Will A Nod Tonight From Obama Save Public Option?

Question: Will A Nod Tonight From Obama Save Public Option?

Answer: Maybe!

And though from all accounts, Obama's position on the public option (supportive, but not insistent) will remain unchanged, the development might come as a surprise to those who were paying close attention to the news last week.

If all your information on the health care debate came from reading the headlines of TPM articles parsing the use of the words "spirit" and "for the moment" and "is," you will be surprised to hear Obama advocate a position on the public option that's exactly the same as the one he had six months ago!

He needs to be specific, as in:

With a Public Option, premiums will be AFFORDABLE, and therefore people can actually AFFORD to pay for their own heath care. This is not government paying for everyone's premiums; it is making premiums a real possibility for the millions who want to take care of themselves.

Insurance companies will no longer be able to drop people because they are sick, and if you lose your job, you will still be insured, because your insurance company cannot drop you, or raise your rates just because you got sick or lost your job, or even CHOSE to leave your job. Period.

No tort reform withuot a public option. I think malpractice reform is key in getting a workable health care system in this country...but that and either a single payer or public option system have to walk hand in hand.

"Will A Nod Tonight From Obama Save Public Option?"

It depends on the strength of the argument he attaches to that nod.

It's been two or three weeks since the Politico or whoever proclaimed the death of the public option, and I still don't get what's with this talk about the public option being dead. The media may be treating it as dead, but they're not the ones who write the bills. Neither, for that matter, is Obama. Right now the status of the public option is that the CPC is saying they won't let the bill pass without it. Until the enemies of the public option (republican or democrat) find a way around that, the public option lives.

Let's hope for a Hail Mary speech that saves the day for Public Option, a cross between Obama's Rev. Wright lecture and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

I've been accused of much worse.

I hate to sound all vichy, but honestly "the public option" as a binary yes-no right now really isn't something to get all bunchy about. Research it before you go to the wall for it. It's much more important that pools be as large as possible. With a national mandate, there's no reason that the pools shouldn't be limitless. And a co-op with national scope is probably BETTER than "public option" with state or regional scope. Of course it looks like neither may be in the cards, but do realize, Obama could be playing a binary yes-no public option as a way to "cave" and get something better. You have to allow the possibility.

The insurance companies are counting on us keeping our eye on the wrong ball. It's pretty easy to fool say 60% of the people, even "engaged" progressives, who don't have time to research the issues professionally or watch how the ball is bouncing. Honestly, how many of us were just gratified that it came down to "public option" because it gave us something to hang our hat on without doing any more research. They will keep this shell game going. You can't beat them at it.

I don't like "trusting" politicians. But honestly, I think we've got to exercise some trust here, because this is a case where one wise leader has a greater potential for effectiveness than even an engaged polity. The forces mustered on the other side are enormous. We've underestimated them.

We brought this guy to the white house. He's a good man and-- god help me-- I do trust him. Let's go as strong as we can, then let's back off and let him do his thing.