity out there." A series of town hall meetings throughout the country in recent weeks and Wednesday night's address attempted to remedy this situation.
"I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last," Obama said in his speech.
During the speech, Obama advocated the public option, a government-run health care plan that citizens would have the choice to buy, although he said he would be open to other ideas that provide Americans with affordable coverage.
"You see, our predecessors understood that government could not, and should not, solve every problem," Obama said in an attempt to calm people's fears of big government. "But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little. ... What was true then remains true today."
When President Barack Obama addressed Congress and the nation Wednesday night about health care, the stakes were high. His approval rating had steadily slipped since his inauguration, and many have accused him of not taking enough initiative in forming health care legislation. His party's viability rested in his hands.
"What the Democrats need to realize is that if Obama fails, that hurts all Democrats," said Kyle Rapone, president of Syracuse University's College Democrats. "The midterm elections are next year. So, the Democrats really need to get together and have something passed because if not, it could hurt them all."
Americans appear to be growing weary of the government's inability to agree and pass health care legislation. Obama's approval rating dropped from 62 percent in February to its current 56 percent rating, according to a New York Times and CBS News poll.
Obama has "over-learned the lesson" of the Clinton health care plan fiasco, said Robert Reich, Bill Clinton's former labor secretary, in the August edition of the Rolling Stone. Obama admitted Wednesday on ABC's Good Morning America that he "probably left too much ambiguity out there." A series of town hall meetings throughout the country in recent weeks and Wednesday night's address attempted to remedy this situation.
"I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last," Obama said in his speech.
During the speech, Obama advocated the public option, a government-run health care plan that citizens would have the choice to buy, although he said he would be open to other ideas that provide Americans with affordable coverage.
"You see, our predecessors understood that government could not, and should not, solve every problem," Obama said in an attempt to calm people's fears of big government. "But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little. ... What was true then remains true today."
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