Keith Olbermann: Obama Could Have Primary Challenge If Public Option Is Dropped

[man4allcats]

Run time: 01:59 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E3UoNDc920   Posted on YouTube: September 04, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: September 04, 2009 By DU Member: man4allcats Views on DU: 1647

 
The following text from the Huffington Post article on this video:

On Thursday night, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and Washington Post columnist Gene Robinson discussed the political ramifications for President Obama, including a possible primary challenge in 2012 presidential election, if the public option is dropped from the health care overhaul.

Olbermann asked Robinson, "What good does it profit a man to win a bill and lose the base of his party?" Robinson warned that Obama should tread carefully on health care reform and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan because "you don't want to see the progressive caucus in a foul mood."

Olbermann agreed, adding that "He's compromised on everything so far and as self-defeating as it may be, the progressive caucus and progressives would abandon him if necessary, if this was to be the policy of this administration into 2012. If it's necessary to find somebody else to run against him, I think they'd do it, no matter how destructive that may seem at face value."


My emphasis - m4ac -

[emulatorloo]

1. "If" "If" "If" - I am going to wait to hear from the man himself when he speaks before Congress

Apparently today the rumors are that he will present a streamlined simplified plan which includes 1) the public option 2) how to pay for the full reform package.

But like the "ifs" in Olbermann's piece, it is still speculation.

We will know when Obama speaks.

In the meantime I am calling the WH and my sens and reps expressing support for public option.

[GivePeaceAchance]

2. Exactly the way to go, till we officially know different there is a public option. And wiser we...

don't get carried away on speculation. Sure media will explore every rumor and that's cool but as long as we stick with what's on record we can't go wrong really. Well we can go wrong but less often at least.

[Jeep789]

3. And who is it they would they get to challenge him?

As I recall, the other front runner last time supported mandatory private health insurance coverage. The only one that had a decent health coverage plan was Kucinich (whom I supported) but he is hardly a serious contender.

[man4allcats]

6. I also supported Kucinich, even though I ultimately proudly voted

for Obama and still have no regrets about having done so. As to Kucinich not being a serious contender, I think the only reason he isn't is because most people find it intellectually less taxing to go on drinking the Kool-Aid rather than to get on with doing that which needs doing. I myself lost my taste for Kool-Aid long ago.

[Jeep789]

8. Agreed nt

[Why Syzygy]

12. Keith admits it would be self defeating.

But a message sent nonetheless.

[politicalmajority]

4. S Korea's Late President Roh Moo-Hyun Is a Cautionary Tale for President Obama

South Korea's former president Roh Moo-Hyun was a center-liberal president with a super majority center-liberal ruling party dominating South Korea's National Assembly in 2004. But then Roh and his party did not strongly push for real reforms and compromised too much with the extreme right wing Grand National Party which did not yield one iota to compromise.

Roh and his party's excessive compromises with the Grand National Party resulted in losing the majority of their liberal progressive supporters. And South Korea's right wings hated Roh and his party regardless.

As a result, the Grand National Party, which was on the verge of collapse back in 2004, regained the presidency with an extremely corrupt hard right wing Christian conservative named Lee Myung Bak and the Grand National Party became the super majority in the National Assembly in 2008. And in last May, Roh Moo-Hyun committed suicide while being investigated for politically motivated corruption charges.

President Obama should take Roh Moo-Hyun as a cautionary tale and he should not let the same thing happen to him and the Democratic Party and the super majority of Americans who want real reform. South Korea's example should serve as a cautionary tale and President Obama should move strong for the reform.

If President Obama drops the public option, America's political situation will be very similar to that of South Korea between 2004 and 2007. President Obama has to be strong in the health care reform efforts and disregard Republicans no matter what they complain about him because those extreme right wing thugs will hate President Obama even if he becomes a conservative Republican.

[SandWalker1984]

5. Better to contact the White House now, before the speech,

and let them know you support a strong public option without using "triggers."

Trigger is the name of a horse, not health care reform.

I DID NOT WORK LONG HOURS AND DONATE MONEY TO ELECT OBAMA FOR HIM TO SELL US OUT LIKE THIS!

I am so angry that the Democratic Party is being taken over by the same corporatists that have infested the Republican Party.

This fight over health care is not just about health care -- it is about keeping the Democratic Party of the working people. It is about keeping the corporate CEOs from totally running our country. If THEY win on this, we might as well change the name of our country to the United CORPORATE States of America.

If we let Obama cave to the corporations on this, we will end up with what they call health care in Massachusetts -- everyone is forced to buy PRIVATE, overpriced, crap insurance with less benefits OR pay a fine for failing to carry coverage. They punish working people for being too poor to buy insurance!

This is all out war against the corporations and we either fight this battle now or the corporations will destroy health care in this country in the name of greed.

[Apollo11]

7. After just 200 days of President Obama - this is crazy talk

To me it makes more sense to concentrate on challenging DINO Members of Congress and Senators who vote with the Republicans.

Undermining President Obama will only help the GOP in 2012, and I can't see anyone on the left who would be capable of (1) beating Obama in the primaries and (2) winning the Whitehouse. It would be a huge waste of time, money and energy of everyone involved (including President Obama).

But I appreciate that msnbc has a lot of hours to fill so a certain amount of unfounded speculation is inevitable.

[bowens43]

9. I will not vote for any Democrat who doesn't insist on a public option. nt

[TomClash]

10. I told you so

Weeks ago.

Public option is the fault line for progressive Democrats.

But let's see what he says in his speech.

[Why Syzygy]

11. "Mythical Middle"

Amen, bro. The extreme right has made any such animal extinct. I'm leaning left. If we move to the middle, the ship will capsize.

[tomm2thumbs]

13. sometimes you have to do what lets you sleep at night - and a clear conscience helps