Greg Sargent's Plumline: White House Pushes Back, Says Prez Didn't Concede Reform Might Die

* The White House is now pushing back hard on the claim that Obama acknowledged in his speech last night that health care reform might not happen, dismissing it as a “fundamental misinterpretation of the President’s comments.”

That interpretation was offered on this blog and elsewhere, and also in a subsequent Associated Press article called: “Obama Admits Health Care Reform May Die In Congress.”

White House spokesman Reid Cherlin emails me this:

“This is a fundamental misinterpretation of the President’s comments. Last week the he stood before the nation and said he ‘will not walk away’ from health insurance reform. That was his position then, it’s his position now, and he’s said as much in stops across the country nearly every day. He used his remarks last night to motivate Democrats to come together and get this done, noting that the public will judge their leaders on what they accomplish.”

And:

“The President has made it abundantly clear –- before and since the Massachusetts special election -– that he intends to sign comprehensive legislation along the lines of the House and Senate bills. The White House, House, and Senate are working every day on the best way to achieve that goal.”

The strong pushback seems like an acknowledgment that the argument that the President hasn’t shown sufficient leadership — a case made by prominent pundits and some members of Congress — is getting some traction. But it’s one the White House strongly rejects.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/white-house-pushes-back-says-obama-didnt-concede-health-reform-could-die/