Presidential address tonight on health care

My immediate reflection after having live-blogged the entire presidential address to Congress on health care:

Obama delivered a speech that was largely about values.  Obama presented an expanded vision of American values; it includes concern for others, it affirms a constructive role for government in protecting the weak and ensuring fairness.  Obama explained that this tradition is as much a part of American heritage as free enterprise and individualism.   Obama has aligned the health care debate with a debate about American values.

In so doing, Obama may have successfully shifted the discussion tonight from one that had been mainly about people's fears to a discussion more centered on peoples' hopes and aspirations.  Obama was also correct to warn the country about the dangers of allowing intolerance and negativity to poison the debate.  Although we don't know what will come of this approach, it matters that Obama has attempted to re-frame the discussion.

You further commentary, including my own summary of the speech here.