Another Explanation Of Obama On The Public Option

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 03:06:27 PM EST
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This is the one I believe, because it comes from blogger insider Ezra Klein and because it rings true:

On Thursday night, Reid went over to the White House for a talk with the president. The conversation centered on Reid's desire to put Schumer's national opt-out plan into the base bill. White House officials were not necessarily pleased, and they made that known. Everyone agrees that they didn't embrace Reid's new strategy. Everyone agrees that the White House wants Snowe on the bill, feels the trigger offers a safer endgame, and isn't convinced by Reid's math. [. . .] One staffer briefed on the conversation says "the White House basically told us, 'We hope you guys know what you're doing.'"

(Emphasis supplied.)Obama wants "health care reform." He could not care less about a public option. If he gets "health care reform" with it, great. But if it gets in the way, then get rid of it is Obama's thinking.

Reid has different problems. Reid is in much less need of a health care reform bill passing than in being perceived as fighting for the public option. Reid is putting it in. Cuz he needs to politically. Unless Obama takes him off the hook.

Speaking for me only

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Another Explanation Of Obama On The Public Option | 10 comments (10 topical)

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The same could be said to the WH (5.00 / 3) (#1)
by nycstray on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 03:08:29 PM EST

One staffer briefed on the conversation says "the White House basically told us, 'We hope you guys know what you're doing.'"

I don't think so (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by sj on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 04:47:00 PM EST

Obama wants "health care reform." He could not care less about a public option. If he gets "health care reform" with it, great.

Back in August he stopped talking about health care reform and switched to talking about health insurance reform. Those two things are not the same.

Although I guess health insurance reform could be referred to as "health care reform" with those little finger quote thingies...

Is it just me or (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by mentaldebris on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 04:51:55 PM EST

is President Whatever revealing himself to be one of the biggest political cowards to ever sit in the Oval Office? He puts on a good act, obviously because many people are still buying into it, but when it comes to getting in the trenches he pulls a, "Who me?, I'm just a bystander here." Just how long does he think people are going to keep buying this act? It's not just the left of the left who are noticing now.

If he's for a trigger he should just come out and say it and stop sending his trial balloon clowns out to cover his butt either way. If he made a deal with the insurance industry and the public option messes with that, own up and admit it. It's better than skulking around in the background hoping this won't come back to haunt him (oh, it will) by talking through both sides of his mouth via his staff. Take responsibility and pay the political price either with the majority or the minority, but for crying out loud crawl out of the coward cave and take a stand.

This country is not going to get behind a "leader" whose entire philosophy seems to be, "Whatever, as long as I get to call it a bipartisan win."

I am (none / 0) (#2)
by lentinel on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 03:16:26 PM EST

convinced that Obama and his coterie haven't the remotest clue what they are doing.

And occasionally, when they decide on something, Obama doesn't seem to know why.

Healthcare: It's Grayson out front. A first-term Rep. from Florida.

I think Obama will be spending more and more time at fundraisers.

It's more than Grayson . . . (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by nycstray on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 03:20:04 PM EST

I seem to remember a certain Rep from Brooklyn and a few others . . .


Yep, Weiner was out in front (5.00 / 2) (#4)
by MO Blue on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 03:25:59 PM EST

on this before Grayson decided to get his feet wet.


: I agree (none / 0) (#5)
by lentinel on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 03:32:21 PM EST

with NYCStray and MO Blue.
You are right about Weiner.

Obama does not want reform. (none / 0) (#6)
by Anne on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 03:46:04 PM EST

He just doesn't. He wants to win something, and it doesn't much matter what it is.

That's my explanation.

Oh - just looked at the clock - I think we might be due for yet another spokesperson delivering yet another message about what the president wants, what he means, what he supports, what he prefers, which way he is leaning...

This is the template for every major issue that faces us...should make Afghanistan just the most fun ever!

As BTD has often pointed out, Obama (none / 0) (#7)
by Radix on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 04:26:04 PM EST

is Pol, and will do what he believes is in his political best interest to do, nothing more.

What I don't get strategy wise (none / 0) (#10)
by cawaltz on Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 07:49:01 PM EST

is that Reid isn't the only Senator up for re relection. If Obama wants a Republican on board why aren't progressives picking a weak GOP member to coerce into supporting a public option. Then we can be done with Obama kabuki theater and his excuse that he is waiting on a a bi partisan solution. Pick a toss up state like Ohio which at this time has 57% of support for a public option or a state with a weak incumbant like North Carolina's Burr and put the incumbant on defense. It isn't like 65% OF small businesses don't want NCBCBS monopoly on health care to end.

Get some compelling people to tell how the private option not working destroyed their family and get a Republican on board already instead of dithering about how mean Obama is holding up health care for Snowe, who isn't likely to flip because she isn't facing election and even if she was she enjoys pretty popular support.