Hill Aides: More Senators Would Back Public Plan If Obama Pushed Harder

There is a growing sense on Capitol Hill that the White House's refusal to weigh in more forcefully in the health care debate could come at the cost of a public option for insurance coverage.

Democratic aides said that a "handful" of senators who are skeptical of a public plan likely could be persuaded if not to support it then at least to oppose a Republican filibuster, if the administration were to apply a bit more pressure -- or even guidance.

"There is a clear sense that it would be helpful," said one senior Democratic aide. "Throughout this entire debate the White House line has been 'We will weigh in when it is necessary'.... Well now we need 60 votes. So if it's not necessary now, then when will it be?"

"I think folks in general in Congress were looking to the president to clearly define his feeling on the issue," another aide said. "And I don't think he has done that on the public option from the get-go... With a lot of senators nervous because of elections or other political dynamics, it would be helpful for the president to send a strong signal that this is what he wants in the final bill."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Tuesday insisted that the administration had already made its priorities abundantly clear. "I think the folks on Capitol Hill, based on the speech the president gave on Capitol Hill, know where he stands," Gibbs said, in response to a question from the Huffington Post at his morning gaggle with reporters.

The president's hand could in fact be limited in terms of getting skeptics to support a public plan. One senior Democratic aide noted that many of the teetering Senators come from states where Obama's standing is quite poor. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), for instance, hails from a state where the president earned less than 42 percent of the vote in 2008. In Louisiana, home to Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), it was less than 40 percent.

That said, local polling shows that the public plan itself is popular in those traditionally conservative states even if the president is not. As The Plum Line's Greg Sargent pointed out, based on internal data from a new Washington Post poll: "A majority wants a Dem-only bill rather than a bipartisan one if the Dem-only one includes a public insurance option and the bipartisan one doesn't. A majority of Independents wants the same."

All of which has spurred progressive activists to ask: Why isn't the White House making a stronger case that the provision is smart politics in addition to smart policy? "People believe the president knows what he is doing and there is a method to this madness," said one strategist who works with both the legislative and executive branch on health care. "It seems like [getting more forceful now on the public plan] would be a good thing to do and it is tough to tell why it hasn't happened. It's the $64,000 question."

Comments

[lib4evr]

Citizens are pissed-off because all they are getting is the bill for the spending spree and no benefits. Politicians believe their job is to get re-elected. A politician will not vote for the good of America because they might lose their corporate bribes. These politicians could not serve on a jury because of the conflict of interest. They write the laws determined by nothing more than campaign contributions and promises for future employment. They should wear the insignias of their sponsors on their clothing like nascar drivers. They should proudly display who owns them.

No one is losing sleep over whether a Dixiecrat gets re-elected. We are losing sleep because we have lost hope in our political system and do not know how to force our representatives to agree; “The Country’s survival is bigger than themselves­.”

Where is the “Change We Can Believe In”? It is all just politics as usual and protect your corporate sponsors. Obama received substantial donations from the health industries and it is obvious from his lack of involvement in Health Care reform which entity he is courting.

The message from Tuesday is "we are tired of Congress not doing anything." The outdated rules of the Senate have enlightened many about how inefficient and ineffective this legislative branch has become. Now is the time to rid the Country of a republic style of government and try a democratic form. Can it be any less efficient then what we have now?

[maxelca]

I'm sorry folks, but the president is in a very hostile environment. Plus, the health care industry is huge. Everyone thinks the president is so powerful. I frankly think we have many powerful players in this country, and the president only supersedes them because he's the Commander in Chief.

I think if the country wants health care reform, then it's up to us to push for it in every way possible-- call your own congressmen & women, senators, and those in other states, write to your papers, talk to your friends. Speak up and don't stop fighting for it. I also wish the president would be a bit more adament for public option-- yet I think it's most important that we get significant health care reform passed now and continue pressing for more in the future. The government just bailed out huge banks, the auto industry, and now some folks are freaking out about public option in health care. But, most folks still want it-- including myself, so let's keep fighting.

[bleek]

As of now, inexplicable behavior seems as though it will be the most persistent hallmark of the entire four years of this presidency.

It seems as though the govt and the media have all lost the ability to think analytically on this issue.

Let me give it a shot:

Q1. What is the foremost reason why we need to reform health care? A1. We need to reign in costs. With costs influenced in a downward direction, more care will be affordable for more people. Additionally, lower costs will help us compete with countries that have more efficient systems (to which our jobs are flowing as a direct result).

Q2. How can we control costs? A2. The two biggest cost savings would result from a.) Negotiation of drug prices, and b.) A strong public option with no gimmicks (or better yet, single payer).

Q3. Will a mandate for everyone to purchase private health insurance do anything to control costs? A3. No.

Therefore, one (preferably both) of A2a. or A2b. must be included.

There now, wasn't that fun? I didn't even have to leave my house and attend a rally packing my Uzi.

[Rastaman1967]

I am beyond confused, why the President does not come out forcefully on the Public Option and not the watered down version. I can't imagine this is a strategic move anymore. Somehow, I get the impression he knows he's going to get a bill on his desk and he'll find away to spin it to the American People. In some respect, I find the President to be as big a hypocrite as all other politician­...they promise one thing on the campaign and another when elected. I tell you, if i had to vote today knowing what I do now, the president would not get my vote and for sure not my $2000 contribution. He's fully aware that a RUBUST PUBLIC OPTION TIED TO MEDICARE is the only way to go PERIOD! yet he refuses to come out and say it. I have to wonder who is he listening to. I know he's got a lot on his plate, but I'm speaking for all progressives, if we get a watered down bill, the President would not have done anything to impact the Insurance companies stronghold on us. Perfect example, my wife insurance cost just went up by over 30%.

[drricklippin]

Any day now we will hear stronger rhetoric from our new young President who has so far managed this issue pretty well

Here is my own bottom line-

"ANY NATION THAT PROFESSES TO BE CIVIL AND MORAL HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE AT LEAST BASIC HEALTH CARE TO ALL OF IT'S CITIZENS-ral"

The US is behind on this basic moral truth.

Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton,Pa
http://medicalcrises.blogspot.com

[Rastaman1967]

I hope you're right. While I thought the President should have laid out his position back in Feb-March and have the Congress and Senate work from there...I think he still have time to be forceful at this time. The majority of American wants a strong PO, I think the President is the only one to get us in the end zone.

Let's see what happens over the next week...not sure what will get done after the holiday season kicks in.

[pearlx2]

Pres. Obama has stated numerous times that his preference is a public option because that is the best way to control costs. Yet the media keeps hollering for him to state a preference, to push, as though they don't understand that we have a 3-prong sytem of government in this country -- not a dictatorship. They're all screaming for the President to act like George Bush and just do what he wants to do, never mind treating people like adults and like the members of Congress that they are. The President is NOT going to act like George Bush; we don't want another George Bush in the White House. If the Democrats can't get their act together and do what the American people elcted them to do, it's on them -- not the President, who has worked his buns off these past nine months for the people of this country.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/20/hill-aides-more-senators_n_327189.html

[delysia]

If people insist on having someone to blame if health care reform doesn't happen, they need to blame their democratic representatives, not Pres. Obama. If it were up to him only, we'd have a bill now. It's not! It has to be a joint effort. However, some of our democratic representatives are either so greedy, weak, ignorant, conservative or bigoted that they refuse to act in the interest of their constituents. In my mind, that means...YO­U'RE FIRED! Therefore, before you go trying to blame the President maybe you need to look closer to home. ARE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ACTING ON YOUR BEHALF OR THEIR OWN?

[Bronxdude]

President Obama truly cares about the prosperity and well-being of every American—regardless of class or race—and is offering this country healthcare stability and security. Afraid of the impact Obama might have on unifying America, republicans are villainizing, dehumanizing and delegitimizing him to advance their exclusionist, racist and elitist agenda. Since Obama is not part of the entrenched Washington establishment or the elite upper crust, he feels no pressure to return favors that would unnecessarily sacrifice precious political capital he’ll need to strong-arm self-serving politicians. Republicans are singularly fixated on maintaining the status quo to ensure their continued generational access to wealth, influence and power. Similar to segregated country clubs, republicans are concerned primarily with separating and distancing themselves from members of the working-class. After all, the purpose of the working-class is to serve the wealthy by cooking their meals, rearing their children, cleaning their homes and doing whatever tasks deemed essential to ensuring their existence is awash in luxury, simplicity and overindulgence. Working-class conservatives have been duped into believing that their concerns are championed by republicans, a political party heavily comprised of aristocrats. In reality, the GOP is only concerned with advancing their own self-serving interests, which is why they exploit the working-class, oppose worker rights and want to keep America angrily divided by class and race. Universal health insurance would elevate the standard of living for working-class Americans, something republicans vehemently oppose.

[Bronxdude]

Something is amiss. Bush and his evil puppet master – Dick Cheney – lie to manipulate American patriotism to justify invading Iraq, and conservatives are silent. Bush inherits, then squanders a $759 billion surplus, and conservatives are silent. Bush appoints a horse trader to head FEMA, thousands die in the aftermath of Katrina, and conservatives are quiet. Bush guts the Geneva Conventions, authorizes torture, and conservatives are silent. Bush ignores risky subprime mortgage derivatives, America dances on the precipice of economic annihilation, and conservatives are silent. Bush guts the Fourth Amendment, authorizes warrantless eavesdropping, and conservatives are silent. Bush signs $1.2 trillion Prescription Drug Bill, a federally subsidized give-away which balloons the deficit, and conservatives are silent. Bush diverts $1 trillion from the counter-terrorism struggle in Afghanistan, Osama escapes, and conservatives are silent. Bush signs unfunded NCLB legislation, the most intrusive Federal law in history, and conservatives are quiet. Bush sends troops to war with no body amour, and conservatives are silent. Bush deregulation exposes 2.5 million children to toxic toys from China, and conservatives are silent. Birthers delegitimize Obama, choosing instead to ignore 8 years of Bush inflicted plunder and ruination, and conservatives applaud. Bush frees 500 from Gitmo, and conservatives praise him. Obama talks to school children about being successful, conservatives cry foul. Bush rambles incoherently while addressing school children in Florida, and republicans anoint him God. Racism, bigotry, and hypocrisy: cherished planks in the republican platform.

[Ron44]

Obama does not seem to have the guts to stand up and demand the Public Option! What a shame he had such great potential!!

[drreader]

Presidents have to start running for re-election and raising money, about 2 minutes after they take that first Oath of Office..No­thing will happen until a wet finger stuck up in the wind gives the signal of where the money and votes are. Money being the first priority. If you believe those sentences that start with " I'd rather be a one term president than......­.{fill in the blank}..yo­u probably are not emotionally old enough to vote.

[harriscrl3]

Timing is everything. If he had jumped into the fight from the beginning he would exhausted many would be bored many would be whining about his overexposure and something tells me we would still be where we are.

Maybe just maybe the man knows what he is doing in letting Congress hash it out rather than jumping into the fray too early.

[Okieborn]

President Obama will not have to worry about the Republican Party in 2012 !!
He is defeating himself everyday !!
I cannot understand what happen to all of the CHANGE and Hope he stood on while running for the Presidency ??

[TruthJusticeForAll]

He CHANGED from HOPE to MISERY.

[JDM73]

"People believe the president knows what he is doing and there is a method to this madness." Which is a big part of the problem. You can take this to the bank, folks: if Obama was even faintly interested in substantive health care reform, he'd be pushing for it. He would have taken a stand over the long, hot, pointless summer and said that he wouldn't settle for anything less than real reform.

But he didn't do that.

The Baucus bill *is* the Obama bill. People can accept that fact now, or they can wait until the shock and disbelief wear off and it's too late to do anything.

[vinny]

Gibbs: Obama will pull a Kanye West when he's able to calculate the likely outcome.