CNN reports about Obama's upcoming speech on health care, no mention of dropping public option

[Jennicut]

By Elaine Quijano
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama is considering giving a major speech detailing what he would like to see included in a bill to overhaul health care, a senior White House aide said Wednesday.
President Obama so far has outlined broad principles for what he would like in health care legislation.

Senior advisor David Axelrod told CNN that the president is looking at the possibility of a speech as "one of his options" in pushing forward his health care agenda after returning next week from vacation at Camp David, Maryland.

Obama has outlined broad principles for what he would like in health care legislation, but he has left most details to leaders in Congress. Now, White House aides said, the dynamic has changed.

"We're entering a new season," Axelrod said. "It's time to synthesize and harmonize these strands and get this done."

Another administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity when discussing strategy, said the new phase was "driven in part by the actions of some in the GOP," including Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Mike Enzi of Wyoming.

The official added the White House believes those actions indicate that these two key Republicans, who are part of a bipartisan group negotiating a health care bill, "are essentially walking away from the table."

The official also said that "now is the time to begin to pull together the various strands and solutions from the four bills that have been marked up and other proposals. ... Basically all the cards are on the table."

It's unclear still what form the president's speech would take. If he decides to give an address, he could do it from the Oval Office or before a joint session of Congress. But the administration official said no decisions have been made.

"The president is considering all of his options on how to advance the debate and get reform passed. This includes possibly laying out a more specific vision," the official said.http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/02/obama.health.care/

New York Times makes no mention of it either: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/health/policy/02webobama.html

So why does Politico?
I guess we have to wait until the speech.

[uponit7771]

1. Politico talked to "the officials" and "the officials said" know best

[WI_DEM]

2. I say he give it as a speech before congress

[BluegrassDem]

4. I think a speech before Congress is a great idea

I think he should save the Oval Office address towards the end of the process....maybe a few days before voting on a bill or right after it passes.

[Clio the Leo]

6. And at various points the members would either rise or stay seated....

.... in response to the things he's saying .... an ovation with election consequences? That would be HILLARIOUS.

"Can you believe my Rep. so and so didn't stand when the President said such and such! I'm not voting for him next year!!!!" ;)

[high density]

3. It's not about "dropping" the public option, it's about failing to fully support it

Obama is too timid on the issue of the public option. He tells us that it's the best solution for lowing costs, but then he stops short of completely supporting it. It's just bizarre. He ends up taking shots from all sides, on the right for talking about it in the first place, and then on the left for being so ambiguous about it.

(And since when does the omission of something from an article prove anything?)

[Beetwasher]

7. Bullshit

Obama has laid out clearly what he wants and has said a public option is the only way he can see those goals being accomplished, but if someone has some other way that accomplishes the goals, he'll consider it. This is not "timid", this is politics.

Obama is saying essentially "I want an animal that looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck. Right now as far as I know, a duck is the only animal that fits this description, but if you find another animal that fits this description I'll accept it."


He knows they won't be able to find another animal.

[high density]

9. Doesn't make any sense

All that does is fracture the base and make Obama seem ambiguous. He's already given them plenty of time to come up with an alternative, and all they can argue for is the status quo. Now it's far past time to choose the path and take it. Not helping was Sebelius' insane trial balloon from a few weeks ago telling us that the public option was not "essential."

[Beetwasher]

13. Continued In My Thread

n/t

[joeycola]

11. He has been wishy washy on it these past months.

[Peregrine Took]

12. And continues to do so. Its really annoying and cowardly.

This person comes out and says THIS then the next day another person comes out and says the first person was wrong or misspoke. THey are playing games with words, getting people's hopes up and then dashing them later.

I think they are playing a sick and dangerous game.

[bluestateguy]

5. This is what I read between the lines

that Obama supports and will fight for a public option, but that if Congress sends him a bill without a public option, he'll sign it anyway and through much spin, declare victory.

[quantass]

8. Precisely nt

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

10. story isn't that he's officially dropping it, it's that he's not pushing for it or mentioning it nt

[Phx_Dem]

14. I think he should dump the term "public option" because it's

tainted in moderate/independent people's minds by the GOP lies. Call it a public choice or public exchange. Same thing, different name.

[brooklynite]

15. On CNN's morning (7 AM) show, dropping the Public Option was the emphasis in their reporting

[Phx_Dem]

17. Good to know the media has already decided on the story line

before it's even decided if he's going to give a speech, let alone what he'll say.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

16. If he's talking about Republicans "walking away from the table"

Why would he NOT keep the PO at this this point? Abandoning it now when it's clear that the Pubs aren't going to accept ANYTHING that has been proposed in regards to HCR and don't have any viable alternatives just wouldn't make any sense. I think that he has been trying to maintain some flexibility regarding the PO and seeing if somebody comes up with something different and signaling a willingness to consider viable alternatives (which probably won't come about) but it sounds like he is fast running out of patience with the Pubs and plans to take a more aggressive approach to HCR. I strongly doubt that dropping a PO is part of his plan. I mean, why would he when we seem to be holding all the cards right now? Does anybody seriously think he wants to honk liberals/progressives off THAT much?

[Arkana]

18. He should have done this at the off, but I suppose better late than never.

[DevonRex]

19. Kick! nt

[NYC_SKP]

20. "freedom to choose their plan and doctor including the choice of a public insurance option"

This is the present position of President Obama.

Anything else is speculation.

"Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor including the choice of a public insurance option."

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/organizingforhealthcare2

What part of this do people not understand?

:shrug:

[Vidar]

21. Glad to hear it.