Is the tide turning for the public option?

Salon by Mike Madden | Oct. 6, 2009 (News Analysis)

None of the various healthcare reform bills kicking around Congress would order doctors to make house calls. But the White House decided that was exactly the treatment the administration's top domestic priority needed to maintain some legislative momentum. And so about 150 physicians showed up on the Rose Garden lawn Monday morning for a pep rally -- with at least one coming from every state, naturally, the better to gin up local media coverage of the ... Full Story »

Posted by Derek Hawkins

See All Reviews »

View

Review

Derek Hawkins
3.8
 by Derek Hawkins - Oct. 6, 2009

Clever analysis of Obama's health care reform speech in the Rose Garden yesterday. Madden points out that the doctors flanking Obama at the podium were from four states whose Senators are viewed as critical votes on the reform bill. Insightful remarks on White House stagecraft ahead of a vote.

The stirring rhetoric wasn’t the only point of the rally, though, and the target audience wasn’t only the people watching or reading about Obama’s remarks. A close look at the physicians standing on the stage with the president showed some of the backstage maneuvering involved. Those doctors weren’t just chosen for their looks. The surgeon on the podium with him? He came from Maine. The OB-GYN was from Nebraska, the allergist from Florida and the oncologist from Arkansas. Not coincidentally, all four states are home to senators whose votes the White House will need when healthcare reform hits the floor in the next few weeks.

Derek posted this story.

See All Reviews »

Derek's Rating

Overall
3.8

Good
from 12 answers
Quality
3.9
Facts
4.0
Fairness
4.0
Sourcing
4.0
Style
4.0
Context
4.0
Depth
3.0
Enterprise
4.0
Relevance
4.0
Popularity
3.5
Recommendation
4.0
Credibility
3.0
More How our ratings work »