Obama "would not shy away from a debate about single-payer." When was that debate?

[Karmadillo]

http://www.alternet.org/health/139959

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"I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care program...I see no reason why the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, spending 14 percent of its Gross National Product on health care cannot provide basic health insurance to everybody. And that's what Jim is talking about when he says everybody in, nobody out. A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that's what I'd like to see. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately. Because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House." - Barack Obama, 2003

In 2006, I spent a day with Obama in the U.S. Senate, and he said he supports a "debate" on single-payer, but that he also bad started to have his doubts, now that he was in the Senate:

I asked him to give me some specific examples of what he meant. Is a proposal to convert America's healthcare system to one in which the government is the single payer for all services revolutionary or reformist? "Anything that Canada does can't be entirely revolutionary-it's Canada," Obama joked. "When I drive through Toronto, it doesn't look like a bunch of Maoists." Even so, Obama said that although he "would not shy away from a debate about single-payer," right now he is "not convinced that it is the best way to achieve universal healthcare."

more...

[Oregone]

1. Behind closed doors

But, but...how can insurance companies profit from that?

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Wielding Truth]

3. We have to get the door open, then he will step in.

[tavalon]

4. Really? I doubt that

But, hey, it's only been _______________________.

[aquart]

5. LOL! Yes. Waving a white flag.

[saracat]

6. Seriously? You must be jesting. The WH personally made calls to ensure the PO was removed.

The door was open. He locked it and barred the door.

[truedelphi]

12. I believe you, but if you have a source or two,

I would appreciate it.

Can't cite something to some of my friends unless I can source it.

[saracat]

13. Ill look. They actually had it on DU. Carl Levin was making calls I know.

which struck me as very bizarre.

[Capitalocracy]

7. haha he wouldn't shy away from one... if somebody would start one

and not someone like you or me, someone with a voice, like an insurance company or the Republicans.

Obviously, that didn't happen.

[Marr]

8. "I have rejected a whole bunch of provisions that the left wanted..."

Just a few days, Obama told Fox News, "I have rejected a whole bunch of provisions that the left wanted that are — you know, they were very adamant about because I thought it would be too disruptive to the system".

He rejected them, by his own admission. Not the Senate, not the House, not a conspiring group of Blue Dogs or those evil Republicans. Obama rejected ideas that might upset the status-quo.

[Aramchek]

9. I hope you enjoy the vote tomorrow.

:)

[Karmadillo]

10. Is that when Obama will have that debate over single payer? If so, thanks for the info.

nt

[tom_paine]

11. On the first day, when Single-Payer advocates were arrested and escorted out. Debate over.