Primetime Health Care Reform

President Obama's Health Care Speech to Congress was a great way to fight fatigue. If you didn't get a chance to see it, click on the link to watch the speech and/or read the transcript. If you have MS or love someone who does, this is pretty important stuff.

I'm thrilled that the President's plan includes a public health care option. It's also pretty fricken awesome that insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. And, the plan will FINALLY put a stop to recision (an evil and immoral practice) and people won't have to worry about insurers finding ways to stop covering them when they get sick.

Because I live in Massachusetts, I don't have to worry about MS (a pretty damning pre-existing condition) making it difficult for me to find insurance. But that is currently not the case for many people living in America. That may not be the case for you.

I cried when the President read Senator Ted Kennedy's final words about health care reform and the cameras showed his widow sitting next to Michelle Obama. Kennedy was absolutely right: "If this plan fails, it is a failure of the character of our country." No one, absolutely no one should die or be homeless because they can't afford to be sick.

I enjoyed watching the miserable Republicans squirm when the President called them out on all the blatant and mean-spirited lies they've told about death panels and senior citizens losing their Medicare coverage. They should be ashamed. I fear, though, especially after hearing the Representative from South Carolina disrespectfully call the President of the United States a "liar," that they will just twist the speech to continue their campaign of obstruction and fear.

I know I am not the least bit objective, but I really don't get the opposition to this health care reform plan. Even if it isn't exactly what they want, don't they recognize that we have to do something? What is their ultimate goal in obstructing change with no real alternative? Is it simply about saving their own asses by appeasing big corporations? Are they trying to keep some money in the coffers to pay for the next war, pay raise, or bailout? How do they look at themselves in the mirror at the end of the day? Perhaps, they work really hard to shield themselves from the truth and ignore the millions of Americans who are literally dying for real health care reform.

My body is tired but my spirit is fired up to support President Obama's health care reform bill. I hope you will join the cause with me.