Obama Mum On Whether Public Insurance Option Is Non-Negotiable
Asked about health reform at his press conference moments ago, President Obama declined to draw a line in the sand on the issue of a public insurance option.
The non-negotiable criteria, he said, are that reform should drive down costs and cover the un- and underinsured. He declined, though, to put the public option in this category, saying that he feels strongly about certain provisions and will take those concerns up with members of Congress individually.
We'll have video up shortly, but despite refusing to insist on the public option, Obama was as combative as I've seen him on the greater issue of reform. He dismissed the idea that the public option would drive insurance companies out of business, noting that the argument is usually articulated by free marketers who contend that the private sector always outperforms the government. And he made sure to note, citing recent polls, that public opinion is on his side.
Late update:
Here's the video from the press conference.
Related: It's not exactly news that health insurance companies oppose the public option, but on Friday, their lobby tried to make the very argument Obama shot down today in a letter to Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Someone needs to call out the free marketeers more explicitly. If the private sector always does such a good job, what are they worried about?
June 23, 2009 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually I have seen a summary of Obama's responses to questions in the presser and it seems he did make that point pretty forcefully. Good for him.
June 23, 2009 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama needs to go after the insurance industry like he did the tobacco industry.
June 23, 2009 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
He did. You see the video "Discipline the Health Insurance Industry" talk about a smack in the face.
June 23, 2009 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Obama did expose the intellectual dishonesty of the for-profit insurance shills very nicely. He also, much to my relief, called out the free-market fundies on the issue. I sensed irony when he told to compete with a public option and like it - essentially to "put up or shut up".
Now that I feel somewhat satisfied that he actually is on our side, I still wish that he would just tell it like it is on all these crucial issues that have been muddied up by fascist propaganda for decades. If he brings universal single payer in through the back door this way we will have it; but we will also have a huge ignorant petite bourgeoisie that doesn't even know that they are benefitting from sensible socialism.
June 23, 2009 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I actually thought he was pretty firm on the Public Option. The dismissiveness of the Private vs Public competition argument was about as strong as he's been in a while.
John
June 23, 2009 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
If there is no public option, there is no reform.
June 23, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't it obvious yet that our public officials have been bought and paid for? Bought by lobbyists and paid for by us? Hey, DiFi, think Tehran's a mess, wait 'til 2010.
June 23, 2009 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
AHHHHHHHHH! YES! We won't take no for an answer. If they don't fight for REAL reform 2010 will be a bloodbath.
June 23, 2009 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
"the private sector always outperforms the government"
At making its owners rich, maybe.
June 23, 2009 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even with a public option there is probably no real heath care reform - see http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/june/hold_out_for_single_.php
We need REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM - MEDICARE FOR ALL - EVERYBODY IN, NOBODY OUT. Anything less is no reform at all.
June 23, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tiny incremental change you can hardly beleive in
June 23, 2009 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I call
http://images.wikia.com/nonsensopedia/images/thumb/1/19/Emo-bullshit.jpg/480px-Emo-bullshit.jpg
All whining liberals are now on notice
Put up or STFU
Forget your single payer phantasms and get behind the President lest we only have YOU and the GOP to blame
June 23, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's putting it to YOU
Demand the PUBLIC OPTION
He can't do this by himself and he won't let you sit on your butts
June 23, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Public Option has been part of the Obama program since 2007
It is up to US to stop the whining and show our support
Dr. Dean is doing it.
I am
RU you doing more than whining?
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/health-care-action-center/?source=feature
June 23, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could somebody please explain to Jake Tapper that health insurance companies are NOT required to be FOR profit?
Mine (Kaiser Permanente) is not, and I think the Mayo Clinic is not either.
In fact, I believe I've read that non-profit health care has better results (which makes sense when you think about it).
Is there any MSM outlet anymore that requires its reporters to know what they're talking about?
June 23, 2009 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is just trying to keep the dialogue open, and keep the process moving forward. He and his people seem to feel strongly that publicly drawing a line in sand (a la Clintons) would potentially do more damage than good to the process. Privately and publicly, he's doing everything he can to advocate a public plan, short of explicitly drawing that line.
Thought of another way, he's not giving the opposition -- Republicans, insurers, even the media -- the luxury of having a big red target to aim at and attack, potentially derailing the entire process.
June 23, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. As a matter of fact, shame on you TPM. This article is loaded. Obama is playing chess and once agains most of you guys are playing checkers.
June 23, 2009 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want the same option Congress gets.
June 23, 2009 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
When he talked about healthcare 90% of his talk was not only defending but saying a public plan was necessary. The president is leading it's time for people to follow and act.
There is no reason to draw a line in the sand until it's absolutely necessary.
June 24, 2009 4:13 AM | Reply | Permalink