Seriously, where do I sign up?

Obama joined in pledging support for universal care but said he had not concluded how much additional revenue it might take. “I will do whatever it takes,” he said.

A member of the audience challenged him by saying she had gone to his campaign Web site and could not find any serious discussion about how he would expand coverage. Obama said his campaign is just eight weeks old and that he is still in the process of developing a plan of his own. But he suggested that plans are less important than the political skills required to force a national consensus. “Everybody’s going to have some good ideas,” he said. “The question is, are we able to bring a majority of people together around the need to solve the problem now?”

Like the current President, Obama must not read the papers:

Americans think the U.S. health care system is in need of major repairs, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll.

Nine out of 10 say the system needs at least fundamental changes, including 36 percent who favor a complete overhaul.

Obama showed up at the first major forum on policy — on an issue that affects every American — totally unprepared. His marginalization of the very issue he was there to discuss is troubling enough without his assertion that political skill trumps the need for sound policy. Combined, it’s proof positive that Obama is in the business of Obama, not the business of fixing the problems caused and neglected by the current administration.

The American people are overwhelmingly aware that the problems need to be solved now. And they’ll still be there when Obama comes up with a plan to build consensus where one already exists.