Racism or not, Obama still has a job to do

One may wonder why the bitterness over what is a very noble idea by a Democratic President who won with a landslide and spelt out his plan clearly in his campaign.

The answer could be that there is a lot of negative campaigning by lobbying firms hired by health insurance companies who feel they will lose business should Congress pass Obama’s plan.

Last weekend, there was a massive protest close to the White House against President Obama’s health plan. Some of the crowds that staged the march displayed clearly racist posters depicting the president as a joker.

And at rallies staged by the president to campaign for the plan, hecklers sprang up trying to shout him down and in one case in Arizona, a protester turned up with a gun.

Mr Obama is trying what Bill Clinton tried in 1993 and failed. Even then, he fell victim to wealthy lobby groups that call the shots in Washington.

Currently, Obama’s Achilles heel is the health plan. He needs to abandon it or negotiate with its opponents on a trade-off that would give both sides a piece of the cake.

The scheme is like a huge guillotine hanging over his head, making governing a difficult task.

Henry Owuor is Diplomatic and Foreign Writer, Daily Nation