I’m pretty tired of this whole ordeal. Following this whole healthcare debate, making those calls etc has been draining but in the end I think of the regard of having reformed the industry and providing a public govt health plan as an alternative to millions. Now comes this report going fast and furious on the web tonight from Politico. Ambinder hit on it too. Im sure we will see waaaaaaaaay more on this doosy....
The Obama admin is looking to-yes after spending months not wanting to issue POTUS’s specifics- to finally spell out what he wants in this bill. Does he want PO linked to Medicare? Taxes? That sort of thing. But wait - as I re - read Politico’s updated piece tonight on this Obama list of make or breaks- the PO aint one of them! Nope instead, after meeting with Rahm-the admin appears to lean in favor of not backing the PO as a make or break for the final bill. It gets worse. The reasoning.
They reason Obama needs a good fight against his liberal base and drop the PO. If PO isn’t one of his make or breaks in his speech to the nation next week we Lefties will have some choices to make. I cannot back a bill that has no robust public option. It would be criminal to make every American buy private insurance without this key govt health plan. Kennedy said it was essential to have the public option. Obama did once.
Rallies are being held all over to support Obama’s plan ESP THE PUBLIC OPTION. Then we get another murky report on Obama being weak kneed on the matter. Taking us on the PO means the ground troops- us- wont mobilize anymore on this one. Disgusting. I hope you join me in phoning the WH on this matter. Time to raise hell- yet again.
Politco report:
On health care, Obama’s willingness to forgo the public option is sure to anger his party’s liberal base. But some administration officials welcome a showdown with liberal lawmakers if they argue they would rather have no health care law than an incremental one. The confrontation would allow Obama to show he is willing to stare down his own party to get things done.
"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," an aide said. "There are lots of different ways to get there."
Read more: http://www.politico.com/...