Axelrod: Obama says public option is "gone but not forgotten". The "spirit" is still there

[SingaporeExpat]

Until now, the White House seemed to resist calls from supporters and critics alike demanding that the President put down on the table his own specific version of health care reform. Now, Axelrod indicates the president is ready, adding "It’s time to wrap them up and move this thing forward. And the President is going to be central to that."

As to the fate of a government option plan to compete with private insurance, Axelrod suggested the controversial concept is gone but not forgotten: "The spirit that led him to support a public option is still very much at play here and so you know he wants competition. He wants choice."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/axelrod-obama-is-ready-to-close-on-health-care.html

[Are_grits_groceries]

1. Great! Casper insurance. nt

[tularetom]

2. You can read anything you want into that statement

And it appears that you have done exactly that.

As has ABC news, it appears.

[Why Syzygy]

50. Wow.

I wish I had some of what you're smoking so I COULD read WHAT I WANT into that statement.

As it stands, it says ONWARD and upward to the thieving insurance companies. Compete among yourselves! Like they don't know that.

Wow. What an (unsurprising) let down.

[anneboleyn]

3. The power of the insurance companies in this country makes me sick, literally

It is unbelievable that this is going down. And this was one of the major reasons we voted for Obama -- we really wanted serious health care reform.

[bluestateguy]

4. This story strikes me as unreliable

As soon as I saw Jake Tapper's smirky face I knew this was BS.

Unrecommended.

[villager]

6. there seems to be a *lot* of smoke for this particular fire...

Not sure it can all be waved away, just 'cause we want it to be...

[dem629]

10. Not to mention it's Ann Compton's report, not Jake Tapper's. Some people want to

disregard news and information that doesn't fit their preconceived belief or what they want to believe. You're absolutely right.

[emulatorloo]

15. Show me the quote where Alexrod says "The Public Option is Gone But Not Forgotten"

He does not say that.

[joeycola]

37. So, why does Axexrod not just come out and say: Obama will fight for the public option? Instead

he hedges. !!!!

[Why Syzygy]

59. He SAYS it.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/if-public-option-isnt-dead-why-is-axelrod-referring-to-its-spirit.php

White House adviser David Axelrod tells ABC News that what remains of Obama's desire for a public option is largely theoretical. "The spirit that led him to support a public option is still very much at play here and so you know he wants competition. He wants choice."

And an anonymous White House official tells Politico "We have been saying all along that the most important part of this debate is not the public option, but rather ensuring choice and competition."

If the administration has concluded that a public option won't fly (or has at least decided not to fight for it) it will be implicitly siding with the Senate in the congressional fight over the direction health care reform should take.

A critical number of House progressives have vowed not to support a health care bill without a public option, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has affirmed that she can't pass legislation without one.

But if the White House and Senate are unified behind the idea that the public option is itself optional, it will dramatically shift the weight of the fight against including one. (...)

It's been about COMPETITION all along. Just another way to help the Corporation. It isn't the first you know, so you can't be all that SHOCKED.

[emulatorloo]

67. You are having reading comprehension issues. Show me the words "The Public Option Is Gone"

They aren't there.

[joeycola]

38. There seems to be NO fire in Obama to use his political capital!!

[bluestateguy]

63. There is no such thing as "political capital"

That's a Washington word.

[joeycola]

65. How about the bully pulpit?

[Why Syzygy]

52. So you read pictures instead of words?

ABC's Ann Compton reports

[Triana]

5. Let me guess: the 'vapor-payer' system

"well I said it was a good idea and I still think it is but I'm not going to push for it or support it"

:wtf:

[Becky72]

7. Another confusing report about a confusing statement by someone in the White House

If the intent was to reduce confusion, it failed. What the hell does "gone but not forgotten" mean?

[emulatorloo]

22. Axelrod DID NOT SAY "gone but not forgotten". I don't get what the hell is going on in this thread.

[Name removed]

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[girl gone mad]

8. "competition" and "choice" are...

Republican code words.

[Cant trust em]

14. We shouldn't have health care choice?

Insurance companies should have a monopoly?

I'm confused.

[Cant trust em]

9. In other news...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8621912

[PopSixSquish]

11. Isn't This Just a Rehash of the Politico Story Which Has Everyone in a Tumultuous Uproar?

and David Axelrod said on CNN a little while ago that the President still wants a public option...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8621912

[GreenArrow]

42. He *may* want one.

That doesn't mean he intends to fight for one.

[emulatorloo]

12. I call bullshit -- NO WHERE DOES AXELROD SAY THE PUBLIC OPTION IS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

Thank you!

[pot luck]

13. That's quite some spin.

Where in his statements did Axelrod say that the public option was "gone"? The MSM seem to think that saying the PO is dead enough times will make it a reality.

[Mojambo]

16. Well, when it comes down to campaign contributions and the like I'll be with him in spirit. n/t

[emulatorloo]

20. READ THE ARTICLE, AXELROD DOES NOT SAY "THE PUBLIC OPTION IS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN"

I guess I will have to keep yelling this, this is about the most poorly written story I have ever seen. It is total "suggestion and innuendo"

[wryter2000]

32. You're right about suggestion and innuendo

I have to disagree it was poorly written. It accomplished exactly what the author intended - spinning one thing into something else entirely.

[Name removed]

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[JVS]

17. What a bunch of bullshit.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[CakeGrrl]

19. The OP quotes the author, NOT Axelrod's own words. Fail. n/t

[GhostOfMollyIvins]

49. Fail.

Like your lame posts.

[scheming daemons]

57. Wow.... late night Pizza coming, I think....

[spanone]

23. we'll see.

[wryter2000]

24. I just read the exact opposite here somewhere

A direct interview with Axelrod in which he said they were committed to the public option.

[emulatorloo]

26. Apparently Gibbs said the same thing on CNN -- committed to Public Option eom.

[wryter2000]

27. Here's where I read it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8621912

DUer watching CNN, the network that had the headling "Obama backing off public option." This is what the DUer actually heard him say.

[emulatorloo]

29. Here's another: Axelrod: "The President embraces the public option . . to keep companies honest"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8622066

[GhostOfMollyIvins]

47. no link at all at that story?

[Why Syzygy]

60. "Competition" - a fishy word

(Axelrod) I am not going to deal with the details of the President's speech otherwise there is no point for him to give it. It is fair to say that he believes strongly in competition and choice to keep companies honest.

[NanceGreggs]

25. Ah, yes ...

... yet another "it's been suggested" post.

No meat, no substance.

Nice try - but no cigar.

:smoke:

[wryter2000]

30. Here's what he actually said, without their spin

"It’s time to wrap them up and move this thing forward. And the President is going to be central to that."

"The spirit that led him to support a public option is still very much at play here and so you know he wants competition. He wants choice."

Where does that say "gone"?

[Duke Newcombe]

40. "the spirit"...

If the White House wants to avoid panty-twisting and bedwetting over this, here's a suggestion: how about clear, concise, unambiguous language?!

[Botany]

31. Axelrod, The President embraces the public option to keep companies honest

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8622066

[emulatorloo]

33. DU seems to be suffering from Mass Hysteria. I don't get it.

Thanks for linking that.

[Botany]

34. People forget that the same people who were behind the swift boaters ...

.... for truth are behind stopping health care reform. The lie is their chief tool.

[Why Syzygy]

62. You mean ...

if we get upset at a report, we won't get public option? Then it will be OUR FAULT?
I find that impossible to believe. And very illogical.

[Why Syzygy]

61. And more of Obama's beliefs....

(Axelrod) I am not going to deal with the details of the President's speech otherwise there is no point for him to give it. It is fair to say that he believes strongly in competition and choice to keep companies honest.

[lamp_shade]

35. Where do you find this SHIT! Axelrod said no such thing. Jeezus.

[spanone]

36. a hit & run post to piss us off....imo

[GhostOfMollyIvins]

48. poor thing

[madrchsod]

39. nice try..but your post is bullshit...

[McCamy Taylor]

41. Um...I'm from Texas and I recognize bullshit. Axelrod said NOTHING.

You can read that in any way you want. It sounds like he was sent out to placate the masses by convincing everyone that they have won. Guess that is one way to please all the people.

BTW, Alexrod's other job involves laying Astro-turf.

[Name removed]

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[northernlights]

44. your title is flat out wrong and misleading

Obama did not say it is "gone but not forgotten." Even Axelrod did not say "gone but not forgotten." The reporter said it, and only the reporter. And in so doing she was spinning the meaning of what Axelrod said. Here is the actual quote.

"As to the fate of a government option plan to compete with private insurance, Axelrod suggested the controversial concept is gone but not forgotten: "The spirit that led him to support a public option is still very much at play here and so you know he wants competition. He wants choice. "

Nowhere does that quote even imply that public option is gone. In fact, that quote is sufficiently open that he could push for extended medicare based on it.

Bottom line is until he speaks next Wednesday, nobody knows exactly what he intends to do...

[GhostOfMollyIvins]

46. lol

[scheming daemons]

54. Why lol? You're laughing because the OP lied?

Are you Troll brothers?

[Name removed]

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[Why Syzygy]

51. Choice. Thieving insurance company A or thieving insurance company B?

"The Spirit" is very much ALIVE, but not within OBAMA!

And I darn well assure you he won't forget it!

:grr:

[Name removed]

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[Why Syzygy]

56. BUT: Md. Gov. Calls Seasonal Flu Shots a 'Patriotic Duty'

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/02/AR2009090203067.html

By Aaron C. Davis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 2, 2009; 5:51 PM


Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on Wednesday said it was residents' "patriotic duty" to get seasonal flu shots in coming weeks to make it easier for health officials to determine if outbreaks are related to H1N1, or swine flu.
(...)
"You'll be doing your patriotic duty to get your seasonal flu shot this year," O'Malley said. If you've never received one, "by golly, this is a very good year to do it for the first time," he said.
(...)

What about the GOVERNMENT'S "Patriotic Duty" to provide access to HEALTH CARE? Get the shot and shut up! :grr:

[Joe Fields]

58. Ann Compton has NO RIGHT to say that "Axelrod suggests the public

option is gone but not forgotten!"

Axelrod didn't say it. He didn't even intimate it. He is not about to tip his hand just yet. Compton is a stooge for implying the public option is dead.

[WeDidIt]

64. No public option?

NO DEAL!!!!

[madokie]

66. -1

Just so you know

[alcibiades_mystery]

68. How I can tell that you are a liar

You place "gone but not forgotten" in quotation marks, as if Axelrod actually used that phrase. He did not. You put "spirit" in quotation marks, indicating that Axelrod actually used that term. He did. So, are you using quotation marks for your own spin or for direct quotes? Oh, for both. In other words, you are a fucking liar.

[Name removed]

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