So is President Obama going to rally the nation behind the cause of ambitious, wide-ranging healthcare reform in tonight’s State of the Union address? It sure doesn’t sound like it. Here’s what the nation’s media has to say this morning:
In the Washington Posts’ speech preview, healthcare isn’t even mentioned until the 12th paragraph, and the message is bleak: “Despite the uncertain fate of health-care legislation — Obama’s top domestic priority — the president is not expected to call for a precise way forward, although he will reiterate his commitment to the cause.”
In the New York Times, you have to wait until the 8th paragraph: “Still undecided, advisers said, was how much of the address would be devoted to health care as the prospects of finding a lifeline for the legislation seemed to be diminishing.”
And in the LA Times you need to slog down to the 14th paragraph: “Although it was not clear what Obama would have to say about the battle over healthcare, he does plan to lay out steps meant to change the way Washington does business.”
This really doesn’t sound like good news. If Obama isn’t willing to step up and take ownership of passing the current plan, what chance is there that Congress is willing to get out on a limb and take the risk itself? Not much, I’m afraid. I sure hope Obama and his advisors screw up their courage on this and do the right thing before the end of the day.
UPDATE: More pessimistic tea leaf reading here and here from Ezra Klein.
