Here's what Obama actually said.

[ProSense]

Obama: Public option ‘not the most important’ part of healthcare bill

President Barack Obama said Monday that Congress should approve a final healthcare bill even if it doesn’t include a public option.

Obama said the House and Senate bills are 95 percent “identical” and downplayed the fact that final legislation is unlikely to include a public health insurance option during an Oval Office interview with American Urban Radio Networks’ April Ryan.

“There's 5 percent differences, and one of those differences is the public option,” Obama said.

“But this is an area that has just become symbolic of a lot of ideological fights. As a practical matter, this is not the most important aspect to this bill — the House bill or the Senate bill.”

I can see why people are making the focus what he said during the campaign because the overall context is reforming the system is more important.

Sam Stein

There are countless other examples as well; but remarkably few other times in which Obama himself was quoted supporting an additional program of government run insurance. His campaign never pushed back on the report. If anything, it seems they clearly constructed a health care strategy that embraced the public option as one of several principles of reform.

It also, however, seems clear that the philosophical attachment of the candidate to the issue was limited. Obama would discuss the public option more frequently once he took office. But on the trail he almost always highlighted other elements of his health care agenda first. As one progressive activist who has worked on health care reform for the past year put it:

"What I think (Obama's) point was (in making his statement to the Washington Post), is true. The public option was not his number one talking point on the trail. Hell, it wasn't even number 12. The public option didn't become the central part of health care reform until after (he entered the White House)."

[babylonsister]

1. Those darn facts, no one cares around here anymore. If they get

an opportunity to fault the president, so much the better. I feel like I've fallen through the looking glass and gone back in history. :crazy:

[dkf]

2. The public option is the counterweight to the mandate.

It's not important if people can take it or leave it. It is important if you coerce people into buying it.

[ProSense]

4. Wrong controlling cost serves that function. n/t

[dkf]

6. Inadequate costs controls don't cut it.

3x premiums is not controlling costs. Then there is controlling co pays and setting limits on out of pocket costs for all policies. You do all that and we can talk about cost controls. Now if we had an entity that regulates premiums similarly to utilities then maybe we can talk turkey.

[ProSense]

24. "3x premiums is not controlling costs."? Stop pulling numbers out of thin air. n/t

[Oregone]

3. He stated that when it started getting jeopardized

He was backtracking so that people wouldn't criticize him for signing any piece of shit that hit his desk.

Big whoop. He is a politician, and not a stupid one. Anything else?

[ProSense]

5. "He was backtracking so that people wouldn't criticize him..." Really?

:rofl:

[Oregone]

7. Spin spin spin

We know what was on his campaign website, and we know what he said AFTER the process was started and capitualation was in the air. What do you think best represents him? Capitulation message or campaign message.


At the end of the day, the backtracking sold it to you. So, it wasn't for nothing I guess. As I said, he isn't stupid...he just depends on stupid people eating out of his hand (as all politicians do)

[ProSense]

9. Bitter, bitter, bitter. n/t

[Oregone]

10. LOL. Everyone has a right to be bitter after being lied to

But I feel vindicated actually, for getting the hell out of the idiocracy. I hate it when Im right.

[ProSense]

11. Or when they're trying to blame someone else for not paying attention.

Seriously, if you knew all along why are you outraged that you were lied to?

[Oregone]

12. Im not outraged. Im laughing here!

Its sad, but funny at the same time.

Oh yeah...you never answered the question...what is more representative of Obama's agenda? Campaign message or capitulation message?

For God's sakes lady, its on his fucking campaign website in black and white!

[ProSense]

21. "Its sad, but funny at the same time."

"For God's sakes lady, its on his fucking campaign website in black and white!"

Yes it is.

Keep laughing, though.

[Cha]

8. Thanks for this, Pro Sense..

I was thinking it was something like this.

[Aramchek]

13. amazing how hate bends a person's perception

[Oregone]

14. Or love/admiration/loyalty

[Aramchek]

19. or living in a Foreign Country because you ran away from your 'shithole' homeland

[Oregone]

23. Spot on! Sure does look like a political shithole lately

[Aramchek]

25. why don't you cut the cord then? just can't let go, huh?

must not be as bad as you say if you care so much about what goes on here.

[Oregone]

27. I wouldn't be concerned if it wasn't bad

But yes, you are probably right. Other than a good laugh on a late night, Im losing much of a use for the country. Unfortunately, my family still lives there, and other people that have to suffer.

[girl gone mad]

16. Why do you assume hate has any bearing on the debate?

The vast majority of people here - indeed, the vast majority of liberal grassroots activists - voted for, campaigned for and celebrated the victory of Barack Obama. We aren't practitioners of hate and divisiveness. In fact, most of us are bleeding hearts and pacifists. This is matter of political betrayal. Hate is simply not a large variable in this calculus.

[Aramchek]

22. because it permeates the opposition to Obama here at DU

the vast majority here support Obama.

"We aren't practitioners of hate and divisiveness"

you may not be, but there are plenty who are.

Obama hasn't betrayed anyone. To make a false claim like that demonstrates your bias.

[EFerrari]

37. You could field a baseball team with all the strawmen in that post. n/t

[girl gone mad]

15. If you're trying to defend him for breaking a campaign promise,

I think you've not succeeded.

Both of these excerpts make his reversal look worse, in my eyes.

[ProSense]

18. Presenting information

Take it or leave it.

[girl gone mad]

20. I took it.

and took it badly. :(

[Oregone]

26. But don't bother with ALL the information

Like....http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/HealthCareFullPlan.pdf


Just post the stuff that defends your e-Boyfriend.

[ProSense]

28. "Just post the stuff that defends your e-Boyfriend." Bitter? n/t

[Oregone]

29. ROFL

[Phx_Dem]

36. He doesn't need defending since he didn't break a campaign promise

on HCR.

[ipaint]

17. He campaigned on it. It was on his and bidens health care platform on their campaign website. Links-

Covering All Americans and Providing Real Choices of Affordable Health Insurance Options.

Families and individuals should have the option of keeping the coverage they have or choosing from a wide array of health insurance plans, including many private health insurance options and a public plan. Coverage should be made affordable for all Americans with subsidies provided through tax credits and other means.

http://www.democrats.org/a/party/platform.html


In the 2008 Obama-Biden health care plan on the campaign’s website, candidate Obama promised that “any American will have the opportunity to enroll in new public plan.”

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/HealthCareFullPlan.pdf


Every American has the right to affordable, comprehensive and portable health coverage. My plan will ensure that all Americans have health care coverage through their employers, private health plans, the federal government, or the states. My plan builds on and improves our current insurance system, which most Americans continue to rely upon, and creates a new public health plan for those currently without coverage. Under my plan, Americans will be able to choose to maintain their current coverage if they choose to. For those without health insurance I will establish a new public insurance program, and provide subsides to afford care for those who need them. My plan includes a mandate that all children have health care coverage and I will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs to help ensure we cover all kids. My plan requires all employers to contribute towards health coverage for their employees or towards the cost of the public plan. Under my plan a typical family will save $2,500 each year. We will realize tremendous savings within the health care system from improving efficiency and quality and reducing wasted expenditures system-wide. Specifically, these savings will result from investments in health information technology, improvements in prevention and management of chronic conditions, increased insurance industry competition and reduced industry overhead, the provision of federal reinsurance for catastrophic coverage, and reduced spending on uncompensated care.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/

NPR interview 2007-

Obama: Senator Clinton’s plan for healthcare, my plan, John Edward’s plan are all similar in the sense that we set up a government plan alongside the private plans that people have. And people can buy in. And we all subsidize participation in that plan.

Laura Knoy: So it’s not universal, single payer healthcare such as Dennis Kucinich<'s plan>?

Obama: Exactly. It’s not single payer, it’s a transitional system building on the existing systems that we have.

cont.-

Require all children to have health insurance, and employers to offer employee health benefits or contribute to the cost of the new public program. Expand Medicaid and SCHIP and create the National Health Insurance Exchange through which small businesses and individuals without access to other public programs or employer-based coverage could enroll in a new public plan, like Medicare, or in a range of approved private plans.

http://www.verumserum.com/?p=8554


Many more from the campaign here-

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/22/818090/-President-Obama:-I-Didnt-Campaign-on-the-Public-Option

[Vattel]

30. True or false exam:

Q1. Obama said, "I didn't campaign on the public option."

Q2. The public option was one of the principles of reform that Obama campaigned on.

Q3: The following does not exemplify spin: "What I think (Obama's) point was (in making his statement to the Washington Post), is true. The public option was not his number one talking point on the trail. Hell, it wasn't even number 12."

Answers: Q1: true Q2: true* Q3: false

* From the Washington Post (during the campaign): "Do you have a plan to make health care more accessible to Americans? If so, how would you do it? Every American has the right to affordable, comprehensive and portable health coverage. My plan will ensure that all Americans have health care coverage through their employers, private health plans, the federal government, or the states. My plan builds on and improves our current insurance system, which most Americans continue to rely upon, and creates a new public health plan for those currently without coverage. Under my plan, Americans will be able to choose to maintain their current coverage if they choose to. For those without health insurance I will establish a new public insurance program, and provide subsides to afford care for those who need them. My plan includes a mandate that all children have health care coverage and I will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs to help ensure we cover all kids. My plan requires all employers to contribute towards health coverage for their employees or towards the cost of the public plan. Under my plan a typical family will save $2,500 each year. We will realize tremendous savings within the health care system from improving efficiency and quality and reducing wasted expenditures system-wide. Specifically, these savings will result from investments in health information technology, improvements in prevention and management of chronic conditions, increased insurance industry competition and reduced industry overhead, the provision of federal reinsurance for catastrophic coverage, and reduced spending on uncompensated care." http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/

[impik]

31. Yep. He probably shoud have phrase it

a little differently in this Washington Post interview, but the fact is that he talked about the PO much much more often and strongly AFTER he got elected than when he was running. And this final bill is just about 90% of what he wanted to begin with.

[ipaint]

32. The fact is people elected him to re-vamp healthcare based on his campaign platform which included a

public program. And no mandates. There is nothing wrong with the washingtom post interview, he was telling the truth there.

It's denying he said it yesterday that makes him a liar.

[NJmaverick]

33. Facts still matter to some DUers K and R

[uponit7771]

34. K&R

[freddie mertz]

35. So Stein is saying its OK to lie AFTER you take office?

This is ludicrous.

[EFerrari]

38. Funny. I thought THIS was what he said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acc6Wn_BWlk

[Droogie666]

39. Get Over It!

Get over it! He didn't lie. Most people don't give a shit about the public option, anyway. Most of the people stressing about it are Left-wing extremists! People are more concerned with the high un-employment!

[EFerrari]

40. LOL! So tell me how these unemployed people are going to buy insurance?

Not even the sense God gave a worker ant.

[Bluenorthwest]

41. If you ignore what he said, and what was on the website,

as well as the printed materials, and the TV commercials and the debate references, then I guess you are right. And that is how Obama does his religion as well. He ignores all the parts that apply to himself, or the truth, or money, edits out the long pro slavery sections, and condenses his whole 'faith' down to a few anti minority homilies he mouths along with some other people who have a rather casual relationship with the truth, such as Rick Warren and Donnie McClurkin. So sure. Christianity says nothing but 'hate gays' and Obama never campaigned on the public option. We have always been at war with Oceania.