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The open call on Aug. 19th, hosted by Faithful America as part of their "40 days for Health Care Reform" campaign, was an orchestrated move within the debate for universal health care. Everything from the questions, participating faith representatives, and government officials including the President played their roles carefully to ensure that their message was coming from a united front. Despite a few technical problems including the 15 years old flubbing the President's name as she introduced him, the call went rather smoothly. Pastors, Priests, Rabbis and other religious representatives across the United States recited what their congregations were doing to advanced their belief that all of God's children deserve to be in good health. Officials like the Director for the office of Domestic Policy at the White House, Melody Barnes -- graciously took questions, and answered them with an even toned voice almost as if to diffuse any perceived tension from adversarial questions. With most of the debate to this point being hinged on the rumored funding of abortion and support for death panels, one question offered up during the call showed such concerns in a different light. A women, who identified herself as Catholic stated her urge to support health care, but that her conflict comes with possibility that reform came with funding for abortion, something that would compromise her moral & ethical convictions. Melody Barnes assured her that Americans will be able to purchase health care that should both match their belief systems and health care needs.
The President took the debate a little further; by dispelling rumors for support of death panels, which he said is not an attempt to institute the legalization of medical suicide. Instead it simply is a voluntary program where patients who sought out counseling for creating living wills could be reimbursed. He also denounced rumors that the health care reform package was to help illegal aliens, or a governmental take over of the health care system. The President sprinkled a few biblical references in his speech such as, "baring false witness" when referring to reform adversaries, his favorite used through out the campaign -- "I am my brother's/sister's keeper", and closing the call with the common gesture of "May God bless you". This live call in which over 140,000 people called in or listen to online, was a way for the President and health care reform supporters to frame it as a "Moral imperative","an ethical obligation", and an encouragement for supporters to start a "moral drumbeat". One minister even went as far to say that health care reform is part of "God's desire for health & healing for our nation".
Another important point made by the President and other participants on the call is that health care reform doesn't only apply to the 47+ million people without coverage, but the millions more who currently have and can't afford their current health care plans. As health care supporters officially/unofficially, continue to recite their reasons for support of this new health care reform packages, and the faith/non faith communities continue to do rallies and forums, write their political representatives, sponsor events, and even write op-eds in their local papers and church bulletins -- on thing is for sure; this debate is not over. This was a concerted effort for this Administration to extend the "olive branch" to the faith community and have dialogue (albeit choreographed). This call which had solid sponsorship from over 30 institutions like the Islamic society of North America, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), The Latino Leadership Circle, Unitarian Universalist Association, and Catholics United was just the beginning.
The President took the debate a little further; by dispelling rumors for support of death panels, which he said is not an attempt to institute the legalization of medical suicide. Instead it simply is a voluntary program where patients who sought out counseling for creating living wills could be reimbursed. He also denounced rumors that the health care reform package was to help illegal aliens, or a governmental take over of the health care system. The President sprinkled a few biblical references in his speech such as, "baring false witness" when referring to reform adversaries, his favorite used through out the campaign -- "I am my brother's/sister's keeper", and closing the call with the common gesture of "May God bless you". This live call in which over 140,000 people called in or listen to online, was a way for the President and health care reform supporters to frame it as a "Moral imperative","an ethical obligation", and an encouragement for supporters to start a "moral drumbeat". One minister even went as far to say that health care reform is part of "God's desire for health & healing for our nation".
Another important point made by the President and other participants on the call is that health care reform doesn't only apply to the 47+ million people without coverage, but the millions more who currently have and can't afford their current health care plans. As health care supporters officially/unofficially, continue to recite their reasons for support of this new health care reform packages, and the faith/non faith communities continue to do rallies and forums, write their political representatives, sponsor events, and even write op-eds in their local papers and church bulletins -- on thing is for sure; this debate is not over. This was a concerted effort for this Administration to extend the "olive branch" to the faith community and have dialogue (albeit choreographed). This call which had solid sponsorship from over 30 institutions like the Islamic society of North America, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), The Latino Leadership Circle, Unitarian Universalist Association, and Catholics United was just the beginning.
