Since Barack Obama first came to office with plans to reform the country's healthcare system, conservative critics have derogatorily branded his policies as "Obamacare."
Speaking today in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, the President pushed back by embracing the term.
"I have no problem with folks saying 'Obama cares'," he told the crowd. "I do care."
The President devoted much of his time to discussing one of the key components of the legislation: the so-called "individual mandate" which would require most people to purchase some form of health insurance.
Obama slammed his Republican critics, and in particular the former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, for having backed away from what was once their own idea.
"This used to be a Republican policy," he told the audience. "Suddenly it's like they've got amnesia." Then, in a mocking tone he mimicked his critics: "Oh, this is terrible! This is going to take away our freedom!"
Yes, this is clearly part of the White House's "Go after Romney early" strategy. And yes, I am more than a little miffed that the President wasn't making this exact statement a year ago. But the President is at least getting out there into the crowds and fighting for his legislative record, not running away from it. He's going to have to do that in order to win.
More importantly the President is talking to people outside Washington DC, which is good. Apparently, the only place in the country where people think the economy is getting better right now? Washington DC. Literally. Every other state in the nation thinks the economy is getting significantly worse.
We'll see how the rest of his trip turns out, but more of this, please.
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