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Gibbs Fights Off Questions About Admin Changing Stance on Public Option
Rachel Slajda | August 18, 2009, 2:48PM
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At the daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs again denied that the administration has changed its position on a public option.
Over the weekend, President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made comments many perceived as backing off the public option. President Obama had said the public option as a "sliver" of health care reform, and Sebelius said the public option wasn't essential.
But Gibbs fought off that perception, saying the administration's stance has not changed at all over the last several months. He said they would prefer having a public option, but it's not a deal breaker. He even brought a stack of papers with past quotes from Sebelius and Obama, including transcripts from this weekend's events.
He handed the stack to CNN's Ed Henry, who was the most persistent questioner today.
Since the meme took hold, Sebelius and Gibbs have repeatedly shot it down, with Sebelius saying, "Nothing has changed."
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kelliemb1521
August 18, 2009 3:21 PM
'It's not a deal breaker" Hmmm...I don't like that at all!
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Wes Cain
August 18, 2009 3:29 PM
I have been an active committed Obama supporter from the beginning but if he backs down on the public option (the ONLY way health insurance costs can be driven down) or if he fails to veto a do nothing bill, I for one will not vote for him in 2012. There have been too many campaign promises ignored already but this would be the last straw.
I supported Howard Dean is his run for the nomination and would do so again (time and money) if Obama continues to act like a Republican.
I cannot get my brain around what has happened with Obama.
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calterp
August 18, 2009 4:10 PM in reply to Wes Cain
I completely agree with Wes. I actively supported Obama when it was down to just him and Hillary and I gave him money. I presently give his actual job performance a C-. I'd give him a solid F on what I expected from him at this point. One payer health insurance is the way to go, but I know that's not going to happen right now. I don't care what else is in the bill. If a public option is not in the bill, it's not reform. The public option is NOT a sliver. It's the only reason to pass this current legislation since Congress will not get onboard single payer. If the public option is not in the bill, the bill is WORTHLESS no matter how they try to spin it. And if it's not in the bill, I will be done with the Democrats and it will be time to start a viable third party.
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714Day
August 18, 2009 4:19 PM
Eye opening article about why we are not likely to get anything approaching genuine reform, let alone a public option, in Business Week. "Why Health Insurers Are Winning" by Chad Terhune and Keith Epstein is well worth perusing. (Best I can do is link to an audio upload that may require a fee - I read the hard copy:
http://www.businessweek.com/mediacenter/podcasts/cover_stories/covercast_08_06_09.htm
I think we may as well clap our hands to revive Tinkerbell as hope for a PO the way things are going.
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Alex39
August 18, 2009 4:21 PM
I know that Obama is the visible face of this. But honestly, we need to think a little more broadly.
I'm not urging anyone to "accept" anything -- I'm just saying that we need to keep our eyes on Congress, which is where legislation actually gets assembled and disassembled.
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atticus1104
August 18, 2009 4:57 PM
The GOP plan is to not offer anything to the discussion and just stall. There are several Democrats who are just guilty of this as well.
If you need proof, watch the video below.
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2591
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sbv
August 18, 2009 9:56 PM
stand up, shout, march on your representatives office or attend a town hall meeting. carry a sign and your cell phone camera. take pictures and send to your local and/or nat'l news service.
Jane Hamsher of firedoglake.com said tonight on rachel's show a brilliant argument: why should we have to bail out the health insurance companies that created this problem just as iag and goldman sachs?
we fought too hard to be out maneuvered by the gop. for many of us who volunteered for then senator obama, we learned to canvas, knock on doors, write letters to the editor, make calls and talk to people. we can do this again either for health care reform with a public option or for the opponents of the gang of six and blue tics.
go to www.firedoglake.com, put in your zip code and it will tell you where the nearest health care town halls or meetings are. make your signs, take your family, your friends, your neighbors, those in your church who are losing their insurance or have been denied health insurance or having to declare bankruptcy due to medical expenses they can not pay.
make your signs, show up, show your support and take pictures.
"NO BAILOUTS FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES" thanks jane, great argument!
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Terry Carroll
August 19, 2009 1:38 AM
I've written to Obama and my Congressional trio to let them know that I, for one, believe that health care reform with no public option is no reform. I'd been open to the co-op idea, but I've the more I look at co-ops vs. public option the more I realize that a robust public option is THE key to breaking the stranglehold that the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries have us in.
Jane Hamsher's appearance on Rachel Maddow cinched it for me.
So I sent my representative, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, my backing of her already stated hard line on the issue; let Obama know that "Barbara Lee Speaks for Me"; wished for Barbara Boxer to get on board; and I threw yet another stone into the cave that is Feinstein's office.
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