Grassley:If Obama Doesn’t Publicly Renounce Public Option Now, He’s Not Interested In Bipartisanship

Grassley: If Obama Doesn’t Publicly Renounce Public Option Now, He’s Not Truly Interested In Bipartisanship

Senator Chuck Grassley now appears to be throwing the gauntlet down before the White House in a way that seems explicitly designed to make trouble for President Obama at an extraordinarily sensitive moment — which will fuel charges he’s not negotiating in good faith.

Specifically: Grassley’s now demanding that Obama publicly repudiate the public option right now to prove he’s truly interested in bipartisan compromise. That, to me, is the most interesting news in this extraordinary interview Grassley gave The Washington Post:

In recent days, however, some Democrats have accused Grassley of trying to undermine the reform effort, for example by refusing to debunk rumors that the Democratic health bills would create “death panels” empowered to decide whether the infirm live or die.

On Wednesday, he denied those claims and fired back at Obama, saying the president should publicly state his willingness to sign a bill without a controversial government-run insurance plan. Such a statement, he said, is “pretty important … if you’re really interested in a bipartisan bill.”

This is partly a paraphrase. But presuming it’s accurate, it’s pretty striking. Grassley knows the White House is under tremendous pressure to contain a revolt on the left over the public option. It’s hard to imagine any reason for demanding Obama renounce the public option right now, before there’s even a bill out of the finance committee, other than to make life politically difficult for the President.

How does that compare with the White House’s treatment of Grassley? When the Senator endorsed the “death panel” claim, the White House reaffirmed its commitment to working with him. Dems quietly let Grassley claim a big victory by dropping the public option from the Senate bill he’s negotiating. And when Rahm Emanuel questioned the sincerity of GOP leaders yesterday, an apparent shot at Grassley, the White House rapidly walked it back.

Grassley, meanwhile, has now raised the bar yet again for what will constitute true bipartisanship on the White House’s part. Pretty telling.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/senate-republicans/grassley-obama-should-publicly-drop-public-option-now-to-prove-hes-really-bipartisan/

Go back to being the obscure little weasel from Iowa that you always have been. Your 15 minutes are up and you didnt even know what to do with them.

an obscure senator his words would be less significant. Unfortunately he is an important senator, at least by reason of seniority, and his words do matter. I will add that I am disappointed in Grassley. I considered him to be one of the sane ones. Very conservative but old school republican, in a good way. SOmebody you can disagree with but still meaningfully work with. But his actions and words (and for a senator words ARE actions) lately have been despicable.

has no honor. HIS words and deeds have been despicable.

Not me mind you, but a lot of moderates would actually agree with him on some issues. I haven't heard much support lately though. He's gone loony.

out of his mouth.

we will do everything we can to get each and every one out to say thanks next year with a vote for your democratic vote.

Your party LOST the election. GO in the corner and whine.

as if the Republicans had won the last election, rather than get all "Chief Executive" on their asses, reminding them whom the people elected in November.

:rofl:
rocktivity

and run repeatedly on radio and television come the next election cycle.

Screw him. Seriously.

or I will be forced to yell stop again!

can throw down the gauntlet and draw a line in the sand. Why the hell can't our President who has majorities is both Houses not do the same? This is why people are beginning to call him weak.

Otherwise, go scream at someone who cares what you think.

partisanship is a two-way street, bitch.

Demonstrate an OUNCE of compassion for the 47 million uninsured for just a second, too, Grassley.

Tell us how you Republicans would cover everyone for less than we're now paying, Grassley, and then we'll talk.

And NO! We don't want to be "bipartisan" aka CORPORATIST!

it lets me know that some larger than usual deception is afoot."

except as a concept where Republicans get everything they want, in spite of having seen themselves and their so-called ideas resoundingly defeated last November?
May he himself suffer resounding defeat at the polls. Iowa deserves better representation.

He senses weakness in the WH and division in the Democratic party.

The next few days or weeks should be very interesting.

If Obama walks away from the public option, as I suspect he has always been willing to do, then the pukes will be able to claim victory.

If he stands up to this, which I hope for but do not expect, they plan to blame him for the failure of bipartisanship.

Grassley sees this as win-win.

"bipartisanship" worth if it means people like Grassley get to roll over you and set the agenda?

That should not have been permitted.

Let's not forget that it was Democrats who handed him this power, which he seems to determined to use to kill any chance of success.

I would have shut down that group a month ago, if not sooner.

Grassley is an asshat who will never agree to anything.

I'm SICK TO DEATH OF THE GANG OF PSYCHOS 'MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY' attitude.

You lost because your side hasn't had a new idea in decades. We won. Get over it.

You're a liar, Grassley. The people of Iowa should throw your ass out of office the next chance they get.

Come out on this louder, please.

Please hit the talk shows with your challenge...

Be the spokesman for the assholes and make our job easier.

:donut:

whining about the other day? LOL.

What an asinine statement.

I think we should provide it.

Keep Grasshead in a tizzy for awhile, idiot has no idea how to not say stupid things.

Someone needs to let poor Grasshole in on the dirty little secret . . . Obama is not interested in Republican's version of bipartisanship.

Gibb's was pretty good in today's press briefing, saying that it's the Republicans who have no interest in bipartisanship. Obama has tried to work with them since he got into office, but they are having none of it. When Todd asked "why do you say that?" Instead of saying "DUH!" Gibbs simply reminded them how the GOP announced that they would vote against Obama's stimulus bill moments before he left the White House to go meet with them at their offices. They also talked about voting against health care reform so they could "break" Obama.

Obama is legitimately able to claim he tried, but the Repugs were not interested. :rofl:

NOR the will of the American people!

Just say NO to those who only work for corporate people!

And he can't play chess, by making the same move twice with the same piece!

The Republicans as a minority should be the one trying to cut "bipartisan" deals! Not the majority party!

The problem is that we have too many closet Republican DINOS that need some serious chemotherapy to be thrown at them for the cancer they are on this party.

Blanket his constituency with information on health care and medicare and on Grassley's position on any measure to help ordinary people vs. helping large entities.

He has shown his willingness, but the GOP has shown their asses.

Fail.