Obama aide says president still favors public health plan

[sabra]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House sought to reassure jittery supporters Monday that President Obama is not abandoning the fight for a public health insurance option.

The assurance came amid a media firestorm ignited over the weekend by administration officials seeming to indicate a willingness to drop such an option in order to secure congressional approval of a health care reform bill.

"The president has always said that what is essential is that health insurance reform must lower costs, ensure that there are affordable options for all Americans, and it must increase choice and competition in the health insurance market," White House aide Linda Douglass said in a written statement.

"He believes the public option is the best way to achieve those goals."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/17/health.care/

[loyalkydem]

1. He better

set his team straight then. 35 years of my fuckin life as a Democrat. I can't keep supporting this administration if they don't get their people in line.

[timeforpeace]

9. I'll believe it when he says it himself, rather than having a nameless faceless aide do it.

[Bluzmann57]

2. But...but... a lot of folks say he isn't

So what is it? In favor or not in favor? Gee whiz how are we supposed to keep track of things if we get conflicting reports? It's all a media/RW scam people. I believe Obama is still in favor of a public option and I think Sebelius was just opining and it was taken out of context.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. But It's No Longer A Requirement n/t

[WriteDown]

6. Exactly, "favor" is lukewarm at best. nt

[Iowa]

14. Yep... This statement is remarkably weak, passive, mealy-mouth, and ineffective.

He is essentially saying that the public option is OK with him. He's simply acquiescing to it - he's not supporting it. He's leaves everyone to guess where he really stands. And when you consider this pathetically weak statement within the context of the Sebelius gaffe, he would be making a MUCH stronger statement if he truly supported a public option, and Sebelius would be shown the door for gross incompetence. But he didn't make a strong statement, and Sebelius is still on board. So...

One thing we do know, because we've seen it time and again: Obama follows; he doesn't lead.

[DJ13]

4. Obama had better start getting his people on message

or show them the door if they cant follow his message.

[JaneQPublic]

10. Really. It's getting to be a Monday routine...

...for Obama to correct what one of his spokespersons said on the Sunday talk shows.

We could use some of the Bush-era message discipline, ironically enough.

[fulllib]

5. This is still not a line in the sand!

It is ESSENTIAL to reform! Its not just "the best way to acheive these goals,", it's the only American way!

He is not demanding it, and the people around him are even more luke warm.

[laughingliberal]

7. That's how it looks to me

Hope I'm wrong but they've been floating the idea of dumping the public option for weeks. We know Senate finance committee will not have the option and Obama keeps praising their work. Makes me nauseous.

[laughingliberal]

8. PS: Jittery supporters? Outraged more like it n/t

[Demeter]

11. Well, He Said He Wanted to Be Forced to Do It When He Campaigned

Now we get to see how he REALLY likes it.

[seabeckind]

12. This s- is getting a little tiresome.

I think Obama needs to get his entire staff on the steps of the white house and get out in front and say just what the f- the position is.

Then tell anyone behind him who doesn't agree to start heading for the gate. And if he finds out they lied, they'll be escorted. That includes that little f-er Rahm. Why did you people in Chicago put up with that weasel? (Thinking back to the credit he took for Dean's work in 2006).

I agree with Maher...this pres needs a little W in him.

Oh, and jittery my ass. Pretty fucking livid is probably a better description.

[Wizard777]

13. Go for it! We STILL got your back!

When we're not two steps ahead of you.

[glinda]

15. He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not....