We're ready to fight, too

In his speech last night, President Obama brought the health-care debate back to where it matters most: the living rooms and kitchen tables of Americans struggling with the high costs of insurance - or the fallout of having to go uninsured.

By highlighting the real and continuing need for health reform - and recommitting to crucial components like ending pre-existing condition bans, dramatically expanding insurance coverage, and bringing down premiums - President Obama may have reshuffled the deck and brought us a step closer to real reform. But advocates who share the president's commitment need marching orders.

The president has repeatedly told us he is ready to fight for us - well, we're ready to fight, too. We need to know what is attainable - and what is sacrosanct - and we will fight day and night for it. We do not expect a perfect bill and we understand that politics is a compromise, but we are closer than ever to passing meaningful reform that will improve the lives of millions of low-income working families.

There is a crew of fighters ready to push for the reforms that are achievable. But we need a target. I hope the president's next step is to plant a bulls-eye wherever we can make the biggest difference.

By Angela Glover Blackwell  |  January 28, 2010; 11:16 AM ET  | Category:  Health Care Reform Save & Share:                 
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