Obama Rallies in IC

Just got out of the University of Iowa Field House, where President Obama stopped by to sell the health care reform package he signed into law Monday.

I don't have much deep analysis, and frankly, it wasn't an event that demands much. It was a campaign-style rally that was like a lot of the big-loud-crowd events I saw Obama at before he won the caucuses in 2008.

He did the job he came to do. He explained the most popular parts of his reform effort, especially measures that go into effect fastest, tax credits to help small business buy coverage for workers, the end of lifetime coverage caps, the start of efforts to close the 'doughnut hole' in drug coverage for seniors, no denial of kids with pre-existing conditions, allowing people up to age 26 to stay on parents' coverage etc. University students like that last one.

Obama also defied his opponents to take that stuff away, a direct shot at the GOP's vows to repeal reform and start over if they grab control of Congress.  "My attitude is go for it," Obama said. I'd note here that "Bring it on" didn't work out so great for the last POTUS.

But he didn't address the biggest criticism of the bill, it's nearly $1 billion

trillion price tag. Not shocking. It was a day to talk about all about winning, not losing issues for Dems.

And he made it a very special episode of Barack Obama by concluding with a sobering list of the big jobs that remain.

"Iowa, this is not the end of difficult times for America," Obama said, calling us by our formal name. "From creating jobs to reducing the deficit to giving every child a decent education, we still face enormous challenges in this country. And as we meet those challenges, we will face more resistance. We will face more doubt and more cynicism. We will hear more voices who will warn us that we are reaching too far and too fast; who will tell us that we can't."

He did get heckled/challenged by a guy from Iowa City unhappy that a public insurance option didn't make it. Obama's answer essentially was that he floated it but Congress wouldn't pass it.

Someone fainted during his speech, at about the time the president revealed that his reform bill would not bring "Armageddon" to the nation.

Throw in some praise for UNI's fantastic basketball run, one more thanks for his caucus win and a trip to Prairie Lights to buy books for his kids, and that's a wrap.

It was a sales pitch largely to the choir, which sang, loudly, often and on cue.

HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius introduced Obama and apparently said "Ohio" instead of Iowa at one point. I didn't hear it, the acoustics in the hall made everyone sound sort of like Charlie Brown's teacher, but give her a break.

After all, she was a fine governor in Arkansas.

Beyond the political theater, I basically thought it was cool to be in the Field House, where the famous and fabled hoops teams of Hawkeye history prowled the hardwood back in the day. The big old gold Hawkeye still looked down from the rafters high above Obama's stage. I like the Tiger Hawk, but I still love that old, mean-looking mascot.

Enough from me. What are others saying?

From Politico:

Iowa City, Iowa - President Barack Obama challenged Republicans Thursday to bring on the debate if they plan to run on a platform of repealing the health care reform bill he signed into law just two days ago.

“My attitude is: Go for it," Obama said. "If these congressmen in Washington want to come here in Iowa and tell small-business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest."

The Hill says fainting for Obama is a trend.

ABC News' Political Punch blog:

When the president starting talking about the new insurance exchanges that would be set up, one audience member yelled, “What about the public option?” The president responded that it's not in the bill because, “We couldn't get it through Congress, that's why. So they -- let's -- there's no need to shout, young man, no need to shout. Thirty-two people -- 32 million people are going to have health insurance because of this legislation. That's what this work is about.”

New York Times:

IOWA CITY - President Obama on Thursday began an aggressive White House public relations blitz to sell his newly-signed health care overhaul to a skeptical and sometimes confused public, calling the measure “pro-jobs” and “pro-business” and taunting Republicans who are vowing to repeal it.

MSNBC/NBC:

USA Today notes the protesters who greeted the president.