The President's speech got an array of mixed reactions from those who watched.
President Obama focused most of his speech on details and what he calls misinformation regarding health care reform.
Students and professors at the John A. Burns School of Medicine watched President Obama's health care address with their eyes fixed on the screen.
“Initial reaction was I thought he hit every angle that I think he wanted to,” John A. Burns School of Medicine student Darragh O’Carroll said.
Mister Obama laid out details and talked about the reasoning behind the proposed overhaul.
“It did clarify some things,” O’Carroll said.
“I really enjoyed listening to President Obama mainly because I think he reached out to both parties and tried to inspire them to find common ground, I really enjoyed hearing that,” Associate Professor of Medicine Dr. Damon Sakai said.
The speech targeted members of Congress, asking them to set aside their differences to focus on health care reform, but not everyone agrees with the plan.
“What's going to be essential to work out some sort of bipartisan agreement is dropping of this trillion dollar government run health care program,” Candidate for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District (R) Charles Djou said.
Opponents say the President's speech did not adequately describe how the nation could afford a government run health care plan and instead the nation should be focused on tort reform and current health care issues already in place.
“A) because I think its too expensive and the people cant afford and B) more importantly because I don't think its going to work,” Djou said.
Some say it might work…if major details are worked out and if congress and the public give it a chance.
“I think we all have to open to new ideas, we all have to maybe let go of some of the things or beliefs that we have and try to look at another perspective,” Dr. Sakai said.
In his address the President says Americans deserve health care coverage despite preexisting conditions and no one should go broke because of an illness.
“Something needs to be done and I think it's a good step what he's taken what he's laid forth today,” O’Carroll said.
“The question is do we even need this government run health care program and I don't think the president adequately addressed that,” Djou said.
Obama's plan would cost $900 billion over a decade and would create new regulations for insurance companies...while requiring all Americans to get coverage.
