. . . the White House is pushing back against the idea [of a public option with an opt out clause] in a bid to retain the support of Sen. Olympia Snowe

Taking it to a different frame, my guess is that “bipartisanship” and Obama’s chivalric pursuit of Snowe’s Republican vote are a cover for his protection of the insurance industry by putting off a public option under a trigger (he is now said to favor, perhaps since early on) which we know will probably never get pulled. Insurance companies don’t like opt-out, so Obama doesn’t either. “Bipartisanship” — appealing “across the aisle” with the pretense of gentlemanly broad-mindedness — is an ideal head fake to hide his true interest in a corporate agenda and the filling of his campaign coffers. Even if he loses Snowe, he has pursued her and for this he gets credit, or so the strategy is said to go: Per WaPo “The Fix,” Chris Cillizza (9-16-09)

The White House has long believed that the average voter is less concerned about whether large numbers of Republicans support the Administration’s priorities than whether the President is making an honest effort to attract GOP support.

“Honest effort” sounds like a benign motive but I question whether it is the opposite. After all, the direction toward a corporate agenda is to the right, so it’s a natural move for Obama, not just in the act of “reaching across” but in being seen that way by the general public (as good guy seeming to be “inclusive”) and by his corporate backers (as their guy). It’s about being perceived. It’s a way of communicating to his various constituencies (we of the progressives are not included). He can’t lose (except with us and he’s calculated we’re expendable).

Perhaps this shows how, for Obama, only strategy matters, not policy.

“If the public option is sacrificed, just to possibly win the support of one unnecessary Republican vote, Harry Reid might as well resign and officially declare Olympia Snowe Senate Majority Leader. In the next few days, if there is a “trigger,” we will know Reid’s continued “leadership” is less than worthless to progressives.”

Absolutely Right!

There must be some other reason.

Perhaps theres a better reason for letting her hold the PO hostage, but I cant see it.

OT: Wazzup w/ my apostrophes turning into 3 backslashes?