I have to ask this from reading this from Politico:
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.
I am just going to say this, I don't know what President Obama will do, but with the personnel in his administration, killing the public option will not make any of them cry. And I won't be surprised if this happens. This is about getting the independents back and taking a chance that whatever anyone has to say on the left doesn't matter, at this time. The strategy is that we will be there regardless. That is the plan from how I see it. And from TPM about the public option:
That means that Obama will, again, not be insisting on a public option--a development (or a non-development) that's sure to give his progressive base some heartburn.
Yes, we do have heartburn over what we don't know because of the quasi-vagueness from the White House. But personally, I think it is wrong to gut the public option, if it comes to that. Barack Obama and the Democrats falling poll numbers is their fault, not ours. Their lack of explanation in plain speak to the American Public is their fault. Their lack of clarity and cohesiveness is their fault. Their vagueness of what this health care bill will be is their fault. Their lack of response during the month of August is their fault. Their lack of organizing until the last minute is their fault. Yes, it is their fault. We did what we could do, but in the end it is their fault for not having a bill to promote, explain, and guarantee to the American Public. Yes, their fault. Again, I state this because we, us, the voters or supporters did all we could. We went to town hall meetings, we contacted our representatives, we blogged, we did everything but in the end we don't have that big bully pulpit that the President of the United States has, which is finally going to be use next week. And he did do 3 town hall meetings, but did he say anything? Sure, he stated that he wants a public option, but will that be what we get? Not in this statement, again unclarity and uncertainty. Sure, some will say "it's Politico, unnamed sources", yes it is but we all are smart here, you don't float this out there unless there is a reason. And how is one to keep an open mind when you are confronted with changes about health care daily?
“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.”
The timing, format, venue and content of Obama's presentation are still being debated in the West Wing. Aides have discussed whether to stick to broad principles, or to send specific legislative language to Capitol Hill. Some hybrid is likely, the officials said.
Well, I don't know about you but for me, if we don't have a viable public option what will we have? I see the insurance companies, as usual, benefiting from this in the end. If we see mandatory mandates, that means that insurance companies will benefit. Sure, we will see the pre-existing condition eliminated; it will be because that is not a win-win for the insurance company. The industry will cede that point, but not the public option. And we saw that for the month of August as we got hammered by the GOP operative. Hey, I give them thumbs up; they were able to confuse the shit out of the American Public to the point that NO ONE understands what a public option is? And whose fault is that? Sure some will say the media, but we already have been through this show and know the media would never be an honest broker. The sheer fact is that we were not organized, prepared and on the same page throughout the party for what health care reform meant to all of us, for that we lost this battle. And for all of us to remember, Obama spoke continuously on lowering prescription drug costs, only to cut a deal with Big PhRma, which means that the government is not allowed to negotiate overseas for cheaper prescription medication prices. That right there got me angry. Why? Because this is just what the Bush Administration did with Medicare D and Obama talked about this continuously, only to turn around and do a sweetheart deal in the heat of the night. Sad, but true.
If this administration wants to stare me down, go ahead. In the meantime, remove me from your DNC, DCCC, DSCC and Obama databases. Don't expect me to pound on doors, make phone calls, talk to neighbors, etc. Just don't expect me to do it. All you will get from me is a vote, because I am a Democrat, but anything else, forget it. I am not going to play the stare down game, just so the Obama Administration can look tough over its own base. I am not going to do it. I will just remove myself from their equation and let them get folks fired up and ready to go. I am sure they can do it; they have all the smart people in the White House that got them to 50% polling numbers and sliding. So, let them figure it out.
Lastly, Barack Obama campaigned for change, but more importantly health care reform was a passion of his during the campaign. He invoked his dying mother in this debate and her argument with the insurance companies not treating her until her dying days. He of all people should know how important this is to millions of Americans. The public option is a choice, not a demand, but this White House has not promoted or sold it to the public as they should have. What happened is that the whole month of August was ceded to the other side and now everything is reactionary.
I await President Obama's speech next week and I hope I am satisfied. I already knew with a clear head that I would not like everything coming from this White House, but the reality is much of his agenda, thus far has been whittled away. But again, who am I to talk, I am not one of the smart people inside the bubble.
Cross-posted @ Daily Kos
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