Bill Scher: It Doesn't Matter What Harry Reid Does On Public Option

[marmar]

from OurFuture.org:



It Doesn't Matter What Harry Reid Does On Public Option
By Bill Scher

September 28, 2009 - 2:42pm ET


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D-Day is tired of the kabuki dance of leaking the end of the public option then denying it publicly, the latest incarnation coming from the Senate Majority Leader's office:

Harry Reid pulled the yo-yo trick today. First some anonymous staffers were quoted in the NYT that the Majority Leader's merged bill that will go to the Senate floor would not include a public insurance option. Then Reid's spokesman denied it to Greg Sargent.

This sort of thing, hinting at dropping the public option then walking it back, has happened multiple times in the course of the debate. But it only tells us what the White House and Senate leadership have said publicly: they like the public option, but it's not essential for them to support a bill.

Today's leak only said the version of the bill Reid produces, by combining the health committee and Finance committee bills, would not include the public option, while leaders expect "liberals would push amendments to add it on the Senate floor." The issue will ultimately be determined on the floor, not the back room.

To put it another way: they may not be committed to a public option, but the fix isn't in either. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009094028/it-doesnt-matter-what-harry-reid-does-public-option

[ShortnFiery]

1. I'm getting the strong impression that the fix has been IN since Reagan.

We live in a plutocracy ... we only get to vote for one of two corporate parties who act kabuki theater in order to give us unwashed masses the impression that we have some sense of control. :(

[rurallib]

3. I tend to agree

All this seems designed to somehow make it seem that the insurance industry will suddenly become good guys.

[retread]

6. "...the fix has been IN since Reagan. " The fix has been IN since George Washington! n/t

[bkkyosemite]

2. I just called his office and said we voted for change. We worked hard, volunteered, canvanssed for

change one of them being healthcare in a single payer and now the best we can get a strong public option and Reid and the rest of the Dems who refuse to listen to us including the Blue Dogs who are Repubs in disguise will be voted out because of a no vote. We are not kidding out here there will be war, we are angry and over 2/3 of us want Single Payer/Public Option. (i know they are different but was mad). I said we are tired of the insurance companies murdering people by denying coverage and watching them die. yada yada...the woman listened very carefully and said in a very quiet voice thank you for callling.

Sen. Reid

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[zaj]

4. They are trying to stir up the left's base with these leaks...

The right has far more energy on this issue right now than the left does. They are leaking the lack of commitment ot the public option to get the left to fight harder than they are.

It's a midterm election after a huge victory and the removal of our sides biggest political enemy. They can't do the heavy lifting (ie, moving the media and public opinion) without the left being as committed as the right.

Get pissed at the media, the right, the quite members of the left. But don't get pissed at those signaling a lack of certain support. Change them.

[Winterblues]

5. No it won't and it will be passed by the full Senate and then it will go

to conference to blend with House Bill and the Public Option will be put back into the Final Bill and it will go in front of the Senate under Reconciliation where it only needs fifty one votes to pass. That is their current strategy according to Senator Harkin.