President Obama Needs to be Out in Front More Often

March 21, 2010 might well become an historic day, itself, since it marked the passage of the historic health care reform bill - HR 3590. Even the president's critics might agree that the enactment of the bill, which brings comprehensive health care to all Americans, was a big victory for President Barack Obama. The bill's supporters claim that the reforms the legislation will bring puts the bill on par with the historic bills that created Medicare and Medicaid.

HR 3590 could not have been passed without the intervention and direct action of Obama, himself. Two months ago, health care reform seemed all but dead, but it was resurrected as Obama directly campaigned for the bill. As he spoke in support of the bill in location after location across the country, the American people saw the style and oratory that got Obama elected as the nation's president. In canceling his planned trip to Indonesia and Australia days before he was set to depart, Obama, obviously, realized that he could not be on the sidelines and get the bill passed.

Obama the President might have to become Obama the campaigner more often if he is to get passed the other major legislation he promised the country. His administration is already being pressured to enact sweeping immigration reform legislation as well as legislation that will bring sweeping financial reforms. Just as the health care reform bill faced considerable opposition, these other two areas might also demand that Obama become visibly active on the campaign trail once again, if the reforms the nation voted for him to make are to become a reality. Having Obama, himself, in the forefront of proposed legislation allows him to give more than lip service to the reforms he promised. Being out in front not only allows him to actively walk his talk but, as we saw with the health care reform bill, it also gives the proposed legislation his administration wants to enact important and needed support.

See other articles about HR3590 on the homepage of the East Palo Alto Today website at www.epatoday.org