Urban Thought Collective

In recent weeks I have used this column to criticize President Obama for not responding more forcefully to the deception, lies, hysteria and the “vile, contemptible nonsense” (ie: comparing him to Hitler) thrown at him by right wing fanatics who oppose healthcare reform. Well, Obama fought back aggressively and with class during his speech to Congress last week and, in doing so, he confirmed all of the reasons why I was proud to vote for him last November.

President Obama tore apart the conservative misinformation campaign point by point. He made it plain that his plan would not fund abortion or provide health services to undocumented aliens. And without naming names, he called Sarah Palin and other high-profile Republicans out for their lies about government “death panels.”

The President was bold, powerful, gutsy but nonetheless diplomatic. He spoke truth to power and still called for compromise. He was the Barack Obama who captivated us in the campaign and on Inauguration Day.

I’ve been on the President’s case for not speaking out like this sooner, but now I think I understand his strategy. By laying relatively low during August (he spoke at some town halls and gave some speeches, but he did not address the nation) Mr. Obama did not have to compete directly with all the craziness that Senators and House members faced at town halls during the summer recess. This also gave time for the shouters who tried to disrupt debate and the nutcases with the Hitler signs to expose and embarrass themselves. Furthermore, by waiting to until last week when he could speak to a joint session of Congress, the President insured that his message would be the center of attention and that he could deliver that message in the most “presidential” fashion possible.

Part of me is still inclined to agree with former White House advisor David Gergen who speculated on CNN that the President would’ve had a better chance of getting a healthcare bill if he had given this speech back in July, but I see now that President Obama played this hand very well.

Thanks for listening. I’m Cameron Turner and that’s my two cents.

THINK! IT AIN’T ILLEGAL…YET!

Cameron Turner is a Los Angeles-area native whose editorials, entertainment news features and audio documentaries have appeared on national radio networks, online and in print for over 20 years.