Is It Déjà Vu All Over Again with The 090909 Speech?

The big news of the week?  President Obama requested an opportunity to address a joint session of Congress specifically on healthcare, what I’m calling “The 090909 Speech”.  The speculation on what will be said with what tenor of voice and with what degree of commitment is already on the wires and the whisper circuit.

There will be a lot of “labor” this weekend at the White House.  Prior to his speech next Wednesday, Obama will be hunkering down with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to hash out an agenda for Congressional Democrats. He’s also planning private sessions with some of the centrist Senate Republicans, like Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

Obama’s decision to speak in primetime is even more newsworthy because it is such a rare event, outside of the annual State of the Union address. Historically, a joint session is called only to discuss highly critical national matters.  Only twice in the past twenty years has a joint session been called for the President to speak – by President George W. Bush on September 20, 2001, just days following the September 11th attacks and, by President Bill Clinton on September 22, 1993 in an attempt to gain support for his healthcare reform package.  So, have we been here before?

The call for a joint session holds considerable risk of either gain or loss.  Obama is clearly reaching out to seize control of the healthcare debate.  When Congress returns next Tuesday from the summer recess, most Members will only be just beginning their discussions, dialogue and debate on policy issues.  The Wednesday speech will position the President at the center of the debate with an opportunity to face down his critics or, not...

Known as the quietest month in Washington, August has not been kind to President Obama.  Recent Gallup poll numbers show his approval dipping to as low as 50% at the end of the month.  The “high risk-high reward” plan for the President will no doubt be a tipping point for the Administration’s healthcare reform efforts. His efforts have been likened to knocking it out of the park in the bottom of the ninth or having a Brett Farve-like moment with a long successful pass down field.  However, his effort can’t just be a base run or a bit of field gain.  So, we’ll all be on the edge of our seats on Wednesday as Obama addresses the palpable skepticism which appears to be growing on healthcare reform. 

There’s also the hard work happening this past weekend with efforts to stabilize the liberal faction of the Democrats in the House.  Will the public option be discarded?  Will coops be adopted?  What other compromises are in the wings?  Obama’s Chief of Staff – Rahm Emmanuel – one of the more skillful politicians in Washington – will be working his connections with his former House colleagues to help keep healthcare reform on the track.  Meanwhile, the Group of Six centrist Senators will huddle with Obama on possible compromises (SEE below).

I remember 1993 very well, having served on the Clinton Healthcare Task Force.  You could actually feel the implosion of the healthcare reform efforts during the bi-weekly visits to the White House.  While many have likened the upcoming Obama speech to President Clinton’s failed effort to win back support for his 1993 healthcare reform initiative, I think we may be in a different time.  The upside for Obama is that despite the rancor in Congress – virtually everyone agrees we need to “do something” about healthcare.  Going down the current path is not a very viable option for the nation.  Without reforms costs will continue to rise, quality will not reach the levels we all want and service is likely to deteriorate in the coming years. 

Obama’s advantage?  He will be in his element as a masterful orator and communicator.  Throughout his political career, Obama has faced people who’ve told him that he would not succeed – only to go ahead and pass all expectations. If anyone can win over healthcare reform with plaguing approval numbers and partisan divides in Congress, it will be Barack Obama.  So, let’s hope The 090909 Speech somehow brings us together, realizes a compromise, and results in changes we can all make work.

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