This is from Politico, which lives on anonymous sources and leaks, so take it with a grain of salt, but this seems like potentially good news... perhaps the CPC leaders really got through to the President:
What Obama Will Say In His Address:
He will not confront or scold the left. "This is a case for bold action, not a stick in the eye to our supporters," said an official involved in speech preparation. "That’s not how President Obama thinks. The politics of triangulation don’t live in this White House."
Sounds promising... go on...
This kinda sounds like triangulation:
Obama will try to reassure the left about his commitment to a public option, or government insurance plan. Aides said they are rethinking what he will say about this. He wants to thread the needle of voicing support for a public option, without promising to kill health reform to get it.
So where does he stand? This is what has given me hope this Saturday night:
The White House line has been: "We have been saying all along that the most important part of this debate is not the public option, but rather ensuring choice and competition. There are lots of different ways to get there." But now he’s going to step on the gas a little harder. One top official gave this formulation: "He has consistently said that he thinks the public option is an important way to make sure that there is both cost and competition control. He’s also said consistently that if someone can show him a better way or another way to get there, he’d be happy to look at it. But he’s never committed to going with another way. He’s always said he’d be happy to look at any proposal that gets to these goals, but that he thinks this is probably the best better way to do it."
Let's hope the CPC leaders keep pushing him on Tuesday, and that AFL-CIO incoming President Richard Trumka does the same when he meets with him tomorrow.
I caught some flack for saying that health care execs were buying the President last night, but allow me to reiterate, I'm an Obama supporter, and will work myself ragged to help re-elect him if he stands up for us.
Anyways, a nice dose of hope for your Saturday nights.