What would happen if Obama suddenly came out in support of single payer

[t0dd]

and refused any other type of reform? The Progressive Caucus would obviously stand behind him, but do you think we'd really get somewhere?

[imdjh]

1. I would have the decency to faint.

[t0dd]

2. Yeah, me too. Of course, this is all hypothetical..

;-)

[bluestateguy]

3. Too late. It would be framed as flip-floppery.

And of course our fine mainstream news media teaches us that changing positions on issues is a cardinal sin akin to burning the American flag in the town square.

All you'd hear about was how Obama "flip flopped", blah, blah. There would be no discussion about the substance, and the cable news bobbleheads would yap about this looking like desperation.

But that said, I think single payer would be lucky to get 150 votes in the House and 40 in the Senate, and that would be only after a big PR push.

[shadowknows69]

4. Standing your ground is better than going down the wrong path IMO

He has the power of the pen and I don't believe there's enough congress critters willing to commit political suicide to overturn a veto. He can tell them "Bring me the bill I want or I'll veto it". The threat certainly worked for W.

[HughMoran]

5. Fail

Not going to happen.

[mkultra]

6. seismic sensors world wide would go off at the sound of

a collective head explosion hear at DU.

[madrchsod]

7. the world would end

[ContinentalOp]

8. It's a little late. He should have been giving speeches to sell it to the public.

But instead we get nothing.

[1]

9. he absolutely will. it is just one of his "chess" moves...

[ColbertWatcher]

10. I think the reason why he hasn't already is because ...

... he's the Executive branch and not the Legislative branch.

He doesn't create the law.

I can just hear the GOPers calling him an "activist President"!!!

[yourout]

11. While I would love single payer........Obama coming out in support of it would galvenize.....

The Republicans, The Blue Dogs, and the media and it would die a quick death much like HillaryCare.

[Adam Kirur]

12. Rhetorical Question

Sadly, the insurance industry and their running dogs--AKA the GOP--have thrown the S-word around to a sufficient extent as to firewall Obama against declaring support for such.

AK

[KharmaTrain]

13. It Never Was In The Cards...

The plan was public option all along. While it's hard for many to beliee here, but there are people who are happy with their insurance and/or don't trust the government. Personally I am in the later as a government-only system run by beaurucrats is as bad as private system run by actuaries. Public option has always polled the best, creates real competition and gives people the biggest choice.

[Juche]

14. Republicans and corporations would go into overdrive against him

And likely so would the media. Obama seems to know single payer is the best option, but the political fallout is something he likely isn't willing to deal with.

Would we get somewhere? Possibly, but probably not because we can barely get a public OPTION, let alone a public system. Then again 'everyone' was saying there was no way we'd elect a black person from the north as president a year ago.

[SleeplessInAlabama]

15. "I want to cover everybody. Now, the truth is that unless you have a [...] single-payer system,

in which everybody’s automatically covered, then you’re probably not going to reach every single individual."

I doubt he'll really come out in support for it, and politically it's very late to do so, but never say never.

[Enthusiast]

17. Seems to me they are

united in an overdrive effort against President Obama and the public option right now.

[AllentownJake]

19. Isn't this already happening?

:shrug:

[dorkulon]

16. If he had started from that position, the compromise would not be so bad.

But starting from a position of compromise means what we now have is close to worthless.

[and-justice-for-all]

18. I believe he his...

but the route to it is not easily traveled.

[TexasProgresive]

20. Oh! The HORROR!

Socialism, Incest, Homos everywhere, government agents killing the old and sick. OHHHHH!:hide: :scared: :grr:
:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

I am 100% for a single payer system. But I also think that Obama is our best bet to be running things right now and if he pushed for single payer the enemy would be in hog heaven. They would seize on this like they did Whitewater and use it to galvanize their base and increase their wicked influence.

You have to pick your battles to win a war and make no mistake this is war.