(Rep. Jan) Schakowsky: 'Nothing has changed' on public option

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

The point person for House liberals on healthcare says she trusts that President Barack Obama's support for a "public option" in the health reform bill remains strong.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus's healthcare task force, said she was reassured by the White House that the president isn't weakening his position.

"I take the administration at its word and the word is that nothing has changed," Schakowsky said.

Schakowsky said she received a "question and answer" memo Monday from the White House that laid out the president's support for a government-run option that would compete with private insurers.

The memo said that "nothing has changed" and Obama views the public option as the "best way" to achieve his healthcare goals.

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/schakowsky-nothing-has-changed-on-public-option-push-2009-08-18.html

[create.peace]

1. "Here's the bottom line: Absolutely nothing has changed," Sebelius said.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/18/sebelius-reiterates-support-for-public-health-option/
Posted: August 18th, 2009 12:09 PM ET
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that the Obama administration is not shying away from it's support for a public option.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that the Obama administration is not shying away from it's support for a public option.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Obama administration is not backing away from its support for a public option as part of health-care reform, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius stressed Tuesday.

"Here's the bottom line: Absolutely nothing has changed," Sebelius said.

[ProgrezivIndie]

2. I think there will be a healthcare reform bill "passed & signed" which includes a "public option" OR

there will be NO healthcare reform bill to come out of CONGRESS at all.

Obama does not WRITE the legislation... he may ask for certain things, even indicate that he will VETO certain things... but it is CONGRESS that writes the legislation, period! If a "public option" is not in the final version of any healthcare reform bill, there simply is not enough support to pass same (and I don't care which talking head says what about whatever... they also DO NOT write the legislation).

STAY STRONG... and ARM YOURSELF WITH THE TRUTH ( http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6325628&mesg_id=6325628 ) ... then contact your Congressional Rep and Senators... *INSIST* on a "public option" because THAT is the only way to bring about CHANGE (otherwise, the FOR-PROFITS will simply stay their course--ever increasing PROFIT-margins along with their ever decreasing CLAIM-pay-outs... and all Americans will suffer for it).

The bottom-line, which you can take to the bank: either we FIGHT FOR TRUE REFORM ("public option") or we settle for NO REFORM whatsoever.

...just my 2cents

[aquart]

4. That's the position I'm taking.

Robust public option or don't bother.

[enola fay]

5. With or without reform

with no strong public option, this is a win for the right. There is a Rasmussen poll out showing that more people trust the Republicans on health care now. If "reform" is passed with no public option, taxes and/or premiums are going to go up because of the individual mandate in the bill. People are not going to be happy. It will be blamed on "Obamacare" no matter what. If reform is not passed, Obama and the dems are losers who can't get anything done. Republicans will be seen as the ones who stopped it or tried their darndest rather than the saboteurs they really are. If a public option is passed, taking the current political climate into consideration, I am afraid one of these right wing loons is going to flip out and do something crazy (like attempt to harm Obama or another dem).

The left really needs to go on the offense now. We have spent too much time defending this plan against accusations of death panels and dead grannies from morons like Sarah Palin and Chuck Grassley. Why Obama felt engaging these idiots was a good idea is beyond me. Again, I think he needs to fire some of his advisers.

Another problem the left has always had is being too intellectual about these things. The right always wins because they understand that people are fundamentally lazy, stupid or ignorant and they're not going to relate to real logic or intelligence. They know they've got to talk stupid and simple to get people to listen. They understand the power of repetition - if people hear the same thing repeated enough times they are just simply going to believe it. The left puts way too much trust in the intelligence of the people. We need simple memes. We need talking points. We need to repeat the same few lines over and over until it is pounded into peoples' heads.

I think one of the main reasons Obama won is because he continually pushed the "hope" and "change" crap. It boggles the mind that these people who ran such a genius campaign can't seem to figure out how to get people on board for a public option.

[enola fay]

3. They must think we're stupid.

Read between the lines. What I get from this is, "Obama thinks the public option is the best way, but is willing to compromise in order to make sure we get
some semblance of health care reform passed so he can use it in 2012."

If Obama really believes this is going to help him in any way, well, he needs some new advisers. The right wing is going to be against him no matter what, and he is now alienating his base by continually kowtowing to the loony right. I just don't see a formula for success in that.

[Name removed]

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