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Greg Sargent over at The Plum Line made this astonishing find about the White House purposefully hiding support for the public option in its memo that’s being circulated to Democrats in Congress:
The memo, by Obama pollster Joel Benenson, doesn’t mention the public option (the White House may not be committed to it) and largely cites general numbers showing support for action and for Obama’s plan.
But here’s the funny thing: We went back and checked, and virtually every poll cited in this memo also found strong support for the inclusion of a public plan.
* The memo cited a CBS poll from September 1st, saying it found strong support for action. What does it say on the public plan? Sixty percent support, 34% oppose.
* The memo cited a CNN poll done through August 31st, saying it found deep public dismay with the system. What does it say on the public plan? Fifty-five percent support, 41% oppose.
* The memo cited a Kaiser poll from August 11th, saying it found overwhelming support for consumer protections. What does it say on the public plan? Fifty nine percent support, 38% oppose.
The White House memo did cite one poll that didn’t find majority support for the public option: This MSNBC poll that found only 43% support for it. But that’s the one thatgenerated all that controversy because it didn’t tell respondents that the public plan was a “choice.”
And out of all the polls showing strong support for the public option, the White House is focusing on the single poll that was manipulated by MSNBC that shows a lack of majority support for the public option? Now, the only reason that the White House would downplay support for the public option in its memo that it’s circulating to major newspapers and to Democrats in Congress is because the White House really, really, really doesn’t want give up on its dreams of a bipartisanship vote that doesn’t include the public option. They’re still stuck on their bipartisanship fetish, in spite of the fact that a majority of Americans, including Republicans and Independents, support the public option.
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I guess “bipartisan” means Sen. Snowe–1 lousy R–will vote with the D majority. Yeah, that’s worth sacrificing cost control, not to mention the morality of a public option.
Snowe says that if the insurance companies behave badly this time, after taxpayers have doled billions of dollars to them thru mandatory premium donations, then we might consider a public option down the river. First, the insurance companies must be given one more chance to prove they won’t bankrupt us, then kill us.
There’s this scorpion who wants a frog to give him a ride across a river…
Let me offer a suggestion based on this ” On Thursday, Woolsey and fellow Progressive Caucus co-chair Raul M. Grijalva, sent a letter to Obama threatening to withhold support for his health care agenda. They said the bill would only win their support if it includes a public option, reverses a deal Democratic leaders struck with fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats to reimburse providers through negotiated, rather than fixed, rates and creates the public insurance plan immediately, rather than through a staggered trigger mechanism.
“Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, a public option built on the Medicare provider system and with reimbursement based on Medicare rates-not negotiated rates-is unacceptable,” they wrote. “
Call -as I did- or fax Rep. Woolsey’s office ( Ph.: 202-225-5161
Fax: 202-225-5163 ) and Rep. Grijalva’s office ( ph (202) 225-2435
fax (202) 225-1541) , identify yourself as a non-constituent and what party -I’m an ‘independent’- affiliation you are with and let them know you strongly support their stance and want them to stick to it.
DON’T let Rahm and Obama twist their arms about the public option. !!!!
i think they simply don’t want the public option. the question of bipartisanship is secondary.
It’s not about bi-partisanship. It’s a sell-out, plain and simple. The big announcement today about how the administration is now going to start releasing the names of WH visitors, while continuing to keep those from the first 8 months secret (including the insurance reps and lobbyists), only underscores that our dear leader cut a deal with the industry before HCR even got started.
Sonofabiatch, this makes me angry!
Excuse me for asking but why there hasn’t been
any organized effort from “public option” advocates from across the country
to thank the members of the house that are standing firm on the public option?
it would seem that if all of us were able to email or write these house members
with our thanks and support it would go a long way to helping them to resist the
pressure from the white house, the blue dogs, the senate, and the media to
give in and let real reform slide and allow the healthcare industry to win.
while there are many sites on the net to allow us to email our own congressmen and senators
i can’t for the life of me find a place that would allow someone from Alabama to thank the
leadership and members of the Progressive Democratic coalition , or Representatives Raul Grijalva and Lynn Woosley for there efforts. or Congressman Weiner, or Nancy Pelosi, or the President.
I believe that this could be put together in a couple of hours and is very needed.
it seems to me that a couple of million emails to those who are representing us in this campaign would certainly
appreciated. A little pat on the back and some thank yous would go a long way in showing our support.
i also think that psychologically that your fund raising campaign would benefit from this as most
people would be more inclined to pull the trigger if they thought that they have been allowed to express their feelings before they were asked to contribute.
regards
“…and the intelligence is being fixed to support the policy…”
redux?
The buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the air,
The monkey thought that everything was on the square,
The buzzard tried to throw monkey off of his back,
The monkey grabbed his neck and said, “Now listen, Jack!
Straighten up and fly right,
Straighten up and stay right,
Straighten up and fly right,
Cool down, poppa don’t you blow your top!
Ain’t no use in divin’
What’s the use of jivin’
Straighten up and fly right,
Cool down poppa don’t you blow your top.”
The buzzard told the monkey,
“You are choking me,
Release your hold and I will set you free!”
The monkey said, “Your story is so touching,
But it sounds just like a lie!”
Straighten up and fly right,
Straighten up and stay right,
Straighten up and fly right,
Cool down poppa, don’t you blow. Your. Top.
Fly right!
They want to pretend it does not exist.
God, what a joke they have become.
I am institution a trigger for support of Obama adminstration initiatives from now on. In 10 years, I may or may not provide support, depending on if they meet certain impossible criteria. I learned it from President Snowe.
Good post, slink.
Sorry, that was supposed to be a reply to Hackworth1 @ 2.
The White House memo did cite one poll that didn’t find majority support for the public option: This MSNBC poll that found only 43% support for it. But that’s the one thatgenerated all that controversy because it didn’t tell respondents that the public plan was a “choice.”
sounds like a push-poll outta Doucheborough’s shop.
right! i dont buy the “bi partisan” argument. This is less feckless and more sinister than that. the public option NEVER WAS an option and it had little to do with bi partisan support. I never would have gotten into this relationship with Obama if i knew he was so Kinky “Bi”
it is, the same one.
there have been those kinds of efforts and more than that, acutal finiancial support – but yes there could be more,although i dont want to get played by them either
she needs a primary. lets support the most progressive against her yes, but lets find a republican or better yet a right wing independant to split the vote he he he
I’ve said it before but it is absolutely critical that the progressive caucus hold the line. The single-payer plan was the price to support a strong public option. If we cave on this, we will get nothing for the rest of the term. Rahm has no respect for anyone who capitulates and his behavior will only get worse. It would be unfortunate to have to kill this bill but if that is the price of admission, Obama will have to draw some lesson and we will begin the process again.
Further, the price of supporting the next bill is opening Medicare to anyone who wants in. No separate plan that is ’similar’ with another separate bureaucracy. Completely optional. If you prefer to be raped by the private sector, that is your prerogative.
Simple. Effective. Next!
It really is time to show strenght of numbers in the street. Time for a March on Washington for Real Health Care reform.
I can hear Nat King Cole’s voice in my head. Nat wrote “Straighten Up and Fly Right”, which is based on one of his dad’s sermons. Can I hear an amen?
I have great suspicions about the White House’s sincerity when I consider the amount of money which the Health sector poured into the 2008 Presidential Campaign, let alone the congressional races.
I don’t believe the “bipartisanship” talk either.
And I also don’t buy that “Now, the only reason that the White House would downplay support for the public option in its memo that it’s circulating to major newspapers and to Democrats in Congress is because the White House really, really, really doesn’t want give up on its dreams of a bipartisanship vote that doesn’t include the public option.” I just don’t know for sure. But I can think of several reasons why they would downplay support for the public option.
Finally, I always strongly believe the remonstrance, “Follow the money!”