Obama igen - avgörande TV-tal inför kongressen till folket

No drama Obama. Så kallas han ibland. Men det har varit mycket drama sista månaderna. Inte bara skolframträdandet tidigare i veckan utan framför allt health care reformen som han driver.

Det har urartat till rean pajkastningen på t ex olika Town Hall meetings runt om i landet när reformförslaget diskuterats med vanligt folk - ivrigt påhejade av republikanerna förstås som gör allt de förmår för att få in sina förslag istället och därför talar ned Obamas förslag. Helt vanlig politk med andra ord. Men ganska avgörande för Obamas vidare presidentskap.

Så stor show ikväll på bästa prime time tid, bland annat CNN bjöd på "landets bästa panel av politiska experter" (som vanligt), http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/09/obama.speech/index.html, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/09/AR2009090903464.html, bloggosfären fylldes med olika aktiviteter och ja, jag fick mitt eget lilla mail från presidenten själv...

Therese --

I just finished laying out my plan for health reform at a joint session of Congress. Now, I'm writing directly to you because what happens next is critical -- and I need your help. Change this big will not happen because I ask for it. It can only come when the nation demands it. Congress knows where I stand. Now they need to hear from you.
Add your voice: Ask your representatives to support my plan for real health reform in 2009.

The heart of my plan is simple: bring stability and security to Americans who already have health insurance, guarantee affordable coverage for those who don't, and rein in the cost of health care.

Tonight, I offered a specific plan for how to make it happen. I incorporated the best ideas from Democrats and Republicans to create a plan that's bold, practical, and represents the broad consensus of the American people.

We've come closer to real health reform in the last few months than we have in the last 60 years. But those who profit from the status quo -- and those who put partisan advantage above all else -- will fight us every inch of the way.

We do not seek that fight, but we will not shrink from it. The stakes are too high to let scare tactics cloud the debate, or to allow partisan bickering to block the path. Your voice, right now, is essential.See my full plan and call on your representatives to support it:

http://my.barackobama.com/SupportReform

Ours is not the first generation to understand the dire need for health reform. And I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama