First edition: September 10, 2009

In response to President Obama's joint address to Congress last night, the headlines are chock full of news, analysis, fact-checkers and inventories of cheers and jeers.  

Obama's Speech Leaves Room For Snowe 's Compromise To Put Off The Public Option By signaling his flexibility last night on a government-run insurance plan, President Barack Obama gave new impetus to a fallback "trigger" approach that some believe could be essential to passing health care legislation this year (Kaiser Health News).

Experts Analyze Obama's Speech KHN asked six experts - all outside the Beltway - to comment on the president's speech. They e-mailed us their thoughts (Kaiser Health News).

Obama's Speech: A Sampling Of Reactions From Consumers KHN interviewed eight Americans about their reactions to the president's speech: Was it persuasive? How would the proposals he outlined affect you and your family? (Kaiser Health News).

Obama To Congress And The Nation: 'I Will Not Accept The Status Quo' A summary of the initial round of coverage and analysis immediately following President Obama's speech last night. Includes a transcript (Kaiser Health News).

On Brink, Obama Is Resolute And Clear There was high drama in the setting and most of all in the timing. After a summer of chaos, criticism and confusion, President Obama stood before Congress on Wednesday night — with three major networks broadcasting live (Fox sat out the speech in favor of the season premiere of "So You Think You Can Dance") — and tried to seize the last word on health care reform (New York Times).

Aim Of Obama Health Speech: Reigniting A Presidency On one level, President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night was what it seemed: an attempt to corral lawmakers into approving the signature initiative of his presidency, the health care overhaul that has eluded Washington, as Mr. Obama said, for 65 years (New York Times).

With His Top Priority On The Line, President Reframes Critical Debate After a month of angry town hall meetings and dire predictions about the state of his top domestic priority, President Obama moved forcefully Wednesday night to take the initiative on health care -- and in the process rejuvenate his presidency and unite his fractious Democratic Party (The Washington Post).

The Republican Response, Arriving A Little Early As President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, the nation's rapidly deteriorating discourse hit yet another low (The Washington Post).

Diagnoses Vary On Obama Health-Care Speech While some were moved to tears by the president's soaring rhetoric, others were moved not at all. Where some saw a new clarity, others saw more vagueness. And while some praised him for reaching out to Republicans, there were those who felt he was overreaching in some ways and not reaching far enough in others (The Associated Press).

Fact Check: Obama Uses Iffy Math On Deficit Pledge President Barack Obama used only-in-Washington accounting Wednesday when he promised to overhaul the nation's health care system without adding "one dime" to the deficit. By conventional arithmetic, Democratic plans would drive up the deficit by billions of dollars (The Associated Press).

Obama's Plea: 'Deliver On Health Care' President Obama used the power of his bully pulpit Wednesday night to take on critics of his beleaguered health care plan, decrying scare tactics used by opponents and pushing again for a non-profit public insurance option (NPR).

President Makes His Pitch President Barack Obama gave an emotional, sometimes contentious address to Congress on Wednesday, combining tough talk to opponents with olive branches on policy in a bid to break the impasse on revamping the health-care system (The Wall Street Journal).

Americans, While Sympathetic, Worry About Cost President Barack Obama ability to sell his health-care overhaul relies heavily on convincing voters like Mr. Held. The 47-year-old man said he used to offer health insurance to his employees, but not anymore. It was too tough finding a decent plan (The Wall Street Journal).

Obama Tries To Rally Health Care Cooperation President Obama alternately wooed and lashed out at critics of his landmark health care plan Wednesday in an effort to regain momentum lost during a month of growing public doubt and anxiety (USA Today).

Wilson: Outburst During Speech 'Regrettable' President Obama's address on health care policy has already produced a moment that veteran members of Congress called unprecedented, and one that illustrates the opposition the president faces (USA Today).

Obama's Health Care Address: A Closer Look At What He Said The health care debate in Congress has been plagued for months by misinformation and bickering by Democrats and Republicans trying to define how the changes being proposed would affect hospitals, doctors and patients (USA Today).

The Time For Bickering Is Over President Obama delivered an impassioned defense last night of his plan to overhaul the US health care system, accusing his critics of distorting his views while setting a tougher and more determined tone for the debate as it enters a crucial phase on Capitol Hill (The Boston Globe).

Obama Pitches Need For Health Overhaul To Congress Aiming to move the healthcare debate beyond its current state of acrimony, President Obama on Wednesday stood before Congress and outlined a plan that he said would improve medical insurance for Americans who have it and make it affordable for those who don't (Los Angeles Times).

Obama Avoids The Details On Divisive Issues To Keep His Healthcare Goals On Track President Obama's spirited defense Wednesday night of his broad healthcare goals avoided making concrete commitments on some of the most contentious issues, reflecting a guiding principle of his legislative strategy: to put off the most controversial decisions until the very last moment (Los Angeles Times).

Speech Invokes Letter From Kennedy When President Obama pleaded with Congress last night to push ahead with the legislation, he called on Kennedy's legacy as the late senator's widow, children, and two grandchildren watched from the House gallery (The Boston Globe).

Fact Check A Look At Some Of president Obama's Assertions Last Night (The Boston Globe).

Can Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer Keep A Lid On Public-Option Tensions House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was telling reporters Tuesday night that a health care bill might survive without a public option when Nancy Pelosi bounded to the microphones to cut him off (Politico).

Obama Says He Will Weigh Medical Malpractice Reform President Obama on Wednesday night called for a new look at how medical malpractice lawsuits were handled as a possible way of containing spiraling healthcare costs (Los Angeles Times).

Wilson's Rallying Cry All eyes were on Barack Obama entering Wednesday night's address to Congress, but a little-known South Carolina Republican may have done more than the president's combative speech to unify besieged Democrats around health care reform (Politico).

Four GOP Senators Stand, Applaud Obama's 'Death Panel' Dismissal Just a few Republicans joined Democrats in applauding President Obama's debunking of the "death panels" claim during his healthcare speech Wednesday, but which GOP members they were might be telling (The Hill).

Blue Dogs Seeking Truce With House Liberals A top Blue Dog is calling for a truce in the war of words with liberal members of the Democratic Caucus who have been firing off insults at Blue Dogs who slowed the progress of health legislation (The Hill).

Dodd Keeps A Hand In Health Care Sen. Chris Dodd said Wednesday that he'd made the "right decision" in passing up the chance to succeed Sen. Ted Kennedy as chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (Politico).

Power For Harkin, Boost For Lincoln Labor and Southern agriculture, two vested interests important to Democrats in next year's elections, both stand to gain under Senate committee changes elevating Tom Harkin of Iowa and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas to new chairmanships (Politico).

Tech Companies Push To Digitize Patients' Records On one proposal for health care reform at least, there is a rare bipartisan consensus: the push to computerize patient records (The New York Times).

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