Pelosi: A Public Option Is Essential...For the Moment

[t0dd]

Source: TalkingPointsMemo



After a meeting with President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she believes a public option will be essential to passing a bill in the House of Representatives...for the time being anyhow.

"I believe that the public option will be essential to our passing a bill in the House of Representatives," Pelosi said. " said, if you have a better idea, put it on the table. So if somebody has a better idea of how to do that, put it on the table. For the moment, however, as far as our house members are concerned, the overwhelming majority of them support a public option."

Pelosi appeared with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who said the public option "or something like" a public option will survive the legislative process.

Two things stand out. The first is that this is Pelosi's sounding less resolute about the need for a public option than she was last week when she said " bill without a strong public option will not pass the House."

The second is that Pelosi's explicitly leaving open the possibility that, down the line, support will exist in the House to pass something that falls short of a strong public option. Seems like there may be a bit of wiggle room emerging.


Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/pelosi-a-public-option-is-essentialfor-the-moment.php?ref=fpa

[Wapsie B]

1. No wiggle room. Not one bit.

Don't even go there Pelosi.

[rockymountaindem]

2. I just see that as pointing out that the Republicans have come up with exactly zero ideas

of their own about how to contain costs. She still seems plenty committed to it to me and for that I am grateful.

[polichick]

3. There was a little wiggle room - but it's pretty clear that our side wants the PO. nt

[Solly Mack]

4. For the moment

shakes head

[NYC_SKP]

5. She means, "for the moment"...there is not a better idea on the table, public option is it.

context

context

context

to paraphrase, unless or until there's something better on the table, for the moment, we support the public option.

[high density]

6. Umm, ok, replace "For the moment" with "Currently"

What an odd way to interpret her comments. Usually I see the AP doing that, not TPM.

[fascisthunter]

7. you can't drag us along....

and no matter how long you take, I am not budging anymore.

[DJ13]

8. What a spine that woman has!

Its too bad she leaves it hanging up in her closet when she's at work.

[tomm2thumbs]

10. hehehehe -

[BigD_95]

9. I heard on CNN radio

that Obama was told by his staff that there isnt enough of support of a Public Option. That the Public Option is over and they are just trying to get a bill done. Obama tomorrow will say that he supports a Public Option but that it wont be the decider of a bill.


Basically the fight is over if there really was a fight. Obama just wants a bill.


I hope this isnt true and I hope nothing gets passed if there isnt at least a Public Option but the guy talking sounded really sure of himself.

[defendandprotect]

14. If that's true, Obama has just sunk himself --- and Gibbs is looking shady . . .

[high density]

17. I suspect CNN, AP, et al have no clue what they're talking about.

There seems to be a new journalistic "standard" where it is OK to print unverified speculation as long as it hurts Obama, healthcare reform, or Democrats in general.

[Blasphemer]

11. Which means instead of pressuring the traitorous blue dogs, they will pressure the progressives.. nt

[jannyk]

13. Ding, ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!!!! nt

[defendandprotect]

12. Obviously, the DLC has been busy . . . same Pelosi who took impeachment "Off the table" -- !!!

Same Pelosi who clearly stated day after '06 election that Dems were elected

to end the wars -- then she went on, with Reid, to refund the wars for two

years and 8 months!!!

You can only be betrayed by those closest to you, cause they're the ones who

have the power to do it --

[bemildred]

15. Such unenthusiastic support should be rewarded with the same next election. nt

[Oerdin]

16. Get ready to be screwed.

This is exactly how Pelosi is going to stab us in the back, don't even doubt it. The house will pass a bill which includes the public option but it will go no where in the Senate because to many blue dogs are owned by the insurance industry and they want to kill any real reform in order to keep the insurance donations flowing. Pelosi will then pass a second bill which does not contain the public option and say "Well, we tried... Hehe".

Mark my words. She has no intention of the public option actually becoming law and she's already laying the ground work to cut and run. Damn, I wish Democrats weren't so weak because they roll over on everything without much of a fight.

[pmorlan1]

18. et tu Pelosi?

It sounds like Pelosi's spine is weakening, once again. Before long she will start sounding like Steny Hoyer and Harry Reid. If the Dems blow this they've lost me as a Democrat. I'm sick to death of their back stabbing us on every important issue. They pretend that they are with us but when it comes time to vote they crumble.