Helen Thomas Asks Gibbs the Question We All Want To Know

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Friday October 02, 2009 · 10:05 PM PDT

2009/10/02 · 22:05

Ever ask yourself why Pres. Obama has never come straight and said he would Veto any bill that doesn't have the Public Option ? Hell, or at least put up some kind of flag so people knows where he really stands ?

Helen Thomas has been asking Robert Gibbs the same question, over and over. You can read the transcript at the Washington Sketch or just watch the video for the full effect below the fold. I have to give a hat tip to Gregg Levine over at FDL for pointing this classic Helen Thomas exchange out to us. Between Gregg and Dana Milbank we now have another chance to ponder why it is so damn hard for Pres. Obama to stand up for the Public Option in Black and White terms all of America can understand.

Dana writes,

"Because I want your conscience to bother you," Thomas replied. The room erupted; Gibbs reddened.

Actually, conscience isn't the problem for Gibbs and his boss; it's spine.

But Greg sees it just the opposite. You tell me who you think has it right.
From Greg, and he does say more ..Vertebrates on Parade

You see, this "spine" of which Dana writes implies that the Obama team has wanted to—and still wants to—push for a public option, but they are afraid to do it. It implies that the inclusion of a public option in a health reform bill is the goal of the administration’s strategy, but they flinched.

Alas, as we've discovered, the public option is part of a strategy, but that strategy is one that keeps the PO floating in a "believe in, but won’t insist on" limbo for the listening and dancing pleasure of the Democratic base, while the Rahm Squad plays sweet music for the moneyed interests. In the end, the White House fully expects to ditch the public option, say "Hey, we tried, but the votes weren’t there," and then turn to PhRMA, the AMA, hospitals, health insurance companies, and the other benefactor-beneficiaries of the Baucus Caucus and say (sotto voce), "We kept our end of the deal, now you keep yours." That is the administration’s strategy; they know it, but they won't say it in an on-the-record press conference

Update: Just ran across this little tidbit over at CBS News Political Hotsheet. It is what was said right after the clip ends. Poor Gibbs had this to say,

"When the next questioner began, Gibbs said, "Are you going to make me feel bad too?"

http://www.cbsnews.com/...

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