President Barack Obama has been appearing everywhere and anywhere to push his health care reform agenda this past month. A couple of weeks ago, he was interviewed on every Sunday morning TV political gabfest. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican, quipped that the only place he hadn't yet seen his commander in chief plug away for reform was on The Food Channel.
Personally, I think President Obama is just getting started. Indeed, if the White House press office thinks outside the mainstream media box, and if this administration is truly committed to bipartisan debate on health reform, I believe there are plenty of additional opportunities for the president to get his message across.
Consider the following options, and feel free to suggest your own:
o To Tell The Truth: This classic TV game show could be resurrected for one special night. President Obama will be challenged to convince a "fair and balanced" panel of his political critics–Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity–that his health reform program will not cover illegal aliens, or ration care for the elderly. The host will be (who else?) U.S. Rep. Joe ("You lie!") Wilson, another South Carolina Republican.
o The Price Is Right: Next up, President Obama could guest host an episode in which contestants are asked to guess how much their employers pay for their health insurance, with the losers forced to buy coverage on the open market.
o Survivor: In a twist on this popular reality show, President Obama narrates a season in which viewers get to see who survives when a group of U.S. citizens with serious preexisting conditions are stranded on an island (Long Island, N.Y.) without health insurance.
o E.R.: Actor George Clooney returns to his roots, joining President Obama in narrating a new reality show showing how the uninsured are treated when they show up at hospital emergency rooms around the country for care.
o American Idol: In a last-minute change, President Obama replaces Ellen DeGeneres (who replaced Paula Abdul) as the fourth judge on this singing competition, with only uninsured contestants permitted to audition. The winner, instead of a recording contract, is awarded lifetime coverage (subject to a preexisting condition exclusion) by a health insurance sponsor.
o Jeopardy: President Obama takes over for host Alex Trebek as three contestants vie to see who best understands their health insurance policy restrictions, deductibles, co-payment policies and exclusions. Only the Champion gets to keep their coverage.
o The Amazing Race: The president narrates as a group of uninsured American contestants travel the world, seeing if they can get better care for whatever ails them at medical facilities in Canada, Great Britain and France.
o Death Panel: Last but not least is a brand new game show hosted by Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate, who has gone totally rogue. It features President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid deciding which elderly people are entitled to the health care they need to survive, depending on whether they are Democrats or Republicans.
Of course, if Congress fails to pass a health care reform bill this year, you can expect to see President Obama as a guest presenter next March on the Academy Awards, giving director Michael Moore his Best Picture Oscar for "Capitalism: A Love Story"–right after announcing that he is unilaterally nationalizing the health insurance industry.
Sam Friedman
Editor In Chief
To offer your own programming suggestions, go to Sam's Oct. 6 blog post at www.NUSamSoapbox.com. You may also follow Sam on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NUSam.
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