OBAMACARE
(student name
removed)
Barack obama
Prior to becoming involved in the American political system, Barack Obama began his higher
education at Occidental College in Los Angeles, then transferred to Columbia University, graduating in 1983
with a degree in Political Science. After this, he spent a few years being a community organizer in Chicago,
seeking to help the locals in need. Beyond this, he also obtained a degree in law from Harvard University in
1991, then becoming a civil rights lawyer in Chicago for several years. He then served on the US Senate for
eight years in representation of Illinois.
Obama is considered to controversial for a variety of reasons, one of the most important being his views on
heath care. He deals with this issue, promoting universal healthcare for the United States.
Barack Obama's actions affect our global, national, and even local society. This will impact us because it could
change the way the American health care system works - putting more rules and regulations on health care
that would ensure that virtually everyone in the country would have medical insurance.
artifacts
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Artifact One
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Artifact Two
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Artifact Three
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Artifact Four
Artifact Eight
artifact one
Reluctant republicans
artifact two
Health care bill gains one
republican vote
artifact three
Obama Plan in four minutes
(click to start video)
artifact four
Health care funeral
artifact five
Obama on 60 minutes
(click to start video)
artifact six
The Weekly Radio Address
(click megaphone icon for audio)
artifact seven
White House Reality Check
artifact eight
Minnesota rally
journal one
speaking with congress
September 9, 2009
Today, I finally made my health care speech to Congress. I made a strong effort to explain exactly
what my health care bill is, and exactly what it means. I feel there have been many misconceptions about what
I'm setting out to do with this bill, so I felt that I should set the record straight. I explained to the audience that
I, along with the supporters of my bill, were not trying to replace the current health care system, or change
anyone's existing coverage. I told them that I wasn't trying to suggest a total government takeover of health
care, but that I simply wanted to introduce government health care options in addition to health care from
existing insurance companies.
I feel that I got my message across very well. Though I got a lot of applause from the audience, I
still can't help but realize that some people still don't support my plan. Without the support of representatives
of every party, I'm sure that we will never be able to make this plan a reality. I think that maybe I should make
an effort to reach out to those who oppose my plan, specifically the Republicans, and see what it is about my
plan that they dislike. Maybe then, we can come to a compromise and work together on this bill, as opposed to
fight each other over it. Without the support of Republicans, the bill will never make it, but with the support of
both parties, I feel the bill will be a huge success.
journal two
Vote hunting
October 14th, 2009
Today, after many long months of debates, today we finally managed to get one Republican on
board with the health care bill. As I had been hoping, Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine voted in favor of
the health care bill in the Senate Finance Committee meeting. With her support, the committee vote now
stands at 14 to 9, with all Republicans opposed with the exception of Senator Snowe. Though she did vote in
favor of it, she doesn't seem to be completely in support of it. She told the whole committee that the bill was
far from everything that she would want, which makes me wonder if she'll support the bill next time it is voted
on. She said that her vote today "doesn't forecast what her vote will be tomorrow", which makes me feel like
she might withdraw her support soon.
Regardless of Senator Snowe's uncertainty about the bill, I'm absolutely thrilled to have at least one
Republican that will support the health care bill - at least for now. I hope that Senator Snow's support will be
able to break up the tension that has been building between my party and hers. Lately, it feels like many
members of Congress have been voting just based on what the majority of their party thinks. Some of them
seem like they aren't considering the bill at all, only because everyone else in their party isn't. I'm hoping that
Senator Snowe's action will help people realize that this issue isn't a matter of political parties, but that it's a
matter the health of our people, and that they should treat it as such.
Individual
reflection
How can the actions of an individual affect or local, national, or global society?
An individual, such as Barack Obama, can affect our local, national, and global
society in countless ways. Such as Obama demonstrates with his movement in health care, one
person can be the catalyst to new legislation, new ideas, and new standards within our society.
Especially those involved in politics can change virtually any aspect of our government, and
how our country is run. However, any one person, whether alone or with the support of
others, can make a difference in our society through their own personal acts.
Obama wordle
bibliography
Bennett, Clay. "Reluctant Republicans." Cartoon. The Cartoonist Group. Web.
<http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=38972>.
Henderson, Nick. "Health Care Funeral." Cartoon. The Cartoonist Group. Web.
<http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=39167>.
Obama, Barack H. "President Obama's Weekly Radio Address." Audio blog post. The White House, 10 Oct. 2009. Web.
Obama, Barack H. "The Obama Plan in Four Minutes." Speech. Congressional Health Care Meeting. Washington, D.C.
YouTube. The White House, 21 Sept. 2009. Web.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUNCpnRBf9o&feature=player_embedded>.
Pear, Robert, and David M. Herzenhorn. "Republican’s Vote Lifts a Health Bill, but Hurdles Remain." New York Times 13
Oct. 2009. Print.
Sharrett, Luke. President Obama at health care rally in Minnesota. Digital image. New York Times. 12 Sept. 2009. Web.
<http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/09/13/us/obama_600.jpg>.
"Steve Kroft Inteviews President Obama on Health Care." Interview by Steven Kroft. YouTube. 60 Minutes, 13 Sept. 2009.
Web. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fklof4lYDM>.
"White House Reality Check." The White House. Web. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/>.
Artifact I analysis
This artifact is a cartoon depicting how some feel about President Obama’s
ideas on health care reform. The cartoon does not show Pres. Obama in a positive
or negative light, but simply makes a statement. Clearly, the person portrayed in
the cartoon is President Obama. In the picture, he looks as though he is about to
use a defibrillator to revive something – presumably the idea of health care reform,
as it is clearly spelled out on the character’s shirt. One paddle of the defibrillator
has a donkey on it, representing the Democratic Party, and the other has an
elephant on it, representing the Republican Party. The Republican paddle is
detached from the rest of the machine, and does not seem like it will have any part
in reviving Obama’s “patient”, though Obama’s character seems to be looking to it
for support. Obviously, this is a direct parallel to the way the cartoonist feels
Obama’s health care reform is going. The cartoonist is clearly stating that he
believes that the health care reform is “dead”, and while Obama and the
Democrats want to “revive” it, the Republicans are not interested in being a part
of it. Since the cartoon shows Obama as only having support from the Democrats,
the artifact seems to be saying that he, too, is a Democrat.
Artifact II Analysis
This artifact is an extremely recent one, published in the New York Times.
The artifact discusses Obama’s plan for universal health care, and provides an
update on the bill’s status. As of the 13th of October, the article says, the health bill
has gained the support of one Republican – Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine.
This article explains the debates the two parties are having over the bill – mainly
around the costs it will incur. While most Democrats seem to feel that the plan
will easily be paid for, the Republicans fear that it will only add to the national
debt. In this article, nothing is being suggested about the actions of President
Obama specifically. Seeing as it was strictly a news report, the writer does not give
much of their own opinion on the matter, and therefore does not suggest anything
about his actions. Because Obama isn't discussed specifically, the piece does not
seem to offer any opinion on whether his actions are a positive or negative thing.
However, since he sides with the health care plan, and this article is a discussion of
the fact that most supporters are only Democrats, it does imply that President
Obama, too, is a Democrat.
Artifact III Analysis
This artifact is a shortened version of President Obama's proposed health
care plan, as told by himself. It explains President Obama's plan for universal
health care. Using excerpts of his original speech to Congress. By doing this, it
condenses his plan into a short, easy to understand video. In the video, he explains
the selling points of the plan that he has created. The health care plan that Obama
presents in this video is generally supported by Democrats and opposed by
Republicans, for the most part. Based on the fact that Obama himself is presenting
and selling this plan to an audience in the video means that he is in favor of it, and
therefore would lead you to believe he is a Liberal. Though the video only shows
excerpts of the full speech, it seems to display Obama in a positive way, because
every time he speaks in the video, he is heavily applauded.
Artifact IV analysis
This artifact is a cartoon depicting the cartoonist’s impression of the health care
situation. In the cartoon, President Obama is represented by a character that is trying to
resuscitate a man that seems to be dead or dying. Since “health care reform” is written on the
shirt of the dying man, it is safe to say that the cartoonist meant to represent the President’s
plan for universal health care through this character. Next to Obama is a donkey
(representative of the Democratic Party) that is seemingly ready to help him revive the man
that represents health care reform. Contrasting to the donkey’s wanting to help revive the
man, there are elephants (representative of the Republican party) waiting to put the dying
character in a casket. This represents the idea that this cartoonist has on the health care debate.
Clearly, this cartoonist believes that health care reform is dead or dying, as the man on the
floor shows. Based on the fact that both Obama and the donkey are on the floor trying to help
the man, the cartoonist seems to be trying to say that Obama and the Democrats are interested
in keeping health care reform alive. In contrast, though, the cartoonist seems to be saying that
the Republicans, represented by the elephants, are not interested in keeping health care reform
alive, but are eager and willing to let it die.
Artifact VIII analysis
On this date, the President traveled to Minnesota to speak about his plan for health
care reform This artifact shows a picture of President Obama in Minnesota on the 12th of
September at the Target Center. Speaking to thousands of American citizens, he attempted
to rally the support of the people, pitching his ideas about health care to the audience. This
is only one stop in a series of speeches President Obama plans to deliver on health care to
the public. Based on the picture itself, it seems to be being suggested that Obama is
gaining support not only from politicians, but from the American public as well. The fact
that he seems to be pleased by the crowds reaction gives the idea that the rally was a
success. Also, in his reaching out to the audience with his hand gesture, he seems to be
indicating that he wants to include the citizens in the health care reform process. Because
he is evidently happy with the reactions of the crowd, it seems to suggest that things are
going well for him, showing him in a positive and optimistic light. Standing alone, this
artifact does not imply that President Obama is of any specific party or belief. However,
knowing the background behind the picture, it seems to be suggesting that he is a
Democrat, since in the speech where he was photographed, he was speaking in favor of
health care, which is generally supported by Democrats.
Artifact V Analysis
This video shows President Obama being interviewed by Steve Kroft of the
television show “60 Minutes”. In the interview, Obama is asked questions
concerning his health care plan. Kroft asks him how supported he feels by the
Republicans, how he plans to pass the bill, how he plans to pay for the bill, and
many other key basic questions. The artifact points out that there are many that
are still skeptic about Obama's health care - many of those skeptics being people
whose support he needs. It also suggests that Obama has a clear vision of what he
wants to do with health care, because he is very confident and explanatory in his
responses to the interview questions. While Kroft asks his questions in a very
critical way, President Obama still seems to be shown in a positive light, as he
seems to come up with very optimistic answers to every question. The way Obama
answers the questions that are posed to him definitely suggest he is a Democrat
since he is supportive of the health care plan.
Artifact VI analysis
In this audio radio address, President Obama yet again explains his plans for
universal health care, and his motives behind it. He explains why he believes health care is
necessary, and how he believes it will help our country. He goes on to explain that he does not
believe that health care is a Republican or a Democratic issue, but “an American issue that
demands a solution”. He says that those who try to draw metaphorical lines between the two
major parties on this issue are “burdening this country with an unsustainable status quo”. The
artifact seems to suggest that President Obama, though under much skepticism for his plans
on health care, has a clear vision of what he wishes to achieve in the field of health care
reform. Through this clear vision depicted in the address, Obama seems to be presented in a
very positive light, as he seems to be very optimistic about the future of our country. However,
his vision is one of universal health care, which is definitely a Liberal idea, and therefore this
address classifies him as a Liberal for supporting it.
Artifact vii analysis
The main purpose of this artifact is for the White House and the Obama
Administration to refute any claims that opposers of the health care reform may
have. It separates the major debates of those who are not in favor of the health
care bill into many segments. With each debate, the artifact use the explanations
of well-known politicians to refute those claims in video form. It explains why the
Obama Administration finds health care to be so important, and why they believe
our country is in need of this new health care system. Because it backs up all of
his arguments and refutes all of the arguments of those who oppose it, it would
seem that the artifact is definitely suggesting that Obama has the stronger
argument on this issue. By backing up all Obama's opinions on health care, it
agrees with his opinions, and therefore portrays him in a positive way. Since the
arguments promote Obama's ideas on health care, and health care is generally
supported most by Democrats, it implies that Obama, too, is in that political party.