Health Care Pulling Democrats On Left And Right, With Obama In The Middle

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is the power player right now, negotiating a careful merger between two bills with a goal of reaching 60 votes in his chamber. But the two other major players - the White House and Speaker Nancy Pelosi's House are left in a bit of a holding pattern.

Top White House staffers are helping with the merger, but sources tell TPMDC it's a more hands-off approach (for now) as Reid (D-NV) builds something that his caucus will fully support. Meanwhile, Pelosi (D-CA) is presenting the "robust" public option as the more fiscally responsible choice in hopes of pushing the conservative Blue Dogs closer to support it.

Pelosi is working hard to hit the 218 votes needed for passage by bringing together the most divergent factions in her caucus.

President Obama, for his part, urged Democrats last night to consider unity over the perfect bill, highlighting good things in "the bill you least like."

Progressive Democrats learning of the president's comments this morning were baffled since there seems to be growing support for the public option and the Congressional Budget Office is expected to score the bill with that included as less costly than originally anticipated.

Obama didn't specify if he was trying to tamp down critics who want a public option or if perhaps he was aiming at the smaller number of liberals who want a single-payer (but politically unfeasible) health care system.

Several progressive Democrats we chatted with offered a reminder - the public option was Obama's idea to begin with since he first proposed it on the campaign trail.

The progressives are still frustrated with Obama because unlike the Blue Dogs, they did not get an invitation to the White House during the health care negotiations.

"Progressives are excited that the Speaker is leaning toward the robust public option and are convinced it is best way to achieve their goals for reform," a Democratic source told TPMDC.

As for Pelosi's move, "It's yet to be seen if it was smart. If the blue dogs vote for it, then yeah, it will be brilliant," another Democratic source familiar with the health care process told TPMDC.

"Pelosi is presenting the reality that a public option saves money. If they don't want a public option, they've got to deal with the fact the costs are going to be higher," the source said.

Blue Dog Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA) told his local paper he can't support the health care bill:

"I think these bills missed a critical opportunity for the country. ... Whatever we do has to address the rising costs. None of these plans do that very effectively," he said. "It would be great if the president would take some leadership. I don't think he's done that."

The Blue Dogs are already in a tough political spot on energy legislation and members from conservative districts don't want to have to take another vote that could be held against them in 2010.