Obama changes course- Major speech on health care next week

Politically speaking this would have been timed much better if the speech took place a week prior to the August recess, rather than at its end. The President could have framed the town hall debates rather than allowing a WWE style free-for-all. Nonetheless, the President has his chance to change the debate toward tangible goals like eliminating pre-x, episodes of care based provider reimbursement, implementation of LEAN healthcare practices and of course providing his vision for the public plan


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By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer Charles Babington, Associated Press Writer – Wed Sep 2, 7:20 pm ET

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will deliver a major prime-time health care address to Congress next week, opening an urgent autumn push to gain control of the debate that has been slipping from his grasp under withering Republican-led attacks.

Scheduling of the speech next Wednesday night, just a day after lawmakers return from their August recess, underscores the determination of the White House to confront critics of Obama's overhaul proposals and to buck up supporters who have been thrown on the defensive. Allies have been urging the president to be more specific about his plans and to take a greater role in the debate, and aides have signaled he will do that in the address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber.

The speech's timing also suggests that top Democrats have all but given up hope for a bipartisan breakthrough by Senate Finance Committee negotiators. The White House had given those six lawmakers until Sept. 15 to draft a plan, but next week's speech comes well ahead of that deadline.

It follows an August recess in which critics of Obama's health proposals dominated many public forums. Approval ratings for Obama, and for his health care proposals, dropped during the month.

White House senior adviser David Axelrod told reporters Wednesday, "We believe this is the best way to kick off the final discussions, the final debate, and bring this thing to a close in a way that is meaningful."

Listeners to Obama's speech will have "a clear sense of what he proposes and what health care reform is not," Axelrod said. He declined to offer details of what the president might discuss.