When President Obama addresses a joint session of Congress next Wednesday it won't simply be his most contentious night in the House chamber, it will also determine whether or not the Democrats will be able to reclaim the health care debate in order to pass some sort of reform. In order to do that the President is going to need to get back to the basics and explain, in painfully clear detail, what exactly he wants this reform to be. Then he needs to go out and force Congress to deliver him that piece of legislation.

Sounds likes a piece of cake, right?

But ultimately the key for President Obama will not be whether his speech features stunning oratory (which it will), or if he lays out policy specifics (which he must), in the end his speech will live or die on whether he's able to recast this reform as sweeping change that will benefit everyone. Up until this point the Republicans have done a wonderful job of controlling the news cycle and claiming that "health care reform will be a $1.6 trillion spending package that will put government into your health decicions and only benefit 15% of the population." This claim is categorically false, and it's time to reclaim the 85% of Americans who may think this bill is going to do nothing for them personally.

That is President Obama's job next Wednesday night. He must lay out a broad proposal that shows the American people that we are not only in this together, but that this reform will be good for everyone. He should emphasize the cost cuts that average families will receive and note, as Former Senator Tom Daschle did this morning, that by doing nothing the average family's health care spending will increase from $12,000 to $25,000 by 2025. Those are real numbers, and he must emphasize the real cost of inaction.

In addition he must argue that a public option will not only provide people with an affordable health insurance option, but it will also provide an increased social safety net for every American. Just the other day I was talking to a woman I work for about the health care bill. She said all she wanted was to know that if she got fired, or was in between jobs, that she could buy into some basic health care program the government would provide. It didn't need to be some all encompassing plan, just something to help her out because she would not be able to get insurance on her own.

In the opinion of the Newell for Congress campaign that is not a whole lot to ask. And if President Obama is able to stand up and clearly articulate those points, and bring the 85% of Americans with health insurance into the fold, then this dream of reform should become a reality. There's no reason to sugar coat it: Health Care reform is sick, but President Obama has an opportunity to make it well. I will be watching, and I hope you will be too.

--Newell for Congress Campaign