President Obama got 2 things very right in his brief discussion of healthcare last night. He also got quite a few wrong. While healthcare wasn’t the main focus of his State of the Union Address by a long shot, he made an effort to soothe frayed nerves with the usual awe-inspiring oratorical skill. It was just the content that fell short.

First, what did he get right? Addressing Congress, he said, “Do not walk away from reform.  Not now.  Not when we are so close.  Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.” Thank you, Obama, for restoring some faith that progress can come from this debacle. Addressing Democrats specifically, he then told them that they held the largest majority in decades, and people expect them to solve problems, not run for the hills.

So we can take some solace in knowing the healthcare issue won’t be unceremoniously dropped in a mad dash to focus on jobs before election time. But it’s what Obama continued to say and failed to say in the right context that made his healthcare speech so hollow.

For instance, there were the overstatements. Starting with the assertion that his administration had “made COBRA coverage 65% cheaper for Americans” wasn’t inspiring. More accurately, his administration has temporarily subsidized hugely outsized COBRA premiums for some recently laid-off Americans. They still aren’t cheap, and there has been and will be gaps in subsidization. COBRA isn’t a solution, it’s an 18-month stop-gap. I’m also looking forward to healthcare insiders’ responses to his claim that we believe healthcare legislation is a vast improvement over the status quo. Really? Says who?

Next, Obama claimed that healthcare reform legislation would protect every American from the unfair practices of the insurance industry. He forgot to say “eventually”, and even then it wouldn’t be accurate without a public option available to everyone as a safe haven from predatory private insurers. Requiring us to subject ourselves to whatever premiums they demand is not protection.

Then there were the overused claims already exposed to be devoid of meaning. He REALLY needs to drop the sleight-of-hand claim that every American has the right to keep their plan. Not giving us any other option isn’t a right, it’s saying, “Don’t like what you have? Tough!” Similarly, claiming he’s open to all ideas Congress comes up with is a sad excuse for lack of leadership. Congress is short on ideas and it’s time to provide guidance in moving forward, something Nancy Pelosi has asked him for.

Perhaps what he didn’t say is what I found most troublesome. He took responsibility for not explaining healthcare reform clearly to the American people, but completely failed to apologize for his historical and continued lack of healthcare legislative leadership. Then, referencing overseas humanitarian initiatives related to freedom and human dignity, he said “We do it not because we have to, but because it’s right.” Obama, that’s what you needed to say about healthcare reform!

Every other civilized country provides universal healthcare because it’s a human right, but the best our President could come up with is increasing numbers of uninsured and potential economic catastrophe. We need to get real healthcare reform done because it’s the right thing to do, Obama, and you didn’t say it. So what did I learn from our 2010 State of the Union Address? Unfortunately, nothing new.

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