Many on this site have continued the hand wringing throughout the month of August and are viewing the President's speech tonight with scrutiny. Understood, it is warranted.
But, I am one who admits when a mistake was made; bad judgment taken, not listening enough, or relying on others to do the job and it becomes inept.
President Obama has said much of this on Good Morning America, today.
"I, out of an effort to give Congress the ability to do their thing and not step on their toes, probably left too much ambiguity out there, which allowed then opponents of reform to come in and to fill up the airwaves with a lot of nonsense," Obama told ABC's Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America."
Referencing rumors about health care for illegal immigrants, "death panels" or a "government takeover," he added, "Moving things through Congress is always a messy process. We've got five committees with jurisdiction. That means there are five different bills. I think the public wasn't clear exactly what was what."
Pressed on his remarks, Obama said that the speech would give "a lot of clarity" but would not offer any details: "I want everybody to tune in."
The Steve Hildebrand interview with Politico was heavy for this White House to take, and for anyone to think differently, you are wrong on this point. Hildebrand was probably not the only person upset by what happened in August, but it put clarity and credibility that he put his name on what he felt and was frustrated about. He was just keeping it honest and being real. Sometimes in that Washington, D.C. bubble things like this needs to be said for you to wake up to what is really happening out here.
There was no magic plan from this White House, no big time strategy, the White House was just expecting congress to do a job and the President did not give the direction nor leadership in what he expected in a final bill for health care.
He also admits in this statement that not defending very important legislation and leaving it open so the other side will define it, should not have been done.
President Obama learned a hard lesson and lost political capital in all of this, but the thing I admire the most about this is that he gets it; he acknowledged it and believe me he will try his hardest to never let this happen again.
Tonight is about leadership and specifics. The American Public awaits what President Obama has to say and we are ready to fight along side him, once the orders are given, by him.
President Barack Obama is the President of the United States of America. He is the leader of the Democratic Party. And he is going through on the job training right now. He will make many more mistakes, but I don't expect him to ever let anything that he believes in so strongly, as heath care reform to get beaten up like this again.
And bipartisanship? We can always play that card. He has learned a lesson on that too. Play with the ones who will play FAIRLY, if they show any hint of not, SHUT THEM DOWN. And right now the majority of the minority senate is in the SHUT THEM DOWN group. They may never get another bite of the apple from this President.
Lastly, on a personal note. I was a big Obama supporter through the dog days of the primaries, through the general election. I gained and lost 25 pounds, I lost my beloved Bichon Frise, Hobbes through this, and now I am recovering from abdominal surgery but I kept the faith that this man, Barack Obama would become a fantastic President. And he will be when the books are written, but it is up to us, the ones who supported him by voting for him to hold his feet to the fire when he is just WRONG. And I believe, even Obama would admit this. He is a man, not a God, not Superman, but a man who fucks up on occasion, just as my husband does. And it is through our voices when bad judgment is made, that we must make the case for him to listen.
President Obama, tonight is the night to kick ass, take names and shut this down on the side of GOOD for health care reform and the public option. WE anticipate and expect the good fight from you and will be there by your side to close this out.
WORD on all the above. And I am STILL a big time Obama supporter.
Source and Video here
Cross-posted @ Daily Kos
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