Reformers Want To Believe Obama On Public Option--But, Privately, Some Have Doubts [View All]

Reformers Want To Believe Obama On Public Option--But, Privately, Some Have Doubts
By Brian Beutler
TPM
July 7, 2009

After it became clear this morning that reformers were up in arms--or would soon be up in arms--about White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel's suggestion that the President might be willing to support a triggered public option, Obama, still traveling in Russia issued a re-statement of his support for the public option to put out the fire. And by mid-day, reformers had largely cooled off. Privately, though, some acknowledge that the President's statement isn't actually a contradiction of Emanuel's.

Let's go to the record, shall we?

Emanuel told the Wall Street Journal that delaying the public option with a trigger mechanism might satisfy the President. And the President responded: "I am pleased by the progress we're making on health care reform and still believe, as I've said before, that one of the best ways to bring down costs, provide more choices, and assure quality is a public option that will force the insurance companies to compete and keep them honest. I look forward to a final product that achieves these very important goals."

This is a restatement of Obama's position: That he supports a public option, but that reform efforts must lower costs, expand options, and guarantee quality, and he'll entertain any plan that accomplishes those goals. In other words, his goal is a plan that works. But that doesn't go nearly so far as to say--as Sen. Chuck Schumer has said repeatedly--that he opposes a trigger.

In other words, the differences between Obama and Emanuel on the public option are largely rhetorical.

Please read the complete article at:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/reformers-flock-to-obama-despite-lack-of-real-repudiation.php

I have serious doubts based upon both Rahm's and President Obama's statements.

Obama wrote in his statement: ""I am pleased by the progress we're making on healthcare reform, and still believe, as I've said before, that one of the best ways to bring down costs, provide more choices, and assure quality is a public option that will force the insurance companies to compete and keep them honest."

An interesting and carefully prepared formulation: "one of the best ways .... is a public option" The public option is just "one of the best ways"? What are the others?