More evidence that President Obama promised a public health plan during the campaign

[majamay]

In January, 2008, a fellow DU'er nicknamed "usregimechange" linked to Barack Obama's website, and copy and pasted the following excerpt:

4. Subsidies. Individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need financial assistance will receive an income-related federal subsidy to buy into the new public plan or purchase a private health care plan.
5. Simplified paperwork and reined in health costs.
6. Easy enrollment. The new public plan will be simple to enroll in and provide ready access to coverage.
7. Portability and choice. Participants in the new public plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange (see below) will be able to move from job to job without changing or jeopardizing their health care coverage.
8. Quality and efficiency. Participating insurance companies in the new public program will be required to report data to ensure that standards for quality, health information technology and administration are being met.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4301242&mesg_id=4304283

The same excerpt can be seen in a July, 2008 post in Obamapedia.com: http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Barack+Obama+on+Health+Care

Today, that section of the Obama website has been edited, but still mentions a public option once, reflecting the administration's downplaying of this "tiny sliver" that is the public option.
The plan, it currently says,:

Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice.

Here's an interview in 2008 with Obama, in which the Washington Post asks him what he will do if he "were elected." In regard to health care, Obama said:

Every American has the right to affordable, comprehensive and portable health coverage. My plan will ensure that all Americans have health care coverage through their employers, private health plans, the federal government, or the states. My plan builds on and improves our current insurance system, which most Americans continue to rely upon, and creates a new public health plan for those currently without coverage.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/

[JanusAscending]

1. And what, may I ask,

are you trying to prove? This is not news to us who have hung on the Presidents every word!! He's not a magician for pete's sake!

[majamay]

2. Some have falsely stated that Obama didn't' promise a public option during the campaign

They are not many, but a few people can spread misinformation. They say Obama "never" said he would offer a public option, and others say that he only said this after he was elected.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

3. Thank you for posting that. It answers a question I have had for quite awhile

which is whether that campaign piece has been edited since the original.

I followed the healthcare debate in both the primaries and the general VERY closely. I downloaded and printed Obama's plan once early on and have to say when I went back later to the website, I was positive that some references to "the public plan" had disappeared. I am almost positive that the words "a new public plan, similar to Medicare" were once a part of the document, because I remember having arguments/ discussions with DU'ers who kept asking why a plan "similar" to Medicare was required when we already had Medicare.

I know there is a web tool called the wayback or something like that which I have never used, but someone could if they really wanted to see what has changed.

I'm disappointed that they felt the need to edit his plan in the first place. It was what it was and it's what he presented as a candidate. To alter it after the fact is not what I would expect of President Obama or his staff. Since he pretty much acted like he never had a specific plan once he was in office, I wonder that they even felt the need to do that.

[jenmito]

4. You ALSO provided proof that the public option was only meant for a small group of people:

"...and creates a new public health plan for those currently without coverage." Hmmm. So why are people NOW complaining that this will only be an option for those without any coverage?

[derby378]

8. Because the coverage we have now IS part of the problem

Under the current plan, we'll be stuck with the same insurance, we won't be able to choose our own doctors, the bean-counters will still have leeway to discontinue certain meds or prcedures, etc. Which is exactly why we need the freedom to choose a public insurance option over Big Insurance and start getting some real coverage for our money - coverage that could actually save lives.

[uponit7771]

5. Great, Obama said he wont sing a bill without a PO so it looks like he's holding to his promises

[AllentownJake]

6. Last time I heard him say that was July

It's hard to keep up with the guy. He does have a tendency to change his mind.

[Cha]

7. Yes, I know..it's all out there for the public to see.

And, now we're getting it.

[derby378]

9. Not if the House version passes, we don't

And meanwhile, the Senate version has that ridiculous "opt-out" for states.

[Cha]

10. I'm with Dean on this..

<snip>

"Dean's reaction to the House bill was, "It's not the best we can do, but it's a very good start."

http://rawstory.com/2009/10/dean-house-health-bill/