Reaction from Grijalva, via TPM

[Enrique]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/grijalva-were-glad-obama-didnt-throw-the-public.php

I just got off the phone with Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)--co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. His takeaway from the speech was pretty simple: Though the President didn't go all the way on the public option, the fact that he addressed and endorsed it means the fight for the public option will live another day.

"It was very encouraging," Grijalva said. "Obviously our policy point is the public plan and I thought the President dealt with it. He didn't get into a lot of specificity of what he does support and doesn't support."

In an official statement, which I've pasted below, Grijalva said "the President needs to be more direct on what the public option means and what it will do for the American people."

Grijalva's bar was admittedly pretty low: "The fact that the public plan was not thrown under the bus keeps our expectations that we'll be able to work with at least the House leadership to pass a strong public plan," Grijalva said.

"If he would have mentioned nothing of a public role in health care it would have made our effort much, much more difficult," Grijalva added. "Going in we really didn't know what the President would do."

As I reported earlier today, a planned meeting between House liberals and Obama scheduled for yesterday never happened

Noted Grijalva: "The fact that he didn't mention triggers is encouraging. the fact that he didn't mention co-ops is encouraging." (The President did not use either the word trigger or the word co-op, but he did allude to both policy proposals)

Ultimately, though, Grijalva gave the speech a fairly positive review--he said that it will allow a strong press for the public option to continue.

[Uzybone]

1. Grijalva should stop drinking the KOOL AID AND WAKE UP!!!111!

[Jennicut]

2. Good. Two major critics were satisfied tonight (so far anyway).

Grijalva and Hildebrand.
I like Grijalva for staying steady as a rock on the public option.

[Mojambo]

3. I think he has a fair take

Perhaps a tad more optimistic than I.

I would quibble that though Obama may not have used the words "trigger" and "co-op" he certainly did appear open to the concept of both. That is not a good sign, IMO.

[LooseWilly]

4. Once again, the President Nobly Does Not Get In The Way.

A public option for those without insurance... but does that mean only those who can't get insurance once it's mandated?... Or anyone who needs insurance?

The wonders of a wide open definition... like a bookie hedging bets... or moveable goal posts.

Hopefully the Congress Gremlins will pull off a miracle.