White House shifts on public health care option

[democracy1st]

Source: AP via Yahoo

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's top political adviser is backing away from having a government health care plan compete against private carriers.

David Axelrod says Obama believes a public option would be a good tool. But Axelrod says "it shouldn't define the whole health care debate."

The president is trying to refocus the debate on proposals to help the majority of people who already have insurance — for example, limiting out-of-pocket costs. That's part of the legislation in Congress, but hasn't gotten a lot of attention.

Axelrod says it's essential to create a competitive market for self-employed people and small businesses to get affordable coverage. But he's suggesting a government plan may not be the only way to do that.

Axelrod appeared Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says President Barack Obama is considering his own health care legislation to cut through the stalemate on Capitol Hill.

Gibbs says Americans will know exactly where the president stands after his speech to Congress on Wednesday night. He says Obama is ready to "draw some lines in the sand."

It's still unclear what Obama will do on a proposal for government-sponsored coverage to compete with private insurers. Gibbs says the president supports it. But Gibbs isn't saying Obama would veto a bill if it doesn't include the public option.

Health care overhaul has been losing support, will polls showing only a slim majority thinks Congress should press ahead.

Gibbs appeared Sunday on ABC's "This Week."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090906/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_care_overhaul

[Doctor_J]

1. Holy shit. Glenn Beck really does rule the US

I never thought I would see the day. Actually yes I did. It was only a matter of time.

How did all of you like the 5 months of "hope"? And of Democratic rule? Wasn't it great?

[abluelady]

2. Because "Hope" is Never Enough. eom

[DerekG]

15. Actually, I never had hope

All this goes down mighty easily.

[tularetom]

3. I hope these are just fucking trial balloons designed to get a reaction

I plan to do some serious phone calling today and not to my senators and congressasshole either. I can't believe an administration that was elected to change everything that was wrong with this country could be so unable to take the action we elected them to take.

I think the first thing to do is get rid of that corporatist fucktard Rahm Emanuel.

[Doctor_J]

5. Th speech is Wednesday. These are not trial balloons

it's over.

[sweettater]

19. If I may quote you.................

"I think the first thing to do is get rid of that corporatist fucktard Rahm Emanuel." And his jewish ties. I think we can figure out who is running things.

[Akoto]

4. Praying they're wrong, as this was one of my last hopes ...

I'm only 24 and have come down with a terrible chronic pain condition, the nature of which has pretty much left me bedridden. Working is a thing of the past. Due to my age, the government is fighting hard against me getting even SSI. My pain management doctor wants to do a couple of nerve blocks which could really help me out, but the bill for them comes out to a bit over $3000. Far more than I or my parents have to offer.

I'd hoped that a public plan, whatever its form, might come around to help people like me. There are a lot of folks in my position who desperately need care. Unfortunately, there are then people like the ones at town halls. They've got theirs, so to Hell with the rest of us.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Not a recent shift. The White House has been saying that for months.

Though it is a shift from the Obama-Biden 2008 website:

"any American will have the opportunity to enroll in the new public plan"

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/15/767136/-As-a-candidate,-Obama-supported-public-option

[Doctor_J]

9. Too bad someone in Big Media doesn't put this quote on the screen

and ask Axelrod about it

[xchrom]

7. interesting. i guess we'll see on wednesday?

i don't think i care anymore.

[high density]

8. Why does the WH keep saying the same stupid ambiguous things?

Isn't this the same idiot thing that Sebelius said a few Sundays ago?

[rurallib]

10. Well, Obama may as well move back to Chicago. His presidency

will be effectively over.
the 30% kicked ass on the 70%

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. Amazing how that happened, isn't it?

the 30% kicked ass on the 70%. :banghead:

[rurallib]

14. I am frankly just sick to my stomach over this. Next...

net neutrality will be gone.
After SCOTUS blows away campaign finance laws, there will be no answer
Beck and Limbaugh will be dictating foreign policy.

[rocktivity]

12. It's "unclear" what the president will do but he's "shifted"?

What kind of journalism is that?

:boring:
rocktivity

[KittyWampus]

17. It's intended to stir shit up. And idiot DU'ers will take the bait.

[dgibby]

20. Let me get this straight.

You quote the Bible in your sig line, but constantly disparage any DUer that doesn't agree with you.
How very "Christian" of you. Ghandi was right.

[KittyWampus]

23. #1. I'm not a Christian. #2. I made a simple and PROVABLE observation. #3. I don't constantly

disparage DU'ers that don't agree with me. I do get sick of the know-it-alls on DU who are little more than reactionary screamers and voice my opinion.

[high density]

18. The WH has been unclear for a while now

This isn't a shift at all but rather the way it's been sounding for about a month now. I'm hoping he will clear it all up on Wednesday, because this disciplined ambiguity on the public option is becoming quite frustrating.

[Bandit]

13. Obama needs a "win" so badly that he is willing to do anything for it.

This is not about what's good for America, it is about Obama. IMO Republicans didn't win on this issue Democrats lost. While I will never ever vote for a Republican I see no reason now to vote Democratic either..Democrats have pretty much lost me.

[Cass]

16. Why are we obligated to support an industry that has adopted an unsustainable business model?

Seems to me the insurance companies have chosen their path - let them walk it. If they go under that's their own doing. That's what capitalism is all about, right? The People should not have to put business profits ahead of their own lives.

I don't know what to believe anymore about what Obama wants. I will wait until Wednesday to hear it from him directly. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt until then. This doesn't sound promising though.

[Vinca]

21. I am especially offended by the trigger scheme that has come up

as a solution. It seems the time given insurance to get its act together is 5 years and then the trigger would activate. Isn't that nice? Only 100,000 or so more Americans would have to die before the public option kicks in . . . and, of course, that's assuming Republicans don't regain power and repeal it.

[Better Today]

22. I don't read that as saying it isn't on the table. But the administration (updated)

has been trying for weeks to get everyone to realize there is so much more to the bill than just the public option, and he is right about that: no more caps - that's important
no more pre-existing conditions - that's really important
no more denial of coverage after a condition arises - really important.
And of course there is more.

The thing is all of those features should be in a bill of their own (IMO) and called the Insurance Anti-fraud Bill.

That being said, it's time the administration realizes how important a public option (or better Medicare for all) is to us!

[panzerfaust]

24. We remain the only 1st World country without healthcare for all

Apparently, it is going to stay that way.

[ProSense]

25. Actually, that article is BS. Here's what Axelrod

said, and he called out AP for distorting his comments.