The claim that Obama hasn't led on health care is completely bogus

[ProSense]

Obama has been talking about health care often and for months---with business leaders, state elected official, members of Congress, the public, in town halls and in his weekly address.

MARCH

3/5/2009
Remarks by the President at the Opening of the White House Forum on Health Reform

3/5/2009
Closing Remarks by the President at White House Forum on Health Reform, followed by Q&A, 3/5/09

3/6/2009
President Obama Announces Series of Regional White House Forums To Be Held Across Country

Building on Thursday’s White House Forum on Health Care Reform, President Obama announced a series of Regional White House Forums on Health Reform that will bring the conversation about health care reform directly to communities across the country. In keeping with the Obama administration’s commitment to a transparent, accountable government, the forums will be an opportunity for Americans from all over the country to voice their concerns and ideas about reforming our health care system.

3/21/2009
Weekly Address: President Obama to Focus on Budget Priorities Next Week

In his weekly address, President Barack Obama announced that in the coming week, he will highlight the core principles of his budget: cutting the deficit in half by the end of his first term and making investments in long-delayed priorities like energy independence, education and health care reform.

3/26/2009
Remarks by the President at "Open for Questions" Town Hall

So this is why any reform of the health care system I think has to address this issue, and to say we are going to allow anybody to get health insurance. And if you've got a preexisting condition you're not going to be excluded but you're going to be able to obtain health insurance. And if you can't obtain it through a private plan then there is going to a public plan that is available in some way to give you insurance, or insurers are obligated to provide you with insurance in some way.

APRIL

4/3/2009
Statement By The President On Senate Passage Of FY10 Budget

Tonight, the Senate has joined the House of Representatives in taking an important step toward rebuilding our struggling economy. This budget resolution embraces our most fundamental priorities: an energy plan that will end our dependence on foreign oil and spur a new clean energy economy; an education system that will ensure our children will be able to compete in the economy of the 21st century; and health care reform that finally confronts the back-breaking costs plaguing families, businesses and government alike. And by making hard choices and challenging the old ways of doing business, we will cut in half the budget deficit we inherited within four years. With this vote comes an obligation to pursue our efforts to go through the budget line-by-line, searching for additional savings. Like the families we serve, we must cut the things we don't need to invest in those we do.

4/8/2009
Executive Order Establishing The White House Office Of Health Reform


MAY

5/11/2009
Today's Health Care Costs Meeting-Participants, Fact Sheet, and Letter

5/11/2009
Remarks by the President on Reforming the Health Care System to Reduce Costs

5/12/2009
Fact Sheet Innovative Workplace Practices: A Discussion With President Obama

All over the country, innovative ideas are being implemented in the workplace to improve the health of workers and reduce the rising rate of health care spending.

5/12/2009
Remarks by the President after Roundtable with Business Leaders on Health Care Costs

5/12/2009
Letter from the President to health care stakeholders

It was a pleasure to meet with all of you yesterday. As I said yesterday, health care reform will require all of us working together-from drug and insurance companies to labor unions and business executives, from doctors to hospitals and Members of Congress.

5/13/2009
Statement by the President after meeting with House Democratic leadership

5/18/2009
Remarks by the President at Keep Indiana Blue Fundraiser in Indianapolis, 5/17/2009

And that's why I'm here tonight. That's why I'm here, because I can't bring the change I promised all by myself. I can't rebuild our economy, and reform our health care system and our education system, and preserve our environment, and keep our nation safe if I'm all alone in the Oval Office. That's not how our democracy works.

<...>

We need their help to pass a comprehensive energy plan and climate bill that will finally reduce our dependence on foreign oil, cap carbon pollution that threatens our health and our climate -- (applause) -- a plan that will create millions of new jobs producing wind turbines and solar panels and the alternative fuels that will power the future. Because we know that the nation that leads on energy, on clean energy in the 21st century, that's the nation that will lead economically -- and America can and must be that nation.

I need these gentlemen's help to create a 21st century health care system that's cutting costs for families and businesses. (Applause.) I've already met with representatives from the insurance and drug companies, from doctors and hospitals and labor unions. These groups, some of them used to be fierce critics of health care reform back in 1993. But today, they've pledged to do their part to reduce the annual health care spending growth rate by 1.5 percent. And coupled with comprehensive reform, that could save us up to $2 trillion -- $2,500 per family every year. And working with these congressmen, we're going to do everything we can to achieve comprehensive health care reform by the end of this year. (Applause.)

JUNE

6/3/2009
Letter from President Obama to Chairmen Edward M. Kennedy and Max Baucus

The meeting that we held today was very productive and I want to commend you for your leadership -- and the hard work your Committees are doing on health care reform, one of the most urgent and important challenges confronting us as a Nation

6/19/2009
Statement by the President on the Progress of Health Care Reform Legislation in the House

6/22/2009
Remarks by the President on the Medicare Part D "Doughnut Hole" and AARP Endorsement

6/23/2009
Press Conference by the President, 6-23-09

Now, the public plan I think is a important tool to discipline insurance companies. What we've said is, under our proposal, let's have a system the same way that federal employees do, same way that members of Congress do, where -- we call it an "exchange," or you can call it a "marketplace" -- where essentially you've got a whole bunch of different plans. If you like your plan and you like your doctor, you won't have to do a thing. You keep your plan. You keep your doctor. If your employer is providing you good health insurance, terrific, we're not going to mess with it.

But if you're a small business person, if the insurance that's being offered is something you can't afford, if you want to shop for a better price, then you can go to this exchange, this marketplace, and you can look: Okay, this is how much this plan costs, this is how much that plan costs, this is what the coverage is like, this is what fits for my family. As one of those options, for us to be able to say, here's a public option that's not profit-driven, that can keep down administrative costs and that provides you good, quality care for a reasonable price -- as one of the options for you to choose, I think that makes sense.

6/24/2009
Remarks by the President after meeting with Governors Granholm, Douglas, Doyle, Rounds, and Gregoire to discuss health care

6/25/2009
Remarks By The President In ABC "Prescription For America" Town Hall On Health Care, 6-24-09


JULY

7/1/2009
Remarks of the President in an Online Town Hall on Health Care Reform

I also strongly believe that one of the options in the exchange should be a public option, in order for us to create some competition for the private insurers to keep them honest. If they are in fact giving good service and providing high-quality coverage, then that's where people will want to go. But there should be a benchmark there of a public plan, non-for-profit plan, that keeps administrative costs low and is focused on providing good service. And that way you can make the decision which deal is going to be better for you and your family.

7/2/2009
Statement by the President on Health Care Reform Bill Released by Senate HELP Committee Today

For decades, Washington has failed to act as health care costs continued to rise, crushing businesses, families and placing an unsustainable burden on governments. Today the Senate HELP committee has produced legislation that lowers costs, protects choice of doctors and plans and assures quality and affordable health care for Americans. The Congressional Budget Office has now issued a more complete review of this bill, concluding that it will cost less and cover more Americans than originally estimated. It also contains provisions that will protect the coverage Americans get at work. When merged with the Senate Finance Committee’s companion pieces, the Senate will be prepared to vote for health reform legislation that does not add to the deficit, reduces health care costs and covers 97% of Americans.

The HELP Committee legislation reflects many of the principles I’ve laid out, such as reforms that will prohibit insurance companies from refusing coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and the concept of insurance exchanges where individuals can find affordable coverage if they lose their jobs, move or get sick. Such a marketplace would allow families and some small businesses the benefit of one-stop-shopping for their health care coverage and enable them to compare price and quality and pick the plan that best suits their needs.

Among the choices that would be available in the exchange would be a public health insurance option. The public option would make health care affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices and keeping the insurance companies honest.

The legislation also improves the quality of patient care, improves safety for patients and strengthens the commitment to preventive health care – preventing people from getting sick in the first place.

I thank chairman Kennedy, Senator Dodd, and all the members of the HELP Committee for their hard work on health reform.

7/3/2009
WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Celebrates Independence Day and the American Spirit

7/7/2009
Statement from the President on Health Care Reform

I am pleased by the progress we're making on health care reform and still believe, as I've said before, that one of the best ways to bring down costs, provide more choices, and assure quality is a public option that will force the insurance companies to compete and keep them honest. I look forward to a final product that achieves these very important goals.

7/8/2009
Background On Todays Health Care Announcement

As families, businesses and governments struggle with the increasing burden of health care costs, hospital leaders are joining with the Administration to say the status quo is no longer sustainable. Like others in the health care industry, hospitals have seen firsthand that Americans with health insurance are struggling to pay their health care bills because they are under-insured and their out of pocket expenses are rising. Often those without insurance – because they have lost a job or someone in their family suffers from a pre-existing condition – are forced to throw themselves on the mercy of America’s hospitals. Hospitals absorb some of the cost of caring for Americans without insurance – while the remainder is passed on to taxpayers or Americans with insurance. The hospital industry agrees with the President that the time to enact health reform that lowers costs and assures quality and affordable coverage for all Americans is now.

Now is the time to reform an unsustainable health care system that is imposing crushing costs on families, businesses, large and small, and state and federal budgets. We need to protect what works, fix what’s broken, and bring down costs for all Americans. No more talk. No more delay. Health care reform must happen this year.

7/14/2009
Statement by the President on the Health Care Reform Legislation Introduced in the House Today

"For decades, Washington failed to act as health care costs continued to rise, crushing businesses and families and placing an unsustainable burden on governments. But today, key committees in the House of Representatives have engaged in unprecedented cooperation to produce a health care reform proposal that will lower costs, provide better care for patients, and ensure fair treatment of consumers by the insurance industry.

This proposal controls the skyrocketing cost of health care by rooting out waste and fraud and promoting quality and accountability. Its savings of more than $500 billion over 10 years will strengthen Medicare and contribute to our goal of reforming health care in a fiscally responsible way. It will change the incentives in our health care system so that Americans can receive the best care, not the most expensive care. And it will offer families and businesses more choices and more affordable health care.

This proposal will also prevent insurance companies from denying people coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition. It will ensure that workers can still have health insurance if they lose their job, change their job or start a new business. And it includes a health insurance exchange that will allow families and small businesses to compare prices and quality so they can choose the health care plan that best suits their needs. Among the choices that would be available in the exchange would be a public health insurance option that would make health care affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices, and keeping the insurance companies honest.

The House proposal will begin the process of fixing what’s broken about our health care system, reducing costs for all, building on what works, and covering an estimated 97% of all Americans. And by emphasizing prevention and wellness, it will also help improve the quality of health care for every American.

I thank Chairmen Rangel, Waxman, and Miller for their hard work on this bill that fundamentally reforms the health care system. As this process moves forward, I look forward to continuing to work with all House members in ensuring this legislation helps all Americans and plays an essential role in reducing deficits and bringing fiscal sustainability to our nation."

7/15/2009
Statement by the President on the Health Care Reform Legislation Passed Today by the Senate HELP Committee

"Today, thanks to the unyielding passion and inspiration provided by Senator Edward Kennedy, the HELP committee he chairs has produced a proposal that will finally lower health care costs, provide better care for patients, and ensure fair treatment of consumers by the insurance industry.

Like the legislation produced by the House of Representatives, this proposal would offer Americans quality, affordable health care that is there when they need it. No longer will insurance companies be able to deny coverage based on a pre-existing medical condition. No longer will Americans have to worry about their health insurance if they lose their job, change their job, or open a new business.

This proposal will bring down costs, expand coverage, and increase choice. Through a health insurance exchange, families and small businesses will be able to compare prices and quality so that they can choose the health care plan that best suits their needs. Among the choices that would be available in the exchange would be a public health insurance option that would make health care affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices, and keeping the insurance companies honest.

This proposal would also control rising costs by investing in preventive care and wellness programs, rooting out waste and fraud in the system, and changing the incentives that automatically equate the most expensive care with the best care.

When this proposal is combined with other proposals that the Senate Finance Committee is working on, it’s estimated that health reform will cover 97% of all Americans.

The HELP committee’s success should give us hope, but it should not give us pause. It should instead provide the urgency for both the House and Senate to finish their critical work on health reform before the August recess. I want to commend Senator Kennedy, Senator Dodd, as well as Senators Harkin, Mikulski, Bingaman, and Murray on the leadership they’ve shown and the foundation they’ve laid to reform our health care system."

7/15/2009
Remarks by the President on Health Care Reform

7/16/2009
Statement from the President on the American Medical Association's Support for H.R. 3200

7/20/2009
Remarks by the President on Health Care at Children's Hospital

7/21/2009
Remarks by the President on Health Care and the Senate Vote on F-22 Funding

We've agreed that our health reform bill will extend coverage and include unprecedented insurance protections for the American people. Under each of these bills, you won't be denied coverage if you've got a preexisting medical condition. You won't lose your health care if you change jobs, if you lose your job, or if you start a business. And you won't lose your insurance if you get sick.

We've agreed that our health reform bill will promote choice. America -- Americans will be able to compare the price and quality of different plans, and pick the plan that they want. If you like your current plan, you will be able to keep it. Let me repeat that: If you like your plan, you'll be able to keep it. And each bill provides for a public option that will keep insurance companies honest, ensuring the competition necessary to make coverage affordable.

We've agreed that our health reform bill will emphasize prevention and wellness. By investing in programs that help Americans live healthier lives, we will save money, prevent illness, and increase the competitiveness of our country. We've agreed that our health reform bill will protect American families from financial catastrophe if they get sick. That's why each of these bills has out-of-pocket limits that will help ensure that families don't go bankrupt because of illness. And we have agreed that our health reform bill will include dramatic measures to cut costs while improving quality.

Each of these bills improves oversight while cracking down on waste. Each will help reduce unwarranted giveaways to insurance companies in Medicare. And each of these bills will provide incentives so that patients get the best care, not just the most expensive care.

7/22/2009
Excerpts of the President's Opening Remarks at Tonight's News Conference, 7-22-09

That is why I’ve said that even as we rescue this economy from a full-blown crisis, we must rebuild it stronger than before. And health insurance reform is central to that effort.

This is not just about the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance. Reform is about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage if they become too sick, or lose their job, or change their job. It’s about every small business that has been forced to lay off employees or cut back on their coverage because it became too expensive. And it’s about the fact that the biggest driving force behind our federal deficit is the skyrocketing cost of Medicare and Medicaid.

So let me be clear: if we do not control these costs, we will not be able to control our deficit. If we do not reform health care, your premiums and out-of-pocket costs will continue to skyrocket. If we do not act, 14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health insurance every single day. These are the consequences of inaction. These are the stakes of the debate we’re having right now.

I realize that with all the charges and criticisms being thrown around in Washington, many Americans may be wondering, "What’s in this for me? How does my family stand to benefit from health insurance reform?"

Tonight I want to answer those questions. Because even though Congress is still working through a few key issues, we already have agreement on the following areas:

If you already have health insurance, the reform we’re proposing will provide you with more security and more stability. It will keep government out of health care decisions, giving you the option to keep your insurance if you’re happy with it. It will prevent insurance companies from dropping your coverage if you get too sick. It will give you the security of knowing that if you lose your job, move, or change your job, you will still be able to have coverage. It will limit the amount your insurance company can force you to pay for your medical costs out of your own pocket. And it will cover preventive care like check-ups and mammograms that save lives and money.

If you don’t have health insurance, or are a small business looking to cover your employees, you’ll be able to choose a quality, affordable health plan through a health insurance exchange – a marketplace that promotes choice and competition Finally, no insurance company will be allowed to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition.

I have also pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our deficit over the next decade – and I mean it.

7/23/2009
News Conference by the President, July 22, 2009

Q Thank you. To follow up on Jake's question earlier, sir, so many Americans are concerned that this plan, particularly the government insurance, the public option, would lead to reduced benefits or reduced coverage.

Two questions. One, can you guarantee that this legislation will lock in and say the government will never deny any services; that that's going to be decided by the doctor and the patient, and the government will not deny any coverage? And secondarily, can you, as a symbolic gesture, say that you and the Congress will abide by the same benefits in that public option?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, number one, not only the public option but the insurance regulation that we want to put in place will largely match up with what members of Congress are getting through the federal employee plan. That's a good example of what we're trying to build for the American people -- the same thing that Congress enjoys, which is they go -- there is a marketplace of different plans that they can access, depending on what's best for their families.

Now, one of the plans that we've talked about is a public option. And part of the reason we want to have a public option is just to help keep the insurance companies honest. If the insurance companies are providing good care -- and as it is, they're going to be more regulated so that they can't deny you care because of a preexisting condition or because you change jobs or because they've decided you're too sick and not a good risk -- with regulation there's already going to be some improvement in the insurance industry.

But having a public plan out there that also shows that maybe if you take some of the profit motive out, maybe if you are reducing some of the administrative costs, that you can get an even better deal, that's going to incentivize the private sector to do even better. And that's a good thing. That's a good thing.

7/23/2009
Background On The President's Events In Ohio Today

This afternoon President Obama will visit the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. He will be accompanied by Governor Ted Strickland. At the clinic, President Obama will hold a brief discussion with doctors and nurses to not only learn about their innovative health care practices, but to also hear their thoughts on health reform and the current state of our nation’s health care system.

7/23/2009
Remarks by the President at Health Care Reform Town Hall

7/28/2009
Remarks by the President in AARP Tele-Town Hall on Health Care Reform

The other reason we can drive your costs down is you'd be part of a huge pool, right? Part of the reason why large companies are typically able to offer lower insurance premiums for their employees than small companies is they've got a big pool. The federal government is a classic example. The Federal Health Employees Program is a pretty good deal, because you've got several million people who are part of it. So that gives you a lot of bargaining power with the insurers. Well, the exchange will provide that same market power to help negotiate with the insurers to drive prices down.

And the other thing that we do want to do -- now, this is controversial, and I understand some people are worried about this -- we do think that it makes sense to have a public option alongside the private option. So you could still choose a private insurer, but we'd also have a public plan that you could choose from that would be non-for-profit, wouldn't have, hopefully, some of the same high administrative costs, and would be potentially more responsive to your needs at a lower cost. I think that helps keep the insurance companies honest because now they have somebody to compete with.

And I have to say, the reason this has been controversial is a lot of people have heard this phrase "socialized medicine" and they say, we don't want government-run health care; we don't want a Canadian-style plan. Nobody is talking about that. We're saying, let's give you a choice. You can choose the private marketplace, or this other approach.

And I got a letter the other day from a woman; she said, I don't want government-run health care, I don't want socialized medicine, and don't touch my Medicare. (Laughter.) And I wanted to say, well, I mean, that's what Medicare is, is it's a government-run health care plan that people are very happy with. But I think that we've been so accustomed to hearing those phrases that sometimes we can't sort out the myth from the reality.

7/29/2009
Remarks by the President at Town Hall in Raleigh, North Carolina

THE PRESIDENT: I'm for the public option. (Applause.)

So I just want everybody to know, Congress will have time to read the bill. They will have time to debate the bill. They will have all of August to review the various legislative proposals. When we come back in September, I will be available to answer any question that members of Congress have. If they want to come over to the White House and go over line by line what's going on, I will be happy to do that. (Applause.)

We are not trying to hide the ball here. We're trying to get this done. But the American people can't wait any longer. (Applause.) They want action this year. I want action this year. And with your help, we're going to make it happen, North Carolina.

7/29/2009
Statement from the President on Health Insurance Reform Efforts in Congress

"I want to thank the members of both the Senate and House of Representatives for continuing their work on health reform to provide more stability and security for Americans who have insurance, and quality, affordable coverage for those who don’t. I’m especially grateful that so many members, including some Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee, are working so hard to find common ground. Those efforts are extraordinarily constructive in strengthening this legislation and bringing down its cost."

AUGUST

8/1/2009
Statement from the President on House Energy and Commerce Committee Passage of Health Insurance Reform

I’m pleased that the third and final House committee working on health reform legislation has successfully passed a bill that would provide quality, affordable health insurance for all Americans. This historic step by the House Energy and Commerce Committee moves us closer to health insurance reform than we have ever been before.

On Monday, August 3, the White House released a behind-the-scenes video showing how the 10 letters the President reads every day are chosen from the tens of thousands he receives daily. These letters help to inform the President’s position on health insurance reform.

On Saturday, August 8, President Obama emphasized in his weekly radio address that health insurance reform is critical to our nation’s long-term economic growth and dispelled some of the rumors being promoted by those who are defending the status quo.

On Monday, August 10, the White House announced a new Reality Check website that focuses on what reform really means for you and your family, debunks some common myths about health insurance reform, and provides online tools to share.

8/11/2009
Remarks by the President at Town Hall on Health Insurance Reform in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Under our proposal, the majority of Americans will still be getting their health care from private insurers. All we want to do is just make sure that private insurers are treating you fairly so that you are not buying something where if you failed to read the fine print, next thing you know, when you actually get sick, you have no coverage.

We also want to make sure that everybody has some options. So there's been talk about this public option. This is where a lot of the idea of government takeover of health care comes from. All we want to do is set up a set of options so that if you don't have health insurance or you're underinsured you can have the same deal that members of Congress have, which is they can look at a menu of options -- we're calling it an exchange, but it’s basically just a menu of different health care plans -- and you will be able to select the one that suits your family best.

And I do think that having a public option as part of that would keep the insurance companies honest, because if they've got a public plan out there that they've got to compete against, as long as it's not being subsidized by taxpayers, then that will give you some sense of what -- sort of a good bargain for what basic health care would be. (Applause.)

8/14/2009
Remarks by the President in town hall on health care, Belgrade, Montana

That's why what we want to do is create an exchange -- it's like a marketplace -- where you can go and choose from a menu of different options, different kinds of plans that you think might be right for you. And one of the options that's being debated is, should there be a public option, all right? (Applause.) And I want to -- I want to just explain this briefly, because this is where the whole myth of a government takeover of health care comes from. And not everybody -- not even every Democrat -- agrees on the public option, but I just want at least people to be informed about what the debate is about.

The idea is, if you go to that marketplace and you're choosing from a bunch of different options, should one of the options be a government-run plan that still charges you premiums? You still have to pay for it just like private insurance, but government would not -- this government option would not have the same profit motive. It would be obviously like a non-for-profit. It would have potentially lower overhead, so it might be able to give you a better deal, should you be able to choose from that option among many others. That's what the debate is about. (Applause.)

Now, what the opponents of a public option will argue is, you can't have a level playing field; if government gets into the business of providing health insurance, they will drive private insurers out of the health insurance market. That's the argument that's made. (Applause.) And I -- that is a legitimate, it's a fair concern, especially if the public option was being subsidized by taxpayers, right? I mean, if they didn't -- if they could just keep on losing money and still stay in business, after a while they would run everybody else out. And that's why any discussion of a public option has said that it's got to pay for itself, it's not subsidized by private insurers.

The only point I want to make about this is whether you're for or against a public option, just understand that the public option is not a government takeover of health insurance. Everybody here who still has -- who has currently private insurance, you would more than likely still be on your private insurance plan. Employers wouldn't stop suddenly providing health insurance. So that is where this idea of government-run health care came from. It is not an accurate portrayal of the debate that's going on in Washington right now. All right?

8/15/2009
Remarks By The President In Town Hall On Health Care Grand Junction Colorado

THE PRESIDENT: No, I think it's a good question. Thank you. For those of you who have not been following the debate as closely, let me just describe what this issue of the public plan is all about. And to do so, I've got to describe how we're looking to provide health insurance for people who currently don't have it. I spent most of my time talking about what we would do for folks who have health insurance, but we've still got 46 million uninsured and I think it is the right thing to provide them with some help. Most of them work. Most of them are responsible. But their employer -- maybe they work for a small business -- their employer just can't afford it because they don't have the bargaining power to get low enough rates to cover all their employees. That's a big category of the uninsured.

So what we've said is, let's set up what's called a health insurance exchange. It's essentially a marketplace where you could go online and you'd have a menu of options, most of them private insurers -- Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield -- insurance companies that wanted to participate, and they would list a range of plans just like when Mike and Mark want to get health insurance as members of the Senate, they go on to this exchange for federal health care -- for federal employees, and they select which plan works best for their families.

So we want everybody to be able to access that and choose which plan works best for them. And if they can't afford it, even though we'd have a lot of bargaining power, we'd be able to get the same kinds of rates that really big companies are able to get or the federal system is able to get, some people will still not be able to afford it, and then we would provide some subsidies. And there would be certain rules governing any insurance company that's participating: You couldn't exclude for preexisting conditions; you couldn't have a lifetime cap; you'd have to limit out-of-pocket expenses. So all the insurance rules that I talked about, that would be part of the deal if you as an insurer wanted to sell insurance through this exchange.

So far, so good. The argument around public option is, should one of the choices -- not the only choice -- but one of the choices on that exchange be a public option? And the idea here would be that a government-run non-for-profit would have its own option that people could sign up for -- they wouldn't have to, but they could sign up for it -- and if it could keep its costs lower and provide a good-quality service and good benefits, then that would help keep the insurance companies honest -- (applause) -- because the idea being -- the idea being that as a non-for-profit, potentially with lower administrative costs, they could do a good job.

Now, the insurance companies have come back and said, well, that's not fair, because nobody can compete against the government. They have a legitimate point if, if what's being done is the government is either subsidizing that government plan -- essentially taking taxpayer money and saying, here, we'll just keep on spending money regardless of whether you run a good operation or not, then it's hard for insurance companies to compete against that. And by the way, it would be wildly expensive for taxpayers.

So I've already said a public option can only work if they have to collect premiums just like a private insurer and compete on a level playing field. That's point number one.

The second argument that's been made is the one that you just made, which is, if public option is reimbursing at Medicaid rates that are substantially lower than what private insurers have to negotiate for, then eventually, over time, private insurers might be run out of business. So that's the second argument.

Now, what's happened in the House bill, that as it's been modified, is they've actually said we're going to negotiate rates, they won't be Medicaid rates. So that actually solves the problem that you're addressing, because now this would be a negotiated process and prices would not be set just to Medicaid. All right?

Now, there's a third argument against the public option, and this is the one, really, that you've been hearing mostly about, and that is just this idea that we shouldn't have government involved at all, that government is part of the problem, not part of the solution, to quote Ronald Reagan. (Applause.) We've got some supporters of that view. And I guess the only -- look, I think you can have a legitimate position just saying you don't want to see more government involvement. I understand the argument. The only thing I would point out is, is that Medicare is a government program that works really well for our seniors and has protected people -- (applause) -- hold on one second, let's not start yelling.

It's true that it's expensive, but the truth is that actually the cost of Medicare inflation has actually gone up at a slower rate than private insurance. So it's not because it's mismanaged; it's because of what was referred to in the first question -- the whole health care system is out of whack and way too expensive. It's not government, per se. It has to do with the fact that the health care system itself, the delivery systems, are not working the way they should.

So if you just believe the government shouldn't be involved in anything, or shouldn't be involved in health care, period, then you're right that you can't support the kind of reform that we're proposing. The only thing I want to make sure of, though, is you've got to -- you make an honest argument, because nobody is talking about government takeover of health care. There's a difference between what we're proposing, which has some government involvement, versus this idea that somehow government is going to take over everything and get between your and doctor. That's not what we're proposing.

So we can have an honest disagreement, but I just want to be clear on what the debate is about. It's about this narrow issue of the public plan. It's not about somehow eliminating private insurance. Everybody who has currently private insurance that works for them will be able to keep private insurance under the proposals that have been made in Congress. All right? (Applause.)

8/20/2009
Remarks by the President at the Organizating for America National Health Care Forum

So that is absolutely critical. Now, one of the options we want to provide them is a public option, and there's been -- this has been a confusion around this -- (applause) -- there's been a lot of confusion about this, so let me just clarify. I think a public option is important. And let me explain why.

We're going to have a marketplace where people can select the options that work best for them, the insurance plan that works best for them. A lot of those choices, the overwhelming majority of those choices, will be private insurance options, just like members of Congress have -- they're allowed to choose from various proposals or various plans that are part of the federal employees' health plan.

But what we do think is if we have a public option in there, that can help keep insurers honest; it can provide a benchmark for what an affordable basic plan should look like. And so even though we've got a whole bunch of insurance regulations that ensure that any private insurer that's participating in the exchange is giving you a fair deal, this is sort of like the belt-and-suspenders concept -- it means that not only do they have to abide by these regulations, but they also have to compete with somebody whose interest is not just profit but instead is interested in making sure that the American people get decent care.

Now, having said that -- (applause) -- having said that, I want everybody to be clear that the public option is just one option. It will be voluntary. Nobody is talking about you having to be in the public option. Only -- the only thing that we're talking about is this being available to you as a choice, expanding consumer choice. And we think that's a good idea.

8/22/2009
WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Debunks "Phony Claims" about Health Reform; Emphasizes Consumer Protections

Now, the source of a lot of these fears about government-run health care is confusion over what’s called the public option. This is one idea among many to provide more competition and choice, especially in the many places around the country where just one insurer thoroughly dominates the marketplace. This alternative would have to operate as any other insurer, on the basis of the premiums it collects. And let me repeat – it would be just an option; those who prefer their private insurer would be under no obligation to shift to a public plan.

The insurance companies and their allies don’t like this idea, or any that would promote greater competition. I get that. And I expect there will be a lot of discussion about it when Congress returns.

Health Reform Features and Events

White House Reports on Health Reform

Online Series on Health Reform

[phleshdef]

1. Thank you for this. People sayin he needs to lead don't even know what THEY mean by that.

[ProSense]

2. No, they are disingenuous and don't want people to know the truth.

Repeating a bogus meme over and over to create the impression that it is a fact.

[Peacetrain]

62. And it does get exhausting trying to bring them back on board

So many times, "some" are just ready to jump ship, and they are jumping on republican talking points and not looking at reality. Thank you for OP.

[nevergiveup]

3. The naysayers/pessimists tend to rule around here.

Thanks for the optimism this morning.

[jefferson_dem]

4. Well done, ProSense.

This is an ace compilation!

:thumbsup:

[Undercurrent]

5. Thank you!

There is a lot of willful ignorance on BOTH ends of the political spectrum. The vast majority is agenda driven, and incorporates both personal agendas (I-was-right-you-were-wrong), and a huge dose of injected/manufactured (astro turfing etc.). The common denominator is fact avoidance fueled by a reliance on the msm/talk shows, and their prepackaged non facts.

:typo fix:

[BklnDem75]

6. They have an agenda

When this issue is done, it'll be something else. Count on it.

[phleshdef]

7. If tomorrow, he ended both wars, got us single payer, repealed DOMA & DADT, he would still be...

...accused of being a center right corporatist who doesn't know how to seal the deal. These people and their whiny, unreasonable, instant gratification oriented mindsets are why we always screw up when we finally put a GOOD PERSON with relatively progressive values in office.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

28. Heh. I almost completely forgot about the whole "seal/close the deal" meme from the campaign

We can laugh about it now! :rofl:

[ProSense]

17. Evidently they're also afraid of facts

To quote Pelosi: for the past month, opponents of health insurance reform have demonstrated that they are afraid of the facts.

[treestar]

67. Seems that way

It is disheartening too, because the far right never abandons their politicians. There are actual freepers who thought McPain "too liberal." I kid you not. But they never would have criticized every single damn thing he did or the way he did it.

[chimpymustgo]

8. "Remarks" and "statements" AREN'T GETTING IT DONE. Nice try, while the people SUFFER.

[ProSense]

10. These aren't just remarks and statements. What should he be doing?

Nice try with your nonsense.

[Political Tiger]

20. Exactly! What else is he supposed to do?

I notice he hasn't answered you!

[joeycola]

21. He needs to get his grassroots motivated like he did

during the primaries and gen. election. He needs to put some passion into his calls--not just issue statements from his oval office. And face it-he needs to be definitive as there has been to much wishy washing mush coming from him and his advisers.

[ProSense]

23. If you're that interested, you're going to have to pay attention

Obama supporters plan pro-health overhaul push

WASHINGTON – Supporters of President Barack Obama's health care agenda are ramping up their efforts with rallies and bus tours starting this week, aiming to counter increasing public skepticism leading up to Congress' post-Labor Day return to Washington.

<...>

Health Care for America Now is coordinating its efforts with Organizing for America, the Obama campaign organization now melded into the national Democratic Party, which reputedly has an e-mail list of up to 13 million names.

Organizing for America plans a bus tour beginning Wednesday in cities including Phoenix, Albuquerque, N.M., Denver, Des Moines, Iowa, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, N.C., and Milwaukee. The bus will make 11 stops between Wednesday and Sept. 3.

Some 2,000 events are planned around the country through Labor Day, according to Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine. The wide range of events include phone bank calling and rallies.

-more-

Posted here

On Thursday, August 20th, President Obama hosted a National Health Care Forum at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.

An incredible 280,000 Organizing for America supporters watched live online or listened in by phone as the President discussed the ongoing health care campaign, answered questions, and directly addressed many of the myths and misinformation regarding health insurance reform.

Posted here


Thousands of Obama former staffers, volunteers and donors have signed PCC's public option petition

[joeycola]

26. I know about those. But there is no passion anymore for Obama

to actually do his own fighting for a MEANINGFUL Public option.

[ProSense]

34. You didn't know about those, or you wouldn't have made the statement you did.

Passion? You've got to be joking.

[chimpymustgo]

54. He should be doing the POLITICAL heavy lifting to get Congress behind real reform.

He's managed to let something THE PEOPLE WANT AND VOTED FOR slip away to a travesty.

[ProSense]

55. What political heavy lifting?

Describe what you mean by that.


"He's managed to let something THE PEOPLE WANT AND VOTED FOR slip away to a travesty."

What the hell are you talking about? Nothing has slipped away, there are bills written in Congress and a vote is imminent. The President is going to sign a bill, nothing has slipped away.

[Baltoman991]

13. Yeah, leave it

to a hater to try and downplay the facts prosense provided.

Whats the matter, can't come up with anything better? The fact is he's been out pushing the reform for months. You choosing not to want to accept that fact is your problem. But then again, admitting he's been pushing wouldn't fit into your agenda right?

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[zulchzulu]

22. Send me the link where Obama has the powers of a monarchistic King... Thanks!

:puke:

[treestar]

59. The far left is as bad as the far right

Have to be objective about that.

I am still surprised that after defending Obama and the Democrats arguing with right wingers, I come to DU and have to defend him more!

[jonnyblitz]

24. I knew this thread would be a cut -and -paste of SPEECHES ,

not action. another sad attempt at SPINNNNNING by NoSense.

[phleshdef]

36. Wheres the spinning? Its not Pro-Sense's fault that you don't understand the President's job.

[ProSense]

38. "SPINNNNNING by NoSense." Idiotic! n/t

[Butch350]

90. I guess you need a hug. Missing bush are you.

[phleshdef]

35. Thats what a freakin' President DOES?!! He doesn't DICTATE bills!

He lends his ideas YES. But there is a separation of power between branches of this government for a REASON. He can choose to sign or not to sign, but aside from that, making "remarks" and "statements" to rally support for what he believes is the right way is what he is suppose to do.

What the hell is wrong with people? They criticize the way a person is doing their job with no clue as to what the purpose of that job is.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

9. He hasn't really led. He's explained the principles of reform, the public option etc.

But he allowed Congress to write the bills.

[ProSense]

11. Congress is supposed to write the bill.

He tasked them to write a bill that included his basic principles, and they did. He's been actively discussing with leaders in business and non-profit organization and engaging Americans.

What else should he be doing?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

14. I think he needed to tell Congress specific things that HAD to be in the bill

So that he could speak about what the bill would be to people, instead of trying to cover all the bases about reform.

[ProSense]

15. He told them what should be in the bill. He isn't writing it. You keep insisting that he does.

That is not his job.

And he's done a extensive job of laying out the principles and the goals repeatedly.

[Vattel]

29. thanks for once again compiling useful information.

One comment though. You say that it's not his job to write legislation. Correct me if I'm wrong, but nothing prevents him from proposing specific legislation to Congress--in effect, drafting a Bill for them. And he is certainly free to specify in advance precisely what a Health Care Reform Bill must contain to avoid his veto. I think he has done a good job outlining some of the principles that are vital to successful health care reform. Should he have done more? That's an open question in my mind.

[ProSense]

32. Clinton.

He can draft a proposal, but someone in Congress has to agree to shepherd it through Congress. The first thing that would likely happen is that it would be rewritten and extensively amended anyway. The process would not change. That was part of what tripped up Clinton.

Obama Demands: The Bill I Sign Must Include Public Option

[Vattel]

41. Do you think he stands by that demand today?

I genuinely do not know. I haven't even been following the news on this very closely. (which is one reason a post like your is useful; it helps bring me up to speed)

[ProSense]

43. Sorry, I can't read his mind. The OP contains the known facts. n/t

[Vattel]

44. Fair enough

I just hope the members of Congress don't need to read his mind to know where he stands.

[treestar]

71. So he's not going to sign it without a public option

Most of what goes on here on DU is just noise then.

[treestar]

69. That is Congress' job?

Hello? What country are we in? On what planet do you reside?

[Clio the Leo]

12. Another excellent OP. NT

[Cha]

18. Thank you enormously for compling this information

Pro Sense.

So many people want to be President Obama but they didn't get out and do the work, did they?..no, they excel at the whining now.

[Political Tiger]

19. K & R and bookmarked! n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

25. K & R! Boy, I'm tired of hearing people here say that over and over again

I think, however, that some people equate "strong-arming", cajoling, demanding, and/or threatening to veto bills that don't have "x, y, or z" with "leadership" when the two actually have little or nothing to do with each other and anybody who's read his book knows that none of those things appear to be part of his "style". OTOH, none of us are privy to anything going on behind closed doors, so maybe he is being more aggressive and we won't know it from what we get from the corporate mediawhores. It definitely looks like Obama will be stepping up a bit more this upcoming week with his address regarding Health Care Reform and the WH may be (or may not be depending on which sources you read) drafting its own bill but it's not like, as you point out, he has been doing absolutely nothing this entire time and I believe that some of his aloofness and detachment has been far from accidental but rather designed to let Congress "have a say" in where this legislation goes, as well as allow the Republicans to "show themselves" and wear themselves out- leaving the circumstances ripe for him and the Democrats to win in the end. We won't, of course, know for sure until this is all over nor is anybody completely sure at this point what any final proposal might look like but I feel confident that Obama IS leading and that he knows what he is doing.

[ProSense]

31. Good point

"some people equate 'strong-arming', cajoling, demanding, and/or threatening to veto bills that don't have 'x, y, or z' with 'leadership'"

Has anyone even considered who Obama is supposed to be strong-arming? He's spoken to Baucus prior to the break when Obama and most Democrats were pissed at him for dragging his feet. Then came the September 15 deadline.

Reports indicate he has talked to Snowe. Still, who is he supposed to be strong arming? At the beginning of the break there were 37 Democratic Senators in the yes column on a public option, now there are 49.

The House is locked up to vote for the bill. In fact, it's the members of Congress who are most vocal in stating that they will not vote for a bill without a public option. Since they're writing the bill, who is Obama supposed to be strong-arming? I'm sure a few nudges from Obama and key Senators will amass enough votes to pass the bill. At the very least a couple of votes seals the number needed to pass it via reconciliation.

Maybe they want Obama to strong-arm himself since he's the one they're convince isn't fully behind a public option.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

37. Thanks

Maybe Obama will end up *reluctantly* "going along" with a Public Option if it can survive Congress. Maybe his recent statements/activity are meant to merely add some "fuel" to the fire and see how hard Congress is going to fight for a PO. :shrug: If that's what he's doing, it's quite ingenious. And the Pubs will have been SO rolled.

[Phx_Dem]

27. Nice job, Prosense. It's a ridiculous and untrue argument.

The other argument is that Obama hasn't been fighting. Bullshit. How many of the people saying that have been in the dozens of meetings at the White House with Congressional leaders, or on numerous phone calls? Just because Obama doesn't air his shit on TV doesn't mean he isn't fighting.

The last thing a leader should do is lay down a marker on national TV so the talking heads and twist it and take it completely out of context and then call you a flip flopper if things change. Pelosi is gonna learn that the hard way.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

30. I'm sure Obama paid attention to what happened to Clinton and Kerry

when it looked like they were shifting positions and ended up getting RELENTLESSLY attacked as a "waffler" and "flip flopper". Obama's strategy of keeping everybody guessing and "plausible deniability" IMHO has been a good thing for us, at least apart from creating a lot of "angst" on our side. Actually, in face of new evidence and/or enlightenment, I think we would be a whole lot better off as a country if MORE of our leaders shifted their positions once in a while but the right wing, which not only has no interest in nor desire to "evolve" but is also VERY inconsistent and hypocritical themselves, LOVES to attack Democrats for changing positions on things all the time.

[Krashkopf]

33. Any "reform" that does NOT include a strong public option is a "SELL OUT" to the insurance industry.

Show me one place where President Obama says "Any reform congress sends me MUST include a strong public option."

THAT is what a LEADER would do.

[phleshdef]

39. Yea a LEADER would act like a dictator and make demands that result in no bill at all...

...so he can threaten to turn down cutting wastes from medicare, turn down funding a standardized electronic medical system, turn down regulating insurance companies by restricting their immoral pre-existing condition policies and dropping coverage when its needed.

You people are ridiculous. You don't even know what the word "LEADER" means. No one who is criticizing Obama's job right now would make anywhere close to the progress he has made in his very short time in office. This is all just a bunch loud mouthed chest beating with nothing to back it up other than thinking you actually said something meaningful by putting the word "LEADER" in all caps.

[ProSense]

42. Hey, if that's all it takes.

Obama passed the test.

[Krashkopf]

50. That IS all it would take . . .

show me one place where he has actually said it!

[ProSense]

53. "show me one place where he has actually said it!" Wait, are you the

same person I responded to here?

[Phx_Dem]

47. Amen to that. n/t

[ProSense]

40. "Show...where...Obama says "Any reform congress sends me MUST...THAT is what a LEADER would do."

Obama Demands: The Bill I Sign Must Include Public Option

[Krashkopf]

Very Close . . . but no cigar

Here is the President's quote . . .

ny plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family.

Granted, that is as close as he has ever come to saying "health care reform MUST contain a public option" but he has left himself just enough wiggle-room to support an "insurance exchange" that does not include a public option.

It kind of reminds me of "it depends on what the definition of 'is' is."

I hope you are right, ProSense. I hope Obama comes out FDR-strong on Wednesday night and says, clearly, and unequivically, states "Any plan I sign MUST include a strong, universal, comprehensive, public option." If he does, I will be the first one here to happily admit that I was WRONG.

Will you come here on Wednesday night and publicly admit that you were wrong if Obama backs away from the public option?

[ProSense]

64. Sure, no cigar, just ignore the rest of the statement to justify the fact that you're wrong.

Any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family.

See how that works?

[Krashkopf]

68. So are you going to come here to admit it if we get sold out?

[ProSense]

73. Don't ask me to join your stupid game. n/t

[Krashkopf]

75. I take that to be a "No." Why am I not surprised.

[ProSense]

78. Take it however you want to, it's your stupid game. n/t

[Krashkopf]

92. That's the difference between you, and me . . .

I HOPE I am wrong. You are afraid I am RIGHT.

I will happily admit that I was wrong, if Obama "stands up" on Wednesday night. What are YOU going to do if he "sells out"!? Change screen names?

[treestar]

57. A lot of people work in the insurance industry

It has to be taken into account somehow.

Still don't understand Democratic opposition to the public option, though. Unless it is simply the discovery that they have power and just want to use it for that sake - the Democratic Senators realizing that Snowe and Spector had so much power with the Senate's rules.

[Krashkopf]

61. So what . . .

the for profit health insurance industry exists for one reason, and one reason only . . . to deny benefits to its premium-paying customers so as to generate profits for its shareholders and enrich its corporate officers.

I defy anyone to explain any positive role played by the for profit health insurance industry in this country.

[treestar]

66. What about all the people who work for it?

See, that's the problem.

When I worked in a firm of trial lawyers, we didn't want no fault insurance, because we perceived our jobs not being needed any more.

Why is it only auto workers and computer programmers whose jobs are to be defended?

These people work in America, too, which is supposedly bleeding manufacturing jobs. And you can bet that big business and the medical profession are scaring their employees the same way our employers scared us on the no-fault insurance issue.

[Krashkopf]

74. So . . . let them find a more "soul affirming" line of work

They make money by denying health care to sick people for god's sake.

Again, I defy anyone to explain any positive contribution that the for profit health insurance industry makes to society.

The for profit health insurance industry is a leach on the body politic, that sucks up 30% of every health care dollar spent in this country. The sooner we are rid of it, the better.

[Mystayya]

45. You sure are a Pro at spinning !

[ProSense]

46. Spinning? Don't use words you don't know the meaning of.

The President's actual events, meetings, reports, speeches, statements and other activities are not spin.

[FrenchieCat]

48. Thank you for what you do here at DU......

Considering that we are dealing with a bunch of memory hole infected "Yeah, but what has he done for me lately" folks, I don't know what we'd do without you.....

:hi:

[yowzayowzayowza]

88. 2nd that!!! n/t

[depakid]

49. There's a difference between "leading" and "leading effectively"

[ProSense]

52. Even with the qualifier "effectively"

the OP represents effective leadership. After all Obama has said and done, he is not responsible for people who wish to distort, panic and believe the media. He simply cannot control people.

[depakid]

58. Effective leadership acheives preset goal, controls the agenda and frames the debate

No one can honestly argue that's been the case with this issue.

[ProSense]

63. Yes, one can.

Obama set the goal: public option.

Check out what's being debated and the calls: President Obama, please deliver what you promised.

Goal, set, waiting on match. A bill will be signed.

Like I said, Obama is not responsible for those who wish to distort, panic and believe the media.

[depakid]

65. Not honestly

His (and the administration's) rhetoric has vacillated and been ineffective. Whether Congress muddles through in spite of that isn't relevant to the issue.

[ProSense]

70. "His (and the administration's) rhetoric has vacillated and been ineffective." What nonsense.

You simply will say anything to justify your distortions. There is absolutely no vacillating in any of his statements in the OP.

[treestar]

72. Exact thing my freeper friends say

It amazes me to confront the same crap on DU.

[depakid]

91. That you have freeper friends says a lot

about your credibility and perhaps your character- or the lack thereof.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

51. No shit.

Obama haters have nothing to offer but lies.

[treestar]

56. I never know what they mean by "lead" anyway

That seems to imply that the President can always get his/her way. The "arm twisting" what is that? What threats do they think should be made to Senators?

Obama respects the Constitution. And the Senate and its rules unfortunately give some people a certain power - perhaps that is not a good thing, but it exists.

[Odin2005]

60. Many posters seem to think that the President is a dicator.

No wonder they like Chavez so much.

[ipaint]

76. Poll: Most Don't Know What "Public Option" Is -- Including Pollsters

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/08/poll-most-dont-know-what-public-option.html

At this point that is a massive fail on obama's part.
I can find no information on the white house sites or in your links which explains what an effective, strong, or robust public option is or how to create one that will maximize the benefits it is supposed to produce such as cost controls and limiting the insurance companies power over premium rates. Most people think the public option in the house bills is strong. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

For years people have been told that the paperwork and overhead that come with for profit insurance wastes millions of dollars and we pay for it yet I can find nothing in obama's many appearances that addresses that fact with an explanation as to what the undefined public option he backs does to remedy that.

People voted for change, they expect change and they are not listening to the crazy right wing fringe. Obama has their support and attention. His poll numbers prove that. Yet most people cannot figure out what he means by public option, strong public option, robust public option, the sliver which is the public option and now the perpetually unpulled trigger which is the public option.

Leading in order to effect change means getting info to people so we can pressure our representatives. Where is the website that explains the public option, how strong it needs to be to influence for profit premiums, how many people need to participate for maximum effectiveness, what type of public option gives us the most bang for the buck, etc, etc.

If it is just a sliver, why? How will just a very small portion of the overall health reform package bring down costs if it is severely limited. Without a public option how are cost controlled?



You see if people really get the info the need, if they are told the truth the majority will demand an end to for profit private insurance and the drug companies criminal stranglehold on our lives and health.
Obama clearly does not back that amount of change.

[ProSense]

77. Poll: "Six in 10 people... say they understand most of the major points in Obama's reform proposals"

From your link:

However, when they ask people how they feel about the public option...Seventy-nine percent of the poll's respondents -- including 61 percent of Republicans -- say they'd support this proposal.

See, the point of the article was the various definitions of a public option, not the amount of support a public option has, in this case 79 percent.

Now contrast:

Six in 10 people questioned say they understand most of the major points in Obama's reform proposals...

[ipaint]

81. And what will happen when this isn't in any bill?

"On one of the most contentious points — a health insurance plan administered by the federal government that would compete with private health insurers — 55 percent say they support it when it is described as an option that the government would offer to the public. Most believe that Obama would eventually like to see the government run the health care system in this country.

Six in 10 people questioned say they understand most of the major points in Obama's reform proposals, with four in 10 saying they are confused."


Is that what obama considers a public option? One strong enough to eventually eliminate private health ins.? Is that the same public option that is but a sliver of a huge reform bill? I've talked to people who believe obama backs a choice of medicare for everyone when he refers to the public option.

Nothing that has emerged in any bill so far comes close to what the people in that poll think obama means by a public option. Nothing obama has said comes close to that.

People believed Obama when he said it's time for change. People also know the for profit medical industry is bleeding them dry both financially and physically. Most people either know of or have a person in their own family who has suffered and died because of lack of access to care. If a weak (current bills) to non existent trigger public option backed by the president is what comes out of all this turmoil and drama, Obama will get the blame along with a traitor congress. When the consequences of the mandate combined with no strong public option starts hitting folks, which obama also doesn't address anywhere, the shit will hit the fan.

[ProSense]

82. So instead of admitting that you didn't understand what you posted, you ask me to predict

something based on your misinterpretation and speculation?

[ipaint]

83. I understood what I posted and what you posted.

My question is- the public option folks at your link seem to think they understand the public option Obama mentions in his speeches, so the problem is still-

What does Obama mean when he uses the term public option, what are the goals and how strong does it need to be. He's never mentioned eventually putting the ins. companies out of business. He's never mentioned medicare for all as Dean has. He has diminished the public option by referring to it as a sliver when it needs to be the centerpiece to succeed in driving down costs.

People according to your link instinctively know that the public option needs to be strong to be effective. They think Obama will fight for it. Is that the type of public option Obama is referring to?

Who knows, but we will all find out. Too bad involving all of us in the discussion of our health care futures didn't include information and facts instead of town halls and staged industry round tables with the knowledge and info depth of late night infomercials.

Some folks are allowed to participate though:

http://www.citizensforethics.org/files/20090904%20-%20Summary%20of%20Health%20Care%20Visits.pdf

[ProSense]

84. "What does Obama mean when he uses the term public option" Why ask me, can't you read the OP? n/t

[ipaint]

87. One can't lead if they are unable define the policy they are advocating for

to the faithful never mind those who prefer to question authority. And if the unwavering faithful can't describe the policy the so called leader is advocating how the heck can that be defined as strong leadership.

[HopeOverFear]

79. thanks

[NYC_SKP]

80. Kicked and Recommended! nt

[rug]

85. How long would it have taken to draft a bill and send it to Congress?

[chieftain]

86. The lack of leadership has been in the Senate.

How Max Baucus was given the role he has been given is beyond me. However this turns out, Max and Ben and the rest of these weaklings need to be punished where it counts with them. Take away their plum committee assignments,; take away their chairmanships. If Reid isn't up to that task, put Durbin in as Majority Leader.No rewards for people actively joining with the GOP to sabotage a Democratic President.

[Butch350]

89. Can I get a link to that info?