Earlier today, Barb showed you the clip from The Hill about House Dems considering "rebranding" the public option. But there's something else that struck me about it:
While much of the public is foggy on what a public option actually is, people understand Medicare. It also would place the new public option within the rubric of a familiar system rather than something new and unknown.
The idea has bubbled up among House Democrats and leaders in the past week, most prominently in a caucus meeting last Thursday.
Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) spoke out last week in favor of re-branding the public option as Medicare, startling many because he has loudly proclaimed his opposition to a public option.
Hey, everybody! It's Mike Ross!
Well, hello there Mister Sleepyhead! Good morning, Mike! Nice of you to join us!
Medicare is popular. The public option is popular. Medicare is government administered, but the care isn't government run. The public option is government administered, but the care isn't government run. Thanks for tuning into the program.
Would you like to call it "Mike's Happy Time?" Would that work better for you? Fine.
Look, we've saved you a seat. Get on board and let's go already.