Is Obama gaming the republicans on public option?
A thought occured to me last night:
Congressional republicans have a stated (through Rush Limbaugh) goal of causing our president to fail.
Obama's publicly voiced support of a public option for health care has been lukewarm at best.
If he were instead to loudly insist on a public option, wouldn't that serve to harden opposition? Could it be that his tepid support is to avoid painting a bullseye on the measure?
Now since he has only gotten minimal republican support as it is, I'm looking for him to stiffen his support of a public option. This will put the blue dogs in the position of failing to support thier president.
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You may be right about Obama's strategy. He seems always to be looking for the middle way.
I'm waiting, though, to see if his support for the public option will stiffen.
October 15, 2009 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe the answer to the headline question is "yes", but I think you are missing the Big Picture gaming. Obama waited until now, when the "public option" needs to go into the ultimate conference-committee bill, to start pushing for things like repealing "don't-ask-don't-tell". This means that the Foxite-wingnuts will be distracted by other things while the real sausage-making happens.
October 16, 2009 5:26 AM | Reply | Permalink