White House Won't Hit Lieberman Hard For Health Care Opposition

The Obama administration said on Wednesday that they "disagree" with the substance of Sen. Joseph Lieberman's critique of a public option for insurance coverage. But in the daily press briefing with reporters, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs treaded carefully when it came to pushing back against the Connecticut Independent's threat to potentially filibuster health care reform.

Gibbs could not (or simply refused to) name the last time that the president had spoken with the senator. He said he was unaware of communication between the two "in the last week." In addition, the press secretary would not comment on the possibility of progressive interest groups targeting Lieberman for potentially holding up health care reform over his concerns about a public plan.

"I'm not going to get into that seriously," he said.

About as far as Gibbs would go in hitting back at Lieberman was to question the logic of his opposition to government-run insurance. Lieberman has argued that a public option -- even with an opt-out provision for state governments -- would result in the creation of a new entitlement program that would increase health care costs.

"I think we would disagree and I think elements of the Congressional Budget Office would disagree with [Lieberman's] analysis," Gibbs said.

The delicate approach that the White House is taking to Lieberman and other skeptical, conservative Democratic senators is reflective of a broader approach that Senate leadership is taking in the health care debate. The concern within the administration and in the office of Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is that if Lieberman is whacked too hard for his opposition to the public option, it will merely entrench his position. Better to let the process play out and find ways to convince him to, at the very least, not support a Republican filibuster of reform.

Along those lines, Gibbs actually applauded Lieberman for agreeing to allow health care reform to be debated and amended on the Senate floor. "I think that is the first part of this process," he said.

When reminded that Reid still would need 60 votes to cut off debate and bring the final bill to a vote -- and that without Lieberman he was unlikely to have those votes -- Gibbs punted.

"You can't get to the second before you get through the first," he said.

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Comments

[MrWest]

Speaking as a Connecticut resident I CAN'T STAND JOE LIEBERMAN. This is a man who has been so out of touch with his constituency it's sickening. I admit he is the master of deception first dressing up as a Democrat then now as a "Independent" covering his republican suit of armor. The man lost the Democratic race (because voters knew he really wasn't a Democrat) in our state then he cleverly turned into an "Independent" which allowed his republican voters to put him over the top to keep his seat.

I am firmly behind president Obama but Lieberman is a wolf in sheep's clothing and president Obama ignored how much of a annoying thorn and pre-Madonna Joe really is. When Harry Reid and the Dems wanted Lieberman's head on a platter it was Obama who held back the vultures.

Sorry to say it but if Lieberman really actually has a deciding factor in this reform (Obama's Reform) it will be on Obama because he decided to play nice with a snake in the grass.

[expired]

What a bunch of wimps.

[takeusaback]

My guess is that he is just positioning himself to reap huge benefits from agreeing to go with Democrats.

Most likely he'll get it. We're in a hard spot with such a small majority. If we picked up another few/several seats, we could finally restore something of justice and equitable law in this country.

You may not be sweet on everything the Dems. say or stand for, but they are our best vehicle for now.

They had better pull off some gains (Especially in the Senate) in 2110 or we are screwed Review the 2nd half of the Clinton Presidency if you've any doubts.

[hollybork]

Agreed. I hope they give all the holdouts, including that snake Leiberman, exactly what each wants to get the votes. Then run a godzilla powerful candidate against each one of the party crasher blue dogs and get them out of the Senate.

[takeusaback]

I'll certainly be contributing to his opponent in his next campaign!

That slime ball should have the decency to call himself a Republican instead of masquerading as an Independent or worse still the often used (misguided) term, Independent Democrat, or worse still, claiming to be a Democrat!

He should be given no room to doubt the negative outcomes of blocking health care reform WITH a robust public option.

[jasdmd0]

Just because from time to time he actually has an opinion that differs from his party, especially on a topic where his party has issues within itself about this???

Last time I checked when a person is elected by any political party it doesn't require them to automatically turn off their brains and cease listening to anyone but their political "boss". If you really want to take away one's own ability to acquire/analyze and then form their own opinions, then maybe the United States isn't the place for you to be in.

[takeabigdeepbreath]

Lieberman has done much more than "just have an opinion that differs from his party". He has misrepresented his constituents in Connecticut, flip-flopped completely on health care, saying in July, 2006 that he wanted to provide the people of Connecticut with universal health care. He actively supported the Republican presidential candidates and then kissed Obama and gushed his support. He has waffled on almost every important social issue except for going to war. Maybe the United States isn't his priority.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/27/797737/-FLASHBACK:

[dawnec1957]

Connecticut is an Insurance Industry State.....Enough said....

[Okieborn]

I knew the Democrats would have no harsh feelings against lieberman, nothing new from Lieberman or the Dems. 'Lieberman kicks their bu** and the Democrats just grin and bear it !!
Independent the only way to go !!

[hollybork]

If you were right, that would be very distressing. Let's watch it work out and I suspect Lieberman, the blowhard that he is, will get something out of his antics but will end voting with 59 others in favor of cloture and allow the bill to pass on a majority.

[Okieborn]

No registered Independent would think any less !!
The Democratic Party is getting their bu*** kicked and their suppose to be in power !!

[zendem1]

First off, he's an Independent. Not a whole lot the Democrats can do about him.. Bear in mind, Lieberman loves this kind of stuff, and he's a master of putting himself into these types of positions.He's a r-at, but a very smart one.

[Unsui]

They can strip him of his chairmanship...not a small thing.

[jasdmd0]

Gotta be very carefull with that. If Washington takes any steps to "punish" Joe, more than likely it will have either a direct or atleast an in direct effect on CT. Dodd right now isn't looking very good to CT voters and Washington is trying to do as much as possible for Dodd(and at least then in directly CT) to get him back to Washington in 2010.

[pagangrandma]

And throw him out of the caucus.

[Chernynkaya]

Look, Lieberman is only in it for himself. But as long as there is a remote chance that he will vote against a filibuster, it makes no sense for either Reid or Obama to chastise him. Wait until he votes against the Administration, then do whatever possible to punish him, but not before.

[Dbos]

Money changer in the temple.

[PJay1]

Some just can't resist throwing in a slur.
Sad.

[PJay1]

Why would the WH reprimand Lieberman?
He was acting on their behalf. We know the WH didn't want the public option,
Lieberman did what he did with the blessings of the WH.
Period.

[Is It 4 20 yet]

It is High Time that the Dems spank Lieberman soundly. Not a single Dem should ever speak to him again, except for the part whenthey tell him he has lost his chairmanship Homeland Defense Committee.

[Maezeppa]

Don't worry. Democratic knifework is always done behind closed doors.

[jimfl]

A real snake in the grass.

[roncraw]

I e-mailed the same words to Leiberman yeaterday.

[rm10011]

its a well known fact that both, lieberman, and his wife, are in bed with the insurance industry...with lieberman its all about $$$$$$ and not lives.

[LiberalDemIda]

Except for MSNBC, why doesn't the "librul media" report these facts, especially Fixed Noise?

Here yet another example in the LONG line of examples that there's never been a liberal bias in American media - only a repub/corporatist one marketing the myth of one.

[Unsui]

Yes indeed. Rachel Maddow did a great piece on this very topic. Heard nothing of it anywhere else.

[elizlucinda]

If Lieberman votes agains a public option, the White House can ignore every phone call he makes in the future asking for anything!