Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson, among a chorus of Maryland lawmakers who attended President Obama's speech today at the University of Maryland in College Park, said the occasion was a big shot in the arm for the county.

"The president really had to speak to his base and the base of the people who really wants health care," said Johnson. "In Prince Georges County alone, we have 91,000 people without any health insurance."

State Sen. C Anthony Muse (D-Prince George's) also applauded the speech as timely:
"It was really important for the president to be here when you think about the fact that 880,000 people die every year because they don't have health insurance or have access to health care."

"We have to rally what is truth and what is false," Muse said. "It is good for the President to also be in smaller groups and, on Sundays I think he needs to visit some of the congregations."

-- Hamil R. Harris