Reformers Want To Believe Obama On Public Option--But, Privately, Some Have Doubts

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?

Aside from the obvious that it just takes longer to implement the plan.

the underlying public option no option at all.

This is why so many trial balloons on the triggers have been lofted. It would have been unacceptable if the admin signed into law a trigger plan cold. With the idea floated, people start to begin to accept the idea, and even embrace it.

Funny how DU isn't really a discussion board, but a place for operatives to push their agenda.

There are people here who are honestly looking to discuss issues and hear different points of view. Then there are folks here that are trying to push an agenda and shape opinion.

In my previous post in the thread I'm seeking people's thoughts on the trigger. I'm not a health care expert, so I like to listen to other people's perspectives since I usually share a similar viewpoint.

you can just feel it happening -- first it all employer mandated -- then there's a public option -- but with 'triggers' -- then there's general outcry - then daschle has something to say.

oy -- they need get the fuckin horse out in FRONT of the carriage -- and get clear.

passed.---No one will be willing to "pull the trigger".

This is GOP way of getting rid of the public option.
Immanuel knows this. I am beginning to believe Immanuel
just wants to be able to say--We passed Health Care Reform,
( It no longer matters what kind of reform or whom it hurts
or helps).

This is too serious. The Democrats' future image hinges on this.
A sorry bill equals a sorry party.

There comes a time, when you put your neck on the line and do
what is right for the country. This is time, Immanuel.

Accept the fact, that Republicans and WSJ are not going to be
happy with anything Democrats do. FDR, Truman and Johnson
made serious contributions to the country. All the while
they were attacked and belittled by Republicans.

The idea here is the option will be ready and if the Drug Companies
Hospitals, Insurance Companies do not live up to promises and people
cannot get Health Care, then Congress would have to put the
trigger into effect and make the option available.

Sounds good on its face, but this is done to appease the GOP
by not passing option. If they do not have the courage to pass
the option, where will they get the courage to pull the trigger??
There will be more Republicans in Congress by then.

No Bill is better than a bad bill.

Sometimes the perfect is the enemy of the good, but in the case of health care, a more perfect system is what you really need, even if it means ramming legislation through Congress. And you do have a strong Democratic majority in both houses. If the President is unwilling to play hardball over this with the Democratic caucus, and I mean threatening their re-election funding or their chairmanship of committees, or even blackmailing them -- in short, acting like LBJ when he wanted the Civil Rights Act passed -- maybe he is soft on the idea of publicly funded health care after all. In this case, the end does justify the means.

I think we rely to heavily on polls. The right wing throws together a pathetic 400 person tea bagger demonstration, and they get air time to rant against a government take over of medical care. In contrast, there really has not been a large visible pro-public option demonstration. The closest we have gotten is a single payer demonstration, which could be construed as being against President Obama's public option plan.

Public polling shows that America wants a public option, but not if it's onerous to our national debt. To this point, there has been little to no effort outside of the recent CBO report that addresses this part of the issue.

If we get people to accept that the costs will not drive us into financial ruin, we'll get a public option.

.

Calling news conference, public statements, meetings, ads, etc.,

It seems the right-wing opposition is in the news almost everyday!

That's because they are doing effective p.r. and want to be in the news.

Its just like with Closing Gitmo.