OBAMACARE

1. OBAMACARE (student name removed)

2. 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. 

3. artifacts (click article number to view) Artifact OneArtifact Five Artifact TwoArtifact Six Artifact ThreeArtifact Seven Artifact FourArtifact Eight Artifacts home (current slide) Icon Key: Analysis of artifact currently being viewed Back to artifact being described

4. Reluctant republicans artifact one

5. artifact two Health care bill gains one republican vote “Now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back. Now is not the time to offer ourselves congratulations. Now is the time to dig in and work even harder to get this done.” -- Barack Obama (click screenshot to view full article)

6. Obama Plan in four minutes artifact three (click to start video)

7. Health care funeral artifact four

8. Obama on 60 minutes artifact five (click to start video)

9. The Weekly Radio Address artifact six (click megaphone icon for audio) “Now is the time to rise above the politics of the moment. Now is the time to come together as Americans.”

10. White House Reality Check artifact seven (click screenshot to visit webpage)

11. Minnesota rally artifact eight “We are closer now to reform than we’ve ever been.” -- Barack Obama

12. speaking with congress journal one 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.

13. Vote hunting journal two 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.

14. Individual reflection 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. How can the actions of an individual affect or local, national, or global society?

15. Obama wordle “We are the change that we seek.” -- Barack Obama

16. 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 KroftInteviews 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/>.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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. 

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.