Post by unlawflcombatnt on Aug 19, 2009 15:55:24 GMT -6
The public option remains a huge point of contention in the health care reform debate. It appears that the Obama Administration has at least heard the general outcry against his suggestion that he might drop the public option. Unfortunately, Obama still doesn't seem to be taking it seriously. When Obama and any of his minions (especially Gibbs & Sebelius) are questioned about Obama's flip-flop, they express the usual righteous indignation about the claims that Obama has changed his position. In each case, this is followed by the standard nebulous verbiage that obfuscates the public option issue. It usually starts with something like "The President has been very 'clear'..." And yet, it is never made "clear" to listening audiences what, exactly, Obama has been clear on. The soundbite about "guaranteeing choice" does not guarantee a public option, nor does guaranteeing "competition" and "affordability."
It appears from Obama's and his team's response that they have indeed heard the public's outcry, but aren't necessarily going to heed it. Each and every public acknowledgment and inference that the public option will be included is followed by a calculated pull-back on that inclusion. "If anyone has a better idea about how to achieve those goals, the President is willing to listen" is a recurrent and annoying caveat, obviously designed to keep the White House from appearing to have lost the fight, if the final legislation has no public option.
Today's press conference with White House Press Secretary Gibbs was a classic example of team Obama's "perfectly clear-ness." When Helen Thomas asked Gibbs whether the President "would fight for the public option," Gibbs refused to answer, even after Thomas repeated the question, with Gibbs stating something to the effect of "we're not going to get into the specifics...."
As of today, the only point that is "perfectly clear" is that the President will continue to steadfastly straddle the fence on the public option issue.
It appears from Obama's and his team's response that they have indeed heard the public's outcry, but aren't necessarily going to heed it. Each and every public acknowledgment and inference that the public option will be included is followed by a calculated pull-back on that inclusion. "If anyone has a better idea about how to achieve those goals, the President is willing to listen" is a recurrent and annoying caveat, obviously designed to keep the White House from appearing to have lost the fight, if the final legislation has no public option.
Today's press conference with White House Press Secretary Gibbs was a classic example of team Obama's "perfectly clear-ness." When Helen Thomas asked Gibbs whether the President "would fight for the public option," Gibbs refused to answer, even after Thomas repeated the question, with Gibbs stating something to the effect of "we're not going to get into the specifics...."
As of today, the only point that is "perfectly clear" is that the President will continue to steadfastly straddle the fence on the public option issue.