Obama Must Unequivocally Champion the Public Option and Fight For It

In the coming days the media will be abuzz speculating what Obama might say next Wednesday during his prime-time address to a joint session of Congress. Here's what he should say: this bill will pass, and it will pass with a public insurance option. No two ways; it's time to stop beating around the bush and fight for what's right.

The Washington Post's Ezra Klein reported on Wednesday that there's a battle going on between the political and policy camps in the Obama cabinet as to how to proceed on health care. But if Obama and Democrats message this properly and let people know the truth, the public option is a winner on both grounds.

There are copious reasons why the public option is a necessity, but to break it down: a) it is crucial for holding down costs; and b) it'll provide the desperately needed competition for insurance companies -- who, as the Associated Press and the New York Times recently documented, operate as virtual monopolies across the states.

Due to the lack of competition in the present system, insurance companies can freely raise premiums without being forced to improve quality or efficiency. They can drop patients from coverage when it isn't profitable to cover them. They can from the outset exclude people who aren't good for their bottom line. They do these things regularly -- which is why tens of thousands die needlessly every year and more go bankrupt due to medical bills.

This is the system the hapless teabaggers and town hall mobs are fighting to sustain, with marching orders from the insurance industry and the help of the GOP.

Substantively, a public option will create competition that will lower prices and improve quality across the board. It will also lead to more choice. Yes, contrary to the widespread nonsense that a public option will bring about a "government takeover" of health care, it'll simply allow people to choose between the existing private options and a new public option. Without this, the bill won't amount to much -- insurers might behave themselves for a while but they'll inevitably write loopholes now or over time and return to their ways.

Politically, it will be the victory Democrats need not only to reinvigorate their dismayed base, but to achieve the landmark legislation that'll reestablish themselves as a party that gets things done and follows through on its promises. Even the bitterest skeptics today will come to appreciate having an affordable alternative to private insurance, and it'll soon be a dead issue -- just like Social Security and Medicare are now.

This is what Republicans and insurance companies fear most, and it's why they're pulling out all the stops to try and muddy the debate with slanderous lies and propaganda. These so-called conservatives clearly don't want choice and competition, and are determined not to let principle get in the way of their political objectives.

And the Gang of Six? Chuck them. It's beyond hypocritical for Charles Grassley and Mike Enzi to actively campaign against this bill and then claim to still want to negotiate. They've also echoed some of the most heinous lies surrounding it. For Obama to continue honoring their voices after their blatant displays of bad intention would show incredible weakness on his part.

Through all the transparent dishonesty it's become clear that the GOP wants this bill to fail for its own political reasons. It's really that simple. If these reforms are to have a positive impact, Republican support is not feasible -- and more importantly, not necessary.

This is Obama's true test. His biggest flaws as president so far have all come down to his hesitation to fight the narrow, entrenched industry groups serving their bottom line at the expense of the people. (In fairness it's not easy when the GOP is primarily out to assist them.) Obama prefers to be a uniter, not a fighter; but on health care he needs to fight, because his opponents are too invested in sustaining the broken system and don't want to see it fixed.

Next Wednesday will be a huge day for health care reform. It may be President Obama's last chance to take back the mantle he's recently let slip and win this one for America.

Follow Sahil Kapur on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Sahil_Kapur

Comments

[Zombeaver]

Progressives need to be as tough as the Republicans. If Obama drops the Public Option, then he can prepare to be blamed for not solving the health care crisis. Attempts to shift the blame to the Progressives, who in contrast are standing by their campaign promises, will not only fail to redirect responsibility for failure, but will ensure the demise of the balance of his agenda. Does he really expect that the progressives will support him or the blue dogs in future legislation? Another factor to consider, if he fails to get health care legislation passed, the republicans will know that they can bully him into inaction with little more than a couple of primitive grunts and a ham sandwich.

[WalidMaaytah]

Obama must champion this option because it's right, because it's what's best for the American people - which is more important than any other consideration, whether they know it or not - and because it's a matter of uncompromisable principle. I'm sure that Obama would agree with me, if asked, that there are more important things than politics.

What I admired most about Obama, during his campaign, is that he spoke, walked and talked like a man of principle, real principle and not just political grandstanding. Great men of principle don't yield, waffle or compromise on their principles, and I know that in his heart of hearts, Obama is a man of principle. He just needs to show to the American people, friends and foes, that he still is, and damn the bipartisanship if it means compromising your heart, soul and principles.

[jemborg]

Wow! I'm a freedom loving Aussie and I find this paranoia over decent pubic health care amazing.

We've had it for almost 30 years.

I've expounded on this in many of Huffo's threads but let me simply say... America you deserve better, do not believe the Conservative lies.

NB: It took two goes in my country to get universal Medicare established. The Conservatives got rid of it when they got voted back in. The Labor Party re-established it at the next election after that. And although they have undermined it every time they got back into power the Conservatives don't dare try to get rid of it again. What I am getting at here is you have to push HARD for it- it's NOT going to happen through bi-partisanship.

PS: I just found out my wife is pregnant a week ago :) , two days after we went and had the first ultrasound, all at no cost. We have complete confidence in our system.

[Tom Joad]

Many of us believe in establishment of a single payer system such as you enjoy. I agree in principle with your post, but I would make one correction: you don't enjoy your benefit at no cost; it's paid by you and all your countrymen. You are paying for the care you deserve. I can't understand what people in my country find so objectionable about that. Fair payment for Fair treatment. Seems eminently fair to me.

[BusGreg]

It is time for single payer or the public option. Strangely enough something often overlooked is this:
Some of the right wing stalwarts who are screaming the loudest AGAINST government run health care are:
Roy Blunt, congressman from Missoury, John McCain, Senator from Arizona, and Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, all republicans. Besides claiming that government run healthcare is bad, guess what all three have in common???
They all got medical treatment at.......

BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL!

One of those awful and mismanaged government run medical facilities, rather than going home and using a medical provider paid for by for profit health (under) insurance. Can you say hippocrite?

[mnyegele]

I totally agree. My question to any one and every one reading this blog is - what are you going to do about it? My suggestions include
1. Write to whitehouse.gov with a message of support - for a public option.
2. When a senator or Congressman opposes the public option, go to Google. Type in Center for Responsive Politics. Then type the Congressman's name. You will get a list of all that Congressmen's major political donores. Obviously the Congressmen most opposed to a public option also get extensive campaign contributions from Big Pharma and health insurance companies. Do everything you can to expose these politicans. You-Tube, Twitter, whatever..­. every one must be involved.
3. Participate in an OFA event or a MoveON Candlelight vigil. They are all over the country.
4. If you attend church, see if you can get your church involved. (My pastor was quite receptive.­) The Methodist church has recognized health care as a basic human right. Other churches are making similar statements.
5. Alert the Department of Justice about abuse in Medicare Advantage programs. These programs are funded by the tax payers. Do the health insurance companies in these programs use this money for health care - or use it they bribe congressmen and contribute to the RNC. Does Michael Steele steal money from Medicare Advantage?

These are just some suggestions. No, you don't have to do everything. But every one can do something.
Get INVOLVED.

[Jim8737]

Public Option will never pass. He knows that, by insisting on it, he would be imposing the death sentence on his presidency and on the democrats during 2010.

[BusGreg]

Wrong!

[Jim8737]

Dream on, sucker!

[Ventoi]

I actually DID mean 'deep river woman' by Alabama...

but my first (second) task in studying music (while I was 'UNEMPLOYED for GOD') was to examine lyrics and turn them into positive messages unto children and parents...­and then as if God had sent them...lov­e being love unto him...
the dirty concepts are ways to get rockers to agree to sing them...
they are all clean things in the end...

(my first task was to note that all rockers look like one or two people...f­unnily enough..

I understand fine now and must continue working, thankyou..­.

I will teach this in my evening free time.

[Ventoi]

I actually DID mean 'deep river woman' by Alabama...

but my first (second) task in studying music (while I was 'UNEMPLOYED for GOD') was to examine lyrics and turn them into positive messages unto children and parents...­and then as if God had sent them...lov­e being love unto him...
the dirty concepts are ways to get rockers to agree to sing them...
they are all clean things in the end...

(my first task was to note that all rockers look like one or two people...f­unnily enough...I­'ve only noticed them to be Jesus and Barrabas since "Sunday Morning Coming Down)

I understand fine now and must continue working, thankyou..­.

I will teach this in my evening free time.

[DragonflyChase]

Healthcare Flowchart

Private Insurance

----> Pay between $300 and $1500/mo premium for limited coverage and pray alot.

-----> Go to doctor, pay copay (thinkin' that's all you gotta pay)

----> Get bill in mail from insurance with EOB (Explanation of Benfits) showing why they are only paying a little over half for your tests and procedures. Scratch Head.

----> Ask yourself why you have insurance. Try paying $50/mo.

--->Without warning you have been turned over to a collection agency for the remaining $650 balance for your visit 8 months ago. They expected you to pay $100/mo, but you didn't agree to that.

-----> There goes your good credit and that house you wanted to buy. Oh well, at least if you have a huge bill later on, if something drastic happens, they can't come and take your house, since all you can do is rent. You don't want to do this, but may have to. Some bills can be in the tens of thousands.

(the above is from my actual experiences)

Public Option ---> Go to doctor, pay copay, if required, no more than $15 (?).

----> Get well.

-----> Receive explanation of benefits from the Public Option showing how much they paid. Just like how Medicare works now.

[end flowchart]

The complexity does not have anything to do with the public option, since it's like Medicare. The complexity lies with the healtcare provider to REDUCE THEIR COSTS.

[write2bheard]

I had no idea that bipartisanship could look so much like weaving and waffling. I will take bipartisanship if we can get it, but it needs to take a backseat to the needs of our citizens. Don't just give the insurance company new ways to s.c.r.e.w. more people we need change we can believe in, not change that looks like change but really nothing has changed.

[UsofA]

Carpe diem, President Obama.

[littleblackcat]

Excellent post, now get a copy of it on President Obama's desk. It is time to stop trying to work with someone who works against you solely to destroy you and everything good you have planned for the nation's people. It is time to take a page from Rahm Emanuel's book and kick a$$. The rethugs don't want anything rocking their money boat, and the American people want single-payer.

[John Mainstream]

President Obama doesn’t need the left to get re-elected. He needs the senior citizens, independents, and moderate Republicans in the swing states.

[robbep]

we will see if your correct on that. he lost the senior vote to mccain do you think he is stupid enough to bank on them for his reelection? Without the left there is no president obama.

[indiana46278]

The left will vote for President Obama no matter what he does. Just like the Hillary supporters did. Just like white suburbanites did. You know why? Because he'll be the best choice for those people. And when it's election day and the world is falling apart, even pouting babies sober up and do what's right.

The world's not black and white. Sorry.

[John Mainstream]

Now that single payer is off the table, let’s all support President Obama!

[John Mainstream]

Even though health insurance reform won’t have the public option, there would be an expansion of Medicaid to cover the unemployed and the working poor. Medicaid is single payer. So, there is something for everybody.