Harkin: President wants public option as part of health-care reform

[ProSense]

Harkin: President wants public option as part of health-care reform

DES MOINES - There's no doubt in Sen. Tom Harkin's mind that President Obama's speech Wednesday endorsed a strong public option as part of health-care reform.

"I was heartened by his strong support for a public option," Harkin said Thursday in a morning-after analysis, adding he believes Congress is in a strong position to pass health-care reform before Christmas.

"I didn't hear equivocation," Harkin said, going on to say Obama seemed to be saying that the public option - a government-run alternative to private insurance - is one part of reforming the way health care is delivered and members of Congress shouldn't reject the whole package because of one element.

"I hope what he was saying by that was, "Don't just vote against it because that's one part. Look at all the other parts. Look at everything else we're doing in health-care reform. And see if that doesn't outweigh any of your problems or concerns you have about a public option,'" Harkin said.

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Harkin: Public option won't be a deal breaker

"Some of my colleagues may not like a public option, but they like all the other things and I don't think they'll vote against the bill just because it has the public option in it," Harkin said on MSNBC.

[DrToast]

1. I agree with Harkin

I don't believe the votes aren't there in the Senate for the public option.

Nobody is going to kill a bill just because that's in there.

[emulatorloo]

2. Same here -- Bernie Sanders keeps saying it is going to get done, I beleive him

I beleive Harkin too.

[TomCADem]

3. Agree, Odd How Some Folks Are Looking For Reasons Not To Fight

[Cha]

4. Maybe those who don't believe

President Obama when he says he's going to get a Public Option will believe Senator Harkin..or maybe not.

Either way the President and our Country need our help to get it passed with what they want.

[burning rain]

5. Harkin's a good man...

one of not too many I'd be inclined to trust in the Senate on almost any issue. He always comes out among the most progressive senators among those who crank out rankings, and is very loyally progressive on healthcare and labor issues.

[andym]

6. Harkin's explanation makes sense.

It's really time to move on this.

[ProSense]

7. Exactly. n/t

[DevonRex]

8. Excellent. K&R nt

[Enrique]

9. I'm glad he's spinning it this way

Everyone is putting the "they won't kill it over the public option" thing on the progressives, I'm glad Harkin turned it around on the centrists. Will the centrists throw the baby out with the bathwater?

[Phx_Dem]

10. That doesn't jive with what Olbermann and Maddow told us.

I guess they were wrong. Again.

[jenmito]

11. K&R. I saw him and others say they're SURE there will be a public option in the final bill. n/t