Top Items:
New York Times:
Obama's Health Care Speech to Congress — Following is the prepared text of President Obama's speech to Congress on the need to overhaul health care in the United States, as released by the White House. — Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:
Discussion:
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Associated Press:
Obama heckled by GOP during speech to Congress — WASHINGTON — The nastiness of August reached from the nation's town halls into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as President Barack Obama tried to move his health care plan forward. — South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson shouted …
Jonathan Cohn / The New Republic:
BREAKING: The News in the Speech — Looks like there's some news in the speech after all. Quite a bit. — On the policy front, President Obama tonight endorses, clearly and unambiguously, a requirement that everybody obtain insurance—that is, an individual mandate. He has not done that before, not this explicitly.
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Video: GOP congressman yells “liar” at Obama; Update: Wilson apologizes — The culprit was South Carolina rep Joe Wilson, who felt moved to act when The One told what was, in fact, a lie. Although certainly not his biggest of the night: Where this jackass gets off lecturing Americans …
CNN:
CNN Poll: Double-digit post-speech jump for Obama plan — WASHINGTON (CNN) — Two out of three Americans who watched President Barack Obama's health care reform speech Wednesday night favor his health care plans — a 14-point gain among speech-watchers, according to a CNN/Opinion Research …
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
A voice from the floor on illegal immigrants: ‘Lie’ — One of the most persistent conservative concerns about health care legislation is that it will provide health care to illegal immigrants — and the heated claim spilled onto the floor of President Obama's address to a joint session …
Carl Hulse / New York Times:
In Lawmaker's Outburst, a Rare Breach of Protocol — WASHINGTON — It was a rare breach of the protocol that governs ritualistic events in the Capitol. — In an angry and very audible outburst, Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina, interrupted President Obama's speech Wednesday night with a shout of “You lie!”
Molly K. Hooper / The Hill:
‘You lie’: Rep. Wilson apologizes — Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) apologized Wednesday night for heckling President Barack Obama as a liar during the president's speech to a joint session of Congress. — Wilson shouted to the president “you lie” after Obama said illegal immigrants would not benefit …
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire:
Reaction to Obama's Speech — President Obama gave a very powerful speech making his case for health care reform. Watching Republicans confused as to whether they should stand and applaud various lines was telling. He had them completely off balance. — Of course, the line every pundit …
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
“You Lie!” [Video] — The member of Congress who yelled that the president was a liar during the speech was Rep. Joe Wilson (R) of South Carolina. Here's his official website. — I can't think of anything like it in recent history. Here's the video (particularly note Pelosi's reaction.)
Discussion:
Whiskey Fire, Hoffmania!, The Daily Dish, MoJo Blog Posts, Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog! and The Political Carnival
The Politico:
Obama: ‘Now is the time’ — Declaring “now is the time to deliver on health care,” President Barack Obama on Wednesday night will challenge supporters and critics alike to work toward a bill that will protect Americans who have insurance, provide coverage to those who don't and curb the growth of health care costs.
CNN:
Obama: 'If you misrepresent what's in the plan, we will call you out' — The White House has released excerpts of President Obama's address to Congress tonight:
Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
Republicans Behaving Badly — The rapidly deteriorating national discourse reached a new low on the House floor Wednesday night as President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress. — It happened at 8:40 pm, just after the president vowed to lawmakers that his health-care reform proposals …
Discussion:
The Mahablog
WhiteHouse.gov Blog:THE OBAMA PLAN: STABILITY & SECURITY FOR ALL AMERICANS
Discussion:
Open Left, TalkLeft, Ezra Klein, The Atlantic Politics Channel, The Moderate Voice and msnbc.com
Zachary Roth / TPMMuckraker:
GOP Lawmaker's Graphic Sex-Bragging Caught On Tape — We've all seen those stories where a careless politician gets a little too candid when speaking into a hot mic. But this one's really in a whole different league. — [RELATED SLIDESHOW: TPM'S HISTORY OF THE SEX-SCANDALOUS FALL OF THE MODERN CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT]
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Thomas L. Friedman / New York Times:
Our One-Party Democracy — Watching both the health care and climate/energy debates in Congress, it is hard not to draw the following conclusion: There is only one thing worse than one-party autocracy, and that is one-party democracy, which is what we have in America today.
Discussion:
Hot Air, Washington Monthly, The Corner on National …, The Future of Capitalism, Instapundit, The Volokh Conspiracy, distributedrepublic …, American Power, Fausta's Blog, The Peking Duck, No More Mister Nice Blog, Jules Crittenden, Cafe Talk Aggregator, Liberal Values, Sister Toldjah, Power Line, Don Surber, Babalú Blog, Cato @ Liberty, Neptunus Lex, Reason, Pundit & Pundette and The League of Ordinary …
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Michael Goldfarb / Weekly Standard:
Go, Hillary, Go! — The boss hears from two sources that Hillary Clinton is considering stepping down as Secretary of State this fall in order to run for Governor of New York.
Drudge Report:
WHIP COUNT: DEMS LACK THE VOTES — At least 44 more moderate Members of the Democrat Caucus have gone on the record in opposition to the current health care bill in the House, a Hill source claims. Likewise, at least 57 liberal Members of the Democrat Caucus have gone on the record saying …
WhiteHouse.gov Blog:
THE WHITE HOUSE — Below is the text of the letter from Senator Edward M. Kennedy referenced by the President in tonight's address to a Joint Session of Congress. — Dear Mr. President, — I wanted to write a few final words to you to express my gratitude for your repeated personal kindnesses to me …
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Brian Beutler / TPMDC:Kennedy Letter to Obama: At Stake Is the Character of Our Country
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
White House talking points blast Palin — A source sends on the talking points the White House is circulating to allies in advance of President Obama's speech, most of them reiterating familiar themes of momentum and security. — But the White House has also chosen specifically to focus …
Discussion:
Hot Air, Conservatives4Palin.com, Taylor Marsh, Don Surber, Weekly Standard, Weasel Zippers and The Washington Independent
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Cantor attentive to Blackberry [UPDATED with video] — A Democrat, amused at the shots of Eric Cantor working his Blackberry as the president talked about the cost of health care a few minutes ago, passes on this item from last week headed, “Cantor: GOP will be ‘attentive’ during Obama speech”:
Lyle Denniston / SCOTUSblog:
Analysis: Two precedents in jeopardy — Analysis — If supporters of federal curbs on political campaign spending by corporations were counting on Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., to hesitate to strike down such restrictions, they could take no comfort …
Mark Blumenthal / Pollster.com:
Instant Reaction Polls: A Pre-Speech Primer — The odds are very good that shortly after President Obama completes his health care address this evening, at least two television networks will release results from “instant reaction” surveys. Others will likely stage focus groups …
Mickey Kaus / Kausfiles:
Obama's Big Speech: Triangulation + Airbrushed Orszagism — Expectations: Low! ... Expectations: Exceeded. A moderately effective speech. ... 1) Triangulation: Almost always works! Obama pushed off, most notably, against single payer but also against Dems who demand a public option.
Jared Allen / The Hill:
Ross meets Boustany — elbows fly — Hopes of a bipartisan deal on healthcare reform between two rank-and-file House members crashed and burned on Wednesday. — Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), and Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) met on Wednesday for what was supposed to be a low-key discussion on healthcare.
Discussion:
The Politico
Washington Wire:
Obama's Health Speech: Skepticism in Norcross, Ga. — Mike Esterl reports from Norcross, Ga., on reaction to President Barack Obama's health speech Wednesday to a joint session of Congress. — Around 100 people gathered at Simpsonwood United Methodist Church on Wednesday night …
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