The Presidents role in the healthcare debate

Barack Obama has an opportunity to cement his legacy as a great president in front of him, and yet he is going to squander and waste it in the name of partisan politics. I have heard so many sides to this issue that it is beyond comprehension. The fringe groups (left and right) as well as moderate liberals and conservatives are all weighing in with their opinions, concerns, and criticisms of the direction of this administration. The problem is that this administration is attempting to jump through every hoop to satisfy every group out there. The ultra-conservatives don’t want any governmental control over  health care, while the ultra-liberals want health care for everyone whether they want it or not and they feel the government should pay for it all. Town hall meetings have erupted into philosophical war of words that may or may not reflect the true opinions of the attendees. We have accounts of political groups such as ACORN busing in people to flood these meetings with left leaning ideas to counter any ideas or opinions that are not in complete agreement with the President. One opinion being shouted louder than another has never won a discussion, it just creates an argument that ends with both sides walking away more assured that their opinion is the correct one, and more determined to argue louder at the next opportunity.

The way I see it this is the time for the President to stand up and act like the leader he promised to be during  the campaign. Bi-partisan, transparent, forward thinking, the President promised a change in the political process in general. A opportunity to look forward to better things and days to come, but yet what are we hearing from him? He is constantly changing his opinions to reflect whatever group he is speaking to. He playing the popularity game and trying to please everyone by agreeing with their opinions and offering wildly imaginative accounts to back up his claims that this legislation is a necessity and must go through ASAP. I have heard numerous liberal entertainers and governmental leaders put the idea forward that this legislation needs to be shoved through without Republican support, or it seems, without the support of the American people. According to Bill Maher (when he was on Tonite w/Conan O’Brien), Americans are too stupid to know what’s good for them, so we should be dragged kicking and screaming to the table and forced to accept any and all of the Presidents plans and ideas. Several of California’s representatives have even played the race card in saying that those who don’t support the President and his plans are doing so due to his skin color only. This is nothing more than an outright lie and an insult to the citizens of this country. The founders of our constitution encouraged people to question the governments decisions and direction, and to do so without fear of retribution. This is what freedom is about!

Now back to Obama, here is an opportunity for him to LEAD. He should be telling the democrats in the house and the senate that they need to be reaching across the aisle to find a bipartisan compromise. He should be telling them to slow down and craft a bill that will be a benefit to the people of America and provide health care to those who truly need it while addressing concerns of those who don’t. When the CBO says that the current plan will not work financially and the cost will be way beyond what’s expected then citizens want to know that the government is paying attention and is acting in the best interests of our country. We live in a Democratic society. Our leaders are elected by a democratic vote. You cannot please everyone, all the time, but if you are smart and thoughtful then a compromise can be reached that will be considered acceptable to the majority. Until the President realizes this and begins to understand that he not just a party leader, but that it is up to him to lead our nation to better times and places, he will never be remembered as the leader that he wants to be seen as. He will be remembered as nothing more than the first black president who couldn’t get the job done, and who left our country worse off than before he took office.