"I will veto any bill that does not have a public option"

[Libertas1776]

Hmm, whatever happen with that? Obama, truly a man of his word. :sarcasm: And now they're caving in on their caving in to a Medicare buy in for 55 and up. Let's see, what exactly are we left with? Ah yes...

The chop shop that is the Senate has delivered us a bill on cinder blocks.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. I was thinking of this...

[Cleita]

2. What we have left is corporate welfare for the insurance companies.

Instead of a public option for the poor and uninsured, we the taxpayer will be buying their insurance from private insurers.

[DJ13]

3. We were promised a pony and got this monster instead

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. Countdown to spin from Message Discipline LLC employees.....5...4...3...2...

[gratuitous]

5. Well, there isn't a bill on his desk yet

But from the machinations of the last week or so, I don't really have my hopes up.

[tritsofme]

6. Um, thanks for the phony quote, I guess...

Obama never said he would veto any bill without a public option.

[Jakes Progress]

16. Aren't we word picky.

He said any bill he signed would have it. If he signs one that lacks what he said it must, how would that sit with you?

[bluestateguy]

7. I remember the last president who did that with health care

This White House seems to be going out of its way to do everything different (good and bad) than the Clintons 16 years ago.

[Cetacea]

10. Obama promised to fix SS/Mediciare after HCR too.

I wonder if he'll do to those programs what Clinton did to Welfare?

[bluestateguy]

12. First of all, I support what Clinton did to welfare

Lifetime welfare dependency is not compassion.

But anyway, Obama did say in the campaign that we could fix Medicare and Social Security by gradually lifting the earnings cap on payroll taxes. Are you against that? Currently only your first $100,000 per year are taxed.

[kelly1mm]

19. There is no cap on Medicare withholdings, only SS at $106.5k. nt

[mdmc]

27. Clinton did nothing to end poverty

the welfare caps are cruel, not at all compassionate.
Although, in NYS, I must say that very little has changed welfare wise. Now, people who have been on welfare no longer get $366 per month to give to their landlord - the government gives the $366 directly to the landlord..
So nothing changed in NYS, more or less..
I wonder how it worked out in other states?

[Old Codger]

8. Not even

A kiss or any Vaseline............truly and royally screwed

[stray cat]

9. Anyone have any link where Obama made any such promise?

I don't remember him ever campaigning on a public option except maybe mentioning it as a possibility. I sure never heard him come close to demanding a public option and threatening a veto. Maybe like many imaginary quotes - it was a dream?

If I'm wrong - remind us all of the promise with a legitimate link?

[charlie]

11. Link

(A)ny plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family.

(July 20, 2009)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/obama-demands-the-bill-i-sign-must-include-public-option.php

[tritsofme]

13. That quote is a far cry from the veto threat imagined by the OP. nt

[charlie]

15. "Any plan I sign must include..."

"...but if it doesn't, you guys won't mind if I sign it anyway, will you?"

Is that your take on it? Then you're right, it's a far cry from the OP's.

[tritsofme]

17. Not a veto threat.

President Obama has repeatedly said he prefers a public option, but he has never explicitly issued a veto threat.

[charlie]

18. Ah, then that IS your take

"Must include" means "I prefer". Okay, then.

[Greyhound]

32. No silly, he didn't use the word 'veto'.

Of course, "will not sign" = Pocket Veto.

[chimpymustgo]

23. Thank you. "Any plan I sign must include...". That should clear it up - even for the folks

wearing permanent blinders.

[Kansas Wyatt]

24. The White House needs to be flooded with letters...

From people telling him that WE are watching to see if he keeps his word, without bullshit excuses.

With this Shit, the Democrats are conceding the 2010 & 2012 Elections to the Republicans.

Go to Hell Pom Pom Squad, this is NOT what the People voted for!

[chimpymustgo]

25. "Go to Hell Pom Pom Squad"...this is too important for your ego.

[Kansas Wyatt]

28. Nothing to do with 'my ego'

"Go to Hell Pom Pom Squad" - Has everything to do with telling those here, who wanted to concede everything away for the sake of getting a Bill passed, who I suspect, have a stake in an Insurance Industry Giveaway, where to go.

And by conceding everything away, it has gone from reform to a big pile of shit for the American People to have shoved down their throats.

[thereismore]

I just don't think they care about our letters. The system is broken. Campaign finance reform now. n

[dixiegrrrrl]

29. Thanks for finding that.

bookmarked for the day the whatever bill emerges is signed.

[thereismore]

30. This is a logical equivalent of "I'll veto it if no PO". If he signs something else he's a liar. nt

[femrap]

14. Even if they would

have allowed folks over 55 to buy in, it would have been waaaaaaaaaay to expensive. I read that estimates were 100,000 to 200,000 people could afford to buy in.

It's just fucking ridiculous. These fucking corporations make people retire early and then can't get insurance. Or lots of people in their 50's are desperately holding on to their jobs just for the insurance and they're miserable. If Medicare opened up to them, they could quit and open up jobs for others to be miserable in....lol.

Goddess, I'm so ashamed of our 'leaders.' They're a damn joke. Just pathetic. Greedy wretched leeches.

[Hannah Bell]

20. what exactly are we left with?

[dysfunctional press]

26. bloody assholes.

and you'd think that the dems would have at least given us a reach-around...

no such luck.

[Faryn Balyncd]

21. K&R...Is it about time real Democrats rise up & STOP this farce of a "reform"?

[beaglelover]

33. Damn right!! n/t

[Libertas1776]

22. veto, will not sign...

it still sends the same message. He said he wouldn't accept (i.e. sign, not veto) a bill without a public option.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

31. Memo to OP: "The buck stops here." Is no longer operable for Democratic presidents.