Obama Speaks to Mixed Responses

(Official White House photo by Pete Souza)

Obama’s health care speech to Congress on Wednesday night has gained mixed reactions. Some media sources say he has done well, but others are unconvinced. We take a look at perspectives from CNN, MSNBC, The Weekly Standard and The New York Times.

An analyst on CNN says a poll on reactions to Obama’s health care speech shows the majority of people are optimistic.

“The President did very well in this poll. When we asked what is your reaction to the president’s speech, 56% very positive, somewhat positive – 21%, negative – 21%. So that’s a great showing obviously.”

CNN also speaks with a focus group made up of an equal number of Republicans and Democrats who gave real-time reactions to Obama’s speech -- most took Obama’s speech well.

“In this room, the president had won a few converts.”
“He was very specific about what was going to be against the law, what was going to be required of insurance companies.”

But MSNBC speaks with a Republican representative who says Obama did not move the Republicans.

“I think the president connected with his base; and unfortunately, I didn’t hear anything new from the president’s speech last night.”

An editor for The Weekly Standard magazine agrees.

“As a matter of stagecraft, Obama made a big mistake. He spent precious minutes delivering his same old arguments that have left a majority of Americans cold.”

A writer for The New York Times says Obama still needs to be more aggressive.

“Having let his opponents frame the debate for far too long, Mr. Obama will need to do more than orate. He needs to twist arms among timid Democrats in Congress to get a strong bill passed, most likely with little support from Republicans.”

Since reactions are mixed, we want to hear what you think about the speech.