Grassley: Obama Has ‘Said To Me Privately’ That He Is Willing To Drop A Robust Public Option

[Joanne98]

On Bloomberg’s Political Capital this weekend, host Al Hunt asked Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) what he thought of the “tone and substance” of President Obama’s press conference this week. Like he has said before, Grassley underscored his opposition to a public health insurance option.

In a call with progressive bloggers a day before the press conference, Obama said he continues to “believe that a robust public option would be the best way to go.” In the press conference itself, Obama said a public option is necessary “to keep the insurance companies honest” and his view that by taking “some of the profit motive out,” you can get a “better deal” for consumers.

But in his interview with Hunt, Grassley claimed that Obama has told him privately that he is willing to consider “reasonable alternatives” to a robust public option:

GRASSLEY: One of the most controversial things we are facing — and one that the House does and Senator Kennedy’s committee does — is bring a government health insurance program into existence. He still spoke highly about that. And that’s not going to get bipartisan support.

And it would have been good if he had said to the entire country what he said to me privately — that he would look to alternatives for that. And we have a very good alternative by going with cooperatives because we’ve known them for 150 years in America. And allowing them to sell health insurance for more competition.

HUNT: Do you think the President could support that?

GRASSLEY: All I can tell you is — but he didn’t say this that night and he should have said it — that he’s looking for reasonable alternatives. And I think we have a reasonable bipartisan alternative in co-ops.

Watch it:



http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/25/grassley-obama-public-plan/

[emulatorloo]

1. I wouldn't trust Grassley if his tongue came notarized. He has an agenda.

Note the language anyway -- he says Obama said he is willing to consider “reasonable alternatives”.

What if all the pubs can come up with are unreasonable ones?

[FrenchieCat]

2. Part of Obama's whole sense of being is "willing to consider"......

meaning, if you can show me something better than what I envision, I'll look at it without closing my eyes and simply saying "NO!".

I'm not seeing Grassley's statement reflected in Obama's words to him.

[BlooInBloo]

3. So you're either lying, or nobody will ever tell you anything privately ever again?

Dumbass.

[yourout]

4. If it does not have a public option then its better to do nothing at all.

[Champion Jack]

5. Is that the same Grassley who took 3 mill from te HMO's?

[SharonAnn]

7. It's the same Grassley who told people to work for the gov't if they wanted good health care ins.

[Politicalboi]

6. Yes because Obama

Has so much to gain by confiding to Repukes.