Obama working to get public option....or not

[SpartanDem]

The public option media rollercoaster continues with The Hill reporting the WH is whipping votes in favor. Meanwhile TPM now says the WH wants Snowe's vote and is supporting the trigger, but Valerie Jarret earlier in the morning said that it wasn't true talking about an similar report from Politico.





Obama working to get public option
By Michael O'Brien - 10/23/09 12:36 PM ET
The White House is concentrating on winning Senate votes to pass health reform with a public option, a spokesman said Friday.

As questions swirl about the number of votes in the House for several versions of the public option, varying in strength, Deputy White House Secretary Bill Burton said that President Barack Obama is working on votes in the Senate.

"I will say that the president continues to think that the public option is the best way to achieve choice and competition, and that's what he's working toward," Burton said during a press gaggle on Air Force One this morning.


http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/64529-obama-working-on-getting-public-option-votes-in-senate


Sources: White House Pushing Back Against Senate Public Option Opt Out Compromise

Multiple sources tell TPMDC that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is very close to rounding up 60 members in support of a public option with an opt out clause, and are continuing to push skeptical members. But they also say that the White House is pushing back against the idea, in a bid to retain the support of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

"They're skeptical of opt out and are generally deferential to the Snowe strategy that involves the trigger," said one source close to negotiations between the Senate and the White House. "they're certainly not calming moderate's concerns on opt out."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/sources-white-house-pushing-back-against-senate-public-option-opt-out-compromise.php




Earlier this morning on MSNBC's Morning Joe, White House Sr. Adviser Valerie Jarrett offered a strong defense not only of the public option, but also of President Obama's commitment to it. (Update: Importantly, Jarrett rejected Joe Scarborough's suggestion that President Obama is pushing for the so-called "trigger.")

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/10/23/796285/-Jarrett-on-Pres.-Obama:-Hes-committed-to-the-public-option

[CreekDog]

1. Yeah, I feel pretty whipsawed about this

and I've felt this way for months.

it kind of makes me mad at the administration, but then i don't know if they should shoulder the blame for my confusion.

[27inCali]

2. I think Obama is trying to keep all options open till that last minute

so that if one falls through, he has the other to go to. At least, that's how I would play it, keep as much on the table for as long as you can so your choices are open, you don't get stuck going down a blind alley. Imagine if he bet everything on the opt out and it fell short and there was no other way to get the PO in?

[CreekDog]

9. Well Obama can do that, but I don't have to support that either

If Obama were to give away the public option without Republicans being able to kill it on their own, I am going to be extremely disenchanted.

[27inCali]

17. we all would be

but i don't think that's going to happen, -not that I hope, I mean, I really think we are going to do this.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Me too. They're trying to have it both ways. It's too important for that. nt

[joeycola]

7. Obama needs to actually come out and say he is pushing for po!!

[CreekDog]

13. especially if his aides are trying to kill it

it will then require a more proactive position from the administration unless they want to risk progressive support.

[joeycola]

16. true

[SpartanDem]

14. I thinking of buying one of these

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I emailed him again. I am now sending notes out to the people in the Senate most

likely to give a bill with a good public option trouble.

I dunno if I am doing a bit of good, but at least it makes me feel a little better.

[joeycola]

5. But even Jarrett said that Obama would NOT demand the PO..........

I listened to the tape of Jarrett earlier and did not hear her say that Obama was actually pushing or fighting for the po!!

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject But even Jarrett said that Obama would NOT demand the PO..........
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6840832#6840923
6840923, But even Jarrett said that Obama would NOT demand the PO..........
Posted by joeycola on Fri Oct-23-09 04:50 PM

Aides: Obama Not Demanding Government-Run Option
Sun Oct-18-09 05:17 PM

Source: The NY Times

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama isn't demanding that health care legislation include a government-run insurance option even though he believes it would best meet his reform goals, White House advisers said Sunday.

The White House and lawmakers are trying to blend five House and Senate committee versions of health care legislation into a bill that will pass both houses, where near unanimous Republic opposition was expected.

House Democrats are insisting that there be a public option in competition with the private insurance industry to drive down the cost of coverage. In the Senate, Republicans and some Democrats oppose the measure, meaning inclusion of the public option would foreclose winning the 60 votes needed to advance a bill.

Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said Obama believes the public plan is still the ''best possible choice,'' but she said he's not demanding it. David Axelrod, Obama's top adviser, said Senate opposition in both parties means ''we have to work through these issues.''

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/18/us/politics/AP-US-Obama-Health-Care.html?_r=1

[Captain Hilts]

8. Where's ProSense to tell us he's demanding it!?!

[ProSense]

10. Wow, aren't you being a little obsessive? n/t

[Captain Hilts]

11. Nawww. You amuse me, actually. But - as if on cue - here you are!!!

[joeycola]

15. laughing.....

:yourock:

[Oregone]

6. "best way to achieve choice and competition"

Does that really need to be the goal? Choice and competition? :(

[Thrill]

12. Here we go with the overreaction from some bullshit unamed source

[jeanpalmer]

18. The trigger is a way to avoid a PO

Anyone preferring a trigger to and opt out doesn't want a PO. It's surprising, if true, that the WH would prefer a trigger when it appears the Senate is ready to go along with a PO with an opt out. The trigger wouldn't take effect until 2013, at the earlist. So it's just a ruse. Why would anyone serious about HCR prefer the trigger?

We'll find out real soon what the truth is. The player are about to lay their cards on the table.

[jeanpalmer]

19. The trigger is a way to avoid a PO

Anyone preferring a trigger to and opt out doesn't want a PO. It's surprising, if true, that the WH would prefer a trigger when it appears the Senate is ready to go along with a PO with an opt out. The trigger wouldn't take effect until 2013, at the earlist. So it's just a ruse. Why would anyone serious about HCR prefer the trigger?

We'll find out real soon what the truth is. The players are about to lay their cards on the table.