Kennedy's posthumous letter, Obama on American character, a Congressman's apology

Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina

Source: The New York Times

Two years ago, when Democrats were preparing for the presidential primaries, a liberal political expert advised against discussing health care for the uninsured. Everyone loves to say they care about the issue, he said. No one – with the possible exception of Ted Kennedy — cares enough to actually fix the problem. Americans may believe in helping their neighbors, but they’re not willing to transfer their wealth to someone they don’t know.
In a town hall meeting on health care this summer, a woman confronted Rep. Norm Dicks of Washington: “If you are so keen to forcibly take from one person to give to another, who you deem as needier than me. … If you believe that it is absolutely moral to take my money and give to someone else based on their supposed needs, then you come and take this $20 from me and use it as a down payment on this health care plan.”

Opposition to Obama’s health care initiative isn’t just about death panels, socialized medicine, and the government can’t do anything right. It’s also a basic conservative opposition to any form of “welfare”: I’ve got mine. If you don’t have yours, that’s too bad.
I was glad to see President Obama address this issue in his speech to Congress and the nation this evening.

The Kennedy letter: “What we face is above all a moral issue”

Obama began the national character part of his speech with a letter from Ted Kennedy that was delivered posthumously. Here are some excerpts from that letter.

When I thought of all the years, all the battles, and all the memories of my long public life, I felt confident in these closing days that while I will not be there when it happens, you will be the president who at long last signs into law the health care reform that is the great unfinished business of our society. For me, this cause stretched across decades; it has been disappointed, but never finally defeated. It was the cause of my life. And in the past year, the prospect of victory sustained me — and the work of achieving it summoned my energy and determination.
But you have also reminded all of us that it concerns more than material things; that what we face is above all a moral issue; that at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.
I entered public life with a young president who inspired a generation and the world. It gives me great hope that as I leave, another young president inspires another generation and once more on America’s behalf inspires the entire world.

Obama: “We lose something essential about ourselves “

In taking up the moral issue, Obama did not simply appeal to the higher instincts of his audience. He began by acknowledging the grounds for conservative opposition to the moral high ground. We are a nation that values the rights of individuals, and the origins of our country include a strong distrust of government.

I’ve thought about that phrase quite a bit in recent days – the character of our country. One of the unique and wonderful things about America has always been our self-reliance, our rugged individualism, our fierce defense of freedom and our healthy skepticism of government. And figuring out the appropriate size and role of government has always been a source of rigorous and sometimes angry debate.

He then immediately moves into his appeal, closing with a sentiment that his opposition can readily identify with, namely, that hard work and responsibility should be rewarded.

That large-heartedness – that concern and regard for the plight of others – is not a partisan feeling. It is not a Republican or a Democratic feeling. It, too, is part of the American character. Our ability to stand in other people’s shoes. A recognition that we are all in this together; that when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a helping hand. A belief that in this country, hard work and responsibility should be rewarded by some measure of security and fair play; and an acknowledgement that sometimes government has to step in to help deliver on that promise.

Next, he defuses the conservative objection to government intervention: that government cannot and should not solve every problem. He then segues into the moral argument, with references to the recent financial crisis that he inherited and successfully confronted. He concludes with a denunciation of what happened in the August town hall meetings.

You see, our predecessors understood that government could not, and should not, solve every problem. They understood that there are instances when the gains in security from government action are not worth the added constraints on our freedom. But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little; that without the leavening hand of wise policy, markets can crash, monopolies can stifle competition, and the vulnerable can be exploited. And they knew that when any government measure, no matter how carefully crafted or beneficial, is subject to scorn; when any efforts to help people in need are attacked as un-American; when facts and reason are thrown overboard and only timidity passes for wisdom, and we can no longer even engage in a civil conversation with each other over the things that truly matter – that at that point we don’t merely lose our capacity to solve big challenges. We lose something essential about ourselves.

I thought this was extremely well done and the high point of his speech. It’s an acknowledgment of both sides of the argument, which allows him to occupy the middle ground.

Rep. Wilson: “I let my emotions get the best of me”

A Republican Congressman from South Carolina yelled out “You lie!” in response to something the president said. That was an interesting moment. You could see that it threw Obama off his stride. It almost seemed to happen in slow motion. There was enough time to wonder if Obama would respond in kind. But he ignored it and went on.
It’s considered a breach of protocol to treat the president with disrespect, especially in such a formal and highly visible setting. Democrats compared it to the Republican disruptions at August town hall meetings. The White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanual, said “No president has ever been treated like that. Ever.”
Representative Joe Wilson issued the following apology: “This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”
He also phoned the White House and spoke to Mr. Emanual, who accepted his apology on behalf of the president.
I hesitate to be so cynical, but what are the chances Rep. Wilson will become a hero of the far right and win re-election handily?
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Why is it so hard to reform health care? National identity