Obama Tepid on Public Option

[Better Believe It]

Obama Tepid on Public Option
By Matthew Rothschild
September 9, 2009

The sadness is that almost Obama’s entire speech could be read as a splendid brief for universal single-payer health care, or at least Medicare for all who want it.

But when Obama got down to specifics, he gave only tepid support to the public option.

Hell, from the sounds of his speech, the public option is a goner.

When he finally got around to discussing the concept, he used the word “can” instead of “must”: “An additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange.”

And after he went on defending the virtues of his diluted public option (the only people who could join would be the uninsured), he then tiptoed away from it.

“Its impact shouldn't be exaggerated – by the left, the right, or the media,” he said. “It is only one part of my plan, and should not be used as a handy excuse for the usual Washington ideological battles.” He called it “only a means” to an end.

He then suggested he’d be open to co-ops instead, or a trigger later on for a public option if the private insurers don’t behave themselves.

You could almost see the white flag in his suit coat pocket.

It’s a pity that a President with such intelligence and such eloquence and, yes, “large heartedness” has not used his attributes—along with his power and popularity—in service of the most sensible and profound solution to the health care problem.

Instead, he’s left the private insurance companies and the drug companies running the show.

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.progressive.org/wx090909.html

[bluestateguy]

1. NO HE ISN'T!!!!!

I'm sick of this bullshit from amatuer reporting by conjecture and impressionistic assumption, AND the people here who eat it all up like little children in a candy store.

[Windy]

4. Agreed. Its ridiculous! nt

[tridim]

5. Agreed, it's pathetic.

I'm glad these "progressives" aren't in power. I'm extremely progressive minded, but I will never join their whine-fest club. I will never follow losers.

[bluestateguy]

6. The left has a contingent of whiners

That's just a fact. Professional victims and crybabies.

[TheWraith]

13. I call them the suicide doves.

Those who would rather be wailing and beating their chests and feeling persecuted than ever get ANYTHING done that's one iota less than their exact personal vision.

[Becky72]

20. I think he was tepid

He said he supports the public option; but he is open to other ideas and thought co-ops were a "constructive" suggestion that should be explored. He also told those in the "left and right" to "not exaggerate the impact of the public option."

I consider that tepid.

[WI_DEM]

2. Keep trying.

[emulatorloo]

3. More Hyperbole n/t

[Rowdyboy]

7. How many more bullshit threads are you going to post before you realize we don't buy it?

3 is 3 too many.

[Laelth]

8. k&r for the truth, even about our beloved President. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Zynx]

9. Truth is rather missing in most of these opinion pieces.

[Laelth]

21. I see. The Progressive and the Nation are right-wing, lying rags. Is that it?

As I said to the poster below, your choices are clear. Whether you like it or not, lots of people agree with the author of the piece referenced in the OP. You can either listen to and try to respect the opinions of the progressives in the Democratic Party, or you can continue to try to push us right out. Which is it going to be?

:shrug:

:dem:

-Laelth

[Zynx]

22. No, but they certainly can post lying, or misrepresenting, left-wing hit pieces too.

The right doesn't have a monopoly on hyperbole, lies, and deceit.

By the way, who exactly appointed these various authors to be our only "progressive" voices?

[Baltoman991]

15. What fucking truth

would that be?

It's bullshit written by the same fucking media that was trashed here day in and day out for the past year and now suddenly you think they woke up and decided "hey, we'll start printing the truth".

I'll continue to say it, I'm listening to the progressive caucus myself right now and not a fucking thing they're saying resembles anything the better not believe it has posted today. Not one fucking thing. There is no truth to it at all.

[Laelth]

19. Um, I hear your frustration.

But that article appears in The Progressive. It doesn't call itself The Progressive for nothing. Whether you like it or not, lots of people agree with that author.

You can either listen to and try to respect the opinions of the progressives in the Democratic Party, or you can continue to try to push us right out. Which is it going to be?

:shrug:

-Laelth

[Baltoman991]

10. As I said

on another thread, tune into cspan and listen to Ellison and Woolsey speaking now. They're part of the progressive caucus, they're praising Obama and his willingness to continue to push for a public option.

Your bullshit amateur written articles are spinning away and they do it because they know folks like YOU are to fucking lazy to actually listen to things for yourselves.

[Cant trust em]

11. If the president didn't want to support the public option, then why bring it up at this speech? nt

[DevonRex]

12. That's FOUR anti-Obama threads in the last few minutes. nt

[Parker CA]

14. Spamming the page with garbage hit and run pieces. nt.

[DevonRex]

17. As usual, and joined by the usual suspects, too. nt

[Cant trust em]

16. Ooooh....can vs. must.

Surely that will change the debate.

[Parker CA]

18. How many posts can a BBI post if a BBI posts posts all day? nt.

[Better Believe It]

23. It appears that some folks here hate the "left" far more than the "right".

They behave like those right-wingnuts at the townhall meetings who tried to shout down and shut out those they disagreed with.

They appear incapable of disputing any of the points raised by the writer so they engage in personal attacks.

People who lack any intellectual ability generally engage in that kind of bully behavior.

[Baltoman991]

25. You practicing

your stand up with this post?

You of all people accusing others on this board of hating the left?

How many fucking negative, Obama slamming threads have you started today that contained bullshit? How many in the past month? The past year?

How fucking pathetic of you to accuse those who call you on your bullshit of hating the left.

[polichick]

26. Yes, the "Obama as pop star" crowd trashes anyone who questions anything...

...it is exactly the same as the bullying behavior on the right.

[polichick]

24. It is true that he could've given that same speech (especially the Kennedy part)...

...and made a case for REAL REFORM of the whole system ~ single payer like other modern societies.