Grijalva: White House Telling Reformers It Will Cease Support for Public Option

Source: TalkingPointsMemo

"Last night, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus sent out a telling press release.

"I have grave concerns about calls reportedly being made from the Administration to health care reform advocacy organizations supporting the choice of a public option insurance plan," Grijalva said.

Grijalva said the White House is telling health care reformers, "they will cease supporting the public option portion of the upcoming health care reform legislation"


" I truly expect the President to live up to the promises he has made to America about real change and that he truly stands for uninsured Americans and working families that need and are demanding a choice of a competitive public option when he addresses Wednesday's joint session of Congress.
Without a public option, this bill is not real reform. Real reform would lower and contain health care costs, precisely what inclusion of a public option would achieve. Without a robust public option, reform will enrich pharmaceutical and insurance companies because it will lack any significant competition and incentives to drive down health care costs for consumers.

Over 60 House progressives have vowed not to vote for legislation that doesn't include a public option--enough to ensure that a bill won't pass if they follow through.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/grijalva-white-house-telling-reformers-it-will-cease-support-for-public-option.php?ref=fpb

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Even with a majority mandate and historical election of the first black president, the Dems still find ways to self-destruct. They aren't listening at all to the wishes of those who stood in voting lines under cold falling rain for over 12 hours to cast their vote for Obama. That support will be long gone if Obama betrays his platform he campaigned on which gave rise to many believers for real HOPE & CHANGE. Were his words nothing but a great clever campaign slogan header without any real teeth or intent to see it through? Obama will be making a grave political mistake and party blunder if he backpeddles on his promised ' public option '. His supporters want to see him go to the mat for them on the health care public option. They want him to be the REAL DEAL champion in health care reform for those who can't fight or fend for themselves anymore.

to speak up and apply pressure.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

:kick:

They have you type in two words before the email can be sent. The font is such a muddy mess that it's hard to decipher the letters.

nt

He has no clue if this is true or not.

Most progressives are giving Obama the benefit of the doubt and not saying anything. I respect that, and at the same time I'm glad that a few of them like Grijalva are putting some pressure on.

something, or I don't think he would have said what he did. He seemed to be precise on what was reportedly said.

if Obama throws party progressives and loyal supporters under the bus over the ' public option ' to accommodate republican demands? What will the Democratic party resemble after NOT pursuing a public option and may I add, good luck trying to get people to support a candidate who leads off their campaign with slogan headers on ' TRUST, OPENNESS, HONESTY, HOPE, CHANGE, LOYALTY or COMPASSION? You can only fool the people some of the time but never all of the time. This is a win win situation for republicans and it looks like Dems are playing right into their hand. I'm also glad that Grijalva is putting pressure on Obama BEFORE Wednesday's speech.

have been allowed to fester and dig into the public's psyche without as so much as a peep of push back from the WH to dispel such rumors. A " Jack of all Trades is Master of NONE " so, having said that, Obama needs to address and listen to his loyal ' bread n butter ' supporters first before accommodating any republican whims on health care. I understand the need for bi-partisan support on this issue but reforming the current status of our health care in order to make it a care-giving system for ALL should be his primary focus & concern and cease trying to get a few crusty republicans on board to claim some minimal bi-partisan victory on health care. Thats just putting to many ingredients into the health care recipe that will guarantee its demise.

You have a choice whether or not you eat it up.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I'm not eating anything being served by the MSM but I will say that the WH's strategy needs addressing or, at the very least, needs to be revamped and replaced with sharp, competent media personal who understand the need & timing of ' pushing back ' against such distortions & disinformation.

Everytime the "no public option" rumor pops up, the WH sends someone out there to reiterate Obama's commitment to it. An example of this just happened yesterday.

"Axelrod: "The President embraces the public option . . to keep companies honest"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8622066



It was just a few threads below this one.

:hi:

I really don't know what to make of that transcript. Looks like a lot of wiggle room to me, but I hope I'm wrong.

in order to play BOTH sides of the field. Why not just come out and say " President Obama believes a health care reform bill without the ' public option ' is a DEAL BUSTER. Thats getting a message to all parties, supporters, lobbyists, corporate shills and RW extremists of where he stands on the public option issue? That would galvanize the Democratic base throughout this country and launch a tidal wave of support. Take a stand for whats right, just, humane and compassionate. Do they need some schooling as to how to FIGHT The GOOD FIGHT.


Henry) Can you clear up where is the public option? Is it still on the table or is it off?

(Axelrod) The President embraces the public option because he believes we need to have competition and choice in the insurance system,


" Embraces " is a chicken shit double-talk word that allows more wiggle room to squirm out of the public option at the last moment. Obama should make his position definitive and clear void of clever double talk & double meaning.

He left open the possiblity that we will not have a public option. He called it a sliver.

Gibbs has been saying for weeks that competition within the private sector is enough. So did Sebelius. So did Axelrod. And every time there is push back, we hear "gee, Obama would just love a public option."

And all the less analytical Obama fans leap to his defense, even if you can drive a truck throught what's been said..

But he has never drawn a line in the sand. He has never said, "Public option or nothing." Never.

co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus

Do you honestly think he would say this if he didn't know exactly what is going on???????????

If you need a break..I have some swamp land for you in Florida ..real cheap!

yesterday morning and decided to start a Obama public option backtrack rumor AND spread this rumor via HIS email?

right out of his ass.:sarcasm: Thank you to the Congressional Progressive Caucus :woohoo:

if he has a concern about something he heard, and felt the need to say something about, you want him to button it up?

Not me, I want our progressive representatives to speak up when they feel it's necessary.

I TRUST Rep. Raul Grijalva and the Progressive Caucus.
They have a much better record of protecting the interests of the Working Class than the "Centrists" in the White House.

maintaining...

it seems to me that democrats need to learn about what they truly are about since they clearly dont support their constituents any longer. Having repubs back in control and letting them continue to run a mess and make this a true Blade Runner style smog infested, corporate owned country will probably turn into a winning strategy for the next revolution. THings have to get verybad before they get better.

So now that i am growing more and mroe disappointed in democrats, especially Obama, i am now not so disinclined to see repubs back in charge.

that sends the clearest message. As with Perot.

I am SO fed up right now.

The Anonymous Political Correctness Commissars have spotted this thread.
I think I will just kick it to the top about 10 times this evening for wider exposure.

:kick: for the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

I forgot to recommend this thread.
I STAND with Grijalva and the Progressive Caucus.
They have a much better record of Protecting the Working Class.

the spirit of searching for clarity on Obama's current public option position, why would anyone consider such a discussion to be in poor taste by others here who are continually un-recommending this thread every time someone recommends it? Should we be concerned that some ' Johnny come lately republican deal ' will assure that the thorn-in-the-side public option will be expunged from the text and NOT become part of Obama's purposed health care reform demands? Do they really believe they haven't given their loyal supporters reasonable grounds to question their ever-evolving public option positions?

It never supported it to begin with.

I trust Grijalva and the Progressive Caucus.
They have a much better record of protecting the interests of thre Working Class than the DLC or he "Centists".

Congressional Progressive Caucus. Sounds like they are willing to push for what is right.:kick:

They are the only reason I'm still a Democrat.

I'm really impressed with Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ).
Also Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY).
They have proven themselves to be REAL Democrats,
and not Corporate Centrist crap.