Obama Demands: The Bill I Sign Must Include Public Option

[shopgreen]

FYI

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com /


Obama Demands: The Bill I Sign Must Include Public Option
By Brian Beutler - July 20, 2009, 10:16AM

While we're talking health care reform: In his weekly radio address on Saturday, President Obama did what he's refused to do all along--he said the public option isn't an option at all.

ny plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family.

That's a first. In the recent past, the White House has only demanded that health care reform expand and improve coverage while lowering costs. But Blue Dogs and conservative Senate Democrats have been raising noises about the public option, while citing concerns that the reform proposals on the table won't cut costs. And with the debate reaching its crescendo, Obama's letting them know they can't have it both ways. ....

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. That was last decade

[LooseWilly]

69. Yeah... that quote was so "00s" ("oughts"?)

Well played, by the by...

[Hawkowl]

85. The "naughties"

I heard on the radio that that is what Europeans are calling the first decade of the 21st century.

[zogtheobvious]

76. Actually, the new decade doesn't start for another 351 days... ;) n/t

[Skittles]

2. the man does give purty speeches

[Lasher]

4. !!!

Highly succinct there, Skittles.

[bkozumplik]

50. he's got a purty mouth

[Cowpunk]

65. Don't you mean PURITY speeches? NT

[DJ13]

3. Thats not fair

Were not supposed to take him at his word.

[tbyg52]

83. I was about to gripe at you, and now I'm having a laugh (even if it is sardonic). nt

[saracat]

5. kick. for the deniers!

[HughMoran]

10. What does "the deniers" mean?

This proves that he did push for the Public Option - in opposition to those who said he didn't - is that what you mean?

Heck, we did get the PO in the House Bill - I think we know the problem lies with non-Democrats & DINOs in the Senate.

[saracat]

12. There are those, includiing the Prez himself at times, who deny he said he

would refuse to sign an HCR without a PO. He is of course preparing to sign an HCR(so called because it isn't one really)without a PO.

[HughMoran]

13. Should he veto the bill?

Would that help our families afford insurance?

Would we get reform within the next 20 years? Is this better? Kicking people off insurance just when they need it - as it is now? Insurance only for people who can afford it?

[saracat]

14. yes. They aren't going to get insurance anyway.This is a set up.It is going to be cheaper for

employers to pay the fine. it is going to be cheaper forindividuals to pay the fine .it will have way more people uninsured.And force people to pay what they cannot afford if they obey the mandate. And with the deal cut by Big pharma. it won't matter anyway because they won't and currently now, aren't able to afford the meds they are precribed. Seniors are already feeling the effect of the big pharma deal. Read the posts on DU! I already have given up a critical med as there isn't a generic and my expensive blue cross policy doesn't cover it!

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[saracat]

26. What?The business owner ISN'T going to keep the insurance

that is exactly the point. He will pay a fine and preex or not folks will be left without coverage. Many folks won't be able to pay for new insurance for themselves and the version of "affordable" being touted isn't.And exactly how are those folks going to treat those preexisting conditions not being able to fill prescriptions? I certainly am not selfish and rotten because I disagree that this HCR is going to do any real good and cause more harm than good.
What good does it even do to be able to go to a Doctor if you can't pay for the meds? (Not that many will be going to the Doctor either) And selfish rotten me also has a preex and must pay for private insuramnce, has no job and won't be eligable for any of the supplements, yet I want healthcare for all.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

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[tomp]

55. another lesser of two evils gambit?

vote for this bill because it is (purportedly) better than nothing? way to go, obama, you passed health care reform that is better than nothing! how historic!

yes, he should veto the bill. it's a piece of crap. he played politics instead of principle and lost. epic fail.

[SkyDaddy7]

80. I have never heard Obama or seen Obama say I will not sign a bill

without a public option...Could you post a link to a video showing him saying he will not sign a bill unless it has a public option. I would pile on like everyone else with this hatred & anger toward Obama but I want to be sure my anger is legit. Obviously many here on DU has seen and heard Obama say over and over agian that he would never sign a bill that did not have a public option but has recently done a 180. So, if you could help me out with a link I would really appreciatte it...Meanwhile I will keep searching You Tube and the rest of the internet myself.

Thanks!

[Jakes Progress]

19. There we go. nt

[SkyDaddy7]

81. I have asked a few people to help me out...

I personally have never heard or seen Obama say he would never sign a bill that did not have a public option. I know I heard him say he would never sign a bill that was not deficit neutral but I missed him saying he would never sign a bill that did not include a public option.

Now, I know I heard him say many many times he wanted a strong public option but I also heard him say that the public option was not the entire bill. So, I am just trying to figure out why or how I missed Obama say over and over again that he would never sign a bill without a public option.

Can you help me? Did he?

[alstephenson]

6. Too little, too late... eom

[SeattleGirl]

51. Why?

The bill isn't even finalized yet.

[FourScore]

60. It won't be too late if there is a public option in the final bill. n/t

[gateley]

7. I'd love it if he did a Town Hall and someone read that back to him. Or have

Rachel do it. She doesn't let them get out of answering the question.

[shopgreen]

8. would be terrific.

[Karmadillo]

9. Crazy purists are always wanting people to speak the truth.

nt

[bobbolink]

31. ZING!

:yourock:

[QC]

82. They got to see pictures of the president with his shirt off. Isn't that enough???

I just don't understand these people!

[gleaner]

11. It's too bad he didn't do that in the first place ...

back when it might have mattered. Now it is pretty meaningless. He has lost his credibility, he has gone back on most of his campaign promises except for escalating the war in Afghanistan. That he overachieved on extending the war to Pakistan and Yemen in secret while leaving US military in Iraq. He has also achieved what Bush did not. He has gotten a supreme court decision to make torture a legal interrogation tool and has suspended Habeas Corpus for individuals he or his representatives deem to be "enemy combatants." I believe this also covers removing individuals from countries where torture is not legal and taking them to countries where it is legal. Under Bush this was called "Renditions."

What is Obama letting us know with everything he has accomplished? That we have no more constitution? And what does on febrile little statement about a non existent public option he could have had in August if he had stood up and spoken plainly instead of caving every time an opponent looked at him mean compared to the loss of life and liberty he is and will be responsible for?

[CoffeeCat]

33. Thank you for mentioning Habeas Corpus...

I think it's one of the most important issues of our time.

Obama said he would reinstate Habeas Corpus, and he mentioned doing this in his "Blueprint For America."

Under the Obama administration, he has not reinstated Habeas. In fact, he fought the courts. The Obama
DOJ argued in court that America should have the right to pluck off anyone from the streets, detain them
indefinitely and without producing evidence of wrongdoing. The Obama administration fought to continue this
Bush legacy when the issue came up in court last Spring.

Obama had his chance. He fought hard to continue the Bush crimes of obliterating Habeas Corpus. Habeas Corpus
means that the government must produce the person, and show why they are being detained. We no longer have
that, thanks to Bush--and now thanks to Obama. And Obama said he would restore Habeas, many times on the campaign
trail.

This is so important, and so unfortunate.

Thanks for mentioning it.

[gleaner]

42. You're welcome ....

When news of the decision was made public, it was hidden by the clamor over airline terrorism. I felt a strong similarity to what Bush used to do. If he wanted something glossed over a tape of Bin Laden would appear or a terrorist alert or some terrorist threat that no one ever substantiated.

I was really appalled. I refer to this in almost every post I make when I am criticizing Obama. No way should we let this go by in secrecy and silence. Is that not what has happened every time the state wants to take away the basic rights of its people? And not just here but in every other country which is slipping or galloping into fascism.

Thank you for noticing and commenting. I wish more people would. Maybe if they are ever detained in secrecy, not charged with a crime or given a reason this will go through their minds in more than a passing fashion.

[hughee99]

16. That's going way back, according to the latest demands,

the bill he signs MUST be printed on recycled paper.

[KittyWampus]

17. Opening Poster is a busy little beaver on DU tonight.

[shopgreen]

21. beavers like widdle puddy cats.

[shopgreen]

22. dupe

[Bluebear]

24. is there something you don't like to be reminded of here?

[shadesofgray]

18. I don't know what is worse...Obama's bald faced about saying it, or his expecting us to buy his lie

[Jakes Progress]

20. Pocket Veto, then.

I know the usuals show up here to twist and spin and cavort, but there is no sane way that Obama can sign an HCR that doesn't have a PO. The only thing he can do if he does sign is apologize for caving and giving in.

I mean, just how clear does it have to be?

[mdmc]

23. we can all still use the ER

there is still a public option, even in this health insurance mandate bill..

[shopgreen]

25. well, that is an interpretation I had not heard before. yuk.

[grahamhgreen]

59. You will get a bill from the ER!

[FLAprogressive]

27. this ought to cause some heads to spin.

[Jakes Progress]

34. Oh, the spinning has already started.

Just not that kind.

[rug]

28. Six months has brought change.

[Kansas Wyatt]

29. Me thinks Obama doesn't like what he sees in the poll numbers & what he's been told.

So now he's trying to cover his ass.

Very simple President Obama...

Don't sign the HCR/DLC SHIT Bill, because it has NOTHING to do with Health Care Reform or helping the American People. Start over with ALL options on the table, throw a shit fit, and demand REAL Health Care Reform and smoke anyone who stands in the way. You have the power to RUIN anyone, who stands in the way of REAL Health Care Reform, so use it.

[TroglodyteScholar]

35. You may want to look at the dateline of the original article n/t

[TicketyBoo]

39. Look,

It's this, or forget it for another 15 or 20 years.

In my opinion, it's worth passing just for the elimination of pre-existing conditions.

[Zhade]

41. It doesn't do that, though. The insurance companies can charge outrageous fees to those with PEC.

Don't believe me? Read the bill.

[TicketyBoo]

63. Which of the two bills allow that?

Or are you saying that both do?

Do you have the page number(s) so I can look that up?

It was my understanding that age is the only differentiating factor as far as premiums are concerned.

[TicketyBoo]

64. Okay.

This is what I found:

http://ushealthcrisis.com/2009/12/pre-existing-conditions-ratings-and-exclusions/

1.5 times the premium for smokers, and up to 3 times the premium for older people. (This was posted on December 17, 2009.)

Do you know of a link that says otherwise?

Sure wish they would just extend Medicare coverage to everyone. The bureaucracy is already in place to administer it; it would just need to be expanded. It would have been simpler and probably less expensive in both the short term and long run.

[LooseWilly]

77. Dean proposed that extending medicare could be done through reconciliation, needing only 51 votes.

So... why not just veto this bill, and turn to reconciliation in order to produce a bill with a public option for Obama to sign?

[TicketyBoo]

84. That doesn't answer my question, though.

Obama isn't going to veto any bill that hits his desk, with good cause. It has been such a hassle to get here, do you think he wants to (or should) leave this in the hands of this Congress?

I don't. Better grab what you can now. That will be his thought, I believe, and I agree.

[MissDeeds]

30. K&R

But of course "must" is a word ripe with nuance.

:sarcasm:

[donheld]

32. Some one needs to rub some noses in this

[donco6]

37. Noses?

Oh, you mean the ones on both of his faces, right?

:)

[CoffeeCat]

36. Why would this bill include a public option?

This healthcare bill was written by the health-insurance lobby and Big Pharma.

Only a few of outspoken Senators and Congress members fought for the public option. Obama
sure as hell didn't. When he addressed Congress about healthcare a few months ago, he
said,

"To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been
to end insurance company abuses and make coverage affordable for those without it. The public option is only a
means to that end – and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal.

Why in the hell would Obama demand a public option at 11:59, when he never fought for it in the
first place?

[slipslidingaway]

38. Besides - Obama never campaigned on the publc option ...

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/22/obama-repeatedly-touted-public/

“I didn’t campaign on the public option,” President Obama told the Washington Post. But he touted the public option on his campaign website and spoke frequently in support of it during the first year of his presidency, citing its essential value in holding the private insurance industry accountable and providing competition:

– In the 2008 Obama-Biden health care plan on the campaign’s website, candidate Obama promised that “any American will have the opportunity to enroll in new public plan.” <2008>

[HCE SuiGeneris]

43. July 20, 2009, 10:16AM

What point is it you are trying to make?

[uponit7771]

44. Again, what can Obama do to legally force Lieberman or Nelson to support the public option? TIA

You wont answer this question with legal facts...you guys never do

[depakid]

46. Again- why do you persist in pushing that talking point when 50 +1 reconciliation was available?

Fact is that Obama was either too conflict averse to push for the process- or was complicit and never wanted the public option in the first place.

[dionysus]

58. they couldnt pass the whole bill that way, only parts of it.

[GOTV]

62. So you pass those parts through recon. and pass the non-controverial parts the normal way.

[Mithreal]

48. What depakid said, stop pushing propaganda and powerlessness

[Romulox]

75. What can he do to make unions accept a compromise? Twist arms... nt

[Beacho]

45. Your link didn't

I didn't see the article you were referring to

[Vidar]

47. K&R.

[Mithreal]

49. That was Classic Democrat, now we have New Democrat

[freddie mertz]

53. We all heard him. Now he says he never REALLY promised it.

Let's all support the president like we did in July 2008 and push for a bill with a robust public option.

Call Pelosi and Reid today.

[Faryn Balyncd]

54. k and r

[D23MIURG23]

56. Dated 7/20/09. You might want to check that next time.

[garybeck]

66. and your point is?

[D23MIURG23]

67. That this doesn't represent a new development.

If Obama was actually going to veto a bill without a public option, he probably would have mentioned that when the senate was in the process of stripping it out of the plan. Also, given that this report is based on statements made this summer, this does not represent a new push for a public option by the Wh.

I'm not sure I comprehend what the OP is intended to signify, but if it is implying that Obama will veto the healthcare bill, or in some way insure that a public option is included, I think a 6 month old statement is pretty weak evidence.

[readmoreoften]

72. WAIT, this isn't even a RECENT comment? Oh good god, that's just disingenuous posting.

Going back to 6-months-ago Obama is shitty and manipulative. We all remember what Obama said 6 months ago--and everything he's done to contradict that since. Thanks for catching this.

[dionysus]

57. yeah, too bad reid and pelosi couldn't muster decent bills.

[freddie mertz]

68. "Must" or "Muster"?

Or "Munster"?

Just kidding.

[GOTV]

61. It depends on what the meaning of the word 'must' is n/t

[readmoreoften]

70. Good. The people have pushed him towards at least taking something like a stand.

Although, if he allows a public option that includes some kind of suicidal pill built in, then we're back to bullshit politician land.

[Javaman]

71. Meh, I will believe it when I see it. nt

[Hawkowl]

73. Obama is a lap dog

He'll sign anything the corporate masters put in front of him. He just gives a good speech, errr, reads really, really well off the teleprompter.

It is clear to me that Obama is nothing more than a very good B movie actor. His past admiration of Ronald Reagan is now an excruciatingly clarity.

[ooglymoogly]

74. Yeah, yeah, yeah, blah,blah, blah; How many times have we heard

that blather which always, always turns out to be meaningless. O's words in fact are becoming meaningless. Oh look, here is another look through another rose colored prism of the horseshit health care that turns the w into an h, that makes it look and sound entirely palatable. So just calm down and bend over progressives, cus you are just going to forget about it anyway.

[California Griz]

78. What about the state public option

You can keep ignoring me I'm going to keep asking. It's in the bill why is everyone ignoring it? 10 billion for new community clinics and the choice to run your own public option. What is so wrong with this?

[sulphurdunn]

79. "A bit late to be trimming the verge don't you think?"

Gandalf