Ezra Klein: White House Handling Of Public Option Still A 'Complete Failure'

Ezra Klein :

One other point on the public option: This has been a complete and utter failure of White House leadership. They need to give this effort their support, or they need to kill it by publicly stating their opposition. But they can't simply wait for someone else to make the decision for them, which has been their strategy until now.

Read the whole story: Ezra Klein

Comments

[Tackora]

09:27 PM on 02/23/2010

We have elected an infiltrator to lead the troops, and now we are surprized and confused that the battle plan makes no sense.

[mom of three]

03:08 PM on 02/23/2010

Let me first say that I agree with Ezra -- the White House should have taken a clear stand regarding the public option from the beginning.

However -- an hour after penning this piece, Klein pens a second piece in which he says the following:

"Some on the left think the absence of the House's public option renders reform meaningless, even though the public option in the House's bill would have made very little difference either to people or to costs."

He can't have it both ways. Why should the White House at this juncture support a watered-down Public Option that will make very little difference to people or to costs??

[gmailliw]

03:38 PM on 02/23/2010

I think his point is: The President should say one way or the other, so as to not let liberals get their hope up all over again.

When this letter first started circulating, my first reaction was, this is just politics by people running for reelection. They wanted to prove to the base that they fought for it, but knew it wasn't going to happen. One big red herring. The problem is, it got the liberals worked up all over again, and in some ways put the whole process at risk all over again.

So it would have been nice if someone either endorsed this, or squashed it last week. Looks like they have finallly decided to do that today.

[gmailliw]

03:00 PM on 02/23/2010

The White House made it official on Tuesday: the president doesn't think the votes are there to get a public option passed through reconciliation and consequently won't make a push to include or pass the provision.

Speaking at the daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked again why the administration did not include the government-run insurance option in its final health care proposal in light of the fact that 23 Democratic senators signed a letter calling for its passage.

"We have seen obviously that though there are some that are supportive of this, there isn't enough political support in a majority to get this through," Gibbs responded. "The president... took the Senate bill as the base and looks forward to discussing consensus ideas on Thursday."

The remarks were the clearest indication to date that the White House's vote counters don't see a viable path to getting the public option into law, even if Senate Democrats use reconciliation -- which would have allowed for an up or down vote.

[porsche996]

03:05 PM on 02/23/2010

You cut and paste kind of like Faux news using some of the authors words out of context that you value...and editing out what won't support your talking point....I'm disappointed in you.

[gmailliw]

03:13 PM on 02/23/2010

I just quoted above is -- VERBATIM -- what Sam Stein posted here:



http://www.huf fingtonpost.com/2010/02/23/gibbs-the-public-plan-doe_n_473443.html

[gmailliw]

03:14 PM on 02/23/2010

If you are unhappy with what is written, please be sure to direct it to Sam Stein.

And be sure to tell him you compare his article to a Fox News article.

[Countess]

03:00 PM on 02/23/2010

The president of the United States must first believe in something and then convince the country that what he wants is needed. Obama let the corrupt congress handle health care and the entire country witnessed a disgraceful year of bargaining away different rights and sweetheart deals and so we are left with a pro-industry bill giving the monopolies millions of new slaves. Obama and the republicans claim they are for deficit reduction and yet the most cost effective and humane system was not even discussed during this so called debate. As long as corporate democrats and right wing extremists are called moderates by the moronic media we will never reform anything. Obama is part of the problem not the solution.

[porsche996]

03:02 PM on 02/23/2010

Fan'd & Fav'd

[porsche996]

03:03 PM on 02/23/2010

Countess please re-post this on the New Gibbs thread....?

[porsche996]

02:44 PM on 02/23/2010

The least likely advocate for change in our culture would obviously be a successful black woman....isn't President Obama married?

Now I know who he's listening too that makes him appear to be soooo weak and conflicted....the least liberal and or disruptive and innovative former Health Insurance Industry Counsel in his house.

[JDM73]

02:38 PM on 02/23/2010

"They need to give this effort their support, or they need to kill it by publicly stating their opposition." That's not how the Obama administration does things--they never come right out and say, look, we oppose this plan and we're not going to fight for it. They say yes, we absolutely support this plan, but there are other good plans, too, and it won't be so bad if this particular plan dies with a whimper. Then they send their whipping boy Robert Gibbs out to say, gee, it looks as if we just don't have the votes for this plan.
THAT is how the Obama administration states its opposition. This president is opposed to the public option and is never going to push for it. Ever. Dig?

[Tribal Knowledge]

02:29 PM on 02/23/2010

This whole thing is the biggest loser and waste of time imaginable.

They are never going to pass anything that will work or help in any way.

[gmailliw]

02:31 PM on 02/23/2010

Says tribal knowledge.

[murphy80]

02:35 PM on 02/23/2010

unfortunately, tribal is correct.
they never had any intention of getting it passed and done.
you have been sold down the river babee

[jwredd]

02:40 PM on 02/23/2010

Try www.teabagger.org You'll find friends there that share your conspiracy theories.

[The Power To Unelect]

02:57 PM on 02/23/2010

M80

Keep speaking out. There are many party diehards hear who refuse the see the reality...

Just like there are many Republican diehards who refuse to see the reality of whats really going on in their party.

[gmailliw]

02:27 PM on 02/23/2010

We have 59 Senators that caucus with the Democrats. We would need 50 votes for a public option using reconciliation.

How would these Senators vote:


1) Joe Li.eberman
2) Ben Nelson
3) Evan Bayh
4) Blanche Lincoln
5) Bill Nelson
6) Mary Landrieu
7) Max Baucus
8) Kent Conrad
9) Byron Dorgan
10) Tom Carper
11) Jon Tester
12) Jay Rockefeller


Without them there is no public option.

The votes just aren't there.

[HalEBurton]

02:43 PM on 02/23/2010

The just aren't there now. And the votes just won't be there in November. Good riddance to both these parties. May they choke on the corporate teat.

[gmailliw]

02:49 PM on 02/23/2010

You'll get over it.

[booki]

02:24 PM on 02/23/2010

"support it or kill it"
i love it...........the WH has not the balls to do either.

w/o a public option.......healthcare is not "reform"...........it is placating

[onecaguy12345]

02:24 PM on 02/23/2010

What did you guys expect? Look at Obama has thrown EVERYONE under the bus at the first sign of trouble.

Obama cares about Obama and whatever will advance his agenda. That's it.

He's already sold out to Pharma, to Citibank. This is old news.

[Tribal Knowledge]

02:28 PM on 02/23/2010

Well put.

[gmailliw]

02:28 PM on 02/23/2010

Give me a break.

You can only push what you have the votes for. You can't just institute a public option by executive order.

And there aren't the votes for it in the Senate, and I doubt you could get enough Dems in the House to vote for a bill with the public option -- considering the blue dogs are the ones holding out.

[HalEBurton]

02:36 PM on 02/23/2010

Precisely. In order to overcome obstacles on the road to finding solutions true leadership is required. That is a commodity that this president has never possessed. You cannot ask a corporate logo to lead.

[Deschris]

02:20 PM on 02/23/2010

Does anyone know what they are saying on the right wing sites...I don't visit them.Here we are all pleading for affordable health care,prescription drugs,financial reform and our money back from the banks and a public option.Other than disrespect,hateful racist taunts about our president do you suppose they are saying things like:

Oh please please please please raise my premium rates 100% instead of 39% so you can pay my beloved CEO $24,000,000 instead of $12,000,000

How can you put Madof in jail....how could you..I still want him to keep free enterprising me

I do not want any of those killer cheap Canadian Drugs,even though Canadians seem to be happier and living longer

Foreclose my house please,we can live in our car until our dear bank starts lending again

My son Johnny needs a liver transplant and today we got some great news,the CEO of my insurance company said they cannot authorize the operation due to a pre existing condition.

You know what, I rather see Rush Limbaugh,Bob Dole and Dick Cheney get the treatment before my kid,after all he was the vice president,Bob was a good congressman and Rush he is just the best god darn talk show host there is

Hey Sam did you find another insurance company for Johnny yet,he's starting to turn blue....oh my god I think he's dead....I knew it....I knew it...it's that god damn Obama Death Panel. Sam,Sam No...don't start the plane.

[TN60]

02:19 PM on 02/23/2010

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x193848

Keep tweeting, calling, emailing, shouting. Don't give up.

Remember that he American people want a government public option. They also hate Insurance Companies !

[donaldinks]

02:18 PM on 02/23/2010

When "Fox News Channel" is # 1 on cable access, to millions of backwoods morons...

When the only "legitimate news outlets" are not reporting REAL news, but the corporate paid crap and agendas they are made to by their "corporate owners"...

When The White House is not showing its "Big Kahunas" and setting things straight...
(after Americans have been so dumbed down to the point they couldn't name even one of their own State or National Representitives...

When the American public cares more about stupid crap such as "John & Kate" or "Jersey Shore"...
AND, they have the attention span of a gnat:

WTF do you expect?

[porsche996]

02:15 PM on 02/23/2010

IMO we desperately need disruptive thinking in the leadership of our country...disruptive reform of health care....disruptive and innovative thinking in reform of banking and the FED....disruptive technology in Green energy policy and disruptive LEADERSHIP.

Not a neo-conservative President so vested in maintaining the status quo.

[shamroc02]

02:18 PM on 02/23/2010

You are talking reckless.

[commentsareus]

02:15 PM on 02/23/2010

my4653 on the WA post site, why would a competitive health care option so frighten the right? Oh, yes, because your bought and paid for senators tell you how to think. The Truth is, the private option IS popular, millions NEED it. it will drive DOWN costs for everybody. [not to mention quashing the trend of some health insurance companies raising rates outrageous and impossible to pay amounts. Which WILL continue unfettered. ]