Jack & Jill Politics

Hey I’ve been listening — really listening to Barack Obama when he raps on healthcare recently. When introducing health insurance company flunky Sen. Max “Bought and Bossed) Baucus at a townhall, his voice was as high as a kite. During the recent Organizing for America townhall online, Obama had that tight, high, raw, choked sound in his voice one gets like at Thanksgiving when you’re trying hard not to start yelling at one of your more annoying family members on a hot button topic like marriage, politics, religion, etc. Or just walk out taking a turkey leg with you. His voice really only returned to normal, deep, relaxed tones when he started talking about his own family which is clearly where the man lives in his heart and mind. If anything ever happened to Michelle or them kids, it would not be pretty. We all need to hope that doesn’t happen.

Look Barack, between you and me, a brother has just gotten all caught up in the emotion and the details. It’s clear that deep down you just want to smack most of America upside the head and say “I’m TRYING to help you chuckleheads!!!”Believe me, it’s becoming really obvious and the tension is showing. You really cannot just grab some punk-ass Obamacare Death Paneler at a townhall and start working your pimp hand on ’em! That would not do.

Remember during the campaign when you gave people hope and painted a vision of change? Right now, people are freakin’ because they don’t understand what you are trying to achieve. What’s in it for them? Why hasn’t anyone given the list below to the press? And gone on tv, started a viral email campaign, reached out to bloggers etc? You are way too deep in this and what seems clear to you is not clear to most — even those on your side. There’s a lot of fear due to misinformation even among really smart people — because your people *and you* are not yet communicating in clear, calm ways how healthcare reform will improve folks’ lives. You can do this — saying that people will love it once they have it is a cop-out in my opinion.

Use this time off — talk to Oprah tonight at dinner (or so Larry King’s twitter feed implies is down for tonight) — and get it together man. I don’t need to tell you that people are sick and dying out there. Our economy is crippled by this healthcare hot mess. Bring back that guy from the 2008 campaign and give a great speech when you come back that clearly outlines a new healthcare deal for Americans with practical protections and moral imperative. And shut the haters down. Re-discover your inner Marvin Gaye — who could croon Mercy, Mercy Me with cool yet persuasive passion (see video above for an example: it’s from the Montreux Jazz Festival circa 1980). Get some artists to help you here. Have you called Will.I.Am lately?

Here’s the list I’m talking about. Have y’all even seen this? The Healthcare Insurance Consumer Protections list from WhiteHouse.gov:

THE SECURITY YOU GET from health insurance reform:

* No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions
Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays
Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care
Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill
Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
No Gender Discrimination
Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage
Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
Extended Coverage for Young Adults
Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
Guaranteed Insurance Renewal
Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won’t be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.