Valerie Jarrett on a public option, her actual point and reality

[ProSense]

GREGORY: Will he push for a public option before he signs any kind of reform?

MS. JARRETT: The president has made it clear throughout the process, he said it in his speech before Congress that he thinks that the public option is the right solution. He thinks it will enhance competition and he thinks it'll reduce costs and it'll give people choices. And he said that throughout the process.

GREGORY: But...

MS. JARRETT: So he's a big believer in the public plan.

GREGORY: But the question I'm asking is will he push for it and demand it here is the--in the final version of reform?

MS. JARRETT: He's pushed for it, certainly, but he's realistic to say we've got to look at all options. He has said very clearly he thinks it's the best option, and we'll see what happens.

GREGORY: So he's not demanding that it's in there.

MS. JARRETT: He's not demanding that it's in there. He thinks it's the best possible choice. But I think, David, let's not underestimate how much progress we've made. The fact that there's agreement on so much means that we are right on the brink of delivering for the American people, and that's a positive sign for our country.

GREGORY: But, you know, there's a lot of stalwart supporters of this president who look at healthcare reform in the context of other things that he promised in the campaign, and what do we see? A promise for universal health care; well, you've got 17 million people who wouldn't be insured under this plan. A promise for a public option; now you're saying he doesn't demand it. You know, the mantra of the campaign was "Yes, we can." Has that become maybe?

MS. JARRETT: No, it has not. It has definitely become yes, we can. If you look at the five bills that have been passed, they provide more, more reassurance to the American people that they're going to have the kind of affordable health care, that they're going to reduce their costs, that they're not going to have to choose between paying their rent and paying for their health care, that they--if they have a pre-existing condition they're going to be covered, if they want to go in and have all kinds of exams that will prevent illnesses that they're going to be covered by that. There's so much in these bills that is going to benefit the American people. The--we've come so far, and we can't lose sight of that. Are we there yet? Have we crossed the finish line? No. But under President Obama, we're absolutely committed to delivering on behalf of the American people.

<...>

GREGORY: You are involved in these negotiations to figure out the final form of healthcare legislation. And you're hearing from Valerie Jarrett this morning, a senior adviser to the president, he will not demand a public option as most of his supporters want. Will it be in there? Should it be in there?

SEN. DODD: Well, it should be in there, and--because for a number of reasons. Not just for the politics of it; but if you're trying to increase competition, drive down costs, reduce the impact on the federal budget, these are all reasons why a public option is necessary if you're truly trying to get your arms around this. And what we've drafted here in, in these bills, I think, gives us that opportunity and that chance. In the absence of that, the alternate is to, of course, to make this more affordable by driving up subsidies, which increase the cost of the bill. So we have some tough choices to make. But I think the public option makes the most sense...

<...>

SEN. DODD: Well, the president's deeply involved, and you heard the statements from Valerie that he's very much for it, said so again the other day. And my hope is that when we bring these two bills together over the next number of days that we'll present to the Senate an option that includes that strong public option. Then the Senate will obviously, the full Senate, as Jon knows, will have an opportunity to vote it, to take it out of the bill, to modify it in some way. But my strong belief is we ought to include that as we move forward in the Senate.

link

(emphasis added)

Reality:

Four out of five, a public option is still alive

There is no credible alternative.