Since this speech is very similar to a weekly address Obama made, which I made comments on therefore I will try not repeating myself.  I will be selecting statements, and commenting on those.  So if you see missing excerpts, it is because I may have already commented on a previous post, or I forgot what I was going to say due to an interruption, plus shorten this article a bit.

Obama’s Speech: One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn't reported gallstones that he didn't even know about.  They delayed his treatment, and he died because of it.  Another woman from Texas was about to get a double mastectomy when her insurance company canceled her policy because she forgot to declare a case of acne.  By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer had more than doubled in size.  That is heart-breaking, it is wrong, and no one should be treated that way in the United States of America.  (I have heard similar stories, and the reason I call them insurance pains instead of plans; I find what those insurance companies have done is despicable.  Dropping someone over gallstones is bad enough, but acne? I do hope that was an embellished anecdote. So, I sit here trying to figure what solution would be for an insurance company that does something like that to someone.  Maybe I should look over the person(s) insurance application whoever made this bonehead decision and tell them, ‘I see you neglected to report a pre-existing condition of idiocy on your insurance application, therefore we are dropping your coverage.’)

Then there's the problem of rising cost.  We spend one and a half times more per person on health care than any other country, but we aren't any healthier for it. (However, you can check the World Health Organizations report here.)

Now, these are the facts.  Nobody disputes them.  We know we must reform this system.  The question is how.  (I would be tempted to say, Oh no! I love my insurance pain, uh I mean plan.)

There are those on the left who believe that the only way to fix the system is through a single-payer system like Canada's -- (applause) -- where we would severely restrict the private insurance market and have the government provide coverage for everybody.  On the right, there are those who argue that we should end employer-based systems and leave individuals to buy health insurance on their own. (Don’t know where I have been, but I don’t recall anybody suggesting that. However, I do suppose there is one rogue person out there that did.  Perhaps somebody doesn’t like their employer-based insurance pain. I’d go off on mine, but at least it is something.)

Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups, and even drug companies -- many of whom opposed reform in the past.  (Okay, I have only spoken to 3 doctors, mine, and none of them are happy with the way the reform is currently being handled. Nor were the nurses happy.)

But what we've also seen in these last months is the same partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have towards their own government.  Instead of honest debate, we've seen scare tactics. (I think both sides have used scare tatics)

Well, the time for bickering is over.  The time for games has passed.  Now is the season for action.  Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do.  Now is the time to deliver on health care.  Now is the time to deliver on health care.  (Depends what Congress puts in that health care bill, since H.R. 3200 most likely won’t be around again) 

And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies –(I thought they did that now, problem is if something is found when the test results come back.) -- because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer before they get worse.  That makes sense, it saves money, and it saves lives. 

Now, for those individuals and small businesses who still can't afford the lower-priced insurance available in the exchange, we'll provide tax credits, the size of which will be based on your need.  And all insurance companies that want access to this new marketplace will have to abide by the consumer protections I already mentioned.  This exchange will take effect in four years, which will give us time to do it right. (I am glad he wants it done right, but 4 years, some people need the insurance now)  In the meantime, for those Americans who can't get insurance today because they have preexisting medical conditions, we will immediately offer low-cost coverage that will protect you against financial ruin if you become seriously ill.  This was a good idea when Senator John McCain proposed it in the campaign, it's a good idea now, and we should all embrace it. 

And that's why under my plan, individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance -- just as most states require you to carry auto insurance. (I’m not sure if this would be constitutional or not)      

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There are also those who claim that our reform efforts would insure illegal immigrants.  This, too, is false.  The reforms -- the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER: You lie!(Okay, that was uncalled for. Though the expression on Obama’s face was well . . . .  if I saw that same expression on my Mom’s face when I was a kid, I knew I was in really really big trouble. LOL)

And to my Republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care, we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have. (Tell Nancy Pelosi she needs to work with the Republicans instead of shutting them out)

For example -- for example, some have suggested that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies.  (Where are the markets that insurance is affordable? Or what do you consider affordable?) Others have proposed a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan.  These are all constructive ideas worth exploring.  But I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can't find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice.  And I will make sure that no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the care that you need. (And stays that way)

Second, we've estimated that most of this plan can be paid for by finding savings within the existing health care system, a system that is currently full of waste and abuse.  Right now, too much of the hard-earned savings and tax dollars we spend on health care don't make us any healthier.  That's not my judgment -- it's the judgment of medical professionals across this country.  And this is also true when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid. (This you can do now!  This should be done with all departments in the United States Government)

Reducing the waste and inefficiency in Medicare and Medicaid will pay for most of this plan.  Now, much of the rest would be paid for with revenues from the very same drug and insurance companies that stand to benefit from tens of millions of new customers.  And this reform will charge insurance companies a fee for their most expensive policies, which will encourage them to provide greater value for the money -- an idea which has the support of Democratic and Republican experts.  And according to these same experts, this modest change could help hold down the cost of health care for all of us in the long run. (Sounds a little similar to fees on homeowners insurance policies to help pay for an emergency fund, only it isn’t on the most expensive, it is on all the polices.)

Now, finally, many in this chamber -- particularly on the Republican side of the aisle -- have long insisted that reforming our medical malpractice laws can help bring down the cost of health care.  Now -- there you go.  There you go.  Now, I don't believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but I've talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing to unnecessary costs.  (That is what my three doctors said) So I'm proposing that we move forward on a range of ideas about how to put patient safety first and let doctors focus on practicing medicine.  (Agree) 

Now, this is the plan I'm proposing.  It's a plan that incorporates ideas from many of the people in this room tonight -- Democrats and Republicans.  And I will continue to seek common ground in the weeks ahead.  If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen.  My door is always open. (I noticed that the Republicans weren’t holding their breath on that one)

But know this:  I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than to improve it.  I won't stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are.  If you misrepresent what's in this plan, we will call you out.  (Can the Republicans do the same when Democrats misrepresent the plan?) And I will not -- and I will not accept the status quo as a solution.  Not this time.  Not now.  (Hey, I don’t want the status quo either, but I certainly don’t want something worse)

Everyone in this room knows what will happen if we do nothing.  Our deficit will grow.  More families will go bankrupt.  More businesses will close.  More Americans will lose their coverage when they are sick and need it the most.  And more will die as a result.  We know these things to be true.  (Sounds like a scare tactic to me. If this health care bill isn’t handled correctly this will still happen)

Candace Clark
Christian Political View