There was a hilarious sketch earlier this year on “SaturdayNight Live” in which President Barack Obama is shown compromisinghis agenda in one congressional visit after another, until hefinally loses his cool and morphs into “The Rock” Obama–portrayedby the host of that episode, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The newly energized Obama tosseshis disagreeable tormentors–including House Speaker NancyPelosi–out the White House window. We finally got a taste of “TheRock” Obama in his speech to Congress and the nation on health carereform.

President Obama deployed his most effective weapon–his powerfulrhetorical skills–to marginalize his opponents and galvanize bothCongress and the nation into action after a confrontational summerof town hall meetings.

Like a grownup quieting a bunch of loud, quarreling children,President Obama methodically reinforced the many areas whereeveryone seems to agree, while leaving wiggle room on the few areaswhere consensus has escaped him. He also eased the irrational fearsof those who see boogeymen under the bed, including the frighteningbut imaginary specter of “death panels” and “socialism.”

But while taking on those shamelessly spreading misinformationand outright lies, President Obama was not above playing the fearcard. The only difference is that the fears he cited are real forfar too many Americans, reminding everyone with insurance they areall just a layoff or illness away from losing their preciouscoverage.

Of course, he delivered the obligatory lambasting of theinsurance industry for excessive profits and heartless underwritingdecisions. But he also threw them a bone by mentioning malpracticereform.

Meanwhile, he promised to deliver millions of new customers forinsurers by reiterating his support for mandates–both onindividuals and large employers.

About the 800-pound gorilla in the room–the public option–it'sclear he won't allow that one provision to make or break his reformcampaign.

In the end, President Obama jump-started the reform process andgenerated renewed political momentum for eventual passage laterthis year of a bill that will eliminate an insurer's right toexclude or overcharge for preexisting conditions, or dumppolicyholders who get sick.

Even Republicans must realize this, which is probably why theysat through the speech looking so glum. But no matter how much theymope or hold their collective breath, one way or another, a billwill pass this Congress. I was not prepared to say that beforePresident Obama made his speech, but I am almost convinced of thatinevitability now.

There was one unfortunate moment of outright disrespect–whenRep. Joe Wilson, an otherwise obscure South Carolina Republican,shouted that President Obama was lying when he said his bill wouldnot cover illegal aliens. The opposition also laughed derisivelywhen he conceded there are a lot of details still to be workedout.

But he basically shrugged off such churlishness, and madecrystal clear that he is not going to stand back and be pummeledany longer by critics without fighting back, and would not allowhis allies in Congress to be bullied by lies and disinformationcampaigns.

“The Rock” Obama has arrived!

Following through on his rhetoric won't be easy, no matter howmuch he flexes his presidential muscles. But Mr. Obama staked hispresidency on this issue by throwing down the gauntlet in hisspeech, and I doubt he will accept anything less than a reform billon his desk by year's end.

What do you folks think?

Sam Friedman is Editor in Chief of NationalUnderwriter. To share your thoughts about comp reform, go to Sam'sSept. 10 blog post at www.NUSamSoapbox.com. You mayalso follow Sam on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NUSam.