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Obama: "I didn't campaign on the public option"

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:24:54 PM EST
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Apparently the President is entitled to his own "facts". Unfortunately, as Ezra Klein says, "Thanks to the magic of Google," we know that, according to Ezra:

[I]it's easy enough to revisit the plan (pdf) Obama campaigned on in light of the plan that seems likely to pass. And there are, to be sure, some differences. The public option did not survive the Senate. [. . .

I think even Ezra, poblano and Booman won't be able to swallow this one.

Speaking for me only

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    Obama: "I didn't campaign on the public option" | 79 comments (79 topical)

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    Yup (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by kmblue on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:31:36 PM EST
    Digby has it, chapter and verse.
    Embarrassing.

    Well, now, to be fair (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Cream City on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:41:28 PM EST
    -- he described the public option (in the link above) in his campaign pledges . . . but he didn't use the exact term "public option," now, did he?

    That can be Gibbs' cover for him.  Watch for it.

    Leeeeeeeave Obama alone!

    Parent

    But he did claim, many times (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by BackFromOhio on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:10:27 PM EST
    that there were no significant differences between his health plan on the one hand and the health plans of HRC and Edwards -- did he not? Can't say that these claims meant he did not support public option.

    Parent
    Mandates (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Stellaaa on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 08:12:55 PM EST
    He was against mandates, is that true or am I imagining things.  I remember alll the screeds against HRC's mandate provisions.  

    Parent
    You are right I remember it vividly (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by ruffian on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 09:25:12 PM EST
    from the debates.

    Parent
    You bet. He attacked HRC (5.00 / 2) (#65)
    by Cream City on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 12:26:10 AM EST
    in the discussion of mandates and promised his followers that he would make the skies open and rain down upon the multitudes free and fantastic health care for all without mandates -- and without raising taxes, no doubt.

    It was that sort of illogical statement that no doubt led the followers to believe, if you have seen the interviews on this, that upon his inauguration, they no longer would have to pay their mortgage payments, either.  Well, of course, that's probably true for a lot of them now.  Now that they're homeless in the Obama economy.

    Parent

    This story is even worse (5.00 / 5) (#2)
    by Pacific John on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:41:05 PM EST
    it appears at face value. Those of us who were obsessed with healthcare during the primary (you may be excused, BTD) remember vividly that OFA inserted the public option pilot program proposal onto his campaign website (read the website! read the website!) with little fanfare and little dedication to it as an issue.

    It was clear that when he campaigned on the public option, it was at most a bargaining chip, more likely a campaign ploy to foil attacks from JRE and HRC and even more likely, an outright lie that he had no intention of paying attention to.

    It depends on (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by ChiTownDenny on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:03:00 PM EST
    what the definition of "campaign" is?  :(

    Parent
    The people that thought he (5.00 / 4) (#32)
    by Salo on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:45:27 PM EST
    Campaigned on anything more than thin are are going to reap what they sowed back in 2007. War, healthcare, energy- he had a style of rhetoric that anhillates common understanding of language. Almost like the absurdity of the peace prizeacceptance speech in the context of the venue.  

    Parent
    He did exactly the same thing (5.00 / 8) (#37)
    by otherlisa on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:26:07 PM EST
    on environmental issues. Started out with "clean coal" and corn-based ethanol and a bunch of other really weak tea and then, whoah, how magical and strange! The whole environmental platform suddenly became much stronger and your basic environmental org wish list.

    That was one of the moments that solidified my poor opinion of him. He either hadn't really thought about these issues before, didn't really care or was being deliberately misleading.

    I know "pols are pols" but this something else entirely.

    Parent

    This is just his clever way (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by lilburro on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:42:08 PM EST
    of bringing the PO back up for consideration next year, or in conference, or in his second term!

    Anyway, if this is his pitch to progressives, he's going to have to try another approach.  I don't think this has what it takes to get the money flowing.

    "Nowhere has there been a bigger gap between the perceptions of compromise and the realities of compromise than in the health-care bill," Obama said in an Oval Office interview with The Washington Post about his legislative record this year. "Every single criteria for reform I put forward is in this bill."
    Clever Way? Obama Is Not Clever (none / 0) (#54)
    by norris morris on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 09:52:16 PM EST
    Obama has misrepresented himself in what he said he stod for and what he intended to accomplish.

    I never believed the hype and frenetic rhetoric, but never imagined a sellout on EVERYTHING as vast as this.

    The problem is that he thinks he's clever, but frankly rating himself a B+ was a rookie ego
    trip.  Political gaffe.

    Obama will pay for misleading the voters who believed in him.

    France24 a good News TV show from Europe has Obama pegged. Tonite one of France's leading
    progressive journalists was asked his opinion of Obama. Mr. Breytenbach said, "His window of opportunity is narrowing. Perhaps it's narrowed entirely".

    The folks everywhere get it. No f***g leadershp,and a major sellout.

    Amateurish ham handed decsions and "handling", as:   Afghanistan,Drug Cartel deal in backrooms,
    folding on Copenhagen, Olympic bid of monumental stupidity and lack of simple information. Keeping his distance and making a speech, leaving, making a speech, leaving, etc. Lying about the public option, taking no stand on women's rights and caving to conservatives to trash women's constitutional rights to equal protection, and freedom to choose guaranteed by Roe v Wade.

    This disgusting end run against womens rights for political gain shows the contempt we all know Rham has for "progressives,women,etc. He sees them as  weak and uninportant unpleasant lefties.
    The past 11 months have been one of the most disappointing I've ever experienced.

    With Bush we knew he was a right wing ignoramus, but he got what he wanted. Not good, but out there.

    Obama has failed to lead and failed to take responsibility. An empty suit.

    Parent

    The money (none / 0) (#68)
    by cal1942 on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 02:04:33 AM EST
    will flow alright.

    From the usual suspects.  His patrons on the street.

    Parent

    Oh, my head (5.00 / 5) (#5)
    by Zorba on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:43:11 PM EST
    is about to explode.  Does he think we're stupid?  Does he think we're going to go totally amnesiac when he wants our help and our votes in 2012?  Here's a clue, Barack- you can get all the money you need from your health insurance and Big Pharma and defense industries that you want, but that isn't going to turn out the vote.  At least, not from anyone except the 30% Kool-Aid drinkers that will give you a pass, no matter what.

    Simple answers to simple questions (5.00 / 9) (#28)
    by lambert on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:26:59 PM EST
    Does he think we're stupid?

    Yes.

    Parent

    Its standard schtick to criticize ones to the left (5.00 / 4) (#30)
    by Dan the Man on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:38:42 PM EST
    of someone by making up lies.  Then the media reports the story as a he said/she said story with the lies of the right balancing the truths of the left (eg famous joke - "World is round - opinions differ".  This is something that progressives used to point out.  It's therefore completely unsurprising Obama should use that tactic to criticize those to his left.  Obama has been using right-wing tactics on those to his left for sometime now.

    Parent
    I think that he thinks that what we think (5.00 / 4) (#41)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:57:23 PM EST
    doesn't matter.  I think that he thinks that what we think lost all importance after the second Tuesday of November last year.  That's what I think :)

    Parent
    That late? (5.00 / 3) (#42)
    by lambert on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:59:11 PM EST
    After FISA and TARP? Optimist!

    Parent
    We still have a job at chez MT :) (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 08:03:10 PM EST
    It was easy to be late to this party.

    Parent
    Actually after his (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by Andy08 on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 09:32:22 PM EST
    vote for the 2005 Cheney Energy Bill....

    Parent
    Yup - that's when the shiny new Senator (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by ruffian on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 09:49:51 PM EST
    became just another pol to me.

    Parent
    Stupid? B+ Thinks So (5.00 / 2) (#55)
    by norris morris on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 09:55:00 PM EST
    B+ thinks he's put one over. We'll see.

    Parent
    To be fair . . . (5.00 / 5) (#6)
    by nycstray on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:46:41 PM EST
    he really didn't "campaign" on it. He never had any passion behind it. He did campaign on Hopey Change the Unity Pony though . . . . everything else was just stuff we made him say or projected onto him. And then there were those pesky staffers . . .  :P

    Hope-Along Change-iddy (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Radiowalla on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:59:01 PM EST
    rides again.

    Parent
    Fair? Watch The Videos on Public option (none / 0) (#56)
    by norris morris on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 09:57:16 PM EST
    To be fair I ask you to go to YouTube or CNN, MSNBC as videos of Obama making impassioned and deliberate speeches for the public option are all over the place.

    This is a complete lie.

    Parent

    that's NOT fair (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by nycstray on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 10:22:57 PM EST
    asking someone like me to watch those d@mn videos.

    I was just kinda snarkin' there, but in truth, he never gave a sh*t about the PO or many other issues, if you hadn't noticed. He only "campaigned" on them when it benefited him. That's really not "campaigning for" anything.

    Parent

    Pants on Fire (5.00 / 6) (#7)
    by Dr Molly on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:48:15 PM EST


    Honestly (5.00 / 3) (#8)
    by andgarden on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 04:57:58 PM EST
    He also campaigned on no mandate.

    Yes, and in a Harry (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Pacific John on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:15:19 PM EST
    and Louise graphic. The visual promise clearly intended to override the text was that he'd partner with insurers.

    But you do have a point, his supporters seemed to see what they wanted to in his campaign and projected their own desires for a strong public option onto the insincerity of his rhetoric.

    OFA had its finger on the pulse of its activists, and knew what it was encouraging, so while it's easy to see why the many of his believers feel betrayed, it's also hard to feel sorry for someone who would overlook both the words and images of the Harry and Louise ads.

    Parent

    The ultimate "go look at his website" (5.00 / 6) (#16)
    by andgarden on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:42:31 PM EST
    moment, this is.

    Parent
    Heh (none / 0) (#18)
    by Pacific John on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:49:21 PM EST
    That's for sure.

    Parent
    the Harry adn Louise ads (5.00 / 3) (#61)
    by noholib on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 10:56:33 PM EST
    I know I've said this before, but those Harry and Louise ads were the turning point for me during the primary. I thought they were unconscionable for a Democrat.  Those ads made me decide NOT to vote for him and moreover to distrust him profoundly on health care. Alas ...!

    Parent
    That's just DISGUSTING (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:21:02 PM EST
    When was the scrubbed version that Ezra links to created?  Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that this is called lying just for starters.  And from here on out, every blogger will be saving the contents of campaign websites to their hard drives.  This borders on fraud in my opinion, on second thought no.  It is fraud.

    Unnecessary Rookie Lying (none / 0) (#57)
    by norris morris on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 10:00:12 PM EST
    This kind of lie comes from being so defensive that he forgets all the videos out there hearing him talk endlessly about drugs price reduction, public option, etc.

    Rookie lying.

    Parent

    I still can't define it (none / 0) (#74)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:23:31 AM EST
    How does he think he can get away with it?  Morning Joe is having a good time with it. This is probably just the start of that.  Does someone have some actual evidence that he sabotaged it and is he afraid of being exposed?  Is that why he told such a giant lie?  I'm so disgusted.  Not disgusted that we didn't get what we wanted or needed, I understand that there is no way that that could be a given.  With a disabled son, was it ever a probability though that I wasn't going to push and push and push to the last minute to get the best thing we could get?  But there have been a lot of "tells" that President Obama was playing the base on a public option, didn't give a rip about a public option.  I have even suspected at times he quietly sabotaged a public option deliberately.  And then he stands up and says this?  Take all of my doubts that I have experienced through this process and put that big "I'm a liar" bow on top of it and wow.

    Parent
    "You Lie!" (5.00 / 5) (#12)
    by suzieg on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:22:39 PM EST


    When this is yelled at the SOTU speech (none / 0) (#19)
    by magster on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:50:37 PM EST
    Obama will turn his head the other way.

    Parent
    But first Obama will get that Sniffy Fart look (5.00 / 6) (#36)
    by Ellie on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:17:42 PM EST
    ... he gets when someone in the press asks a malodorously inconvenient question that's not one of those Oprahesque cupcakes (eg. "President Teh One, would you say you're the new and improved MLK, JFK, FDR or Gandhi ... or more like a combination? And how can we thank you for enduring this?"

    Parent
    LOL! (none / 0) (#38)
    by ChiTownDenny on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:27:15 PM EST
    ..."President Teh One"...

    Parent
    Great Description! n/t (none / 0) (#48)
    by hollyfromca on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 08:29:31 PM EST


    Parent
    I Can't Look At B+ (none / 0) (#58)
    by norris morris on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 10:03:04 PM EST
    Since the air has been deflated from the baloon of hope and change.

    Parent
    Hmmm (none / 0) (#63)
    by christinep on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 11:29:23 PM EST
    I'm assuming this is just frustration/anger brought on by the turns of lengthy legislation? I'm sure it is not an endorsement of the Republican Congressman's behavior or related teaparty stuff. I'm assuming this site has not flipped.

    Parent
    Uhh, you seem to have it reversed (5.00 / 4) (#64)
    by Cream City on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 12:21:29 AM EST
    as Obama is the one who has flipped.  Flip-flopped.

    We're sticking with our principles here.  But gosh, thanks for the condescending concern that we might be wearing out from watching Washington work.

    Parent

    You are right (none / 0) (#79)
    by christinep on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 12:07:46 PM EST
    On re-reading, my comment looks condescending. The intent, tho, was to express surprise at the overall tone of the comments. Perhaps, I was in a crummy mood last night, but looking again at the totality of the comments, I honestly believe that it resembled a Republican site. Nothing wrong with criticism, obviously...the give and take of debate is what it should be & is all about. And, I also honestly believe that we are all the better for the synthesis.  But, some of the commentary last night just seemed over-the-top, as in the comment echoing the right-wing "you lie" reprisal (or the stuff that happens when we all try to outdo each other in snark & snide.) Yep, I may be odd person out; but, I never enter popularity contests. Bottom line for me is: Expanding the universe of health care, keeping the insurance reforms that are in the present bill, building on that, etc.--it is all too real. So, how do we all channel the various shades of anger we might justifiably feel?

    Parent
    One of the other things Obama does ... (5.00 / 7) (#13)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:22:53 PM EST
    in that interview is the old "the public just doesn't know how good this bill is" schtick:

    "Nowhere has there been a bigger gap between the perceptions of compromise and the realities of compromise than in the health-care bill," Obama said in an Oval Office interview with The Washington Post about his legislative record this year.

    Yup, if we (the public) weren't so dumb, we'd understand what a wonder this bill truly is.

    Not only is this not true, it's incredibly ineffective politics.

    We're all rubes now. (5.00 / 6) (#14)
    by caseyOR on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:33:23 PM EST
    I am especially fond of that whole "blame the stupid public for not realizing how great I am" rhetorical device. Nothing like it for rallying the troops.

    Parent
    Stance will go over big (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by BackFromOhio on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:12:21 PM EST
    with the 60+% who favor a public option.

    Difference now is the media is not supporting his changing daily statements hook, line & sinker; there is some disagreement, and the media seems to welcome disagreement from the likes of Howard Dean & others.

    Parent

    This is reminiscent (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by cal1942 on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 02:20:01 AM EST
    of his explanation of why he wasn't winning in Pennsylvania in spite of heavily outspending HRC.  It's all those hicks who are frustrated and turn to God and them thar guns.

    Parent
    Gotta Agree with Obama on that.The bill gives (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by Dan the Man on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:37:15 PM EST
    us the right to take guns to the doctor's office.  Thank God for that.

    Parent
    Obama '12 "Change: this time I mean it!" (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by magster on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:53:45 PM EST
    Obama 2012 "Change you can take to the bank"

    (Borrowed from Kos commenters)

    Obama 2012 (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:03:20 PM EST
    "You already know this man changes before your very eyes"

    Parent
    "I am the Change you were waiting for." (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by nycstray on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:08:13 PM EST


    Parent
    Yes, apparently this is what he meant (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by andgarden on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:18:56 PM EST
    by "change." And you "can believe" that nothing is the same.

    Parent
    Swallow? (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by katiebird on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:19:59 PM EST
    Of course they will.

    I (5.00 / 3) (#27)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:22:15 PM EST
    I think he should run on that....

    "I never promised you a public option"....

    Yeah, winning strategy.  He didn't promise and didn't deliver the most popular part of the insurance deform.

    I beg your pardon (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 08:01:32 PM EST
    I never promised you a public option. Along with the Sunshine, there's gotta be a little rain sometimes.

    I need to eat.  I'm breaking out in song now.

    Parent

    Wasn't that (none / 0) (#70)
    by cal1942 on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 02:24:03 AM EST
    a country song?

    Parent
    Yep. (none / 0) (#73)
    by shoephone on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 03:02:14 AM EST
    Sung by Lynn Anderson.

    Parent
    didn't campaign on it (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by diogenes on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:11:25 PM EST
    Well, if you mean that the public option was not the big signature issue that everyone knew about because he hammered it home in debates (like Iraq, closing Gitmo, or the economy), then I guess he didn't campaign on it.  He didn't stand up in debate one saying "I will enact a public option and a mandate to buy it for all you American people".  He basically played out the clock to not blow it and make sure that he beat McCain.

    He only (none / 0) (#71)
    by cal1942 on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 02:26:06 AM EST
    beat McCain because of the meltdown.

    Prior to that he trailed, even with Sarah Palin in the mix.

    Parent

    WORM 3.0 (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by shoephone on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:55:10 PM EST
    Translation: "I am the filthy liar you have been waiting for."

    I really don't think Obama wants to (5.00 / 4) (#50)
    by Anne on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 09:30:47 PM EST
    play the I-never-said-that game, does he?  Because, when confronted with the truth, he will inevitably have to resort to a variation on "it depends on what the meaning of 'is' is," and that won't be pretty.

    As much as I dislike being treated as if I am too stupid to live, the reason Obama has that perception of the voters is because he knows what an imposter he is, knows how he bamboozled the media and the voters, and while he's happy to have ascended to the highest office in the land, he has no respect for, and an abundance of contempt for, the people who made it all possible by drinking the Kool-Aid he fed them.

    Every time he raises his head, looks down his nose and opens his mouth, he's starring in the movie version of the book he's writing in his head - he's starring in his own history; it makes him testy when people get too close to reality.

    It's just too bad that the reality he is creating for himself is going to be pretty tough for a lot of people to live with.

    Agree (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by cal1942 on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 02:32:41 AM EST
    except for one thing.  I don't believe that Obama bamboozled the media.

    I think the media, from David Broder on down, knew exactly who he was and supported him on that basis.

    Media love was yet another clue about who he was.


    Parent

    I think you are right (none / 0) (#75)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:38:41 AM EST
    I thought about the Brandenburg Gate speech last night drifting off.  I thought it was over top, on the arrogant side (but nobody who isn't blessed with arrogance would aspire to rule the free world), the free world had been through so much under Bush.  Maybe we needed such a thing to inspire us and encourage us to let go of all that.  I thought to myself too last night that he is writing a book in his head about himself.  He is pretty good at that.  We all know that.  It isn't just his narrative anymore though about people he knew years ago, what he does becomes a part of my narrative too today and he can make a very large impact on my life.  Everything is not about him.  You can't grab a hold of my family's health and future wellbeing with both hands and then start lying your a$$ off. Oh that's not true, you can but I don't think this book can end the way he thinks he can force it end.  This ending has all of us in it and this all happened NOW!

    Parent
    You know, maybe Ezra was trying on (none / 0) (#17)
    by andgarden on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:44:40 PM EST
    the talking points early yesterday.

    And they thought Willy was slick (none / 0) (#20)
    by Dadler on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 05:52:34 PM EST
    If this sociopath doesn't think it was the INTENT of his campaign to make people BELIEVE he supported a public option -- when a public option is the only thing real CHANGE/reform means regarding healthcare -- then he is pathological in his inability to face the ugly reality he helped create.  The only gap I see is between Obama the campaigner and Obama the president. The former had passion and drive, the latter doesn't even seem to like having the gig.

    All show, no go.

    BooMan "swallowing this one" (none / 0) (#29)
    by lambert on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:29:56 PM EST
    Thanks for the mental image...

    Oh No, I forgot about that (none / 0) (#45)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 08:04:49 PM EST


    Parent
    Poblano (none / 0) (#31)
    by Salo on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 06:39:21 PM EST
    Is scumbag. A living breathing scumbag. End of rant.

    Sheesh (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Steve M on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 08:13:06 PM EST
    Calm down and step away from the computer.  Good God.

    Parent
    Hehehe (none / 0) (#53)
    by Salo on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 09:51:47 PM EST
    I know the b-stard.

    Parent
    Many of the lemmings are (none / 0) (#39)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 07:49:40 PM EST
    scurry over the cliff at the big box shop.  Most people are just silent, sort of deafeningly silent.  Time for dinner

    The Public Option President (none / 0) (#60)
    by s5 on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 10:54:02 PM EST
    Honestly I'm getting sick of this debate on the left, not just here but on every left leaning site I visit. Everyone on both sides has gone insane with all the one-upping about who said what and when. We've lost track of what truly matters: does the bill help people, or not? Will passage of the bill lay the foundation for future improvements, or does it set us back?

    It's like the internet just discovered that politicians don't always do what they campaign on, and sometimes they spin what they said before! OMG!

    Sometimes I think America would be happier with a dictator, as long as the dictator had a limited term.

    Old wounds (none / 0) (#66)
    by FreakyBeaky on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 12:42:29 AM EST
    Lotsa people here, at any rate, never thought Obama got health care.  I still don't think he does.  Not gonna forget it.

    On the other hand, I never took what he said about the public option too seriously -  he was never really into it - so I'm not taking Obama said X as hard as some.  Ah, but the memories ...

    I think what else you're seeing lately is it's all over but the shouting, and some are feeling cheated - there were congressional majorities and there is a popular majority in favor of public SOMETHING, and we still aren't going to get it, which sucks.  And it's not some weird liberal totem, either, IMO, it's a superior idea to the regulated market thingy we're getting, and it's not even going to have a chance to prove itself.  Yeah, I'm ticked.  The frustration and anger are real as far as that's concerned.

    Others are convinced WE'RE DOOMED - or the Democrats are.  I don't think we're doomed, and if the Democrats are  it will be unemployment, not health care, that does it.  Warts and all I say just pass the damned thing (although I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow).  As of now, I think that's the option that sucks the least.

    Parent

    The answers to your questions are: (none / 0) (#67)
    by shoephone on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 01:52:44 AM EST
    1)No
    2)No
    3)Yes

    Parent
    IMO the bill will help some people while (none / 0) (#78)
    by MO Blue on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 10:24:46 AM EST
    hurting others. It will do little or nothing to control costs, the practice of requiring the insured to assume more and more out of pocket expenses and the insurance company less will not only continue but be accelerated and it does not lay the foundation for implementation of a good health care   anytime in the future. It is not cost effective nor sustainable.    

    Parent
    Well, this much is true (I think) (none / 0) (#62)
    by Manuel on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 11:13:22 PM EST
    Obama called the public option his preferred choice to ensure broad coverage and provide cost-cutting competition to the private insurers. But he has never demanded that it be part of a final bill.


    Barbara Boxer says that (none / 0) (#76)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:52:18 AM EST
    Medicaid is the public option now on Morning Joe.  She says that this misconception that the Republicans are for the progressives on this bill and the Democrats are for the insurance companies can't be allowed to stand.  Joe called her on it though, said that nobody was walking away from the insurance companies poor in this :)  The teeth in this bill is the health and human services director she said, who won't let bad insurance into the exchanges and she will force rebates to be paid for gouging.  This administration doesn't seriously regulate anything though.  After hearing Obama's definition of what is campaigning, all I can do is ask what is his definition of gouging.  He seems to think that all of us are made of gold and you can't bleed all of the people too much but you sure can bleed banks, Wall Street, and insurance companies too much.  Banks, Wall Street, and insurance companies can be challenged too much and their ability to make something can get too hard for them and make them very very sad, but that possibility doesn't seem to exist for any of the people.

    Oh Yeah, looks like Nebraska got (none / 0) (#77)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 07:54:13 AM EST
    the public option.  Good for them, at least someone got it.

    Parent
    Obama: "I didn't campaign on the public option" | 79 comments (79 topical)

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