Power Line – Obama’s Speech: Did It Help Him?

Some of you might not be familiar with the excellent blog, Powerline. I strongly recommend it to you for daily updates on the American scene. John Hinderaker has posted a very insightful analysis of Obama’s speech on Healthcare today. The opening lines are:

From a policy standpoint, there was nothing new in President Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress tonight. It can only be assessed, therefore, in political terms. I read the transcript rather than watching it, but the speech struck me as reasonably effective. I assume the delivery was standard Obama–smooth, generally flat, occasionally a bit whiny.One striking aspect of the speech was that Obama kept talking about the “plan” that he “announced” tonight–but there is no plan; not in writing, anyway. Not unless Obama meant Nancy Pelosi‘s House bill, but he didn’t seem to, since he made a point of saying that details remain to be filled in, referred to work still going on in committee, and said that “his plan” is open to alternatives to the public option. This vagueness gives him a sort of deniability: what he was describing was more his concept of the qualities health care legislation should have, rather than a specific bill. Whether that was politically smart remains to be seen. So far, vagueness hasn’t seemed to be the President’s friend on this issue.

via Power Line – Obama’s Speech: Did It Help Him?.

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Tagged with: Blog • Daily Updates • Health Care Legislation • Insightful Analysis • John Hinderaker • Joint Session Of Congress • Nancy Pelosi • Obama • Opening Lines • Policy Standpoint • Smooth • Striking Aspect • Vagueness

Filed under: Security

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