Obama tells progressive bloggers that ‘a robust public option would be the best way to go.’
Obama tells progressive bloggers that ‘a robust public option would be the best way to go.’
This afternoon, President Obama held a 23-minute conference call with progressive bloggers to discuss the state of the health care debate. ThinkProgress participated in the call. Igor Volsky highlights Obama’s rhetoric in support of the public plan — and in opposition to a co-op — as the key takeaway:
OBAMA: I’m still working out the details of a co-op approach. I will tell you that there are some instances of co-ops being set up and just having a very difficult time getting off the ground because they don’t have the scale and the resources to be able to compete effectively. What I’ve asked my health care team to do is to look at what evidence we have that this could provide the kind of competition that drives or helps to promote insurance reform and helps to include quality and drive down cost. If I can see some some evidence that this could work, then I’d be happy to consider it. But I will tell you that, as I’ve been very clear about before, I continue to believe that a robust public option would be the best way to go.
Listen here:
John Amato, Sam Stein, mcjoan, and dday have their own analyses of the call.
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Yes – Obama needs to get as many people involved in this fight as possible. Obama needs to let Congress know that they need to get this legislation passed BEFORE they take a break in August!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:07 pmThe coops might be a good idea for dentistry, optometry, and cosmetic procedures—I’ve long thought it would be a good idea to have local doctors serving a community. It is however, not a substitute for a public option for all necessary and preventive health care.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:08 pmObama tells progressive bloggers that ‘a robust public option would be the best way to go.’
Then Mr. President, pleasue ensure that is what America gets.
Delivering anything less will be defeat for you and America.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pmWhat’s appalling to me is how much the GOPers are willing to allow America to go down in flames. They just don’t give a damn!
The Rethuglican Party is supposed to be made up of God-fearing, family values screaching folks but they’d rather vote against legislation that would help American families.
They’d rather let us die – as long as it means that Obama fails! UNBELIEVABLE! Centrist, blue dog Democrats are no better.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pmwhat can we do to push this agenda??? Any suggestions other than just writing to our congressmen???
July 20th, 2009 at 8:16 pmWho gives 2 sh|t’s what John (huge ego) Amato thinks?
His web site is all about him and only him!!!
The name dropping…the ego…the plagaristic editing!!! Jesus. Enough already!!!
And he can’t even work a spell checker on top of all of that!!!
Or hire an editor or proof reader!!!
C&L is LAME!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:17 pmReally lame and unprofessional every step of the way.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Obama tells progressive bloggers that ‘a robust public option would be the best way to go.’
_____________________________________________________________
No argument from me — I agree. Even though I would prefer a single-payer plan, I can see President Obama’s point about killing such a large industry overnight. Our economy would suffer with that kind of jolt. Public and private plans competing in the same market on a level playing field CAN work. The private companies will sink or swim — and if they swim, they will be a valuable addition to the marketplace by providing choice. Otherwise, single-payer will arrive without a fight.
So now what? There are many on the GOP side who would vote against their own mothers if Obama supported them. Trying to court them is obviously a waste of time. Obama is going after enough Blue Dogs to get what he wants without having to give too much up, which at this point is the best card in his hand.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:25 pmI feel like a teenager – I love him, no wait, I don’t like him. What did he just say? Oh, I so love him!
President Obama, just make it clear what you want and promise us you will accept nothing less. I’m too damn old for this roller coaster!
BTW, my rep, who I really like, is a Blue Dog Pelosi Letter Signer, which I hate. Called his office again today, got someone there I actually know and she told me confidentially that she/they need to get more calls like mine demanding that he side with the President over the Blue Dogs. I was shocked that this issue doesn’t have the constituents up in arms.
PEACE
July 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pmI thought the PUBLIC was TELLING HIM about the best option??
Did I miss the last election?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:40 pmspencers mom@9, MSM is certainly doing a good job of trying to frame the debate aren’t they? Here they are troting out polls that mean jack sh*t. Big Business will do anything to crush this thing. But poll after poll shows Americans WANT this, And they want it NOW.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:43 pmThe Blue Dogs need to be told that people will donate money to who ever challenges them in the next election. A primary fight would eat up a lot of that insurance company money. If enough people called, emailed, faxed and let the Blue Dogs know how much trouble they will have, they may rethink their position.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:51 pmI have my doubts that the polls are dropping towards support for the health reform. Myself, and everyone I know are 100% behind the President and want him to succeed with the public option and nothing less! Bipartisanship is beginning to look like a dirty word and is just not in the best interest of the country. These moderate Dem’s had better watch out next election. We will send them to the same place as the Republicans, out of the way!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:51 pm“Obama tells progressive bloggers that ‘a robust public option would be the best way to go.’”
enough of the lip service then. do it. have it put into a bill and brought to a vote. to hell with bipartisanship, shove it right up the minority party’s asses afterall, they gleefully did the same exact thing for 8 years straight. and while we’re at it, warn the “blue dogs” to get in line on this issue or face primaries with heavily funded opponents.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:51 pmObama: But I will tell you that, as I’ve been very clear about before, I continue to believe that a robust public option would be the best way to go.
– - OMG, this guy is dangerous!!
July 20th, 2009 at 8:51 pmBadmoodman@#15
July 20th, 2009 at 8:53 pmonly to bawling little girls who play with barbie dolls. miss glenda becky pops to mind.
If I can see some some evidence that this could work, then I’d be happy to consider it.
From the New Yorker:
…decades ago Mayo recognized that the first thing it needed to do was eliminate the financial barriers. It pooled all the money the doctors and the hospital system received and began paying everyone a salary, so that the doctors’ goal in patient care couldn’t be increasing their income.
No one there actually intends to do fewer expensive scans and procedures than is done elsewhere in the country. The aim is to raise quality and to help doctors and other staff members work as a team. But, almost by happenstance, the result has been lower costs.
It’s not happenstance, Dr. Deming taught higher quality means lower cost. Extrinsic motivators hurt quality. Consider it, President Obama.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:55 pmI find it encouraging that President Obama pays attention to bloggers. Does Bush even know what a blogger is?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:57 pmI wish I could give the GOP an enema.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:02 pmlivelongandprosper@18, I don’t think he knows what ‘internets’ is.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:02 pmlivelongandprosper says:
If he ever thinks, I suspect he thinks it’s something he blows out of his nose after one of his all-nighters.
PEACE
July 20th, 2009 at 9:03 pmObama cannot order Congress to do anything. All he has is public opinion to pressure Congress to do the right thing. The voters need to contact their representatives to be heard. If health care does get to a vote, there may be some Republicans that will defect because of public pressure. Call, write, email, fax or carrier pigeon your representatives and Senators.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:03 pmWell, let’s see if these SOBs actually have the balls to leave for vacation before anything is done. I’ll be one pissed off Democrat. I will send the phone lines burning.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:25 pm… thank you, sir.
might i suggest asking your, our, congress to make that august recess
an abbreviated one, if at all, to get this bill written…
there are many more citizens unable to take even a weekend break,
July 20th, 2009 at 9:27 pmit’s not asking too much that our congress make a sacrifice to help out…
It is good to see that President Obama is trying to link up with his natural supporters in the progressive blogosphere. This is turning into a classic battle between the right-wing Republicans, Rush L., Newt G. and the greedy insurance corporations vs. President Obama, the majority of the American people and the progressives.
O/T: Ms. Rachel Maddow on her show on MBNBC (7/20/09) has become quite the little American imperialist. Her lead story was about how she helped the Iraqi baseball team get some new uniforms. Nothing like a little cultural imperialism, huh Rachel? Her second story was about the American soldier who is being held captive by some Taliban in Afghanistan. Nevermind that he is part of an imperial occupying force from thousands of miles away. Nevermind that we have murdered thousands of Afghanis in our seemingly endless hostile military occupation.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:33 pmNever mind that American military forces are committing war crimes every day that they linger.
Then President Obama should draw a line in the sand and fight for a public option.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:54 pmOT – Rachel Maddow is breaking it down – giving us the facts on how many non-white people helped build this country. Take that Pat rascist Buchanan!
July 20th, 2009 at 9:55 pmI just watched the most repugnant, lying anti-public-option ad on The Discovery Channel, put out by:
http://www.patientsunitednow.com
The insurance companies are now attacking any kind of reform, and they are being quite vicious. This ad was FEAR based, warning of how a Canadian had to come to the USA for treatment…OR DIE.
If we let this god-damned insurance companies do this to us again, it’s over for this country.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:02 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
So tell the Publicans to shove it, and get the blue dogs in line! You’re the president, have political capital to spend, get out and show the recalcitrants how the folks in their districts WANT a public plan. Visit each community a blue doggy represents and have a town hall meeting. Oh, yeah, and invite the azure canine in question to participate. What are they gonna say, they’ve got other commitments?
July 20th, 2009 at 10:12 pmOutlaw284 says:
The Bill isn’t finished yet you Moron. On top of that, the CBO announced that the Bill that is coming out of the House Health Care Committee (one of three such bills), is DEFICIT NEUTRAL over 10 years and could also deliver a surpluus.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:18 pmAs to your other so-called points, nice job channeling Beck, Malkin and the other whackjobs on the right.
TW, my rep, who I really like, is a Blue Dog Pelosi Letter Signer, which I hate. Called his office again today, got someone there I actually know and she told me confidentially that she/they need to get more calls like mine demanding that he side with the President over the Blue Dogs. I was shocked that this issue doesn’t have the constituents up in arms.
I have been hearing the calls to congress against a public plan out weighs those calling in for it. Funny how once again the polls do not match up.
And who are calling in against it? My guess:
- the secure well insured and selfish
- Obama haters, wanting him to fail, birthers, out of spite voting agaist their survival
- big money trying to save the corporate powers that be. And I will bet this is generating many calls…. but how many votes during election time can it generate? These bastard parasites feeding off big money need to give that some thought.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:33 pm#32:
I can tell you who else is calling and writing: The army of people who have gainful employment with insurance companies. You can bet that they make up the majority of calls.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:43 pmInteresting piece on Canadian medicine at DU:
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/ColbertWatcher/881
July 20th, 2009 at 10:54 pmIt is time to accept that repugniscum are as obstinate, as partisan as they demonstrate and would rather see America suffer endlessly and needlessly before they see a Democratic President – a black man, no less – succeed in rescuing us from the abyss we were left in by GWB.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:04 pmDeMint is not alone in his sentiment — repugs really hate Obama in a visceral way, deeper than just his politics — I think their inherent racism is at the root of their unreasonable behavior.
As for the BlueDogs, they are foolishly pandering to their conservative constituents because when this is all settled, they will have egg on their face if they are shown to have been part of the opposition to the end.
Wow….
# 29 Outlaw284 sounds like one of the many bitter desperate ones fearing a rescinded Bush tax cut in order to pay for what is right for the people.
Or is Outlaw284 one of the prejudice birthers so hateful it will vote against it’s best interest.
Or perhaps Outlaw284 is a rapture ready type boiling over because the SCOTUS will not be stacked to out law abortion.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:05 pmWe need the public option. I really don’t give a crap about the right-wing. Everything they touch, they screw up. They are vile, incompetent, impatient dingalings with no education and no class.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:08 pmWhy do so many still listen to the repugs when they are rsponsible for this condition of today? They have fought against the people since Social Security and Medicare.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:10 pmThey have spent us into this debt and deficit through tax cuts and illegal wars.
They should have zero credibility.
There was an interesting article at Gawker that tries to answer that question, Marie. It’s rather short but has some interesting external links.
http://gawker.com/5052329/scientists-explain-why-people-vote-for-republicans
July 20th, 2009 at 11:20 pm#34 Marie
I will bet those originally were not myths but lies by the GOP/corporate powers that be to smear a decent health care system that would take from their profits.
This whole thing is so hideous. We the People are up against big money and a lying obstructionist party just to get a decent affordable health care system in order to manage our lives better.
People out there are dying for Christ’s sake.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:23 pmWe must not permit money to buy off politicians again to keep Americans under-served medically while our pockets are picked by the insurance barons!
July 20th, 2009 at 11:34 pmIf we took the for profit out of health care do you think we could do some research on a growing number of infectious diseases no one wants to touch because there is no profit as compared with erectile dysfunction?
Treating ED while ignoring infectious, possibly contagious diseases is insane.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:42 pmfrom: billpressshow.com
Health Care: The Public Plan Option
These Democratic Senators have NOT agreed to support it:
1. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
2. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)
3. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
4. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
5. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)
6. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)
7. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
8. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)
9. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
10. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
11. Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)
12. Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)
13. Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
14. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)
These names are reported by The Hill here and here
Update: Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) says she supports a public option.
Update: Senator Jeff Binghaman (D-NM) says he supports a public option.
You can also contact the White House and voice your opinion
July 21st, 2009 at 12:10 amComments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Outlaw284
I have never seen so many brainwashed morons as you rightwingnuts. You are ignorant, you are liars, you are stupid. Just go away and let the adults talk
July 21st, 2009 at 12:25 am.
I don’t want a mandated “OPTIONAL” insurance plan that lets the multi conglomerate Insurance Corporations reap benefits and money from their decisions as to what they will/won’t cover.
Why can’t America be better than that?
America may be strides ahead in R&D for drugs and cures…
… So why does she lag last in treatment?
.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:10 am.
What form of Government allows itself to be bought and paid for?
.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:12 amMax Anax @#46
Facism?
Capitalist Theocracy?
(Where’s My Vote?)
Constitutional prostitutionism?
July 21st, 2009 at 2:01 amSenator Jim DeMint, the seemingly demented Republican senator from South Carolina has confirmed that his home state is inflicted with yet another reality challenged statewide officeholder. Another is, of course, DeMint’s colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham, South Carolina’s official cracker, who feels no connection to past statements as he conducts his stream of consciousness (or lack thereof) officialdom.
The most notable of the triumvirate of South Carolinian leadership, due to his penchant for travel in South America, is Governor Mark Sanford, yet another member of Washington D.C.’s C Street “Fellowship”. It is a fellowship that seems to have as its defining characteristic a singular lack of fidelity to the members’ spouses and the members’ constituents. Their motto…”Jesus already forgave me for that.”
The demented one publicly expressed his determination to fight the healthcare bill, not on the merits of the arguments for or against the bill, but simply in order to see it defeated as a part of Obama’s legislative program. He belligerently pronounced this legislation to be Obama’s Waterloo and predicted that when it goes down to defeat it will break Obama. Deminted also promised to bring pain to his colleagues who lack fidelity to the party line (although again, a lack of fidelity to their spouses and constituents is okay) despite the fact that it is difficult to imagine what he could use against them that they haven’t already used against themselves.
Readers on this site are generally familiar with the standard Republican practice of projecting their own shortcomings, vices and conspiracies onto their opponents. With this in mind, we should, no doubt, welcome the seditionist senator’s grousing, as it likely represents the future he sees for his own party.
This also takes place in an ideal test bed for this sort of experiment. We need to closely watch the 2010 election results in stridently Republican South Carolina and see how many more Democratic voters these three statewide officeholders have created, as they expose the true hypocrisy and corrupted soul of the Republican Party.
In the meantime, we need to keep up the pressure on the blue dogs, making it abundantly clear that their political survival depends on this. If they find that too hard to believe, we’ll have to show them how they committed political suicide with a thoughtless lunge for the industry bribes.
Then we can watch Jim DeMint and his horde of like mindless whores retching on their defeat as they spin down the drain.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:11 amDeMint is to health care what Gov. Fabus is to segregation. History will not be kind to DeMint. Of course, who knows if DeMint is another scandal waiting to happen.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:55 amObama needs to wake and smell the coffee. With an approval rating of -5 he should realize he does not have the people on his side. I had hoped when he got elected that things would get better, but he seems to think he is king (or maybe dictator) and doesn’t listen to what the people want and, maybe more importantly,what the people don’t want. Instead HE tries to tell US what we want. Epic fail!
July 21st, 2009 at 11:36 amNunya
You are a moron. Obamas approval rating is about 60%. The public WANTS a public option and you are a brainwashed fool. You stupidity about Obama trying to be a king shows you are too stupid to be taken seriously. Do yourself a favor and STFU
July 21st, 2009 at 7:10 pmI don’t want a mandated “OPTIONAL” insurance plan that lets the multi conglomerate Insurance Corporations reap benefits and money from their decisions as to what they will/won’t cover.
Why can’t America be better than that?
America may be strides ahead in R&D for drugs and cures…
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:45 am… So why does she lag last in treatment?