Obama Campaign Arm Drops Demand For Public Option

The New Argument :

Organizing for America has dropped the demand for the public option from their open letter to members of Congress. [...]

This change confirms Obama's position on the public option: he wants it, but is willing to drop it to pass legislation.

Read the whole story: The New Argument

Comments

[MDDREW]

05:53 PM on 09/29/2009

I'm a life long democrat and I'm ashamed.

[jmpurser]

02:33 PM on 09/16/2009

Once Obama took single payer off the table the only options left were a pure corporate welfare bill and a corporate welfare bill that left a little room for Americans to beg for the crumbs from their own table.

Looks like Obama now sees the begging as optional.

[Dustee]

07:43 PM on 09/16/2009

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcsignon?source=thenewargument.com

[MyrtleJune]

01:11 PM on 09/16/2009

On his costs analysis there is a HIGH overhead to becoming a collection agency and to process tax credits. Tax credits simply funnel money to private industry.... NO. That that money and put it into expanding Medicare FOR ALL. Easiest implementation, easiest administration. Hire more to process more claims and stop allllllllll funneling of my tax dollars though stipends or tax credits to private companies. This would leave businesses FREE from paying health care benefits and leave workers free to work anywhere. It would also save the patients from having spend time shopping around for the best deal and fighting denials.

There's a better plan and since the republican have opted out we should go forward with Single Payer or THE medicare for all like public option!!!!

[treetracker]

12:02 AM on 09/20/2009

I agree!

[MyrtleJune]

01:11 PM on 09/16/2009

"Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice"---- From "Obama's Plan" site.

Look this is for people who don't have insurance. AND no where do they define "affordable". I mean I have insurance, no deductable, 20 copay for in network provider, and three tier drug copay. Cover's vision and physical therapy. 75 charge for er visit, in network provider covered and same with hospital. HOWEVER I PAY $600 per month for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's NOT affordable!!!! AT ALL. It's a reasonble standard plan though but NOT at $600 per month. Can't switch as it was through employer where, when employed my portion was $24 per payday for single coverage. Now, retired I pay entire amount at $6freakin' hundred per month. Can't switch as pre-exisiting.

It looks like I'm going to be stuck paying this amount!! If his plan some how redueces cost to me for the same exact plan, then okay. Sayin I pay 200 per month for this plan or even 150...... that's more affordable. HOWEVER that's not what he's proposing!!

Additionally, the exchanges can't hold down prices to me! They can't get big enough to have an impact...... by design. AND the flimsy public option offered is just that flimsy.

[socalgal38]

12:25 PM on 09/16/2009

I have a simple question for everyone. Has anyone other than the looooons gotten upset enough to do anything? I mean besides voicing opinions here or senting useless emails to politicians?

Think about something here. What does a UNION do when they disagree with something? They strike, they stop production. Has anyone gotten upset enough to cancel their insurance policies? Strength is in numbers. If you are still paying premiums you are giving money to fight against your own interest. If this fight is just about mandating everyone to purchase insurance policies and not about providing the services that you are paying for than why are you sitting here and doing nothing? The proposals floating around has not become law yet. We want real reform not something that gives more money to the corruption. I don't know about most of you but there is no way that these proposals will bring the cost down and make the changes we need.

I would think that all businesses would be fighting this and encouraging their workers to cancel their policies for a month or two to show that we mean business and not the status quo we have now. Just a thought.

[treetracker]

12:05 AM on 09/20/2009

Unfortunately, few could risk it. All it would take would be one accident or a serious dx and you could lose everything. People just can't take that chance.

[Beegood]

11:55 AM on 09/16/2009

No public option + insurance mandate = a really stupid plan.

[dieselis]

11:51 AM on 09/16/2009

Well, my fellow Americans you can see our Government is owned by the super rich old money people. They own us too. Lock stock and barrel. Whats the remedy? I can't know what the remedy is. It won't be pretty thats for sure. We will have to become more informed change our diets and basically learn a little medicine. Then the insurers still get rich because you'll be required to buy insurance that you may not need very much. We should put these rich bastards on our money to remind us who's incharge the Rothschild $25 bill, Rockerfeller $15 bill and the Illuminati $150 piece. He who has the gold rules its just how we roll.

[chopenhopper]

11:26 AM on 09/16/2009

What will become of the 45 million who don't have insurance? Will they be mandated to get it? Probably. Will the insurance companies raise their rates? Most assuredly. Without a pulbic option, there will be no real reform.

[BUTCHER111]

12:33 PM on 09/16/2009

You forgot to add that insurance companies will be able to price gouge us even more and legally.

[juhar]

11:19 AM on 09/16/2009

I'm upset as a Democrat. But since the most important aspect of healthcare reform is being dropped so drop the mandate and penalties for people who want the freedom not to be victimized by the insurance industries.

[OT]

11:08 AM on 09/16/2009

"CORPORATE LIBERALISM"

Well I am disgusted to be a democrat. This dropping of the PUBLIC OPTION
is a NIGHTMARE. What is sad is that Obama never wanted it to begin with. Then Mr. Scrooge Max Baucus laft in the face of the people.

No public option no change.
without the public option
your insurance will increase 200% to 300% in FIVE years.
bush had compassionate conervatism. Obama brought us "CORPORATE LIBERALISM"

[treetracker]

12:08 AM on 09/20/2009

The article is bogus. The public option is right there on the OFA website.

And this isn't over until it's over. I believe there is NO WAY Baucus stupid bill is ever going to pass through his Committee without major overhaul. Both Cantwell and Rockefeller have already stated they are getting their amendments ready and both support a strong public option.

[OurKoan]

11:04 AM on 09/16/2009

Okay angry headline-only readers....here's the actual line from the article:

“Guarantee choice - Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor - including the choice of a public insurance option.”

repeat...INCLUDING THE CHOICE OF A PUBLIC INSURANCE OPTION (sorry for the shouting. My apologies)

Gawd I hate it when they (HP) throw out a headline to get people riled. That is cheesy.

That said, I don't think Dems are pushing hard enough for a STRONG public option. A weak one will be worse than none.

G'dday

[Dustee]

07:46 PM on 09/16/2009

Here's a link.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcsignon?source=thenewargument.com

[MyrtleJune]

11:02 AM on 09/16/2009

Voters better get to preparing the wedding dress when Obama ushers us down the aisle at the shotgun wedding to our raping and pilaging insurance company overlords..... oh boy goody goody can't wait.

[treetracker]

12:09 AM on 09/20/2009

The article is bogus. The public option is right there on the OFA website.

And this isn't over until it's over. I believe there is NO WAY Baucus stupid bill is ever going to pass through his Committee without major overhaul. Both Cantwell and Rockefeller have already stated they are getting their amendments ready and both support a strong public option.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/16/obama-campaign-arm-drops_n_288312.html

[OhMyGoodness]

11:01 AM on 09/16/2009

Let me get this straight the OFA removed the word MUST from the open letter to congress and to some of you that translates into Obama being weak, going against what the Majority of Americans want?

“Guarantee choice - Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor - including the choice of a public insurance option.”

"Quality, Affordable Choices

If You Don’t Have Insurance, the Obama Plan:

* Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice.

[treetracker]

12:10 AM on 09/20/2009

The article is bogus. The public option is right there on the OFA website.

And this isn't over until it's over. I believe there is NO WAY Baucus stupid bill is ever going to pass through his Committee without major overhaul. Both Cantwell and Rockefeller have already stated they are getting their amendments ready and both support a strong public option.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/16/obama-campaign-arm-drops_n_288312.html

[MyrtleJune]

10:59 AM on 09/16/2009

This is exactly why I did not participate in any OFA events.

The headline should read: Obama and Congress forfit the Democratic majority in 2010 and IGNORE the voters.

SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY

[piul05]

11:03 AM on 09/16/2009

An interesting article:

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090916_obamas_presidency_isnt_too_big_to_fail/

[Dustee]

07:49 PM on 09/16/2009

Here's another one:

http://www.politicsandtechnology.com/2007/07/make-no-mistake.html

[Natalie Willoughby]

10:55 AM on 09/16/2009

You guys need to actually check your facts first. If you read the article, and see what they are talking about, then actually click the OFA link - THE PUBLIC OPTION IS STILL THERE, as is the word "must".

Seriously, Huffington Post - articles like this just make things worse. Let's not add to the hysteria.