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(nj.com)

After a summer of vocal opposition to his health plan, President Obama displayed his strength as a political leader in a 47 minute speech presenting a case for overhauling the healthcare system. It was live political theater at its best, including the continuous sound of cheers and applause, a letter from Ted Kennedy after his death and even an unruly heckler who shouted “you lie,” impolitely putting himself front stage center

Dr. Charles Boustany

Republicans felt the speech came up short and was out of step with the changes Americans wanted. Representative Charles Boustany Jr. of Louisiana agreed that health care needed an overhaul, but felt the president needed to come up with a fresh plan.

“It is clear the American people want health care reform. But they want their elected leaders to get it right. Most Americans wanted to hear the president…. tell Congress that it’s time to start over on a common-sense bipartisan plan focused on lowering the cost of health care while improving quality.”

According to Vitals.com, Dr. Boustany received his medical degree at Louisiana State University and completed his residency in Thoracic Surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Obama said the changes would cost about $900 billion over the decade that is more likely to exceed $1 trillion.

Some of the highlights of the speech:

* Insurance policies couldn’t be canceled because of sickness or denied for pre-existing conditions. For those who can’t get insurance, because of a pre-existing condition, the government would provide low cost coverage to protect them against ruin.

* Government subsidies would be available to make premiums affordable. Every American would be required to carry coverage, “the same way drivers carry auto insurance.”

* A fee, or tax, on health insurance companies would be imposed for their most expensive policies.

* A provision for the federal government to sell insurance in competition with private industry.

* A mechanism to control and reduce the growth of Medicare.

* A new initiative to create pilot projects to help curb medical malpractice suits, a cause important to Republicans and physicians.

A CNN poll interviewed a random sample of 427 adults who watched the speech. 18% identified themselves as Republican, 45% as Democrats and 37% as Independents.

When asked about their overall reaction to the speech 56% were very positive.  70% felt that Obama’s policies would move the country in the right direction. When asked how they felt about the President’s plan to reform health care, 67% were in favor of his plan. But when asked how likely it was that Congress would pass the proposals, only 20% felt is was very likely.

This general feeling was reinforced as Republicans arrived ready to fight. The president was heckled when he dismissed the notion of death panels that denied coverage to the elderly. “It is a lie, plain and simple,” Obama stated.

Their raucous disapproval spilled over when Senator Ben Cardin shouted, “You lie” when Obama asserted that nothing in his plan would provide coverage to illegal immigrants. The senator proved to be wrong, the bill would require illegal immigrants to buy coverage.

Facing his tough bipartisan audience, President Obama drew much needed laughter as he stated:

“There remain some significant details to be ironed out.”

Catch the Full National Healthcare Address here: