There is an easy way for the President to stop the rumors on the Public Option

[AllentownJake]

Stand up and say he will veto a bill that does not contain one.

[tridim]

1. "I will not sign any bill without a strong Public Option" -BHO

But you already knew that.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. Geez... not that again

He said that in July.

If he believes it and wants to be understood he can say it again. I believe he has been on the TV machine since then...

This is an administration in a representative democracy, not a scriptural religion where we pore over ancient texts for clues.

[tridim]

3. So you don't like actual quotes that actually came out of his mouth?

Contrary to your strange perception of reality, the sky is not falling. The President and Congress want a PO.

The President has said he will not sign a bill without a strong PO whether you like it or not.

Assuming you don't like it, I have to ask, why? Do you want the PO or not?

[dana_b]

13. he also said

(on that t.v. machine): "For example, some have suggested that that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies. Others propose a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan. These are all constructive ideas worth exploring."

I think the problem is that we don't know what a "strong public option" entails and maybe he doesn't either. What Baucus and the Senate Finance Committee has proposed is shit and the House of Reps hasn't reconciled their ideas yet either.

We have to keep pressure on them. I write, call every week but I don't know if it's us that has their collective ear.

[Faryn Balyncd]

16. "It's not the defining piece of health care." Rahm Emanuel on CNN's State of the Union

and:


"He's not demanding that it's in there." Valerie Jarrett, Meet the Press, October 18, 2009


You wanted "actual quotes". These are pretty clear.

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.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33345703/ns/meet_the_press/page/2/

Your statement that Obama "will not sign a bill without a strong PO" is diametrically opposite to what is being said today on major networks by Obama's Chief of Staff, and Valerie Jarrett's unequivocal statement the "he's not demanding it."

No one said the "sky is falling".

But it is unequivocal that the American people are being sold down the river.

Progress has NOT been made, unless you call passing Corporate Welfare in the name of "reform" progress.

[Aramchek]

7. at least you'll admit that he said it.

[AllentownJake]

4. Wow July

It seems he has advisers running around saying all kinds of different things. You think the White House might work better on their message control.

[dsc]

6. I would like a citation

because I don't recall those exact words in July or any other time.

[Aramchek]

9. it's proven that people seek info that backs up their already held opinions and ignore the rest

[dsc]

14. as the link provided belows shows I was right

He never uttered the word strong, which was my bone of contention. Both co ops and a trigger, neither of which are real public options, fullfill the words he did say and, it should be noted, would both be OK with Baucus. You owe me a big ass apology, needless to say I won't be holding my breath.

[JTFrog]

11. Link here:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/obama-demands-the-bill-i-sign-must-include-public-option.php

"Any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family."

Video included at link, above excerpt starts at 04:21.

[dsc]

12. the word strong isn't in there

and that was my bone of contention. I was dead right. The co ops would full fill that as would the trigger. The poster up thread, not you, who was all snarky owes me an apology. He didn't say those words which is exactly why I asked for that link. Thanks.

[JVS]

23. And in the primaries he was against mandates, but that's no longer true

[AllentownJake]

24. Actually it was a big talking point against Senator Clinton

I remember, because I repeated it at doors.

[Hannah Bell]

31. He didn't say that, as the poster below notes.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Bill Clinton stated something similar in reference to what was controversial

when he was pushing his health care proposal...

Know what that got him? The loss of the 1994 Election by Democrats.
You know what that got us? Absolutely fucking nothing.

[AllentownJake]

8. Defend, Defend, Defend

Spin, Spin, Spin.

rinse and repeat

The thing is, it isn't controversial 60% of Americans support it. Even including the south.

Those Obama fans who are disappointed keep looking for explanations. Is he too impressed by the elite he met in Cambridge, too eager to split the difference between left and right, too willing to compromise? As he pursues legislation, why does he keep deferring to others — whether to his party’s Congressional leaders or the Congressional Budget Office or to this month’s acting president, Olympia Snowe? Why doesn’t he ever draw a line in the sand? “We know Obama has good values,” Jeff Madrick said to me last week, “but we don’t know if he has convictions.”

[Ardent15]

15. Obama needs to draw a line in the sand, for the sake of this nation

Even Clinton drew a line in the sand on welfare reform after conceding a lot to Ginrich and co.

Obama needs to show more spine.

[FrenchieCat]

18. Considering the relentless attacks, attacks, attacks......

When labeling Supporters of this President....."Fans"
just because some don't feel like hearing the same tired ass sniveling
coming from the same ol' usual suspects every single day,
multiple times a day,
day in, day out
whining about the same fucking things over and over again.......

I think the issue is not so much the fans, rather....
why in the fuck are the haters like you given a license to despair all of the fucking time,
while somehow, those who see it differently are dissed by the likes of you?

I think that folks who ain't got shit else to do but to speculate in the negative
every hour of the day
are in the same league as FOX News....
cause one can always magnify flaws,
spin by pushing a particular viewpoint,
and support that shit with some "Opinion" that
agrees with them.

Sure, you may one day be proven right...
and you may successfully talk this President down soon enough
and if you do, it won't be from a lack of trying....

Till then, you don't need to wonder why I don't agree with you...
Just fucking deal with it.

[AllentownJake]

22. I was with him

and than the cabinet picks started coming in. I was with him, and than I saw capitulation at every turn instead of leadership.

I was with him and at every critical turn he has disappointed.

But he does take one hell of a great picture.

[FrenchieCat]

25. So ok....you aren't with him anymore....and haven't been since Early February......

OK...By Jake, I think I've got it!

The fact that you appear to have made it your job
to judge every minutia of this administration on a daily basis,
multiple times a day.....
tells me that you ain't all that;
just a fucking 24/7 reactionary
that's got something negative to say about every fucking thing,
Just like Fox News.

And like Fox News, it's usually always the same fucking thing;
bunch of criticisms and nothing else.

It is clear that you'll be critical at every turn (even critical about the same fucking turn)
till 2016......Just like FOX News....

That's one of the reasons I don't even post or read that much here anymore....
Cause I can get the same fucked up information and name calling from the fucked up news media....
"Obama ain't done this right, and he ain't doing that right,
and he's fucked up, and we are doomed, etc., etc., etc."....

fucking shit gets boring after a while...

And yeah, the pictures are way more insightful than your daily schpill!

[AllentownJake]

26. Sorry

When I see the biggest financial fraud in American History, and the President surround himself with the enablers of the fraud and allows the perpetrators to continue their fraud.

I lose faith and confidence in said individual.

[FrenchieCat]

28. I heard.

This financial fraud that you are talking about
has been going on forever....

And as for what Obama will do about it,
that is also way far from over......

Anyways,
These days,
I'm frequenting sites where we actually have discussions
rather than taking turns at passing indictments.....
I learn more that way,
than from reading a bunch of name calling,
and simpleton caricatured finger pointing
day after day after day after day after day.....

So have fun....and feel wise.

[rug]

10. In that case, why did Obama say it 15 years later?

[FrenchieCat]

21. Cause he didn't wave a Veto Pen at a Joint Session of Congress....?

[rug]

27. He is polite, isn't he?

[FrenchieCat]

29. Or perhaps wiser than those who speculate in the negative

will ever admit.

[rug]

30. No, he just made his choice.

[Scarsdale Vibe]

17. Easy way to kill health care reform.

The pressure we're exerting on Snowe is in turn being exerted by the Republicans on Lieberman, Landrieu, Nelson, Lincoln and all the rest of the conservative Democrats in the Senate, most of whom would be reassured of re-election forever if they betrayed the Democrats on cloture. Most of the conservative Democrats haven't been around for decades and thus don't have much seniority in committiees, it would be quite easy for just one of them to trade their current position of power for a guaranteed tenure in the Senate.

[AllentownJake]

19. No Public Option

Healthcare reform isn't worth shit.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

20. +1!

[Scarsdale Vibe]

32. I have a pre-existing condition and can't come close to affording insurance.

Your priority is making sure that insurance companies don't make money. My priority is making sure that more people get the health care they need, that subsidies are expanded to the poor and middle class, and that bankruptcies due to medical costs are greatly reduced. I prioritize the positive impact for human beings, you prioritize the negative impact for corporations.

[AllentownJake]

33. Scraps from the master's table democrats

I have the same problem you do. Here is the deal. They are going to find another way to fuck you without competition and in 4 years you will be scratching your head asking yourself I thought we passed reform.

[ProSense]

34. You don't really believe that, do you?

People would continue spinning if he didn't say it it every time he opened his mouth.