Obama as Othello ; A Shakespeare Parody. Act 4 Scene 1 - The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

We are now onto Scene 4 my theatre friends. Here is the link to where our little comedy play began.

Obama as Othello ; A Shakespeare Parody.

Act 4 Scene 1

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010

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The scene is Congress in Washington D.C. in early 2010 and which is a hive of activity.

Inside the forum there is a full house of politicians seated in the audience in preparation and expectation.

They are there to hear the much anticipated Healthcare speech by President Othell' Obama.

It is one of the keystone policies of his fledgling administration and also one of his most controversial.

The hubbub dwindles slowly as the President takes the podium to begin his address.

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Othell' Obama : OK everyone! Listen up now cos I got something to say. I've got important stuff to be rappin about here about our healthcare and our economy.

Now all you Republican types better simmer down now cos you guys got us into this unholy mess in the first place. Hey! I know that George Bush weren't none too good at Math but all those abacus shufflin types in Wall Street ought to have known better.

But it was us that got the country off the cliff so sit back and take your lumps cos it's healthcare time at last folks. Listen up and listen good to this here soliloquy.

Over one hundred years ago Teddy Roosevelt was calling out for healthcare reform. Yeah! We're going way back to the turn of the 20th century on this issue.

When he wasn't out shootin elephants or leading dumb ass crazy cavalry charges against the Spanish the poor guy was worrying himself sick about the folks at home.

He had the true spirit of America but he even said "We demand that big business give the people a square deal"

Now I believe that America is still a land of optimism and hope and chasing the dream. But for the 30 million uninsured that sure is taking the positive outlook way too far. And even for folk that do have cover they don't reckon with the dark hand of the insurance Mafioso pulling the hospital bedsheets from under their sorry asses.

Yeah! That's right brothers and sisters. As soon as you got the temerity to get sick they cut you off as bad for business. Now people here may regret the comparison with the Mafia as a little inappropriate and in bad taste. Hell! That's maybe true. But at least with those Sicilian guys you won't need treatment if you keep up the payments.

For that's what we got dudes! A protection racket in reverse. A non-protection scheme. For instance we gotta lady in Texas with breast cancer who gets her cover stopped because she didn't declare that she once had acne.

Who can blame her? I'm sure all you ladies here today would be the first to understand and the last to admit to that kinda skin-care problem. That's complexion-wise and dating-wise. As the great John F. Kennedy once said "There ain't nothing worse than zits on a chick" and he sure knew his women.

We are here to fix healthcare cos we do care. We're Democrats after all and that makes us nice folks. We're gonna look after the American people cos they can't look after themselves. The time for bickering is over and we ain't gonna take no more bull from the Republicans.

Sure! Some details have still to be ironed out. For example, we ain't gonna call for an annual cull of the old timers. This talk of so-called Death Panels is just ridiculous. What do you think we're running here? Some medieval version of 'The Gong Show' for retired coffin dodgers?

And another thing! We ain't gonna make provision to illegals.

At this point in the speech a sudden cry comes out from the audience

Congressman Joe Wilson : You lie!!

Obama: Hey man! Take a chill pill!

You folks know I'm a righteous cat and I'm better looking than you too Joe. So relax and ease up on the hollerin.

Anyways up man, what part you calling a lie?

There is consternation in the house at this breach of protocol.

Seated together are Harold Brabantio and Rahm Emmanuel.

Emmanuel: Did you hear him?

Brabantio: Eh? Wh-what?

Emmanuel: Have you been sleeping?

Brabantio: No No! Great speech great speech.

Emmanuel: Not him. I'm talking about Joe Wilson.

Brabantio: Why? What's he been saying?

Emmanuel: He's just called Othello a liar,

Brabantio: Who gave the game away?

Emmanuel: No one. I'm talking about that idiot from South Carolina,

Brabantio: Which one?

Emmanuel: That one! That ...... Oh! Never mind. Just say goodnight to the folks Gracie!

Back at the podium, President Obama is seemingly unperturbed by the accusation

Obama: Occupational hazard for us politico types you know. If poor old George W was up here he wouldn't have got a word in for the heckling.

After all, that guy didn't know the truth from a dry hole in Texas.

No! This fellow's of exceeding honesty and you can take my word for it. There'll be no money for illegals. There'll also be be no Fed dollars for abortion either cos I know better than to take on the mighty pulpit-jockeys in a blood-feud.

And we ain't gonna be controlling the whole healthcare system. We just want a public sponsored system on the one hand and have the insurance companies by the balls on the other. That's fair and balanced ain't it?

Yeah! Sure It'll cost 900 billion dollars over the next 10 years but it won't add one thin dime to our deficit.

Some claim it'll cost upwards of 1.5 trillion dollars.

Well I say that's the kinda figures the Republicans are good at. Way over budget.

But hey! I say it'll never get near that high especially if the Republicans do get in. They'll probably want to tear the whole system apart and flush the pills down the toilet.

Well we ain't gonna let that happen. No sir! Sure, it'll take time and hard work. What wound did ever heal but by degrees? However this healthcare plan is here to stay. We know what's good for you. We know what's best.

And at this poignant moment it's time to think back into history once again and remember another Teddy and another Kennedy. The late senator tried to overhaul our healthcare system in the 1970's. But he had as much luck driving that bill through as he did driving a car. He would have loved to have seen this day today with a Democrat President sticking it to all you in the GOP.

He tried it, Carter tried it, Clinton tried and now I'm gonna get it. We're gonna bring America back to health folks. The patient is sick and we're the cure. But there ain't no meter running beside the bedsides cos for 31 million Americans the times sure are changing. Doctor Democrat is here to take care of you all and we bring you the cure of all our ills

Thank you ladies and gentlemen.

To a round of applause Obama takes his seat. Ralph Emmanuel meanwhile speaks again with a now wide awake Harold Brabantio.

Emmanuel: I hope for his sake that Wilson has got plenty of cover!

Brabantio: Steady on Rahmbo!

Emmanuel: I'll tear him limb from limb!

Brabantio: Okay Okay!

Emmanuel: I'll eat his liver for that!

Brabantio: Well! You can claim back the cash.

Emmanuel: Harold! Just what the hell are you talking about?

Brabantio: I'm just saying I think that would come under bi-partisan lunch expenses.

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