On the 9th of September, president Obama gave a speech that was intended to explain his vision for health care and insurance reform.  You can view the entire transcript of the speech here.

This speech had an overall different tone than other major Obama speeches. His characteristic soaring rhetoric was replaced with some rather blunt language, and he even appeared to be angry at certain times, especially at his detractors. Of course, Obama doesn’t take criticism very well. His personal charm and charisma tends to win over would-be critics, and he has been spoiled by a fawning media that rarely criticizes his actions.

Obama’s health care speech was actually necessitated by such critics. Average citizens, both individuals and organizations (Tea Parties and others), and conservative radio and TV pundits and politicians have strongly and effectively challenged the administration’s plan. This has obviously frustrated Obama, for he issued the following threat, “If you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we will call you out.” The “we” refers to Obama and his White House operatives. He intends to target all dissenters and use the full force of the US government to silence and intimidate his opponents. (I doubt that he is “calling” them “out” for a glass of tea!)

Interestingly, while Obama’s team dismisses protesters as “angry mobs,” Obama himself engages in one of the oldest of mob tactics – he threatens his opponents! He threatens to identify and expose those who “misrepresent” his plan. I have “misrepresent” in quotes, for this is subject to definition. In reality, Obama will classify any criticism of his plan as a “misrepresentation.” After all, what “plan” does Obama actually have? He has the advantage of being able to reference components of the house and/or senate plans when it is to his advantage, then quickly disavow any components that are used by his critics. Obama is disingenuous. Or, as Joe Wilson told the president, “You lie!”

Tim Haile