Watching it live via MSNBC, GOvernor of Virginia just came out, touting how totally awesome the state is.

The Governor is so tight with the President, he meets with him regularly, helping to siphon, er, direct money to Virginia.

Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett will be moderating the town hall. Way to stack the deck there Mr. President!

Jarrett has been introduced and is thanking everyone for being here.

Obama will deliver some remarks, then take questions from the audience and the internet via Facebook and YouTube.

Obama comes out, shakes hands and greets everyone. He appears energetic, almost caffeinated.

First, a status report- We got a lot of problems, the economy, the war etc. Basically things are messed and healthcare reform is just one more thing.

But not acting isn't an option. So, we'll act!

obama: After all, haven't you seen you health costs keep rising? If we don't act, they'll keep rising.

Obama reads 10 letters a day, about half of which are about healthcare.

Obama touts how much the health care industry is helping out, even they see how import reform is!!! They're going to save us 2 trillion dollars over the next 10 years, see what pressure of reform can do?!

Audience claps when Obama says you'll be able to keep your current doctor if you want.

Runs through gamut of how healthcare can be made more efficient- digital records, targeted healthcare, preventive maintenance, getting rid of the financial incentive, blah blah.

Brings up the healthcare exchange, which will offer quick, one stop option for shopping for healthcare. Nothing mention of super size though.

Forcefully repeats support for the public option, saying it has to be in there.

How are we gonna pay for this? Glad you asked! 2/3 of the current spending can be reallocated to pay help pay for this.

Example: subsides to which go to insurance companies, about 170 billion. Imagine if we could spend that money on actual healthcare instead of giving it away to the insurance companies, you know what'll happen? The companies will buy off senators and throw in monkey wrenches, er, we'll pay for healthcare!

Bottom line: we figuring out ways to make the system more efficient, while figuring out how to pay for it without adding to the budget.

The big issue now is the political process and all the naysayers who say it can't be done. Obama asks them, paraphrasing, "Well, where's your plan? you don't have one? Then STFU and get out of the van and push! We're all in this together."

and now he takes questions...

First up...video questions. Valeries emphasizes the president hasn't seen these videos.

First person wants to know why the current plan allows private healthcare to continue, as opposed to a single payer system.

Obama says single payer systems work well, but it would be too much of change to implement in America, wouldn't fly and he ain't pushing it. Basically, we're gonna ignore the good system and jury rig something 'cause change is hard.

Now a question from the audience, Obama reminds everyone he goes boy, girl, boy, girl, so he doesn't get in trouble.

Goes to a woman first, who describes her medical situation, which is pretty bad, she has a tumor and but can't afford to go the doctor, can't qualify for aid, so what can she do until the nine years pass where she can qualify for aid.

Prez hugs her, says he can't promise anything without looking at all the details, but he'll have his staff figure something out. Instead uses her as an example of what's messed up about the system.

Woman says more, which is garbled because her mic is gone. Evidently there's 3 days of free care coming up in Virginia, so she asked the President to advertise that.

YouTube video: small child explains that her parents are small business owners and cant' afford to pay healthcare,so what should they do? Way to pimp your kid people!

Obama uses this as another example of what's wrong with the system and how the health care exchange would help those in this situation. You could shop for a plan that fit your needs and it'll give competition to the health care industry.

Ooo, Obama points out that help the health care industry has promised probably wouldn't have been offered if reform wasn't on the table.

Back to the audience: Jason asks, a worker in the health care industry. He's worried about making health care affordable and wants to know what Obama will do about that.

Obama goes on about how expensive it would be if we didn't do anything, costs would rise, throws out some figures showing how much they would rise, warns people not to believe those who say healthcare can't be done.

Oh you wanted specifics? Yeah, we're not doing that at the moment.

Obama is still talking, bringing up you can't switch plans easily, since pre-existing conditions can screw you when you switch jobs.

Again warns people about Congress and Lobbyists wanting to be the brakes on this, but no way is Obama going to let that happen, nope, nope!

Rob on twitter: Does it really makes sense to tax me on my healthcare benefits?

Obama says employers provide healthcare 'cause they (and you) don't have to pay taxes on that money. Some argue that the government should stop providing that subsidy and instead give that money directly to people, who will spend it more wisely than government. This was John McCain's plan and remember, Obama beat him, so this plan isn't gonna fly with the Big O.

The argument is that as individuals, you have no leverage against the insurance companies, so you can't push for lower rates and the companies have no reason to pay attention to you.

Says no one is pushing taxing benefits, but it's been discussed by others. Obama doesn't agree with, says we should cap itemized deductions instead.

Back to YouTube: A doctor asks that their costs for medical malpractice insurance is too high, where they more or less have to order tests just make sure they're covered. Wants Obama to reaffirm commitment to finding the best way to handle this.

Obama says he doesn't believe in an artificial cap if the doctor or hospital really did mess up, but he's open to finding other ways. Disagrees with the doctor, who's based in Texas, that caps work, pointing out a town in that State has the most expensive health care in the nation.

Back the audience. A female asks what she can do, as a member of a union, to help with reform.

Obama says the best thing Americans can do is get informed, so that people know bullshit when it's said. For some reason doesn't mention calling your Congressman and/or Senator.

Still talking, emphasizing the need to pay attention and not be scared when people say the government wants to take over, 'cause it's not true.

Repeats points about healthcare reform, and then says goodbye.

Not a bad town hall, but not great either. The best you can say about it is that the President is actually out pushing reform, the worst is that there's few details and the town hall approach can suck when people are asking questions that have already been answered.