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The President, I believe, can use all the input he can get. My draft includes suggestions about how to save billions for healthcare reform by putting a timely end to wasteful spending on the feckless foreign adventures launched by his predecessor. Here is my unsolicited draft. I no longer have access to the White House. If you do, please pass this along.
DRAFT: President Obama's Address to Congress, September 9, 2009
Good evening, both to you members of Congress assembled here, and to fellow Americans in our wider TV and radio audience.
I plan to talk first about health care reform. Then I will make some fresh proposals regarding how to pay for it, since this is a legitimate concern.
A new strategy will kill two birds with one stone. It finds the money for health care reform by curbing wasteful, self-defeating spending on military adventures abroad--adventures that are making us less, not more, safe. Stay tuned.
First, Health Care:
Last year I promised to do all I could to ensure that all of you--that is, every single American--would be able to get affordable health care. I urged you to just elect me president and then hold me accountable.
You did your part. This evening I will give you a preliminary accounting.
But, first a question. How many of you members of Congress do not have affordable health care?
I'm serious. And the nation is curious.
Okay, let's do it this way. Any Senator or Representative who does not have affordable health care, please rise.
No one is standing up.
Now a more important question: How many of you Senators and Representatives will stand up for legislation that will give ALL Americans essentially the same access to health care that you enjoy?
I'm dead serious. Let's admit that you and I and the families of members of Congress can get all the health care we need, while millions of Americans cannot.
Again, please rise if you want everyone to have equal access to quality medical care. Rise if you believe it is wrong to consider some Americans, like us, more equal than others.
