I want to pose two questions about President Obama, the White House, and health care. I don't know the answers.
First, would Obama veto a non-deficit neutral bill if that bill (a) provided insurance for everyone and (b) included other, longer-term cost-cutting measures?
Second -- was Obama's tactical flexibility on a public plan because he
(a) isn't convinced that the votes exists for the type of a public plan that would really reorient the health care marketplace?
(b) knows that a plan without a public option would never get to his desk but doesn't want to tip his hand?
Second -- was Obama's tactical flexibility on a public plan because he
(a) isn't convinced that the votes exists for the type of a public plan that would really reorient the health care marketplace?
(b) knows that a plan without a public option would never get to his desk but doesn't want to tip his hand?
Marc,
I would suggest that Obama is being strategic. It serves him well to appear to be as much of an open-minded solution seeker as possible. Why allow the story to become "Obama takes hard line on public plan"? It isn't time for that right now. As much as anything, Obama's brand itself is the strongest political force that makes health care reform possible. That brand requires attention and maintenance, which Obama was doing today by appearing to be reaching out broadly (not insisting on a public option) while giving clear guidance to his allies on how to win the argument (his highly effective rebuttal to public option opponents). At least, that's how it looked to me.
It's just not in Obama's nature to foreclose on possibilities like that. He knows he's going to have to sign any Health Care bill with ANY good news in it ('cause otherwise, he gets nothing; Congress ain't gonna try again after a veto), and he's probably open to a bill that does as much good as the public option without being the public option (though such a thing probably doesn't exist, outside of single payer).
Marc,
It's interesting to re-read what you've put now we know what Obama is putting forwards!
From a fellow Marc!
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