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Saturday November 21, 2009

Obamas brace for battle on health care reform

STATE SIDE By LIM AI LEE


The First Lady uses a personal approach to reach out to the American public as President Barack Obama tries to convince Congress to accept the controversial plan.

WHEN Michelle Obama caught a cold last week, it made the news. That, and a broad belt the First Lady was wearing with her sunny J. Crew outfit at a White House event.

But despite being a little under the weather, Mrs Obama was more concerned with sending a message to her mostly female audience — the importance of having a national health care programme.

Sounds familiar? It is a plan that President Barack Obama has been extolling since his election campaign and is now hoping to get through Senate.

The House of Representatives had on Nov 7 narrowly approved a Bill overhauling the nation’s ailing health care system by a 220-215 vote.

It was a hard-fought victory for the President. But the bigger hurdle now is getting the Senate approval, which is considered less certain due to opposition by all Republicans and some moderate Democrats.

Hard-fought victory: Obama, Michelle and their two daughters, Sasha (left) and Malia at his election night rally after bring declared the winner of the 2008 US Presidential Campaign in Chicago in last year. President Obama now faces the uphill task of getting Senate approval for his bill on health care reform. — Reuters

Republicans have attacked the reform plan, saying it is not feasible and intrudes on individuals’ rights. Among the contentious issues are the price of premiums for a new public insurance plan and the effect on premiums for the 160 million Americans who already have insurance.

The overhaul legislation, if passed by Senate, would be the biggest expansion of health care coverage since Medicare was created more than 40 years ago.

The plan is estimated to cost US$1.1 trillion (RM3.73 trillion) over 10 years and provide coverage to almost every American citizen.

According to a new Gallup poll conducted early this month, Americans are evenly split on the potential impact of a new health care legislation. Some 41% said a new health care Bill would make the US health care system better in the long run, while 40% believed it would make things worse.

Compared to a September poll, Americans are feeling more doubtful about a system overhaul. More than a third (36%) of respondents said that new health care legislation would make their own personal situations worse; 31% said it would not make much difference while 26% said it would improve their situations.

Mrs Obama’s 10-minute speech was seen by critics as a sales pitch intended to generate pressure on Congress to pass the health care legislation. This was not the first time Michelle has advocated health care reform in her social functions.

While the President’s message has often been deemed too policy-oriented, Michelle, a former hospital administrator, has cleverly depoliticised the issue and used a personal approach to reach out to her audience.

She often speaks in her capacity as a wife, daughter and mother, and last week paid tribute to her 72-year-old mum, saying she believed strongly in reforming the health care system “because of the difference it will make for these women who gave us life.”

“They deserve a health care system that heals them and lifts them up. And that’s what my husband is committed to doing, to building that kind of system in the weeks and months to come.”

She added that women are among those who would benefit most from the reform.

“Eight in 10 mothers say they’re the ones responsible for choosing their children’s doctors, taking them to appointments, and managing the follow-up care. And over 10% of all women are now caring for a sick or elderly relative.”

Michelle cited a recent study that found one-third of all women have either used up savings, taken on debt, or given up basic necessities just to pay their medical bills.

In focusing on how health care can affect families, Mrs Obama is putting a personal and human face on the issue, Washington Post columnist Sally Quinn noted.

“Everybody gets sick, and everybody has someone in the family that gets sick,” she added.

Michelle has admitted she is up against “a lot of misinformation on this topic,” and gave an assurance that her husband would ensure Medicare coverage would not be eroded.

“My husband believes that Medicare is a sacred part of Ameri­ca’s social safety net, and it’s a safety net that he will protect with health insurance reform.”

Despite her positive attitude, Michelle, a qualified lawyer, was however uncertain whether the plan would come into fruition in its proposed form.

“I can’t tell, actually, what the Bill that will ultimately land across my husband’s desk will look like ­— none of us can,” she admitted.

Democratic presidents and members of Congress have fought for nearly 75 years to create a comprehensive national system of health insurance.

Whether the current president will succeed remains to be seen. But whatever the outcome, Barack Oba­ma can rest assured that his staunchest ally is the woman by his side.

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