Obama must vow to veto any plan without a public option.

[Cyrano]

Without such a vow, anything else he says is meaningless.

He may say he's all for a public option.

He may say Americans need a public option.

He may say ... oh, what the hell. Pick what it is that you want to hear.

But I want to hear one thing in tonight's speech. And that's a vow that he will veto any health care plan that doesn't have a public option.

I don't think it's to harsh to say that this is my personal line in the sand.

[polichick]

1. I'd bet he won't do that - he'll support the po but go no further. nt

[quantass]

22. +1 = He will "strongly support" the PO but will NEVER say VETO or Threaten. Shame. nt

[Becky72]

2. I agree, for he promised a public option

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/flashback-last-month-obama-said-reform-must-include-public-option/

The House and much of the Senate (and the American people, most importantly) want a public option.

[Uzybone]

3. but he will not see a bill without a public option, its an empty threat

The House will not pass a bill without a PO. It will be nice theatrics but completely empty. Folks need to grow up and look past meaningless gestures.

[Cyrano]

5. I'm not talking about a meaningless gesture or an empty threat.

It's time to lay his presidency on the line.

Without the internet, Obama would not be in the White House. Most of us here went all out to get him there. If he sells us out on this issue, most of us will be looking around for another candidate in 2012.

Further, by stating he will veto any health care plan that doesn't have a public option, he'll be throwing the ball right back into the laps of the blue dogs. How many of them do you think really have the balls to go against the president of their party? And if they do, they'll get zero party support when they're up for reelection.

There are some things for which it's worth going "all in." Let's see if President Obama believes this is one of them.

[Uzybone]

7. the point is that a bill w/o a Public Option will not pass the House

no need to threaten a veto when there is no chance he will use it. Its nice theatrics and will get people all excited but it does nothing to move the bill forward.

The blue dogs should be in trouble regardless. The have stood pretty solidly in the path of reform.

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. That's where I'm at.

Obama holds the cards as to what final bill is acceptable, because there is no way in Hell they could get 67 votes to override a veto.

So if they send him a shit bill - anything less than a true, untriggered public option - he needs to send it back and tell them to do it over.

[quantass]

6. Although i 100% agree he will DEFINITELY NOT say that -- It has been very clear by the Hints

Sadly he will not say that. he will just say it is essential but he is open to further ideas and discussion which is like saying i am willing to drop it if something else comes along ... This scares me because it says he will likely settle for a "trigger" for the public option which is a disaster since it just kicks the can down the road and we end up with a mess like Medicare Part D. Sadly this is highly likely to happen tonight, setting the motions for the trigger. We can hope though.

[Laelth]

10. I fear you are absolutely correct. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[phleshdef]

8. No, he shouldn't. He should only vow a veto if it has Baucus's mandatory fines for uninsured crap...

...otherwise he would be vetoing a lot of good stuff that isn't the public option. Don't get me wrong, I want a public option and I believe President Obama wants a public option. But to turn down all the other possible good things in the bill would be a bad move.

[Laelth]

9. It must be a ROBUST public option.

Just any old weak public option will not do. It must be big enough to provide a real alternative, drive down prices, and keep the insurance companies honest. Anything less is just a massive Federal bail-out of the health insurance cabal.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Phx_Dem]

11. And cut is nose off to spite his face. Don't think so!! n/t

[Cyrano]

12. Actually, he'd be cutting off our support and spitting in our faces.

There must be some things in a civilized society that are non-negotiable.

For many millions of us, universal health care is one of those things. Well, it seems that we've already accepted the fact that universal health care just ain't gonna happen.

So we have already compromised to the point of a "public option." Anything less will make Obama a one-term president. And a disgraced one at that.

[democrat2thecore]

13. BINGO!...+1.... Absolutely!.... nt

[quiller4]

14. Not my support he wouldn't. I voted for reform. I didn't then and

don't now insist on a public option. I attended my district Democratic meeting last week. Although a majority support a public option, all but 2 of the 60+ people there would accept a reform package without a public option.

[flaminbats]

16. that's what Republicans do if they win elections..

if LBJ said that Medicare would be vetoed if it wasn't universal, or if Clinton had vetoed Kennedy-Kassebaum if it was too expensive..they would be cutting off our support and spitting in our faces!

when Republicans say health care is a privilege not a right, when they say universal coverage is too expensive, and when they say helping the poor..uninsured, and disabled is un-American they are spitting in our faces and loving every moment of it!! :kick:

[Phx_Dem]

17. Exactly right. But Progressives would rather keep the status quo

than regulations to protect consumers if they can't have everything they want, because they're the only people who count doncha know.

[phleshdef]

21. Yea, I'd rather good things that can pass do get passed and we just keep working for greater things.

People don't even realize that this would still be the most sweeping health reform bill of this generation, even without the public option. Not having a public option or single payer or something of the like is still not acceptible. I'd rather win a battle and progress to keep fighting the good war than straight lose a battle and maintain a stalemate.

[Phx_Dem]

18. delete (dupe)

[BeyondGeography]

15. Political suicide

See "Clinton, Bill, Health care legislation mistakes."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/health/policy/06lessons.html

[cleveramerican]

19. never happen

I don't think he'll risk defeat that way.

[BzaDem]

20. Not a chance. n/t