"Do-or-Die" Week

With our in-class discussion of the "Framing" technique used commonly in current politics, its no surprise that headlines everywhere regard this week as "Do-or-Die," "Make or Break" and the "Fight to the Finish" for Obama's healthcare reform plan. It's looking like the health care reform initiative is going to be passed via a Reconciliation bill that will make the changes demanded by the house. With a reconciliation bill, only 51 senate votes are required for it to pass. David Axelrod, Obama's top adviser, stated on NBC that with this strategy he is "absolutely confident [Obama's plan] is going to be successful."

President Obama has taken it upon himself in this final stretch to call democratic hold-outs who oppose the bill with the argument that should the bill fail to pass it will be detrimental to his re-election in November. Obama must be feeling the heat of this "Do-or-Die" week because he has postponed his trip to Asia from March 18th to March 21st because of the healthcare vote. He intends to spend his extra time here humanizing the debate, and presenting the public with stories that indicate the urgency of healthcare reform. Today in Strongsville, Ohio President Obama explained that he was there promoting healthcare reform "because of the countless others who have been forced to face the hardest and most terrifying challenges in their lives with the added burden of medical bills they cannot pay."

This week will show an Obama who's fired up about Health Care reform and will speak out as the final push approaches. The true question is, what will come of his efforts? And is this truly the final push? Is it really make or break? Only time will tell.