TPM: White House to reformers: don't waste your money promoting public option

[Enrique]

Sources: Expect Disappointed Progressives After Obama's Big Health Care Speech

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/sources-expect-disappointed-progressives-after-obamas-big-health-care-speech.php

Late last night, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)--a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus--issued a press release saying he had "grave concerns" that the White House is telling pro-reform groups that they will "cease supporting" the public option.

Though I can not confirm Grijalva's claims entirely, after a number of off-the-record conversations with congressional and advocacy sources, it's clear that many progressives are preparing themselves to be disappointed next week.

Low-level White House officials have reached out to certain reform groups that have staked their ground on the need for a public option, I'm told, and warned them not to spend any more money advocating for the policy--that it's just not worth it. That suggestion hasn't been heeded--at least for now. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and Democracy for America raised over $100,000 to continue running this ad in Iowa after Congress returns from recess.

But a White House official told the New York Times "It's so important to get a deal will do almost anything it takes to get one," which strikes some as an all-too-apt description of the White House's mentality.

(...)

[Drunken Irishman]

1. I'm disappointed.

That it seems Pres. Obama has a White House full of leaks.

Now low-level officials?

Let me guess, the gardener and chef?

:eyes:

[JeffR]

3. Bo.

[Enrique]

4. not leaked by white house

this information is coming from the reform advocacy groups.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. Eh, still the same...

Low-level WH officials?

:rofl:

[Enrique]

8. the high-level officials are busy with the insurance CEOs

pro-reform groups get to talk to Sasha.

[Drunken Irishman]

14. That must be it.

:eyes:

[tsuki]

I am beginning to wonder if all they do on the Beltway is gossip. It is

not leaks, it is gossip. Harper Beltway PTA.

I would be firing some aides.

[Better Believe It]

15. "low-level officials? the gardener and chef? No.

That's according to the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

[Uzybone]

2. geez

prepare to be disappointed. The internet gossip mill is hard at work.

[quantass]

5. Remind me again which party won the election overwhelmingly -- taking control of ALL parts of Govern

:shrug: -- Democratic party once again does not fight for the people. At least with republicans they fought for what they wanted regardless of what anyone said...Democrats dont fight for anything especially in this perfect "stars are aligned" moment for making their agenda happen they still cant do it. OUCH!

It's a sad day when the American people are now considered annoying flies since all the reall change is in their REAL constituents of both parties: The Corporations.

[tridim]

12. Nice low-level response.

The WH and Congress are still for a strong public option regardless of what these low-level sources say.

These sources, the GOP and the media are LYING TO YOU.

[firedupdem]

7. Which jobs in the white house are considered low-level? Does

anyone know?

[Uzybone]

10. maybe the folks in the mailroom

[FrenchieCat]

11. Bo?

[SIMPLYB1980]

9. "Low-level White House officials"

"Though I can not confirm Grijalva's claims entirely"

Looks to me like a bullshit attempt to get some publicity and stir the shit.

[d_b]

17. i heard

glenn beck raped and murdered a girl in 1990. tragic.

[SIMPLYB1980]

18. I heard about that somewhere.

I guess it could be true.:shrug:

[Hippo_Tron]

22. I heard that as well, I am inclined to believe it until I see documentation proving otherwise

[uponit7771]

13. ***SPONGE ALERT**** "Low-level White House officials"

[Jennicut]

16. Grijalva seems worried..probably wants to pressure the WH

I see nothing wrong with that but I wonder who the low level officials are?

[bluestateguy]

19. Now TPM is acting just like the media bobbleheads it was supposed to be better than

Beltway chatter, rumors, leaks from anonymous sources.

They ought to know better.

[Phx_Dem]

20. The headline is bullshit. Grijalva isn't saying the White House said that,

he's saying he has grave concerns. Well BFD. When you know something, let us know. I, for one, am not interested in some one's grave concerns based on nothing but his fucking intuition.

This country has gone mad and that includes progressives who are just making shit up at this point.

[Enrique]

21. you misread something

this story is a follow-up to Grijalva's press release, with additional reporting.

[Phx_Dem]

23. I just reread it and nowhere does it say what the headline says.

Low-level White House officials have reached out to certain reform groups that have staked their ground on the need for a public option,I'm told, and warned them not to spend any more money advocating for the policy--that it's just not worth it. "I'm told?" by some low-level person that could be the janitor.

Doesn't sound like any kind of confirmation to me. And at the end, there's this paragraph which is the complete opposite of the DU headline, "White House to Reformers: blbah blah bullshit."

The leader of one major reform group said that they have received absolutely no communications whatsoever from the White House regarding the content of the President's speech or anything that would indicate from them a change in their position on the public option.

[Thrill]

24. If progressives want a public option. They can get it. They have the votes to stop a bill

in the House if it doesn't have it. You have to take a stand or he's going to end of being too conservative like Clinton

[QC]

25. TPM is a notorious Republican mouthpiece. n/t

[CreekDog]

26. I KNOW I trust Raul Grijalva

I'm not sure I trust anyone else in this story as much as him.

(I remember when he was on the Board of Supervisors in Pima County (Tucson), Arizona.)