General Discussion

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)

84. From the top:

Wed Mar 28, 2012, 10:24 PM

Mar 2012

I don't know what he wanted or didn't want, but I know that he never gave consideration to universal Medicare. He said as much in the campaign; something like "If I were designing it from scratch, uM would be the way to go, but that's not where we are."

He did dangle the PO around for a long time--a long time after it had already been privately given away, IMHO. So he did a fair amount of game-playing to keep the PO crowd quiet until it was too late for them to do anything.

And the end result (as easily predicted, and forecast by many besides me) was the tightening of the grip of the insurers on the public.

BUT---
There were many gains in that plan; not always big ones, but my young granddaughter with serious health issues is insured because of ACA. And a whole lot of other people got coverage that they would not otherwise have had. Appalled as I was by the massive giveaways to the insurers, the Obama plan has provided help to significant numbers of people.

So I'm pretty damn conflicted about the whole thing, actually.

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Highlight:

By Ditching the Public Option, Obama Gave His Enemies a Path to the Supreme Court [View all] Better Believe It Mar 2012 OP

Mandate and PO should have been hand in hand zipplewrath Mar 2012 #1

Well, at least ProSense Mar 2012 #2

As we all do. ClassWarrior Mar 2012 #12

And how exactly was Obama sharp_stick Mar 2012 #3

please don't talk facts /nt still_one Mar 2012 #6

Good points. pinto Mar 2012 #9

President Obama opposed a public option so how could he pass something he was against? Better Believe It Mar 2012 #13

please don't talk facts nt/ ClassWarrior Mar 2012 #14

Where are the facts? n/t 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2012 #17

Luckly this poster did what you said before you said it uponit7771 Mar 2012 #37

He did ProSense Mar 2012 #18

Where does either one of those even mention public option? FedUp_Queer Mar 2012 #51

It doesn't, but ProSense Mar 2012 #67

It's no premise that Obama opposed the public option. girl gone mad Mar 2012 #76

Ok. FedUp_Queer Mar 2012 #130

True. But only in the 87th dimension Creideiki Mar 2012 #65

Well now that's just pretty much wrong sharp_stick Mar 2012 #32

Explain how you get Lieberman to vote yes ... I'll spot you all the other blue dogs ... Go!! JoePhilly Mar 2012 #34

"For one thing, the White House could have used THIS:" slipslidingaway Mar 2012 #36

Ok, I'll play ... Obama sends those people to get Lieberman ... JoePhilly Mar 2012 #50

Who knows what his reason would be, maybe we needed to first build support or until ... slipslidingaway Mar 2012 #71

How do you vote him out of office when he does not plan to run again??????? JoePhilly Mar 2012 #72

Post links to the public pressure from Obama to Lieberman ... slipslidingaway Mar 2012 #81

I have Lieberman on the phone ... tell me what to say to him. JoePhilly Mar 2012 #89

I've now posted the leverage twice... Chan790 Mar 2012 #126

I included that as item #3 in the post you responded to above. JoePhilly Mar 2012 #136

Do you read any links or just say Joe is all powerful and the president is powerless. n/t slipslidingaway Mar 2012 #135

Don't think I said that at all. JoePhilly Mar 2012 #137

The "study" that found 2/3rds of the country for single payer is not all that impressive karynnj Mar 2012 #98

No, not really, the Dec. 2007 AP-Yahoo Poll had 65/54% depending on how ... slipslidingaway Mar 2012 #133

Threaten his seniority and committee-chairs he was gifted despite not being an elected Democrat. Chan790 Mar 2012 #79

I love your idea! The disgust I feel for this man is so great that I get sick just thinking about CTyankee Mar 2012 #125

That is the best response. I posted my response up thread. JoePhilly Mar 2012 #138

I just saw that. n/t Chan790 Mar 2012 #140

Exactly. Huge pressure was brought down on holdouts on the left kenny blankenship Mar 2012 #142

I think we can agree that Bill Bradley... meaculpa2011 Mar 2012 #91

+ a couple hundred brazillon Myrina Mar 2012 #44

good points frylock Mar 2012 #45

Please list all Republican Senators that would have voted for the plan you suggest karynnj Mar 2012 #94

Obama was not against a public option. USArmyParatrooper Mar 2012 #132

That actually proves our point, not yours. Maven Mar 2012 #19

Actually, ProSense Mar 2012 #28

Oh, waaah! girl gone mad Mar 2012 #77

Oh this is precious. Arkana Mar 2012 #128

The Bully Pulpit FedUp_Queer Mar 2012 #53

The Bully Pulpit is the Tee Vee, and it Only Works for the Repigs Because They Own All the Networks AndyTiedye Mar 2012 #85

Good point. FedUp_Queer Mar 2012 #129

Pesky, pesky facts. great white snark Mar 2012 #25

Facts are good...nt SidDithers Mar 2012 #31

Obama wasn't on board with Single Payer or Public Option when he was a candidate. LiberalFighter Mar 2012 #42

He managed to twist Dennis Kucinich's arm to vote for HCR eridani Mar 2012 #52

Maybe this is how he does it. sofa king Mar 2012 #92

The Very SAME way he ultimatley passed the ACA.... Reconciliation. bvar22 Mar 2012 #100

+10000000 nashville_brook Mar 2012 #108

A President sulphurdunn Mar 2012 #103

Not force, but fight. SmellyFeet Mar 2012 #113

When you don't even try, WilliamPitt Mar 2012 #118

This shiite pisses me off to no end Cosmocat Mar 2012 #124

and how were you going to get LIEberman, nelson, lincoln, byah, and others to go for it? /nt still_one Mar 2012 #4

don't bother DonCoquixote Mar 2012 #22

Basher could care less about answering these simple questions uponit7771 Mar 2012 #38

we should just ignore everything Obama says he's going to do Enrique Mar 2012 #54

Twist their arms: Tell them that if they want any DNC money, they'd better toe the line Lydia Leftcoast Mar 2012 #107

+1. Sadly, so many blind supporters are okay with his lack of fight on the public option. SmellyFeet Mar 2012 #114

OK, I respectfully ask this DonCoquixote Mar 2012 #143

The part about LBJ is revisionist history Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2012 #144

By ditching the PO, he gave himself a route Jackpine Radical Mar 2012 #5

The only thing they should have done is say it was a tax, which probably would have prevented the still_one Mar 2012 #7

and how many members of congress would vote for "a new tax"? CTyankee Mar 2012 #33

Agree. And the Congressional compromise enabled the expansion of Medicaid as well pinto Mar 2012 #10

Do you believe that President Obama wanted Medicare for All or a strong public option? Better Believe It Mar 2012 #20

From the top: Jackpine Radical Mar 2012 #84

Agreed ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2012 #21

Then he's not as smart as many want to think. SmellyFeet Mar 2012 #115

Matthew Rothschild is consistently wrong... SidDithers Mar 2012 #8

Enjoy your single payer healthcare up there, Sid. Maven Mar 2012 #24

No need for the article. Here at DU we argued this same point endlessly Cleita Mar 2012 #11

isn't that the truth /nt still_one Mar 2012 #15

I remember that well laundry_queen Mar 2012 #30

In order for Obama to have gotten real health care reform . . . gratuitous Mar 2012 #16

Can you answer my question in post #34? JoePhilly Mar 2012 #35

Easier to win any Senator's vote than it is to get a SCOTUS decison reversed. Bluenorthwest Mar 2012 #82

So you don't know how either. JoePhilly Mar 2012 #87

Tell him that you'll have the DNC flood his media market (Connecticut) Lydia Leftcoast Mar 2012 #109

This is the truth. The mandate probably is unconstitutional without a public option. Maven Mar 2012 #23

many of us here have known that from the beginning.... mike_c Mar 2012 #26

Bought in or bought out? SammyWinstonJack Mar 2012 #27

I still believe that President Obama littlewolf Mar 2012 #29

I hope he is a chess player, because if this goes down adigal Mar 2012 #39

That's what I keep saying! mainer Mar 2012 #41

Sure, hammer it home.... BlueDemKev Mar 2012 #43

I disagree...people realize this is all political adigal Mar 2012 #90

Who would believe him this time? girl gone mad Mar 2012 #78

Yep Snowe, and all of the other 59 Senators needed to pass it all wanted it but Obama said grantcart Mar 2012 #40

News flash! It only takes 51 votes to pass legislation in the Senate, not 60. Better Believe It Mar 2012 #46

No it takes a majority grantcart Mar 2012 #56

Here is another link that explains the 60 vote/filibuster issues chowder66 Mar 2012 #59

This message was self-deleted by its author grantcart Mar 2012 #61

Was this meant for someone else? chowder66 Mar 2012 #62

yep sorry grantcart Mar 2012 #63

Phew..eom chowder66 Mar 2012 #66

A simple majority of Senate votes have always been required to pass legislation, 51 today, not 60. Better Believe It Mar 2012 #64

Yes. 51 is a majority BUT chowder66 Mar 2012 #70

Invoking cloture to end debate requires 60 votes. Passing legislation requires 51 votes. Better Believe It Mar 2012 #97

You're talking about 2 different Congresses. Major Hogwash Mar 2012 #105

White House as helpless victim on healthcare - Dec 2009 slipslidingaway Mar 2012 #47

Obama did NOT ditch the public option. He would have been happy to sign any public option pnwmom Mar 2012 #48

Since most of the provisions don't come into force will 2014 Lydia Leftcoast Mar 2012 #111

Forcing people to buy public insurance would be just as objectionable treestar Mar 2012 #49

on the far right, yes Enrique Mar 2012 #55

Is there any poll to confirm this vast majority? treestar Mar 2012 #58

well, the concept of paying for Medicare I mean Enrique Mar 2012 #60

Hands off their medicare treestar Mar 2012 #73

Opposition the the mandate has held steady at 70%.. girl gone mad Mar 2012 #80

Right, which is why so many people want to get rid of Medicare progressoid Mar 2012 #86

We DID NOT Have the Votes, We DO NOT Have the Votes, We WILL NOT Have the Votes Any Time Soon AndyTiedye Mar 2012 #57

Obama did not have 51 votes to pass legislation he opposed, a health care public option. Better Believe It Mar 2012 #69

Yup, it could have been a rider to the ACA Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2012 #145

Well, thats the cover story, bvar22 Mar 2012 #104

I'm of the same era as you, and I am furious at the continuous Lydia Leftcoast Mar 2012 #112

LBJ Had It Easy Compared to Today's Democrats AndyTiedye Mar 2012 #134

The White House could have CRUSHED Joe Lieberman anytime it wanted to. bvar22 Mar 2012 #139

How about ProSense Mar 2012 #68

As I recall, it was Loser Lieberman who wouldn't agree to let a Medicare buy-in NC_Nurse Mar 2012 #74

unfortunately, the author is right fascisthunter Mar 2012 #75

so you have an item worth 500 000 dollars and you need to sell it Bodhi BloodWave Mar 2012 #102

that's your own hypothetical... why two million? Why not use a trillion as an example fascisthunter Mar 2012 #106

i chose 2 mill since that was a good equalent value in my mind when it comes to the likelyhood of Bodhi BloodWave Mar 2012 #121

No matter what it would've gone to the SCOTUS. craigmatic Mar 2012 #83

The difference would have been that public option would have been more popular than mandate. HiPointDem Mar 2012 #88

Sorry, but I really do NOT see the difference in terms of legality karynnj Mar 2012 #93

50 Senate votes with the President of the Senate, Joe Biden, casting the tie breaker can pass it. Better Believe It Mar 2012 #95

While ProSense Mar 2012 #99

It is true that at before the 110th Congress started, the rules could have been changed - but they karynnj Mar 2012 #101

Actually fake Republican procedural "filibusters" can be ended at anytime as can Senate rules. Better Believe It Mar 2012 #120

You should ProSense Mar 2012 #123

Exactly, ProSense Mar 2012 #96

the difference is the "for profit" motive newspeak Mar 2012 #116

I agree that single payer is a far better alternative, but it is NOT the for profit motive that led karynnj Mar 2012 #119

and ironic that it's a RW Hertitage Foundation conception to begin with, G_j Mar 2012 #110

The people who can get "health care" could care less about others in society just1voice Mar 2012 #117

yes indeed, and I screamed about it at the time librechik Mar 2012 #122

Bullshit. Arkana Mar 2012 #127

And guess who killed it! Better Believe It Mar 2012 #131

meanwhile, back at the ranch newspeak Mar 2012 #141

And note that the Republicans get things done Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2012 #147

No...he is in trouble because he couldn't call it a tax instead of a penalty. dkf Apr 2012 #146