Gibbs Explains Why Obama Didn't Include Public Option

The White House decided not to include a public option for insurance coverage in its final health care proposal because of concerns about vote count, spokesman Robert Gibbs suggested during Monday's briefing.

But the window to pass a government-run insurance plan has not fully closed, even if the Obama administration isn't enthusiastically on board.

Much to the chagrin of progressive and some non-progressive Democrats, the White House on Monday appeared to fully reject the idea of passing the public plan using reconciliation despite calls from at least 20 senators to pursue this route. Asked by the Huffington Post why the administration dumped the idea -- even though aides continuously stress that the president supports the public plan -- Gibbs suggested that the main consideration was getting something into law.

"The president has put forward a proposal that is based on the Senate plan with some modifications to that and, as the best way forward, into something that can ultimately wind its way through the Senate," he said.

But the case isn't fully closed. A campaign to get the public plan added to the legislation during the amendment process is still very much alive. And even Gibbs conceded that the provision could still come to a vote on the Senate floor.

"I think they have asked for a vote on the floor of the Senate," Gibbs said. "And that is certainly up to those who manage those amendments and to [Majority] Leader [Harry] Reid."

Comments

[shapedbylife]

05:36 PM on 02/23/2010

It is amazing how short the memories of the people in this country are. If the Rethug's regain control of the Congress this year we'll see a time warp back to 2000-2006. Tax cuts for corporatio­ns and the wealthiest people. The gutting of social programs, help for the states etc., etc. Oh my, a grand time will be had by all!!!

[WiltonDiary]

05:16 PM on 02/23/2010

Robert Gibbs: It is time for you to go!

You work for the President and your salary is paid for by the people of the United States of America, not the DNC!

[rightman444]

04:51 PM on 02/23/2010

I do not think a smarmier person exists.

[Chapmanp2]

03:56 PM on 02/23/2010

Either this is a brilliant ploy to put Democratic Senators back in favor w/ the American people (by having them reinsert & pass a public option) or it's political suicide. If meaningful reform does not come to average Americans & we end up with a giveaway to insurance companies & big pharma through insurance mandates there will be hell to pay. Count on it...

[liberaldemdave]

04:24 PM on 02/23/2010

re: "brilliant ploy". personally­, i stopped buying the 13-dimensi­onal kabuki chess a LONG time ago.

[RandVictims]

04:32 PM on 02/23/2010

Well said!

[dimplesmile7]

02:52 PM on 02/23/2010

We are up to 23 signatures for the PO.

http://tpm­livewire.t­alkingpoin­tsmemo.com­/2010/02/r­unning-lis­t-of-senat­ors-who-ha­ve-signed-­bennets-pu­blic-optio­n-letter.p­hp

[RandVictims]

04:39 PM on 02/23/2010

Thats a long way from 51. There's a lot of pork to hold out for and Big Insurance money is a hard thing to give up, especially when the corrupt fascists in the supreme court made it legal to kill Democracy with money.

Either they can secure Wallstreet money for propaganda for re-electio­n or they can have the ability to cite voting in favor of one of the greatest achievemen­ts in U.S. History (a public option or Single Payer) as a vehicle for staying in office.

It's a huuuge gamble for some of these people.

[Corners]

02:42 PM on 02/23/2010

This is getting old.Now "the main considerat­ion was getting something into law" Before it was" we dont have 60 votes" and again they are telling us" there's still time left" . Why am i daily regretting my vote for him? Cause he doesn't stand up for what he believes in. If he supports the public option and drug re-importa­tion then why have NONE of his proposals have had it. Ive heard every excuse in the world as to why we cant vote on the public option or Canadian drugs.

They are just stringing us along people. Just tell us you arent for it because you were paid to be against it.

[thefixisin]

02:42 PM on 02/23/2010

Excuse me while i puke , expect me to treat my own party how they treated me on the PUBLIC OPTION you clowns deserve one and done!!

[indc]

02:33 PM on 02/23/2010

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
— Abraham Lincoln

More war, now it appears campaigns which kill and maim are done for public relations effects...­.

Wimps out on health care reform, financial reform.

Big mouth, small back, narrow shoulders, can't carry the weight of having real conviction­s.

[Salty 2]

03:16 PM on 02/23/2010

His record shows he never stood up for anything, but people said "no thats not true, your just a racist". They refused to actually look at the mans character or should I say lack of it. This is his most important " thing" and he will not stand up and fight for it. So how do you think the next three years will go for America. The whole world sees that he will not stand up and fight for his own "baby". Clinton would have for sure.

[jaypet]

02:03 PM on 02/23/2010

Know a man by what he does, not what he says.
Know Obama on healthcare reform.
Know Obama on financial reform.

[liberaldemdave]

04:26 PM on 02/23/2010

and doma, and dadt, and enda...

it's a veritable hit parade.

[RandVictims]

04:33 PM on 02/23/2010

He has yet to "does"...

[inorbit]

01:50 PM on 02/23/2010

We already have the "public option." It's called Medicare, Medicaid and the VA. And this "public option" includes services provided by private insurers and providers. They are not "governmen­t run" except for the VA. One hundred million American citizens are already enrolled in the "public option." All we need to do is to enroll everyone Those who have jobs, or other sources of income, could pay, on a sliding scale according to income.

I don't see why this is such a big deal.

[lovethesinner]

02:07 PM on 02/23/2010

It's a big deal because the insurance industry and the puppets they control in congress SAY it's a big deal. (and a large portion of the public just isn't diligent enough to think for themselves­.)

[liberaldemdave]

03:11 PM on 02/23/2010

fanned/cos­igned.

to your question of why it's a big deal? ...because it cuts out the special interests to which both party's are beholden.

[Corners]

03:50 PM on 02/23/2010

Less profits for all parties involved except consumers. Unless made law these insurers would never pass on savings from any bill ,cuts or government subsidies they lobby for. It goes straight into a handful of a pockets then to congress where our own tax dollars are then used to make laws to make it easier for these special interest "donors...­.bribes" to mandate the fleecing of the public or face penalty from the IRS. Stae based exchanges wont work and only serves to break the combined buying power of the taxpayer. If this was a republican ideal they would pitch this(publi­c option/sp) as a huge tax break for consumers. But neither party has any interest in the option and the process we watched all last year proved it. Same with financial reform. Literally nothings changed and from watching all those bailout dollars being used against us by buying lobbyist i seriously doubt we will see any meaningful changes. Corporatio­ns already get away with crimes by paying what amounts to a parking ticket compared to the ill gotten profits they earned committing crimes.

[disgustedwithall]

01:49 PM on 02/23/2010

The White House decided not to include a public option for insurance coverage in its final health care proposal because of concerns about vote count, spokesman Robert Gibbs suggested during

Well President O, let's put it in the Bill, then let's see who votes which way. Make choices a lot easier in 2010/12 vote,, As of now will NOT vote for anyone, repeat ANYONE, whom is against the option..

But your Chief of Staff, Cabinet of various former Wall St/bank insiders do not worry about such mundane as this is more insurance welfare plan for their peers, and again ZERO for citizen. You all call this a HC, plan for USA, surely you jest.. sounds more like Medicare Plan D donut hole enlarged..­with a coating from the "Credit Card Reform Bill served up on "Mortgage Fix;/Help for citizens. AKA More of Bush lite.

You sold us out O, there is no "change".. just new packaging.­.

[liberaldemdave]

04:29 PM on 02/23/2010

note to gibbs: y'all better start worrying about the vote count on Nov. 6, 2012.

right now, your prospects aren't looking so good to this demoralize­d, marginaliz­ed, straight ticket dem.

[kewps]

12:57 PM on 02/23/2010

Rahm didn't want it and since he runs the show...

[fya]

12:47 PM on 02/23/2010

I'm so sick and tired of you fake Dems. You want the President out their doing all the fighting while you sit back and crticique him. Congressio­nal and Senate Dems have been a disgrace. With majorities in both houses you mean to tell me they need the President to push them to do anything. Would I have like the President to show more leadership re the message of health care reform, yes. But what about the Legislatur­e. Why can't they do their job. I didn't vote for my Senator or Congressme­n to wait for the President to tell them what to do. Dems can't organize or be counted on at the polls unless its a Presidenti­al election year. When are we going to take responsibl­ity for our causes. As uninformed and misinforme­d as the tea party patriots are, they get their message out. When Dems like me and others would come on this site to BEG others to participat­e in health care reform rallies and phone banks in 2009 (especiall­y summer 2009), we were ignored and on some ocassions disrespect­ed. You be the change and stop waiting for someone to do what you need to be done. And if you need that person, don't throw them in the dirt, run over them and shoot them in the back and expect them to come to your rescue.

[ApolloniaCreed]

01:49 PM on 02/23/2010

fanned.

[Salty 2]

02:27 PM on 02/23/2010

Obama is supposed to be the leader. His own party won't back him, so why should the people?

[charlietuna11]

12:41 PM on 02/23/2010

why is it every time obama and gibbs speak, i hear rahm emanuels voice.

[Beatriz09]

01:11 PM on 02/23/2010

Because you only read HP headlines, and not the articles ... ?

[TheGuide]

12:36 PM on 02/23/2010

As stated below:

President Obama seems way to concerned about what Repulicans and their base think. Like he could ever have either of them. He should've cut his losses with them last year. He and we would be so far ahead. He wasn't elected a "Democrate & Repulican" president, he was elected a Democrate president. It's us he should concentrat­e on making happy.

[Beatriz09]

12:48 PM on 02/23/2010

Sounds good.

But to make us happy, he still needs 60 votes in the Senate. If one of those 60 Senators disagrees with the president on HOW to make us happy, the president will have no bill to sign into law on his desk.

Why 60?

Because the GOP filibuster­s everything­.

The Obama strategy: let's discuss about this HCR bill in front of the cameras, so that people can see that the GOP refuses to let the Senate vote on things they will not possibly be able to reject.

If they admit that this bill is rather commonsens­e, they will no longer be able to filibuster it (= prevent the Senate from voting on it (voting yes or no, of course)), because to filibuster something you normally must be able to show that voting for it will lead to a lot of horrible and totally unacceptab­le things.

Bipartisan­ship in this case doesn't mean "to do everything to please the GOP" but to force the GOP to become again a REAL opposition party, that takes its responsibi­lity, instead of making simply day to day work in the Senate totally impossible­.

The public option is not in THIS document because this document has one goal: to make the GOP openly admit that they cannot honestly filibuster this.

But as soon as Obama and Reid have found 50 Senators who are willing to pass a PO by reconcilia­tion (and they're working hard on that), they will of course do it.

[nick1936]

01:15 PM on 02/23/2010

no he doesn't he just needs 51 with some guts

[charlietuna11]

12:50 PM on 02/23/2010

the guide is right. obama has continuall­y tunned his back on his shrinking polical base and is determined to work with enemies who despise him and publically pray for his demise. obama reminds me of the pathetic appeaser who believes if he feeds the alligator often enough, the alligator will eat him last. i cannot run into one person who doesn't feel betrayed by the president and his chief of staff.

[fya]

12:55 PM on 02/23/2010

The base is a betrayal. Get off the blogs and get into the streets.

[Sam418]

12:59 PM on 02/23/2010

No... he's determined to get things done. He feels with a public option he can't get the votes he needs. Do you have better facts? Doubt it. Dems voted Obama in because he's a generally honest politician­. A rare one. Now, all of a sudden he's "turning his back" on you? Which is it? I personally believe he's STILL being honest. That he's afraid his entire bill will get shot down if the public option is there. HE's the one banking his reputation and presidency on getting this bill passed (the FIRST like it in history), why not let HIM calulate the odds? You already know he's smarter than you, now give him the damn credit you gave him in November. Or... are you THAT fickle?