Nice find, Joe.

I’m torn on the program that stole the spotlight tonight.

I started by watching Obama’s speech on health care and was very happy.  Admittedly an Obamaphile, I was happy to see him come into the conversation as the sort of rational mature character.  He took some members of Congress to task in a way that was both above the fray and very clear to anyone following the debate (Michelle Bachmann and Chuck Grassley, what?).  Lines that used words like “bickering” and calling the disingenuous debate a “game,” he seemed like the teacher coming in and telling the class to shape up.  He didn’t go as deep as the wonkiest among us might have hoped, but then again, he wasn’t speaking to the wonkiest among us.  He gave a really solid speech that was logical and reassuring for the middle 30% (or 10%?) of voters who are actually open-minded enough to listen to each side.  If nothing else, I think this speech was soothing for many who have been riled up.

On the other hand…

…Glee blew my mind.  The dialogue was far funnier than the first episode.  The music wasn’t QUITE as good as the first episode (though, what can honestly beat Journey?).  So far Jane Lynch steals the show on the comedic front and Lea Michele on the musical front.  The key is that Glee’s musical numbers remain effortless and not forced.  If the music seems too much like it’s lip-syncing to studio versions, it will lose the silly/genuine nature.  Gold digger was a bit less natural than “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

So who won–Obama or the cast of Glee?  Apples and Oranges, for me.  Which did you prefer?

Also worth noting–Fox did not air Obama’s speech in DC (not sure about other markets).  Apparently “So You Think You Can Dance” is more relevant than Obama’s first address on specifics around health reform.  Note to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox employees, I hope you feel the same way when you face a serious illness and there is no public option or cost containment to ensure you get comprehensive, coordinated and effective care.

Doesn’t this just ensure that people who can’t pay for this on their own won’t have full access to knowledge or advice on the decisions they need to make at end of life (i.e. living wills)?  It scares me beyond words that ignorant screaming masses can misrepresent something as simple as this and change public policy.  Health reform isn’t about taking away insured people’s access to care, it’s about giving more options and ensuring that everyone has the same access to a certain level of care.  No one is going to say you can’t seek additional treatments on your own (or what is covered by your private insurance that YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO KEEP), they’re just saying we all deserve an certain amount of quality care.  Why is this not made clearer?

An example of one of these protesters:

Lawrence O’Donnell completely nails her, though does so with more respect than most could have summoned.

Bill O’Reilly (who I would prefer to ignore 99% of the time) has dedicated yet ANOTHER “news” segment to raising awareness of the fact that one American Idol contestant may be gay.  I will say–without equivocation–that I believe that he is doing this to try to rally the votes of his socially conservative (and sometimes insane) viewers so he can claim that America agrees with his anti-gay sentiments.  Why else would he talk about a show he doesn’t watch and speculate on the sexuality of contestant who he claims to know nothing about?  For that matter, why would he speculate on the religion of the other contestant that he doesn’t watch?

I think it speaks volumes about the state of socially conservative politics in the US now that people like O’Reilly are trying to “win” American Idol for the religious right.  Kris Allen and Adam Lambert just want to sing, and O’Reilly is trying to pin each as a representative of two (not mutually exclusive) demographics.  O’Reilly is trying to rally votes against the “maybe gay” contestant by making sure his conservative viewers are aware of this possible fact (and by showing pictures of someone who appears to be Lambert kissing another man).  When your politics are failing in the face of a progressively younger, more accepting society and your last chance at claiming support in your bigotry is to point to a defeated contestant on American Idol, you know you’ve hit rock bottom.

The first O’Reilly clip (below) is the most recent that this post is in response to (h/t Towleroad) as well as the previous segment on the potential of a gay contestant.  (I have to wonder if he spent time publicly speculating on Clay Aiken’s sexuality, or if this just started when the right was losing the culture wars?).

Finally, I don’t reserve judgment for just Fox News.  I’m disappointed in Newsweek (to which I subscribe) for participating in this, and here’s a link to a New York Times article on speculation online and in the mainstream media on Lambert’s sexuality.  While I get that the NYT piece is about larger societal issues, I don’t think talking about other outlets discussing the topic excuses the NYT‘s snarky description of Lambert:

You are swivel hipped and pillow lipped. You have an outsize talent and a fondness for Cher. You have blond hair dyed black and styled in an asymmetrical shag. At some long-ago moment, you gave in to your inner Maybelline girl.

All of that said, I voted for Kris (who sang, among other songs, “What’s Going On?”–not a song I picture O’Reilly rocking out to).

And with John Mayer singing “Just Dance.”

There are other great ones, but these two are my favorites!