White House Draws Line In The Sand... But Not On Public Option

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on Wednesday that President Obama is unalterably opposed to a health care bill that raises taxes on those making less than $250,000. But Gibbs would not draw a similar line in the sand when it came a bill that lacks a public insurance option.

NBC News White House correspondent Chuck Todd pushed Gibbs to explain why the White House, which has generally insisted that all good policy ideas are on the table, had been so firm on one pledge but not another.

The press secretary acknowledged that Obama had reiterated his commitment to not raise taxes on those making under $250,000 "just the other day." But when prodded for a similarly declarative statement on the public plan, he dodged.

"The president ... believes we should have choice and competition for people entering the private insurance market, in order to hold down costs and provide quality of the coverage, we have to have choice and competition," Gibbs said. "The president's preferred way is a public option. If there are others that have additional viewpoints or other ideas in policy... we are ready to hear it."

The White House has, over the past few days, insisted that the president remains committed to an insurance exchange that has choice and competition, and that a government-run option would best achieve that goal. But the White House's commitment to the public plan hasn't been anywhere near as firm as its stand against higher taxes.

Why was that the case? Todd pressed.

"I'm not going to get into ranking all those things," said Gibbs. "The president addressed that in here and I'm not going to get into ranking different priorities like the pre-season college football poll."

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Comments

[DestinationsUnknown]

10:16 AM on 08/20/2009

C-SPAN TOWN HALL -

Showing Mississippi Town Hall D- Gene Taylor

[bigironal25]

09:25 AM on 08/20/2009

Like I've stated before I will not vote for Obama again if there is NO public option and I gotta believe the President knows this and he will do the right thing and that is he will have a bill that includes the public option and he also MUST fire Rhamn Emmanuel! PS, forgive the spelling but this turn coat has got to go and maybe a few others as well!

[ClevelandTom]

09:59 AM on 08/20/2009

So you are saying that the sum total of the Obama presidency boils down to the Public Option? I want a public option too, though I think ulitmately the solution to our health care problems lies in a single-payer system. But I don't agree that my support for Obama depends solely on the Public Option. There are too many other very important issues to include in the mix.

[shorelive]

10:24 AM on 08/21/2009

Hmmm..."too many other very important issues to include in the mix"...isn't that always the refrain nowadays every time this man fails to do anything of substance or take a stand? Isn't that always the reason for that ever-shifting goalpost of "give him 6 months/1 year/4 years/a lifetime? How long is that line going to be used by people who put devotion to one individual first over an entire country and its future and the issues facing it, right now, on the ground? 'bots are *very* ill-advised to tell voters not tied to personality cults to take a hike. That could turn out very bad for true believers in 2012.

[Woopie]

09:14 AM on 08/20/2009

Government has a poor record of regulating industry. Mandating insurance is nothing more than robbery.

No Public Option, forget it!

[TomTheAlmostUgly]

11:39 AM on 08/20/2009

"Government has a poor record of regulating industry. Mandating insurance is nothing more than robbery."

Government HAD a poor record of regulating industry -- under Bush. Whereas when Teddy Roosevelt was president, he regulated business so hard that TR was called "a traitor to his class."

I used to be against mandatory enrollment, till I realized: If we all have to buy a policy, we all have a stake in how the insurance industry runs things. If the insurance industry then continues to screw the public and Congress lets them, our boys in Washington will feel the voters' wrath.

[mitsie]

09:01 AM on 08/20/2009

Todd, I am really sick and tired of him. Perhaps he should start reviewing the results of the NBC/WSJ polls. Did you all hear that the latest poll reports were scewed, or perhaps I should say screwed!!! The Republican pollster had them leave out certain words when polling and that made all the results questionable. Where was the MSM for the last eight years of Bush?

These guys need to cool it, it's not Sept, everyone is on vacation, nothing can get done. SO STOP THE SENSATIONALIZM!!!!

[exhale09]

08:12 AM on 08/20/2009

I ask anyone who really knows what is going on with the HCR Bill...NO, I mean REALLY Knows...to please tell me, cause I don't have a clue.

Even here on Huff Po, I get dizzy reading so many articles, each one saying something different.
The Public Option's dead, he Public Option's not dead, it's important, no it isn't, the polls say the people are for it, no they don't, yes, no, maybe... anonymous said, he said, she said, I think...

there is no Bill, there are five Bills, the House will pass it, no they won't, the Senate will, no they won't, on and on, speculation plentiful, everyone "heatedly" arguing about everyone's different version of "speculation"... and that's just on the Democrat side.

Republicans are saying NO to all of "that" and are totally making up blantant vile psycho lies..NON existent ANYWHERE in reality CRAP.
I mean they have totally invented imaginary issues out of thin air...and everyone is also arguing about Republican's IMAGINARY demented delusions!
Right wingers are so heated up over the Republican's IMAGINARY NON-existent anywhere in reality, delusions...they are bringing guns, GUNS, to Town Hall Meetings, to make a "statement" about those things, that do not even exist in reality!

So this morning I woke up and once again read this morning's round of confusing speculation, AND just plain lying garbage, and said to myself, SOMEBODY out there must know SOMETHING we can argue about that is actually factual!

Anybody?

[afgail]

07:57 AM on 08/20/2009

Do you think for a minute that if Ted Kennedy was Chairing the committee that the blue dogs would hold sway? Do you think the committee would be evenly divided between Republicans and Democats. No way. The foxes are guarding the health care reform hen house.

[PaxEterna]

08:11 AM on 08/20/2009

Ted Kennedy is not in favor of Public Option. Neither is John Kerry. Both have been remarkably silent on this issue. Instead, they want to preserve the health insurance industry, and they are the ones responsible for the bills that will mandate that every American buy insurance which will be either 1)something unaffordable or 2)crappy. I live in MA and that is exactly what they have done.

[ClevelandTom]

10:02 AM on 08/20/2009

I think you're wrong. I have received e-mails from Kerry expressing his support of the Obama plan. I'm pretty sure Kennedy does too.

[Dez3]

07:36 AM on 08/20/2009

We need to get the blue dog democrats to support a strong government run public option, join the movement at these websites:

Howard Dean is being very effective, join his movement.

http://standwithdrdean.com/

So is Moveon.org

http://moveon.org

Contact the White House and tell them that you support a Strong Government Health Care Option.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

Also, join Obama's efforts by joining “Organizing for America” in your home state by using google with the search words: Obama (your state). for example: Obama Missouri. Click on the link "Organizing for America".

[lady49]

07:42 AM on 08/20/2009

Done! and thank-you for the info..

[unconstitutional]

05:19 AM on 08/20/2009

WH says, 'you better not cross this line'.

WH says, 'ok then, you better not cross THIS line'.

WH says, 'ok then, you better not cross THIS line'.

WH says, 'ok then, you better not cross THIS line'....

[Steven Duke]

05:15 AM on 08/20/2009

LISTEN UP PROGRESSIVES We are being sold "no fault" health insurance. Government mandated insurance premiums paid to the health insurers with a "Public option" for the most costly and chronic conditions. Privatizing the profits for the industry and socializing the losses on to the public. We got ginned up by the same thugs that hijacked this country and drove it into the ditch and told if we didn't stand up to them we would get nothing. What we are getting is punked! If our support was wanted the debate would have started and ended with single payer health care

http:/www.madashelldoctors.com

in a "post-option" environment you can bet that the health insurance industry will manipulate the rules so that the sickest, most expensive patients will gravitate toward the public plan, which will cause it to fail. When it does, the opponents of real reform will point to the "public option" and scream: "See! Single Payer won't work!"...WAKE UP!

[lady49]

07:44 AM on 08/20/2009

Obviously another Rush Drone...give us all a break and go back to the right winged crazies blogs.

[qdog112]

09:01 AM on 08/20/2009

Was there a solution in there somewhere?

[RenePA]

12:43 AM on 08/20/2009

How this whole concept has degenerated is absurd.

I work for a huge corporation and have a bare minimum of coverage. Forget about small businesses, what corporations (outside of Wallstreet) even offer good coverage anymore?

Quite frankly, I'm more upset that never, ever in these discussions is DENTAL care brought up. I guess poor people are expected to have missing teeth.

[mitsie]

09:04 AM on 08/20/2009

Or go blind and deaf. We can't get dental, eye or ear coverage. Most seniors just get by and live with all the disabilities. That's what's sad for the richest country in the world. We can spend trillions on wars, but not very much on Americans.

[AllieMD]

12:33 PM on 08/20/2009

-We can spend trillions on wars, but not very much on Americans.-

Ok - so ask Obama to pull all the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan (rather than increasing them) - end both wars - and then your arguments would have some creditibility.

[AllieMD]

12:32 PM on 08/20/2009

I work in not for profit healthcare - we have a great plan - even better than the BC/BS plan federal employees get. Everyone I know - friends, family, neighbors working in private industry have great plans. In fact - polls for a long time have shown that the majority of Americans are happy with their health care and their health insurance.

[grandma58]

12:40 AM on 08/20/2009

What am I missing here, single payer seems like such a simple idea. What is wrong with all of us paying some amount like $100 a month? If we are all paying into the system why would there be a need to do anything with taxes? I am aware there are some people who will never be able to pay anything, but they are not now and never will be. This has become the most convoluted discombobulated complicated insanity I have ever seen.

[Steven Duke]

04:47 AM on 08/20/2009

The problem is you're not missing anything and neither are millions of other Americans that know the truth about single-payer healthcare. The last time the CBO scored single-payer healthcare was in 1993 when Clinton was trying to pass healthcare reform, it is budget neutral, it adds no costs and furthermore had it been passed in 1993 how many trillions of dollars would have been saved by the American people. The politicians understand this just fine now ask yourself why they would not stand up to a business that extorts 4-6% of the GDP of the US in profits every year?

The US healthcare system is EXTORTION in both form and function but you will never hear it called out as such.

HR 676 single payer healthcare, call your reps, force the CBO to score it

[medi22]

07:23 AM on 08/20/2009

Support HR 676!

It's time for the coalition that elected Obama and this Congress to rally and insist that they exercise their mandate. The Republicans can't be allowed to steal the elections again and destroy this opportunity for change just because Democrats can't unite, demonstrate backbone, and lead. We need the best health care possible. Not crumbs from the table of expediency and capitulation. Not a bill no one understands. Not a bailout for the health insurance giants disguised as a slap on the wrist. We need a national day of action to demand real health care reform and the kind of change we voted for. Expanded Medicare for all, or none.

[exhale09]

09:06 AM on 08/20/2009

I totally understand "Single Payer" and I believe it IS in fact the best solution to our Health Care problems.

I know the Public Option is the compromise...but I don't understand it as well as I understand Single Payer.

I do know what the Public Option ISN'T...TRUTHFULLY...it ISN'T the demented delusional vile crap many Republicans have distracted us with.

I do know is the TRUTH is,

our Health Care system really does HAVE to change.
Private Insurance Companies, REALLY are, grossly ripping their policy holders off, so the Insurance Companies can laugh all the way to the bank with buckets of BILLIONS in profits every year!

That is why the Insurance Companies are spending 1.5 million dollars a DAY to fight REFORM. "1.5 million A DAY!"
Just think how many uninsured people, could be insured, with the millions of dollars the Insurance industry is spending to KEEP a Bill... that is meant to insure the uninsured... FROM PASSING!!!
AND they are raising their PREMIUMS while they are at it!
Why doesn't that bother republicans? Why doesn't that tell everyday republicans something very important about this Private Industry, too?

Seriously.

Millions of American families can not get the medical CARE they need, the CARE....and THAT is wrong...that's the TRUTH.
The Private Insurance Industry HAS to be regulated to at least TRY to keep them honest.
That's the TRUTH.

[WeMustSpeakOut]

09:35 AM on 08/20/2009

You've got it right grandma. We already have single payer in place. It's called Medicare.
The only reason for this pathetic three-ring circus and massive convoluted bill from hell is because the corporate who@res in Congress and the White House are yet again crafting more legislature for their money masters. It is pathetic. Every other "civilized" country is sitting back laughing at this pathetic display of baseless theatrics. Money before the general welfare of the American people at every turn.

[XME]

12:15 AM on 08/20/2009

They won't draw a line on the public option??

I saw the press briefing and was just in awe of how many times and different ways the press asked Gibbs the same thing, trying to get him to say outright what he was implying:

They said they won't sign a bill that doesn't offer competition, and that no one has offered anything that will do that OTHER THAN A PUBLIC OPTION.

That sounds like a line to me.

[b9Web]

12:08 AM on 08/20/2009

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkey: "The status quo is unacceptable and the cost of inaction is too great. Health care costs are spiraling upwards and the number of uninsured Americans without access to basic health care services continues to grow. It has become increasingly difficult for working families to pay for doctor visits and essential medicine. . . . Of the 50 million uninsured Americans, eight out of ten come from working families. Even those with health insurance have suffered due to the high cost of medical care. Sixty percent of personal bankruptcies in the United States are due to health care costs, even though seventy-five percent of those individuals had health insurance.

"In an effort to bring relief to American families, I am proud to have voted with a majority of my colleagues on the Senate, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to pass landmark legislation, the Affordable Health Choices Act. This comprehensive legislation would reduce health care costs and assure quality and affordable health care for all Americans, while protecting individuals' choices in doctors and plans. The bill would make important changes to health insurance by ensuring that no individual is denied health care coverage because of a preexisting condition or have that coverage fail to help when it's needed most. In addition, under this legislation, individuals would not be subject to annual or lifetime limits on their coverage or see it terminated arbitrarily as a tactic for insurance companies to avoid paying claims."

[sense oar sheep]

11:55 PM on 08/19/2009

what is wrong with covering all americans?

join the military and you are covered

go to prison or become a member of congress and you are covered

work for a small business and you and your family might be covered

[PaxEterna]

08:13 AM on 08/20/2009

yes, and who pays? We do, it's our money.

PUBLIC OPTION MUST BE MANDATED FOR ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. That way its quality will be assured.

[AllieMD]

12:36 PM on 08/20/2009

All federal employees and all union members will be exempt from anything passed. You should be wondering why if it's so good.

[factotem]

11:53 PM on 08/19/2009

Dems: "We have the mandate, but we'd like permission form the opposition to use it."