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

[Pirate Smile]

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_democrats_fall_in_line.html?utm_campaign=pwire&utm_medium=pwire.us-twitter&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=site-basic

[babylonsister]

1. Whoo whoo! The fat lady hasn't sung yet! nt

[OHdem10]

2. The Way to go, Mr President!!! We got your back.

[madokie]

50. Some of us here will anyway

[Echo In Light]

3. Good news. Although "take up some version of" doesn't instill much confidence in a strong PO

[Tansy_Gold]

4. Better late than never.

it's possible the WH -- meaning, Obama and handlers -- recognized that if the PO goes down to defeat, Obama may have a very difficult time getting ANYTHING through congress. A defeat on the first major legislative campaign of his presidency would embolden /sic/ the opposition, which needs no emboldening.

I'd like to know what the PO PR campaigns are like in the home states of the "moderate" dems. . . .




TG

[CTyankee]

5. That's the only way to go, IMO. It gets down to horse trading and arm twisting...

just like the good old days with LBJ...

Well, LBJ got us Medicare and Medicaid, so I guess these tactics are the only ones we can really count on. Appeals to reason and fairness certainly haven't won the day (if they ever do!).

[Pirate Smile]

10. People wanted them to start doing it before it was time. They knew the Senate Finance Committee was

the most conservative committee. It is more conservative then the Senate Democratic Caucus. The PO was already in the Help Bill and they could take it from there when the two are merged. Just get it out of that damn Committee and it looks like that is going to happen, thankfully.

Now the arm-twisting and horse-trading begin. We're in pretty good shape, I think, considering the make up of the 60 Democrats we are dealing with in the Senate.

[CTyankee]

41. I'm with you on this! Schumer indicated as much about a week ago on some MSNBC show.

When I heard him I was convinced he knew what was going on. I started getting hopeful then...

[rucky]

21. I was hoping this kind of stuff was going on backstage. n/t

[dionysus]

23. he can't win for trying. for example

people here think they, from behind their keyboards, what he's doing.

so first they complain he's not involved. so you say, :well, you don't know what he's doing behind the scenes."

then an article like this comes out, and people say "well, you know, this should all be behind the scenes and not in the press."

oi.

[Tim01]

6. Most of the country wants a public option, repubs included.

*Maybe* we have finally generated enough crushing public pressure for the govt to give in to what we want, instead of giving us lip service while the corporations get real gifts.

[fascisthunter]

7. very good idea

[KharmaTrain]

8. Use Of The Bully Pulpit

We're back to the way the balance of powers used to be...Congress drafts the legislation then the Executive weighs in as part of the reconciliation process. It's all behind closed doors and be assured favors are being traded. Money will pour into some districts to ensure votes are secured.

President Obama set up his staff with lots of former Senators and Congresscritters so he could win the "inside game". Be assured that Joe Biden is working the phones and doing a lot of heavy lifting to get as close to 60 on a cloture vote as well as work on the strategy in getting the bill passed through reconciliation.

The ultimate pressure for congresscritters will be deciding to vote against their President and overwhelming polls showing public support for public option and true reform. The unanswered question right now is how far will the insurance lobby go to feather nests to gum up the works. Stay tuned...

[flyarm]

9. "to take up some version" of the public option "..and i am supposed to be happy about it..

shut my mouth and just accept any damn kind of public option they throw at me and cheer and be all jovial about this bullshit right? Even when i know full well that this white house made a deal with the devil and sold off my rights to Big Pharma , the Insurance corps and the Hospital conglomerates!!

Clue ..the devil is in the details..and i for one will not accept bullshit on a platter called Public Option..remember the public Option was already a sell out by Obama and this White House group !

The Robust Public Option was the compromise..how far must i bend over in compromise now?

All i see here anymore is propaganda to sell bullshit to the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

IF YOU WANT TO ACCEPT THIS CRAP, GO RIGHT AHEAD..I WILL NEVER COMPROMISE MY FAMILIES HEALTH AND CARE TO THIS CRAP!

[HughMoran]

13. We don't know if it's going to be good or bad

...but based on your ultra-negative reputation, you ASSume that it will be bad. Oh, and it will be a self-fulfilling prophesy for you as there are always compromises and you will hone in on those like a laser and scream your head off. :P

[dionysus]

15. what it means is you choose to throw a tantrum no matter what.

nothing he ever does will stop your whining. nothing.

people ask themselves here, "what is obam doing, is he putting pressure on these guy behind the scenes?"

then an article comes out detailing just that, and your first reaction is to pitch a fit, and end with an all caps pamper fill? really?

if he personally came to your house and handed you a suitcase full of gold bullion, you'd throw a tantrum, in all caps no less...

[Echo In Light]

17. No Single Payer? Weak, limited PO, if at all, and he's "whining?" Fuck no, he's not.

[dionysus]

19. oh, so you know already what's gonna be in the bill? tell us kreskin.

i love it how you guys push failure with every breath. why don't you look up lottery numbers with that magic ball?

[Echo In Light]

22. Speculation as to the inevitable requires no Magic 8 Ball

[dionysus]

24. you so much invested in celebrating his failure,even so as to declare anything positive impossible.

[Echo In Light]

27. "His?" No, see, the difference is that I'm not hung up on celebrity/hero worship

In large part due to the fact that I choose to acknowledge the track record of the U.S. govt, and therefore understand that puppets aren't actually 'in charge' of all that much that goes on re the broader corporate/state nexus.

[dionysus]

28. the old "celebrity/hero worship" strawman again? be authentic , at least say "cult" or "messiah"...

:rofl:

[Echo In Light]

30. I know! That I'm not caught up in such prostrating nonsense is sooo un-American!

[dionysus]

31. labeling people that don't agree with you as obama worshippers is a lazy cop-out. bitterness isn't

some grand noble endeavor. it's a poor attempt at self righteousness.

[Echo In Light]

32. Typical projection: you're attacking me b/c I'm not a cheerleader

[dionysus]

36. not at all. it's not my fault all you do is bash the admin and complain.

and it really pisses you off that most people here don't have the same opinion.

for instance, the OP is an example of good news and you jump right in to shit on it. it tears you up that most people here like the administration, or think he's trying to help us.

[Echo In Light]

40. Um, who sounds "pissed off?" Not I. And if you had any reading comprehension skills...

... you'd realize that I 'jumped in' b/c of how you were attacking another poster.

[dionysus]

44. ah, the last resort, the 'ol "you don't know how to read" canard.

:rofl:

[Echo In Light]

48. It's funny when posters choose user names that don't fit their persona at all

Run along now, laughing boy.

[dionysus]

49. oh, thou hast cut me to the quick!!11!11

:rofl:

[flyarm]

35. +1 you do get it..too bad others are slower on the uptake!! Maybe some need to read this..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x486591

and this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6694962

[flyarm]

18. Ok so you tell me, when do I throw a "tantrum" as you call it ..before i am fucked or after? eom

[dionysus]

20. you'll throw a tantrum even if a strong public option comes out. your excuse will be that its not

single payer.

you'll manufacture whatever reason you need.

[flyarm]

26. Obama Passes the Public Option Hot Potato By: Jane Hamsher

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/10/04/obama-passes-the-public-option-hot-potato/

[b]Obama Passes the Public Option Hot Potato[/b]
By: Jane Hamsher Sunday October 4, 2009 11:46 am        

 

Looks like the President is desperate to get out from under
the burden of disappointing the country by failing to follow
through on his campaign promises for a public option:

[S]enior administration officials are holding private meetings
almost daily at the Capitol with senior Democratic staff to
discuss ways to include a version of the public plan in the
health care bill that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,
D-Nev., plans to bring to the Senate floor later this month,
according to senior Democratic congressional aides. 

[b]Because Reid doesn't want the blame for pulling the public
option out when he combines the HELP and the Finance Committee
bill.  He made it clear that if that if the public option made
such an exit, he wanted the White House to take
responsibility.  He doesn't want to hold the hot potato.[/b] 

snip;

[b]...but the only arm he's twisting is Jay Rockefeller's, to
vote for the Finance Committee bill that doesn't have a public
option.[/b]


snip:

[b]When Obama spoke by phone recently with Sen. Maria
Cantwell, D-Wash., he made a point of the breadth of support
for the public option, the senator said in an interview.
Cantwell authored a proposal to let states set up public plans
that Democrats added to the Senate Finance Committee bill on
Wednesday. 

Cantwell's proposal may be fine, but a public option it is
not.  Calling a hot potato something else is not going to make
it less hot. [/b]

XXXXXXXXXX

[b]Maybe others don't read all the fine print ..but I sure as
hell do!

I would say it is those who are ignorant to what is going on ,
or those who would sell us out no matter what that are the
whinners![/b]

[dionysus]

29. so? a gloomy blog post?

:shrug:

[flyarm]

37. and who's payroll are you on? You certainly don't give a rats crap if the American people are fucked

again!

the sell out has already happened..did you miss that point??????????

[dionysus]

38. another great one. i'm not throwing a tantrum all the time, so i'm some paid nefarious agent?

you guys are a gas.

:rofl:

[flyarm]

43. well seems you have painted me a way you deem appropriate..so I have a legit question for you!!

and it seems to me you are throwing a tantrum at those of us who live in reality!! And post facts not illusions!

so heed your own words..and just keep throwing your tantrums,.because I will continue to post the truth..not hope and dreams ..can't get a bandaid with hope..or your meds..just try it..ahhhahahahaha..



words of those who try to stop truth.......

"silly season" = "racism" = "tantrums" ..:eyes:

nevermind...........

[dionysus]

45. so, am i illiterate, on psych meds, or a paid DLc agent? get your weak insults straight already.

:rofl:

[flyarm]

51. wow that is a huge stretch..but if that is how you interpretation..have at it..

I AM STILL WAITING FOR A CLEAR AND CONCISE "persuasive" ARGUMENT..

oh well ..people in hell want ice water.

[dionysus]

53. what's a huge stretch? in the previous few posts, you;

asked me what payroll i am on. boy, that's not insinuating i'm a paid poster, is it?
attacked my reading comprehension. hence the illiterate relate.
asked what meds i am on. i assume you weren't taling about penecillin.

keep going, you're on a roll.

[flyarm]

54. tO USE ONE OF YOUR OWN POSTS, "labeling people that don't agree with you as.."

"labeling people that don't agree with you as...." TANTRUM THROWERS, DOOM AND GLOOMERS, THAT WOULD NEVER AGREE WITH ANYTHING OBAMA DOES....


POT MEET YOUR OWN KETTLE...

1. you don't know me and you have no idea what i am like.. if i were to really throw a tantrum!


You have no idea what i wish for in Health care, but it sure as hell is not what i have seen coming from this white house and the arm twisting..

my first question to you is..

1.How does a president who promised transparency explain one more example of behind-closed-doors deal-making with big Pharma, with the insurance ceo's and the ceo's of the largest Hosptial
conglomerates?


2.The second question is, how successful can a reform effort be when the president arrives late to the effort and whatever arm-twisting and cajoling he does will be more about passing a bill he can sign, than about the policy the legislation embodies?


clue to you..I have great health insurance..the best money can buy..I believe everyone should have health insurance..it should be a born right..I have lived in Canada for parts of 22 years..people don't lose their homes because their insurance company fucked them and they are in debt so high they lose their homes and go bankrupt..in order to get health care...they can get their meds even if they are flat assed broke..their health care is not tied to wealth.
I have been an elected Dem i n my state and I give a damn that people in my state have to decide between their meds and food ..I give a damn that people can not go to the doctor because they can't afford health care or are already in debt so high for medical reasons and now can't get a doctor to see them. I give
a damn that people are having their insurance lifetime caps shortened because they are being charged for people who don't have medical care therefor cutting into their lifetime caps, for when they may need it most.

I give a damn that people get a real bill with real reform..not Health insurance corporate welfare..

Noone will cheer louder than me if we get real Health care reform..i lived in Canada when reform came..it was disliked by some but the majority knew it was wonderful..I know there will be kinks and problems at first..but if it is bogus health care reform..we are better off without it...I know that.

[dionysus]

55. when you come into a good news thread bitching in all caps, well, you're throwing a trantrum.

and also spreading a gloom and doom attitude.

as freud said, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...
:shrug:

as i said, it's clear that no matter what happens you won't be satisfied, so complain away.

[flyarm]

39. It's called "reality" ..got a problem with reality ..or truth for that matter?

hot off the presses..

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/10/05/countdown-to-lieberman/

Countdown to Lieberman
By: Jane Hamsher Monday October 5, 2009 7:10 am

The White House had to go outside the beltway to find someone to print a story about the President calling Senators and speaking positively about a public option. It's great that he said good things to Maria Cantwell, who already supports a public option. Ben Nelson too (though he doesn't say that Democrats like Nelson shouldn't side with Republicans and filibuster a bill, the only Nelson vote that will matter).

This morning's story in the Hill is probably more on the mark:

"President Obama clearly articulated his blueprint in his speech, and everyone knows Finance has the bulk of the bill that reflects that blueprint," the source said. "Everyone, including the White House, knows the Finance bill is the only bill that’s paid for and can pass. In short, the White House wants a win, and using the bulk of the Baucus bill is the playbook to get the 'W.' "

It doesn't make any sense -- Harkin says there are 54-57 votes for a public option. That's a clear majority. And it would certainly pass the House. No, the only reason to pass a bill without a public option is if the White House doesn't want one. But who is going to let the public know? Who is going to make the announcement that there will be no public option? Who's going to take that political hit?

The White House doesn't have the stomach for it. They want someone else to take the hit. Maybe Harry Reid? Um...no:

Having deferred the issue to Baucus this summer, Reid signaled on Thursday that he is prepared to join Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), who both pushed a public option amendment that failed in a committee vote last Tuesday.

There are certainly Democrats in the Senate who have said that they won't support a public option, but so far nobody has stepped forward to say they'll join a Republican filibuster to stop it. Nobody wants that hot potato alone.

read the rest at the link.........

oopsssssssssssssss..just a simple mistake..right?????????? read the comments as well..

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/10/03/cbo-messes-up-wydens-amendment/

CBO Messes Up Wyden’s Amendment

Sen. Ron Wyden is considered to be a health care policy wonk. He ranks among only a handful of senators who have dedicated years to studying how best to overhaul our broken health care system. His primary goal is to provide greater choice to Americans in what health insurance they have.

To achieve his goal he created his “free choice” amendment which would have allowed individuals to get a voucher equal to the cost of their employer-provided health insurance. They would take this voucher and use it to buy insurance on the new exchanges.

Sen. Wyden was not happy, while in the course of debating his amendment, he was informed that the CBO “somehow” only scored one small part of his amendment. To say this is incredibly unusual would be an understatement.

Independent analysis by the Lewin Group predicted that Wyden's free choice proposal would generate $129.8 billion in revenue for the government. The incomplete/incorret CBO score said the amendment would only save $1 billion.


By: Jon Walker Saturday October 3, 2009 3:00 pm

[flyarm]

42. have you not learned yet that Sister Mary Sunshine ..hasn't delivered?

Its a sad statement that Saturday Night Live has finally gotten it..and you and some here at DU haven't! Apparently they have had their fill of Sister Mary Sunshine.. as well!

[dionysus]

47. that's a rather weak non sequitor. a lame SNL skit?

[laughingliberal]

52. Admittedly, I don't know all the behind the scenes machinations

I have had the same concerns as others about winding up with no public option or a very ineffective option. But, in fairness, I have to say asking Rockerfeller to vote for the bill without it is not, in and of itself, an indication the President is not trying for a public option. It is simply an indication a bill needs to get out of committee to move forward. Maria Cantwell's public plan is very weak but the Finance Committee bill will be merged with HELP and having any kind of public option is a better starting point than having none. As I said, I have no idea what will emerge and I am worried about some watered down version but I would take some encouragement from Harry Reid being reluctant to take the heat if the public option goes down. He is in trouble with his race here in Nevada and, obviously, sees the lack of a public option as more of a liability than having one. This is a fairly conservative state and Harry being nervous about blame for killing a public option, I hope, is an indication that all the more moderate Democrats are waking up to the hit they will take if they kill it.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. +1

:applause:

[Kansas Wyatt]

34. Token Effort Chump Change is NOT what the American People voted for.

People who get excited about "anything" to do with Public Option think they are getting a foot in the door, but they don't realize that it will be used to prevent and delay real reform for many years to come.

I guarantee you that the Insurance, Pharmaceutical, and For Profit Medical Industries will make sure the final outcome benefits only them for years, and nobody will ever be able to change that.

[Liberation Angel]

56. Not according to Michael Moore

Moore says public option is foot in the door for single payer

I kinda like his perspective and HOPE he's right.

Fact is that public option is better than NOTHING which is what will happen if we don't back this...

[Kansas Wyatt]

58. A LIMITED & WEAKENED Public Option...

Will do NOTHING, but PREVENT real Health Care reform. Because you have to get rid of the bad compromise, before you can get real reform passed in the future, and it locks in sweetheart deals for the Insurance, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Industries.

I never said that a strong Public Option would not lead to Single Payer.

I said that the Token Effort Chump Change that CORPORATE (D or R) POLITICIANS are trying to shove up the asses of the American People will only prevent and delay real Health Care Reform.

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. You moderates don't have to vote for the bill, just cloture. n/t

[mopinko]

12. cuz we all know it's the folks back home that are the problem.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[dionysus]

14. b-b-but i read on DU obama doesn't give a fuck, is lazy, has sold us out, and

secretly wants a mandate with no public option.

oh, and he's a bildeberger too.

[blondeatlast]

25. I happened to get a glimpse of Morning Joe today, Chuck Schumer the guest.

The debate was intelligent, respectful--and I'll be damned--even Joey Scar ghad grudging props for the public option.

I believe we are getting the PO. :bounce:

[FlaGranny]

33. I'm still not 100% certain

we'll get a public option, but all this back and forth and conflict has clearly illustrated what Republicans are all about (and, unfortunately, a few Democrats). The light has shown on them and the only people who still like what they see are the 20-some percent who are (un)educated by Fox.

[merh]

46. This can't be true

I've read far too many posts on DU which tell me that Obama is doing nothing. x(


:sarcasm:

[ddeclue]

57. Why does Obama always have to be dragged kicking and screaming into doing what is right by the left?

[dionysus]

60. he could have been doing it all along behind the scenes, now it's in the open cause ppl were

bitching that he wasn't doing anything.

[kjackson227]

59. Great news, but we still have to continue to make our voices heard, so...

we can't let up until this is over.