Think again, the public option is not abandoned yet!
Speaking to CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs emphasized that President Barack Obama still supports having a "public option" for health care, which the White House believes will introduce additional competition and lower prices in the insurance market.The statement runs contrary to claims by other officials and reports circulating other media on Sunday.Heath and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, speaking to CNN's John King on Sunday, said the public option is not "essential" and that consumer choice, market competition and reform of private health insurance regulations should be the focus of the debate
.Later Sunday, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) told Fox News anchor Chris Wallace that the U.S. Senate will not allow a public option, adding his belief that, "to continue to chase that rabbit is just a wasted effort."
The comments led the Associated Press and right-wing news aggregator Matt Drudge to report the White House has given up on supporting a public option.
But Sebelius, who as health secretary would presumably be in charge of a public health care system, also said that coverage for all Americans was still one of the administration's goals, regardless of whether or not that comes by way of a public health option.
"The president believes this option of a government plan is the best way to provide choice and competition," Gibbs told CBS.
He added: "I think most of what you are seeing on TV, no offense, is good TV, and that's about it."
Seen a lot of passion and heart tonight and maybe an eye opener to just how much the public option means to you, so remember what you feel and get those hands busy to keep it alive.
the link to this article and a video from CBS News' Face the Nation, broadcast Sunday, August 16, 2009
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Thanks DonDi.....
But it may be too late, I think the other reports may have raised blood pressures to critical, if not fatal, levels.
He needs to issue statement contradicting this misrepresentation, if it is false!
Rec'd.
August 16, 2009 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aunt Sam ,I feel it too but when I read this article and realized Obama hasnt said he gave up and that Drudge was pushing this it turned my demoralization to determination. I thought maybe it would help someone else.
August 16, 2009 11:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
It did. You did.
I too am now refocused and determined! (Also exhausted from all the ying and yang!)
August 17, 2009 12:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I haven't abandoned single payer either.
August 17, 2009 12:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was interested to hear President Obama's explanation about why he 'abandoned' single payer option now.
It was the consensus, he advised, that this would too disruptive and cumbersome (?) to do now. While just providing option for those who wanted it was a better option at this time.
Hmmmm. slippery slope there.
August 17, 2009 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
RE: "The comments led the Associated Press and right-wing news aggregator Matt Drudge to report the White House has given up on supporting a public option."
Hmmm... kind of like "Bush wins Presidency" in 2000... as reported by Fox... suddenly good 'ole blue USA turns a sickly red... then it turns out Gore had the votes, but too late, too late... the word is out... the wrong word... but, oh well.
Stick with what works, Repubs, eh?
Aren't progressives supposed to be smarter than the average bear? ... and be able to figure this stuff out?
August 17, 2009 1:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Dondi. And thanks Kfreed. I spent too much time cursing under my breath looking at the titles of the blog posts related to Sunday's news blast on health care, not to mention the content of them, for my own good.
So much one reads here is a variant on threatening to go to the corner of one's choice and begin sucking delicious thumb. I'm getting cranky about it. Then comes a calmer voice and I put my turn the air blue vocabulary away again for a ittle while.
August 17, 2009 8:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good post. It is never over until its over. Don't quit, folks!
August 17, 2009 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good post.
IMO, though, unlike townhall thugs, I think the outrage people feel here sometimes serves a purpose.
August 17, 2009 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, and the coop balloon is going nowhere. GOP thinsk its a public option with another name (har!) and liberals hate it too. So we're better off fighting for a PO.
August 17, 2009 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink