Why did OFA's website change on the support for the public option?

[masuki bance]

This is what was on the page originally-

President Obama has called for health care reform in 2009 that upholds three core principles. It must:

* Reduce costs — Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals, and families, and they must be brought under control
* Guarantee choice — Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor – including the choice of a public insurance option
* Ensure quality care for all — All Americans must have quality and affordable health care

snapshot of the page as it appeared on Sep 11, 2009 06:18:41 GMT
link to cache here- http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:xMHCVP6ew3wJ:healthcare.barackobama.com/+http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/health-care-action-center/&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari





"The letter appearing on the current site still urges members of Congress to support President Obama’s plan for health reform - which includes a public option - however the word “must” has been dropped...{And only for those w/o insurance or can't find affordable- NOT for everyone}-

...If You Don’t Have Insurance,
the President's Plan:

* Creates a new insurance marketplace — the Exchange — that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices.
* Provides new tax credits to help people buy insurance.
* Provides small businesses tax credits and affordable options for covering employees.
* Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice.
* Immediately offers new, low-cost coverage through a national “high risk” pool to protect people with preexisting conditions from financial ruin until the new Exchange is created....

link to current site- http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcsignon?source=democraticunderground.com

The letter appearing on the current site still urges members of Congress to support President Obama’s plan for health reform - which includes a public option - however the word “must” has been dropped.

This change confirms Obama’s position on the public option: he wants it, but is willing to drop it to pass legislation.

The recent revision also signals that the Democratic Party and its leadership will no longer insist that health reform legislation include the choice of a public insurance plan, given that the Democratic National Committee operates OFA.

The DNC inherited OFA - formerly known as Obama for America - after the 2008 election.

Update: Sign up http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4951/content.jsp?content_KEY=2802&tag=pod_tna">here to join hundreds of Obama campaign staffers and thousands of Obama volunteers and donors in telling the President that any reform short of a public option is not change we can believe in."

Update (New):

Susan from the Florida Progressive Coalition Blog adds some useful context:

I noticed at Saturday’s OFA healthcare rally that the pledge forms they were asking people to sign didn’t include the words “public option.” I asked OFA state director Ashley Walker about it and she told me it was probably just an old form they were using. I was skeptical. http://quinnell.us/sspb/?p=6436
..."

sources- http://www.thenewargument.com/index.php/2009/09/breaking-ofa-dumps-demand-for-the-public-option/

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/16/ofa-waves-bye-bye-to-public-plan/

[Captain Hilts]

1. Because they've sold out to the ins. industry. That's why their stock values have gone up. nt

[TomCADem]

5. With All That Anti-Government Paranoia, Why Would You Want A Public Option?

The President has been the best advocate for the public option AND support for the public option increased after his speech to Congress. Yet, we seem to have our own contingent of folks who are absolutely paranoid, and agree with Joe Wilson, and think the President is lying. Are you sure you are on the right board?

Afterall, with their paranoia, the Freepers want to keep government out of healthcare. I don't understand how someone can insist that the Government is corrupt, yet also demand that this same government provide a government run option?

Go figure.

[Cant trust em]

19. I was wondering the same thing myself last night. nt

[Cant trust em]

2. Well if it doesn't say must....

This is lame.

[quakerboy]

3. with your user name, how very ironic

[Cant trust em]

4. My skepticism doesn't hinge on a word. nt

[quakerboy]

17. Seems like technicalities are the heart of this matter

[Cant trust em]

18. I think that the technicalities should be ironed out at the point of legislation

Not what's posted on OFA's website.

[quakerboy]

20. So we should take it on faith that they will be ironed in our favor?

And just accept that it will remain unsaid until the last second?

Trust me. You just sign on the line, and I will fill in the contract after. You will like it. Really.

[Cant trust em]

21. Are you being purposefully obtuse?

It's a word on a website. It means nothing!

What actually does mean something is a real plan. You know, legislation that will become law.

If you're going to make hay about something, do it around an actual proposal. Not a word.

[ProSense]

6. Just checked the WH site

and the public option is still in the plan

Getting a little desperate?

[masuki bance]

7. Reading comprehension much?

That is what the link provided says also.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcsignon?source=democraticunderground.com

Ya goof. You need to scroll down a hair.

[ProSense]

10. No, pointing out the idiocy of this

"Why did OFA's website change on the support for the public option?"

Since you know the plan includes a public option, what's your point?

[masuki bance]

12. Your research skills are pretty weak

If you think this-

* Guarantee choice — Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor – including the choice of a public insurance option

is the same as this-

...If You Don’t Have Insurance,
the President's Plan:

* Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice.

Then I can't help you.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Another attempt to redefine the word 'option' to mean something

other than an available choice among other available choices. They want 'option' to mean 'port of last resort' or 'safety net' and we can not allow that to happen.

[dolphindance]

9. They've changed how they are marketing the plan and this is consistent with it.

I see no problem at all. Before, it listed goals that the plan wished to achieve without explaining point-for-point how it would impact you as an individual.

They've changed all that now and everything is explained in relation to how the reforms would directly impact you, based on your current health care/ health insurance situation.

So now the public option has simply been moved into the column of If you don't have health insurance . The fact that the word "must" is missing doesn't weaken the commitment, IMHO. In fact, I'd argue the language is stronger now. It clearly says "Under the President's Plan"...and then public option is one of the bullets. That's a pretty strong endorsement to me.

[masuki bance]

11. The word "Every" should not be used as a marketing tool

* Guarantee choice — Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor – including the choice of a public insurance option

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:xMHCVP6ew3wJ:healthcare.barackobama.com/+http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/health-care-action-center/&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari

[dolphindance]

13. There are still questions to be answered about whether ANYONE can get the PO

If they so desire. I mean let's say I have my own private insurance plan NOT from my employer. Is it permissable for me to drop this plan and use the public option, even if I can afford other more "elite" plans?

That is a legitimate question and I can see where the change in wording might make that ambiguous again.

But support for the public option doesn't seem to have wavered. I guess the big battle will be -- what KIND of public option?

Again, even if for right now it simply provides a saftey net of guaranteed coverage, that is a HUGE step. And I won't join you in knocking Obama over this.

[masuki bance]

14. Exactly. We need a strong, robust Public Option. nt

[Honeycombe8]

15. OFA volunteers have been hitting it hard here in TX. A rally and such.

But I'm like....a rally to support the President's health care reform bill? What bill? I said maybe. Then I thought....no, I'm not going to sign anything or "rally" until there is something concrete to rally about.

They will probably use petitions to show support for whatever bill gets bandied about, to show supposed support. But the thing to ask is...WHEN did the petitioners sign the petition? After the President's speech, when it looked like a public option might be a possibility?

[masuki bance]

16. Look at this petition that was pushed here on DU just a couple weeks ago-

ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Thu Sep-03-09 06:58 PM
Original message



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8625126

Action Number One:

Stand with the President in CALLING FOR A PUBLIC OPTION.

I know there's been a lot of talk about where the President really stands regarding the public option. My take is pretty simple. If Barack Obama is offering me a chance to sign a petition calling for comprehensive healthcare reform including the public option, I am going to sign that petition.

Here's the text from Obama's own website, MyBO:

President Obama has called for health care reform in 2009 that upholds three core principles.

It must:

Reduce costs — Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals, and families, and they must be brought under control

Guarantee choice — Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor – including the choice of a public insurance option

Ensure quality care for all — All Americans must have quality and affordable health care

I particularly like the phrasing that every American must have the freedom to choose their plan...including the choice of a public insurance option. Don't you agree?

You can SIGN THE PETITION right now. Hundreds of thousands already have. Nothing will send a more clear and powerful message to the president.

::

Action Number Two:

Stand with other Obama volunteers by joining the folks at Boldprogressives.org and SIGN THIS PETITION directly linking your Obama activism with your support for compreshensive healthcare reform .

Here's the entire text of the BoldProgressives.org petition:

PETITION TO PRESIDENT OBAMA:

"We worked so hard for real change.

President Obama, please demand a strong public health insurance option in your speech to Congress. Letting the insurance companies win would not be change we can believe in."

What's cool is that they not only let you deliver your personal message to the President, but they have a slot for you to show your involvement with President Obama's campaign. I signed and let the President know that when I was out knocking my knuckles raw in the primaries, I was doing it because the folks on the other side of those doors deserved comprehensive healthcare reform including a real choice to enroll in a public insurance program.

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