Mr. Obama, being "for the Public Option" means more than giving speeches. You said you want

[JohnWxy]

Health Care reform. Are you for real??

On PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Friday, Mark Shields made an amazing statement. Apparently when the amendments to add a Public Option to the Senate Finance Committee's Republican - "Insurance company subsidy" bill were being proposed according to Shields, there were NO CALLS made from the WH to members of the Senate committee to persuade, cajole or otherwise urge the addition of either of these amendments.

WTF is Obama thinking? The Republicans are going to let Democrats pass health care reform without a fight? SHIT, you are not going to get Health Care reform by just making a few nice speeches. The Republicans, lobbyists that they are, are there to stop ANYTHING THAT THREATENS CORPORATE PROFITS. They are not going to let health care reform be enacted unless you beat them into submission first. You won't do that by ingnoring votes for adding a Public Option.

Mr. Obama, how do you expect Democrats to fight the war for Health Care reform if their ostensible leader (you campaigned saying you wanted this damn job) isn't willing to put forth a modicum of effort for the cause. Beating the Corporate Lobbyist Party and getting Health Care reform is going to take more than pretty words. DON'T ASK PEOPLE TO FIGHT THIS HARD OF A FIGHT UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO GET INTO IT WITH THEM.

IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO FIGHT FOR IT, HEALTH CARE REFORM IS DEAD. (by the way, let's not pretend Co-ops are anything more than the Finance committee giving their middle finger to those who want health care reform.). I think maybe you need some cajones. Why don't you talk to Hillary. Maybe she can help you out.



http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec09/sb_10-02.html

Mark Shields: "This week, just saw in Betty Ann's piece, the public option comes up in the Senate Finance Committee. The president is committed to it. ...Make no calls. Make no -- the White House doesn't lift a finger."

[Don Caballero]

1. Why do people doubt the sincerity of our President?

I trust President Obama when he says he wants a robust public option in the HCR bill. He does not have to voice public support adnaseum because he is getting it done behind the scenes. All the rabble rousing from his constituency is making it harder for him to push the public option. We must be quiet and let the President take over the debate with the policymakers.

[stray cat]

2. people think he is god or at least king rather than president

[BlooInBloo]

6. It's funny because they're largely the same people who made up and then mocked the "messiah" idea...

Like most Americans, they just go with whichever whine suits them at the moment.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Because of the secret agreement with PhRMA? nt

[sharp_stick]

5. Secret?

Funny how everyone knows about it. Pretty shitty secret.

[Captain Hilts]

7. MONTHs after the fact. Yeah, it was negotiated in secret. nt

[Captain Hilts]

17. Here's more on WH secrecy from Frank Rich's column today

It's about the revolving door of lobbyists.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/opinion/04rich.html?ref=opinion

In his scathing Wall Street Journal column on The Post articles last week, Thomas Frank crystallized the gap between Obama’s pledge and this reality. “There is something uniquely depressing about the fact that the National Portrait Gallery’s version of the Barack Obama ‘Hope’ poster previously belonged to a pair of lobbyists.” That’s no joke: It was donated by Tony and Heather Podesta.

Obama’s promise to make Americans trust the government again was not just another campaign bullet point; it’s the foundation of his brand of governance and essential to his success in office. At the first anniversary of the TARP bailout of the banks, we can see how far he has to go. Americans’ continued suspicion that Washington is in cahoots with powerful interests in joints like Tosca is contributing to their confusion and skepticism about what’s happening out of view in the battle over health care reform.

The public is not wrong. The administration’s legislative deals with the pharmaceutical companies were made in back rooms. Business Week reported in early August that the UnitedHealth Group and its fellow insurance giants had already quietly rounded up moderate Democrats in the House to block any public health care option that would compete with them for business. UnitedHealth’s hired Beltway gunslingers include both Elmendorf Strategies and Daschle, a public supporter of the public option who nonetheless does some of his “wink, wink” counseling for UnitedHealth. The company’s in-house lobbyist is a former chief of staff to Steny Hoyer, the House majority leader. Gephardt consults there too.

[bertman]

30. Thanks for posting that, Cpt. Hilts. I don't think President Obama is the messiah, but I do

think that he has to be forceful on legislation that he REALLY wants passed. Maybe he hasn't learned that yet. If that's the case, we're in for a long ride.

Of course, the other possibility is that he underestimated the forces arrayed against him in his battle for healthcare reform and is now making a strategic withdrawal so he can regroup and mount a counterattack to carry the day.

[joeycola]

34. The WH tried to keep it secret. -at the time.

[DJ13]

8. Weve had too many shysters elected as President to take their word

From Reagan on its been one corporate owned lackey after another.

Even Clinton, who ran as a populist that people trusted ended up promoting, then signing into law, some of the biggest pieces of legislation on the corporate wish list.

Legislation that the Republicans had tried for 20 years to get passed.

Deeds are whats needed now, we cant afford to trust until our politicians prove they are worthy of it.

Really, this shouldnt surprise anyone after getting repeatedly screwed over the last 30 years, should it?

[Don Caballero]

10. One cannot compare President Obama to his

predecessors. President Obama brings a sense of hope to our nation while offering clarity and openness in regards to policy making. The idiot before President Obama left such a stain on the office that some may find it hard to believe and have hope in the current and future occupiers.

[DJ13]

12. Believe what you want, but dont cry when your heart gets broken

And it will.

They always do.

[Don Caballero]

13. I have had my heart broken in the past

I am not naive. I just find President Obama to not only be intellectually gifted but a good man with a good conscience. When he speaks I believe what he is saying. He is doing everything possible to right the wrongs on the last administration.

[Bluenorthwest]

20. Well I guess he does not stand up and argue against your

civil rights on the basis of his religion just a few years after saying he supported those rights fully, and while continuing to describe himself as an advocate of the very people whose equality he opposes.
I guess you can trust the unspoken current word of a man who campaigned strongly against mandated purchase of private products and ran commercials deriding his rival's support of mandates, even when that man now supports mandates. His views, his 'word' both things are fluid.
When he says one thing one day, and other the next, does what you believe change instantly? A good man, just religiously bigoted against some minorities, and unable to speak his mind with conviction. Not much good, but good I guess.
What we need is great, and not a prejudiced weakling clinging to God and guns.

[Go2Peace]

29. Do you really think our problems lie only (or even mostly) in just the last administration?

I thought it was clear to most everyone that this takeover has been a long term thing? If *all* we are going to do is get back to "2000", then we will have to go through the same crap again. Will we get it?

And as for what you are saying about Obama's intentions etc, he is not a "bad guy", but I think it is pretty evident to most that he is not a real reformer either. He will have to pull off some major changes to convince this dem otherwise at this point, and I mean more than just ending up with a "small p" "pubil option". He KNEW his supporters EXPECTED far more than this and all that seems to be happening is we keep being asked to lower our expectations.

At this point, as much as I do not really care for Ms. Clinton, I am almost thinking she would be getting more substantial change. At least when she believes in something she fights for it.

[Skittles]

32. she would have fought like a wildcat

damn straight

[Skittles]

31. lol

[Captain Hilts]

15. The secret WH deal with PhRMA was not 'open'. nt

Read about it here:

http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2009/08/13/the-white-house-phrma-deal/

[bertman]

37. Don C, ALL of my right-wing family and friends were full of hope when Bush was elected.

[JohnWxy]

18. "You never have to clean your room or put your toys away, on the Big Rock Candy Mountain.

NObody can be the Cotton Candy brain you pretend to be.


You don't get anything done without getting involved in the legislative process. The Republicans (you?) would love it if he didn't get involved and continued to act like something as big as health care reform will happen by itself.

This ain't the Big Rock Candy Mountains where:

"There's a little white horse you can ride of course
You can jump so high you can touch the sky
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains."

[Zenlitened]

22. yougottabefreakinkiddinme

[Tansy_Gold]

28. Behind the scenes he is making deals with Pharma

Behind the scenes he is letting the health care lobbyists do what they will with congress.



"We must be quite and let the President take over the debate with the policymakers?"

ARE YOU NUCKING FUTZ???????????

We should shut the fuck up and not say a word? We should trust him because he's Obama? because he's not boooosh???



There's an old saying in Arizona, and it's probably an old saying in a lot of places:

You can't run with the big dogs if you won't get off the porch.



Obama's been sittin' on the top step, barkin' his fool head off, but until he gets down in the dirt he's just a puppy.



Tansy Gold

[Captain Hilts]

3. Talk's cheap. Especially when there's little talk. nt

[thunder rising]

9. whoa, take a breath. We lived through August, give it a week. After Tuesday it goes to merge

Everything is fine ... for now.

[bluestateguy]

11. Speeches are a potent weapon for this president. He ought to use it.

Opposition to reform was building in August, and was halted, and even partially reversed, because of Obama's fine speech to Congress.

The WP has a story from either today or yesterday indicating that Obama is working behind the scenes to get a public option.

So keep your shirt on.

[emulatorloo]

14. There are 5 bills out there, just one doesn't have the Public Option. People seem to forget

that and act as if the Baucus fiasco is the final bill, Much of that ridiculous thing in going to be thrown out.

[emulatorloo]

16. Who the hell is "BETTY ANN" and why do you trust her so much?????

From your post:

"Mark Shields: "This week, just saw in Betty Ann's piece, the public option comes up in the Senate Finance Committee. The president is committed to it. ...Make no calls. Make no -- the White House doesn't lift a finger.""

I am not big on some of these Beltway Journo's.

[JohnWxy]

19. Betty Ann Bowser is the Health correspondent for the NewsHour. see link:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/newshour_index.html


Health Care Debate

Betty Ann Bowser updates the week's developments in the ongoing debate over health care reform.(download)

Betty Ann Bowser


Mark Shields does know what's going on behind the scenes on 'the Hill'. That's why they have him on the NewsHour on Fridays.

[sandnsea]

21. Don't blame Obama because you're gullible

The Finance Committee bill is just one small step. The fight really begins when the Senate and House bill go to conference committee. All the bluster between now and then is designed to make you pee down your leg. And you're complying.

[JohnWxy]

23. WTF are you talking about. Do you know? The WH not calling the Senate Finance committee members

and lobbying for inclusion of a Public Option is THAT the "bluster" you are talking about?

Mark Shields, a died in the wool Democrat, being disconcerted by the WH's disengagement during the Sen Fin committee deliberations (and efforts by Schumer and Rockefeller to get PO included.) is THAT worthy of your denigrating characterization (you sound like a Rush Limbaugh who specializes in insulting remarks rather than substance)?

Mark Shields: "The public option comes up in the Senate Finance Committee. The president is committed to it. ...Make(s) no calls. Make no -- the White House doesn't lift a finger."

Sounds to me like Mark can't figure why Obama isn't pushing FOR inclusion of the Public Option - in this vote.
(especially since Rockefeller and Schumer made the effort to propose such amendments)!

And then there is David Sirota: "As the White House continues to move toward dropping the public option,"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x486352


IF you are in favor of a Public Option then, instead of being a smart-ass, send an email and express your suppport where it might do some good. Send emails to the white house contacts page (http://www.whitehouse.cov/contact) and to members of Congress at http://www.congress.org

...now that would impress me, mini-Rush.

[sandnsea]

24. It Doesn't Fucking Matter

Just get the damn bill out of committee so it can be improved on both the Senate floor and in conference. Anybody who says otherwise is a FOOL including David Sirota and other nincompoop you want to quote.

[emulatorloo]

25. Worth noting that Baucus Bill is a joke. There are four other bills, they all have the public option

Perhaps White House recognized that it would be wasting its time with the Baucus Finance Committee. Makes sense to me.

[JohnWxy]

36. The Baucus bill is certainly a joke, a bad joke. If we do not keep up the pressure then

this battle is lost. There is no reason for anybody to think "the good guys" will pull it out. Everyone who thinks the Public Option is necessary needs to be contacting WH and Congress to tell them you expect them to get it. Otherwise, this battle is over.

[yurbud]

26. gets my vote just for the TITLE

[yurbud]

27. insurance company subsidy? Did it cap their prices or overhead? If not, I wouldn't call for it

either.

We should not reward health insurance companies for killing people by forcing others to become their customers.

[HughMoran]

33. Moderate Democrats Fall in Line (behind the Public Option with WH launching campaign behind scenes)

Moderate Democrats Fall in Line (behind the Public Option with WH launching campaign behind scenes)

Moderate Democrats Fall in Line

"Moderate Senate Democrats face increasing pressure to support a health care bill that includes a public insurance option, and many appear prepared to fall in line with Democratic leaders -- provided they are presented with a bill that can withstand public scrutiny in their home states," Roll Call reports.

To seal their endorsement, Democratic leaders "are working to wrap the controversial elements of reform in a politically attractive message to the centrists' conservative-leaning constituents. That could include the addition of provisions aimed directly at problems or issues in each Senator's state, such as tweaks to state funding formulas for federal programs."

The Los Angeles Times has a similar report noting the Obama White House "has launched a behind-the-scenes campaign to get divided Senate Democrats to take up some version" of the public option "for a final vote in the coming weeks."

"It also marks a crucial test of Obama's command of the inside game in Washington in which deals are struck behind closed doors and wavering lawmakers are cajoled and pressured into supporting major legislation."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/10/05/moderate_d...

Now how do you feel about your ignorant rant?

[Enrique]

35. I agree, but there are some reports that he is starting to make some calls

there is reason for some hope.