“We now face an opportunity — and an obligation — to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates… My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.”
— Barack Obama, Speech in Iowa City, IA, May 29, 2007
This speech, presented by presidential candidate Barack Obama, partains specifically to the issue of health care in the United States. In the above video clip, Obama speaks of a family (Amu & Layne) who are on the verge of bankruptcy, due to the family's rise in health care premiums. This significant rise is due to Layne's previous diagnosis of cancer, seventeen years ago. Barack Obama (should hewin the presidency) promises to fix the questionable health care of this nation, and make it available and affordable to everyone. He has a sensible, stern, yet sympathetic deameanor, and his providing a concrete, situational example only adds credibility to his statements. This is stellar use of logic: instead of focusing on a hypothetical situation, he provides a realistic representation, driving the point home to all listeners. Obama explains his plan to bring down costs in great detail, allowing the audience to rest assured that if they vote for him, health care costs will decrease.
The example Obama spotlights, relating to the matter at hand, revolves around ethos. Layne and Amy aren't the only ones suffering for the rise in their health care premiums: their whole family is being affected. Family is the defintive word in this argument. Nobody knows for sure what illnesses will plague them in the future, or how that wil affect their lives. Layne struggled with cancer, and fortunately won the battle, but in the end he still has to pay a price for his health, and so does his family. Obama relates this situation to everyone who has a family. People shouldn't have to pay 40% of their annual income for health care premiums, it's simply ludicrous.
Barack Obama seems to be forthright about turning our health care system in a more beneficial direction, and upon researching his plans, it looks as though he'll attack the problem with full force and help our nation maintain affordable premiums, allowing no one to be left out of the health care system. His speech was presented strongly to appeal toward anyone listening, because everyone has been a member of some family. With this speech presenting the obvious and possible detriments of the present health care siutation in the United States, listeners and viewers will look at Obama as a savior as he explains his plans to fix the growing dilemma and create an afforable yet efficient system.
