MSNBC: Conrad tells Norah O'Donnell Schumer only suggesting ways to strengthen the 'co-op' plan.

[flpoljunkie]

Conrad further explained that he does not support a public option, as indicated in a Huffpo article Norah was referencing.

Conrad laughed when O'Donnell said 72% of the public wanted a public option. Now, why would he find that fact amusing?

The Senator is focused on 'building, not abandoning the co-op plan'--a plan that 'captures the strength of the public option' to win over those 'who do not want a government run plan.'

O'Donnell did not ask Conrad the relevant question, which is: Why do the Democrats feel they have to appease those who do not want a government run plan--those being the health care insurance industry and their Republican and Corporcrat sponsors--when health care reform can be passed through the reconciliation process with only 50 votes.*

*Fifty votes? Franken is not yet in the Senate.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. The Repubs are trying very hard to discredit that particular poll.

Joe Scab said it was "flawed and skewed". Laughing is the way to telegraph disbelief and ridicule.

What doublespeak! "capture the strength of the public option" WITHOUT a public option! The STRENGTH of the public option is that it IS a public option! What a moran!

[ellacott]

2. I'm not sure if they have even 50 votes

Debi Stabenow was on Ed Schultz's show yesterday and she said if they went that route they would be restricted in what they could include in the bill. She said it would be a very watered down version.

I'm not sure if this is true but this was her explanation.

[zeemike]

3. Why he laughed is obvious.

He knows that the congress is run by special interest and it is their interests that do the voting not ours.

[flpoljunkie]

4. It does appear the Conservadems are going to try and 'co-opt' us on the public plan option.

A co-op is not a public plan and it will not drive down the cost or increase the availability of health insurance.

[redqueen]

5. Dems in ND need to start hammering him immediately.

He has to hear from donors, supporters, constituents, etc.

Maybe that's why he's laughing at the percentage, maybe it's a national number and the numbers are different in his state.

www.change-congress.org

[flpoljunkie]

6. Redqueen, have you seen the latest numbers for Dean's petition. From 350K yesterday to 377,347!

It is growing rapidly. Wonder if Dean got someone's email list. Am hoping it was 'Organizing for America's.'

Dean will take his petition signatures to Congress this Thursday.

[redqueen]

7. No I hadn't checked them since yesterday morning... nice!

I can't find anything on support for a public option in ND. Dem activists there should be flooding his office... and keep doing it until he breaks.

[WI_DEM]

8. Let's face it we aren't even going to get a public plan let alone single payer when we have dems

like Conrad, Nelson, and others who will not vote for them. I'm afraid in the end we will end up with this co-op thing.

[Teaser]

10. nah, we'll get a decent public plan

.

[Teaser]

9. He's hedging. He knows the co-op plan is dead

He just wants to be able to shoehorn a bit in the final public plan to say he got what he wanted.

[flpoljunkie]

12. I am not at all sure the co-op plan is dead.

[BlooInBloo]

11. He's lying, trying to horse-trade, just like Di-Fi.

[flpoljunkie]

13. Here's the video of Conrad's interview with Norah O'Donnell.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/31513691#31506157

[MiniMe]

14. And Byrd is still in the hospital

Kennedy has been absent too, but I imagine that Teddy would make it back for this vote. It is his baby.