By Lewis Diuguid, Kansas City Star Editorial Board, Columnist

Valerie Jarrett made the understatement of the year about Barack Obama's presidency up to now.

"It's been an exciting six months," Jarrett, Obama's senior adviser told the Trotter Group of black columnists Friday in Tampa, Fla., at the National Association of Black Journalists convention.

Add health care reform to the top of the bonfire that the Obama administration has been trying to get under control. Normally boring town hall meetings such as the one Rep. Emanuel Cleaver held Saturday, have turned into shouting matches over health care reform.

Jarrett said that was neither expected nor what Obama wants. She said the contentiousness is "destructive and not helpful to the process." People are being scared into thinking that the bills being proposed in Congress want seniors to take their own lives, that health care will be rationed and that this country will end up with socialized medicine. None of that is true.

Republicans and others against change are waging a public relations battle with the town hall meetings as the new front to win the health care debate and stall the legislation. That is not a good outcome.
"We need (health care reform) desperately," Jarrett said. "The status quo is totally unacceptable.

"If we stay true to our mission, which is to listen, engage and move forward, ultimately we will prevail."

She acknowledged that it won't be easy. But she said naysayers also insisted that Obama never had a chance of becoming president. His supporters proved them wrong.
She encouraged the same people who helped Obama win election to get involved in the health care debate to turn the tide in the discussion.

She said she was convinved that if everyday people become engaged in the dialogue, health care reform will become a reality.

"Everyone knows someone who's suffering," she said.

"Eventually the people who motivate out of fear will lose," Jarrett said.

Only time will tell.