What about the lobbyists, Mr. President?

In the wake of President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress this week on health reform, Americans showed how finicky their support can be. There is no doubt the President delivered the finest-sounding rhetoric topped with a cherry, but should Americans mindlessly accept it as truth cut from whole cloth that should now serve as their basis for renewed support?

There are so many details that have not surfaced yet. Individuals are still culling through the drips and drabs of details the White House chooses to release, wrapped in more tantalizing promises of milk and honey.

The bulk of the president’s speech was prefaced with addressing that there were still major details that needed to be ironed out. What is everyone getting so excited about? This speech should have been taken with a grain of salt, because it certainly contained no meat, nor anything of substance to steer policymakers. Nothing new was introduced that hadn’t been introduced before. His remarks shouldn’t have served as the basis for improving approval ratings.

There is no doubt that conceptually there were some good points considered in health insurance reform that both Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Regardless, there is too much that remains concealed from the public.

In no way, shape or form did President Obama speak of keeping this bill safe from the voracious special interests from both sides who would seek to steer this measure in their direction. Where were the admonishments from the commander-in-chief to the lobbyists and promises that, for the time being, he would protect individuals and families first from this being steered straight into a policy ditch? I’m smart enough to know lobbyists don’t rule with an iron fist behind the scenes. But increasingly, I’m seeing them with a seat at the president’s table. I’m not sure how that helps this process, but I know it doesn’t bode well for those who really want to see reform with meaningful benefits.


Williams can be heard nightly on Sirius/XM Power 169 from 9 to 10 p.m. EST.

Visit www.armstrongwilliams.com .