The polls overwhelmingly supporting reform, notwithstanding...isn't the fact that we elected Obama by a large margin proof enough we want reform? Exactly why is he "taking this to the people!"? We already get it, we want it, and we voted FOR it when we voted for him and a vast majority in the House and Senate. That's how representative democracy is supposed to work.

All the serious Democratic candidates in the Primary strongly advocated for reform, specifically including a public option or better (in the case of Kucinich). They all ran on public options and universal coverage of some kind. Obama did this in the primary and in the general as well. A Democratic leader was elected. If this is essentially a party plank, where is the debate and why are we being courted?

Elections matter, and the elections are over.

The real problem is not getting the "people" on board...it's getting 6 Senators on board (or whatever the exact number is).

I almost think Obama does himself a disservice by acting like he still needs to convince us rather than just strong-arming the errant Senators who are putting politics and campaign $$$ ahead of sound policy and doing what's right.

The more he acts like there is a debate, the more he legitimizes those who are looking to delay, derail, or corrupt reform.

Personally, I think he should make back channel threats to the people standing in the way of saving lives. Either you vote with the President, or you are going to go down in the next primary to whoever Obama chooses to bless.

Consider me very disgusted at this point. With Bush, I was ashamed of my country, though I felt it got the bad governance it deserved. With Obama, I feel better about the avg American voter but I'm a lot more depressed about the Democratic Party that doesn't seem to know how to win, even when we hand the victory to them on silver near-filibuster proof platter.

What's wrong with these people?