Sep 10

Written by: Steve Clawson
9/10/2009 6:17 AM

A Defining Moment:

Mark it down. September 9, 2009 will turn out be a defining day in the presidency of Barack Obama. The man known for his excellent oratory skills delivered one of the finest speeches ever by an American president.

During his address to a joint session of Congress on health care reform, President Obama laid out a clear vision of his plan. He was strong and decisive.

After a hot August filled with partisan rhetoric and distortions, an adult finally stood up and showed leadership, common sense and strong convictions. When the history is written, this will be the night Obama won the health care debate.

Ironically, the battle has been sandwiched between two unscripted events in the past few weeks.

President Obama held a prime time news conference in late July that was designed to move health care forward as Congress prepared to adjourn for the August recess. But a last minute question derailed the process and forced Obama off his gameplan.

His comment that Cambridge, Massachusetts police "acted stupidly" in the arrest of Professor Louis Henry Gates, put Obama on the defensive. No one paid any attention to what he had said about health care during the news conference. Instead Obama was forced to do a mea culpa and talked about turning the incident into a "teachable moment." It was a critical mistake that cost him dearly.

Fast forward to the President's speech to Congress. Obama was at his finest during the address. It may be the best speech he's ever delivered. Polls immediately afterwards showed he was successful in shifting opinion.

Any hope Republicans had in stopping health care reform died with two words--"You lie." South Carolina G.O.P. Congressman Joe Wilson shouted those two lethal words at President Obama leaving the other members shocked and disgusted. Wilson apologized a short time later for his unprofessional outburst. But the damage has been done.

Now the focus on the Republicans will not be their opposition to Obama's health care plan. Instead, they'll have to spend days retreating from a stunning moment that played out before a national television audience. After a summer of heated debate, it all came to a head with two words "You lie." It leaves the opposition without respect and the American people disgusted.

Tonight was a defining moment. The American people saw Obama demonstrating real leadership and the courage of his convictions. And the opposition was reduced to name calling. Let's hope this incident becomes the second "teachable moment" of the past few weeks. Now that would really be change we can believe in.

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