I was pleased to see that Obama made a clear statement at a town meeting in Wisconsin in support of the public option today as Congressional willpower on the subject seems to be weakening.
I know Obama likes to try to take the middle road and include republicans, but on this issue I hope he continues to remain adamant. Otherwise, from my point of view, the proposed health care reform will be in name only.
from the washington post Michael A. Fletcher writes:
Obama said that his administration is working on a health insurance exchange that would allow people to "one-stop shop" for a health care plan by allowing consumers to compare benefits and prices between the private and public health care plans.
"One of the options in the exchange should be a public insurance option -- because if the private insurance companies have to compete with a public option, it will keep them honest and help keep prices down," Obama said.
This is all Obama really needs to say. Over and over. Public option = real competition. Real competition prevents the obvious corruption of the insurance industry from winning the day. Prices for insurance premiums lower. Case closed.
If Obama pounds this message every day in his town meetings I think he can control the health care "narrative" which right now is more than a little bit fuzzy. Also he will build public support for his common sense approach and then hammer reluctant Senators with the same.
I linked to this article through realclearpolitics.com's front page.