President Takes on Sunday Morning Media Blitz

Sept. 20, 2009— -- President Obama appeared on five morning talk shows today on five different networks -- a move unprecedented for an American president.

Speaking on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and Univision, the president spoke on everything from Afghanistan to race, but his main purpose was to continue his campaign-style push convincing Americans why health care reform is necessary this year.

"What I've been trying to say throughout this campaign -- this effort to get health care done -- is that, if we don't do anything, guaranteed, Americans' costs are going to go up, more people are going to lose health care coverage, the insurance companies are going to continue to prevent people from getting it for pre-existing conditions. Those are all burdens on people who have health insurance right now," the president said on ABC's "This Week".

Mr. Obama used the opportunity to appeal directly to middle-class Americans on health care, explaining why reform would be beneficial to them.

"I have to have a plan that is good for middle-class families who we know, last year, ended up seeing a five-and-a-half percent increase in their premiums, even though inflation was actually negative on everything else, that have seen a doubling of their premiums over the last decade, that are less secure than ever in terms of the insurance they can actually count on," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Some analysts say the president inundating the airwaves is a risky strategy.