OK, we will listen: President Obama's speech tonight critical to future of reform plan.

There is no reason not to head into the president's prime-time address to the joint session of Congress with an open mind.

After all, after a few words and a couple rounds of applause from appreciative lawmakers, the health care reform plan might become crystal clear -- not just the mechanics of it, but how it will be paid for now and in the future.

And specifics is exactly what it is going to take if the president hopes to turn things around for what can only be described as the health care debacle.

There is a lot at stake tonight as the president makes his pitch. If he does not come forward with a clear plan with all the right demands, he is not going to make anyone happy -- especially not his base.

And without a slimmed-down measure and a bipartisan effort at negotiations, gun-shy senators are not coming anywhere near a "yes" vote -- they do not have enough staff to answer the phone calls they will get from angry constituents.

So what is a president to do? Smoke and mirrors won't do it -- not this time.

So tonight we watch to see if the president is more than just a charismatic pretty face. We see if he really knows how to be a leader.

And if he fails to convince the people he has more substance than flash, he might as well write off health care -- and possibly anything else.

Published in Editorials on September 9, 2009 10:38 AM