"Any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange... including a public option" - PRESIDENT OBAMA

[thotzRthingz]

Get the full quote, and watch the video here:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/obama-demands-the-bill-i-sign-must-include-public-option.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tpmelectioncentral+(TPM+Election+Central)

nuff said?

[Cali_Democrat]

1. 50 votes in the Senate needed for a public option

The votes just aren't there.

[thotzRthingz]

3. that's your story... others say the votes are there (51 of them)

The only way to find out is to have them VOTE ... and that is being denied (by Pelosi, Reid, and Obama). Why is that?

[rhett o rick]

31. 50 plus VP Biden. nm

[20score]

8. We had 59 votes before. There are 50 votes, and we would have a strong 59 if Obama put pressure on.

Please keep the debate honest.

[thotzRthingz]

21. re: "Please keep the debate honest."

That's all I ask... but apparently it simply will not happen (neither here @ DU nor in the United States Congress)

[truedelphi]

37. When lobbyists control the Congressional seats and the

Senate, and all that bribery is considered just so much "Free Speech" I am at a total loss of what can be done to make any real changes.

:shrug:

[tavalon]

26. It isn't that he can't get it done, it's that he's lying about what he said.

I know we prefer words like obfuscation and parsing but the fact of the matter is, he lied. Of course, for a politician that's just another day. I made the mistake of thinking him better.

[Cali_Democrat]

32. Well I think Obama wants the public option, but he doesn't have the votes

So Obama is going the current route because he thinks something is better than nothing.

He doesn't want to give up on reform altogether because he can't get enough votes for the public option. There are too many millions of uninsured Americans that would suffer and he realizes that.

[DFLforever]

2. So what's your point?

Scores of congress people said they wouldn't support a HCR bill without a public option.

Sometimes reality takes precedence over wishes.

[thotzRthingz]

4. Surely you can figure that out? OBAMA said there *must be a public option* (then made a back-room

deal to KILL IT! Why is that?

The "reality is" THEY make the law... all they have to do is VOTE, and they are being denied that opportunity. If the votes aren't there, so be it. But if the votes ARE there, and are NOT counted... why do you suppose that is, and what does it mean?

[DFLforever]

14. That's a big jump

But if the Administration had to knock off the PO to get HCR passed, I'm very glad they did.

And it appears to have been necessary for the Senate, doesn't it? Look at the way Sen Harkin and Rockefeller, strong PO backers, backed as far away from it as they could when negotiating for reconciliation.

And if the Po is as popular as it said to be, there should be no problem adding one to the exchange in future legislation. Right?

[Bluebear]

15. 'adding one to the exchange in future legislation' - LOL yeah that could happen

[thotzRthingz]

17. They had to kill the PO to get HCR? Get real! Have you seen this chart:

Modeled Likelihood of Supporting PO by Ideology and Fundraising
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/special-interest-money-means-longer.html

[DFLforever]

27. Doesn't invalidate what I said

They didn't have the votes in the Senate for the PO.

[Karmadillo]

5. He was lying?

I guess there could be other explanations, but that seems the one most likely. Kind of like when he said he was for single payer.

[Aramchek]

6. why cut out the middle of the quote?

oh, yeah
that would void your purpose in posting this.

[Bluebear]

7. Please, what is the middle of that quote?

Would love to hear the context, thanks!

[Karmadillo]

9. "...although if the plan includes a public option, the aliens hiding behind the moon have vowed

to laser the hell out of the entire planet, so all the good stuff is off the table including a public option."

[Bluebear]

11. Makes sense.

[dixiegrrrrl]

28. Well hell, why didn't you tell us that before?

Would have cut down on a lot of flaming threads if people understood the seriousness of
the back pedaling.
I just "knew" there had to be a good reason.

Uh, that covers the impeachment issue that Pelosi took off the table, too, right?

[Karmadillo]

36. The aliens hate impeachment, but they really like unmanned drones & Goldman Sachs.

nt

[thotzRthingz]

12. ummm, the entire quote is more than a topic title will allow... but that doesn't stop you, or anyone

from clicking the LINK. That said, here's the entire quote:

Any 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.

It changes nothing as to what I posted in the topic title... "including" means just that. It doesn't maybe, or NOT if the FOR-PROFITS won't allow it... it means *MUST INCLUDE* (at least in the English language I studied).

[FrenchieCat]

10. Trashing around like a fish out of water, are you?

[grantcart]

25. Frenchie don't bother - this guy is PROUD not to be a Democrat according to his own words

[WillyT]

13. Face It Man, It's Over... Time To Swallow The Bad Medicine...

The fix is in, and ironically, we'll next be wondering if they will actually fix it.

:banghead:

:crazy:

:shrug:

[MisterP]

38. "but it's a SANDWICH: can't you be happy with that?" nt

[madrchsod]

16. "money,money,money it`s a rich man`s world"......

and the dnc and the dlc has a lot more of it now. it`s real simple, the health-care syndicates told obama what he`s going to get.

[LibDemAlways]

18. Guess what? He lied. He's a politician and that's what they do.

He also sold out to the insurance companies he implied were dishonest. I believe that what goes around comes around and he and the Dems will pay a political price for this travesty. Not something I want to witness, but I suspect the private insurance mandate is going to be about as popular as a turd in the punch bowl.

[thotzRthingz]

19. I did not take kindly to DUBYA's LIES, why should I change my principles for Obama? (n/t)

[LibDemAlways]

20. You shouldn't. I did not mean to send any snark your way, and I apologize if

that's how it came across. I'm as disgusted by Obama's lies as I was by Bush's, and find them even more distasteful because this is a guy I voted for and he turns out to be a snake oil salesman.

[thotzRthingz]

22. I worked my ass off to help get Obama elected...my friends and neighbors must think me the fool (and

I certainly was betrayed... which is actually worse than to be thought of as a "fool")!

P.S.

No harm, no foul my friend... I am just FURIOUS at the moment, and mistook your reply.

[LibDemAlways]

24. Wait until people find out Obama and the Dems have

arranged for their pockets to be picked by the health insurance industry and their only recourse is to pay a hefty fine - up to $2095.00 in 2016 according to an article I read yesterday. How anyone can be so delusional as to think that the public is going to embrace this is beyond me. All of those perverbial suckers born every minute seem to be right here on DU cheerleading for this thing. It's out and out fraud.

[flvegan]

23. Shhhh.

Not supposed to talk about stuff like that. Just bend over and take what they care to give you.

Honestly, I'm trying to stay positive thinking that Obama has some sort of end run strategy, and that's why Kucinich switched his vote.

[aquart]

29. If Kucinich caved without getting something substantial, he's an idiot.

[flvegan]

33. Suggesting that he "caved" kind of sets you up.

Good for you, though.

[pa28]

30. I remember that statement well. It was meaningful for me at the time.

This quote came during a time of doubt and his lack of weasel words were just what I wanted to hear.

Life will go on and his Presidency will go on but he's certainly told us something about the kind of leader he is. If a President makes a clear statement like that and he proves he is willing fight, break arms for votes (figuratively people), lobby and use the bully pulpit of his office to follow through that President's word will be currency respected by friend and foe alike.

[Skittles]

34. too many DUers don't fucking care

[ProgressOnTheMove]

35. I don't think anyone will dispute there is disappointment int he amount of progress, but there's no.

dispute we on a road of progress. There's one option to stand still or keep rolling further and further.