Highlights of Obama's Health Care Speech

All this talk about Joe Wilson detracts from Obama's actual health care speech, which I found to be enlightening and clarifying.  I love that he always gives a history lesson when he speaks.  It's like I learn something new every time I hear him.  Some of the points I liked the most:


Health care reform has been a long time coming, nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first proposed it.


John Dingal, Sr. introduced a comprehensive health care bill in 1943, and his son continues his legacy by continuing to introduce that same bill at the beginning of every session.


Social Security and Medicare were tough decisions for lawmakers in their day, but both Democrats and Republicans were able to agree on the bills for the good of the American people.


The public option is still an option, but as Obama asserted, it is only a "means to an end," and can be pushed aside for better solutions.


We must pass health care reform to save America's economic future.


Of course, the news agencies and networks are abounding in polls showing what people thought of Obama's health care speech, a 14% jump in approval, but I think the real effect of the speech will show up in the long term.  It takes a long time for things to settle in to people's minds.  Change takes a long time to be acceptable but once it's allowed in, it grows and becomes possible.