Gibbs: Obama 'Absolutely' Did Everything To Get Public Option, Despite No Talks With Lieberman

[NewLIfeArea]

"I think the president has been clear on what he supported," Gibbs said. "I think members of the Senate have been clear on what they didn't support. The president believes... health care reform that will pass the senate contains about 95 percent of what he wanted out of health care reform. And the president is quite pleased with the product and looks forward to signing comprehensive health care reform."

more....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/22/gibbs-obama-absolutely-di_n_400574.html

[Aramchek]

1. why would Obama try to talk to a brick wall??

[treestar]

12. You're right

That would be pointless and as the poster below says, just cater to Lieberman's ego.

If Obama got all the Blue Dogs on his side, still it's no good. We had to have Lieberman.

[Kahuna]

21. When he already knew that at least three other brick walls were also

against it?

[AndyA]

2. 95%...that little 5% was just the main thing that the people wanted.

:eyes:

Anyone remember the people? The ones who pay the bills? The ones who vote for those to represent their interests?

That public option would have just made health care more affordable for everyone, introduced some much needed competition into the market, and been the main impetus to control costs.

No biggie... :eyes:

[treestar]

11. Remembering some of those people is to remember

that some of them don't want the government involved at all. They want the status quo or even less government involvement. Or the vast majority who have coverage and are too scared of big changes.

95% is pretty good. I'd hate to be your employee. Perfection or nothing.

[Vincardog]

15. Perfection or nothing? Passing a mandatory Insurance company give away and calling it health CARE .

reform is "My way or the Highway"? get real. Name one thing the Right compromised to the left in this Senate bill?

[treestar]

17. The right didn't compromise

At all. The People have sent at least 40 Republicans to the Senate.

They also sent some Blue Dogs and Lieberman. If you count as they right, they compromised away doing nothing, which is what they prefer.

[Fire1]

33. Agree. They didn't compromise, they stalled. n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. I think that most progressives would happily trade that 95% for the

5% that would actually CHANGE things.

The 95% is incremental bullshit which the corps will work around. The 5% would have made a REAL difference.

[AndyA]

23. Life must be good looking out from behind the Rose Colored glass.

New taxes are always good, right? They only hurt the little people and they don't count in your world. :eyes:

[treestar]

29. Nonresponsive. I don't deserve that.

My point is that there is a right wing and that Congress is to the right of the President and this Senate won't allow a public option, because it is representing, albeit disproportionately, the people who voted them in. We're lucky to get more government involvement at this point.

You are going on self pityingly about the "little guy" but the little guy includes a whole bunch of stupid republicans.

[avaistheone1]

13. The people are irrelevant in this administration

[high density]

3. How does talking to Lieberman solve anything except make Lieberman feel even more important?

That guy's ego needs to be deflated. HuffPo is stooping to Politico antics when they frame this story as, "If only Obama had talked to Lieberman, everything would be fixed."

[vaberella]

4. Yes the President has been clear. I sat through video after video of him pushing the PO.

For people who say otherwise there are three possibilities: 1)they ignored him, 2) they are lieing, 3) and/or have amnesia and should get that checked out.

[Armstead]

5. It WAS clear -- Maybe some kind of weak public option perhaps if it is bipartisan possibly perhaps

[Barack_America]

6. Remember this version of Obama?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6278421

That's who I campaigned and voted for.

If only he were as committed to defending us as he is at defending himself.

[jgraz]

20. We don't know what was said during that conversation.

My guess? It went something like this:

"Dammit, Joe. You've got to dial it down a little. No one will believe this over-the-top douchebag act. Remember, we're gonna need you to stop all the crazy shit I promised these idiots who are voting for me."

[neverforget]

24. He had some fire in the belly then. Now, not so much.

[NewLIfeArea]

7. public option or no public option.

We really want to pass this health care bill period!, but we prefer we have public option!!!

[girl gone mad]

14. Who is "we"?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........

[freddie mertz]

9. And if you believe THAT....etc etc. nt.

[kenny blankenship]

10. Ari, Scotty, Dana & Bobby

"The Pretenders"

[leftofcool]

18. Yea right, Gibbs.....go stick it!

[Bitwit1234]

19. Wait a minute

to get to talk to the self described KING OF THE UNITED STATES (especially congress) you have to crawl and beg. Then King Liberman might grant you and audience. I hope...one thing....that when his a** is thrown out of office in the next election, we can all laugh in his face. But knowing he probably wouldn't win he might not run.

[lame54]

22. "And the president is quite pleased with the product..."

And therein lies the problem

[Cha]

25. Yeah, I know he did and that's what's important to me..

[depakid]

26. Gibb's credibility takes another dive

Although if he's right about the 95% deal- that may inadvertently say something that folks might be interested in following up on, as the administration "tackles" other issues down the line.

Could well be that the administration's not interested in effective (much less progressive) policy prescriptions that might upset the the beltway and K Street apple carts- and is more than happy to watch as Congress (people like Melissa Bean for example) thwart meaningful reform.

[GreenArrow]

27. Suuure he did...

As something purely "symbolic" the PO was never part of the plan.

[GreenArrow]

28. Lieberman was actually telling the truth then.

Amazing. That's probably the most interesting thing about this article.

Gibbs on the other hand...

[treestar]

30. How can that be known?

And why is Lieberdouche suddenly credible?

[GreenArrow]

32. Liberman said Obama never

discussed the issue of the PO with him, nor put any pressure on him, which Gibbs has apparently corroborated.

[ShortnFiery]

31. Whoa! What has Gibbs been smoking? eom