Just now, Tom Harkin was interviewed by Andrea Mitchell, and he got it right!!
This coin has two sides to it....
People might question the strategy of stating that the Public Option is only a small part of this bill. The media keeps trying to spin this as if Obama is trying to set up the progressives for eventually letting go of the Public Option in order to pass the bulk of the health reforms that they stand for.
This is an incorrect analysis. I believe, and Tom Harkin just echoed it, that Obama is really setting up the blue dogs, and anyone else who is a Democrat and doesn't want the Public Option. He will argue that the Public Option is only a small part of this historic bill, and the Democrats who are against the Public Option must vote for the bill anyway, because it is only a small part of it, and all the rest they agree with.
This is the true tactic. I think it will work. Ed Schultz pointed out if the House comes with a Public Option, Obama is going to have to stand by it and demand a bill on his desk with the Public Option in it.
Contrary to the MSM spin, this is his tactic...setting up those who oppose it to vote for the bill anyway, NOT to ask his base to bite the bullet.