President Obama to Washington Post: "I didn't campaign on the public option"
File this item under how disappointing: Yesterday, when discussing the healthcare reform legislation in Congress in an interview, President Barack Obama became just another politician going wherever the political winds blow.
From the start of his presidential campaign, Barack Obama has always tried to maintain the moral high ground and portray himself as above the fray of partisan politics (which isn't even possible). But he crossed a line yesterday and showed that the change he promised to bring has not come to our nation's capital.
In it there are seven references to the "new public plan."
Politicians break campaign promises all the time. What makes President Obama's words so hard to take is that he campaigned as something different than what we're used to getting. He could have said that he had hoped the bill would contain a public option, but in the interest of getting some reform it had to be dropped.
Instead, Obama chose to deny that he ever campaigned for a public option. In the end, that makes him no different than the rest.
From the start of his presidential campaign, Barack Obama has always tried to maintain the moral high ground and portray himself as above the fray of partisan politics (which isn't even possible). But he crossed a line yesterday and showed that the change he promised to bring has not come to our nation's capital.
Obama said the public option "has become a source of ideological contention between the left and right." But, he added, "I didn't campaign on the public option."Excuse me, Mr. President? Have you read the Obama-Biden health care plan published by your own campaign?
In it there are seven references to the "new public plan."
The Obama-Biden plan will create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals purchase new affordable health care options if they are uninsured or want new health insurance. Through the Exchange, any American will have the opportunity to enroll in the new public plan or an approved private plan...Emphasis is mine.
Politicians break campaign promises all the time. What makes President Obama's words so hard to take is that he campaigned as something different than what we're used to getting. He could have said that he had hoped the bill would contain a public option, but in the interest of getting some reform it had to be dropped.
Instead, Obama chose to deny that he ever campaigned for a public option. In the end, that makes him no different than the rest.
# Posted by Ken Camp : 7:06 AM
Comments:
There were worthy candidates that spoke the truth. People I would have trusted WAY more than Obama. They included Kucinich, Gravel, McKinney and Nader. ANY of these candidates would have supported SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE. Even BETTER than a public option. Too bad they were minimalized. Sometimes it's better to go outside the two party system and choose the candidate that best represents one's values, rather than the "most viable" candidate. I wish people would wake up and realize the Democrats are no longer the party of the people.
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