Posted on 09/06/2009 8:33:19 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Axelrod: Firm on public option By: Mike Allen September 6, 2009 10:42 AM EST
White House senior adviser David Axelrod tells POLITICO that the administration is not dialing back its support for a public health-insurance option as part of a reform bill, and that a comment he made on NBC’s “Meet the Press” was misinterpreted.
Axelrod told NBC’s David Gregory that President Barack Obama “certainly agrees that we have to have competition and choice, to hold the insurance companies honest. … He believes the public option is a good tool. Now, it shouldn’t define the whole health-care debate, however.”
The Associated Press, which often sets the agenda for how other news organizations cover Sunday shows, popped up a headline saying: “White House shifts on public health care option". The story's lead: "WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's top political adviser is backing away from having a government health care plan compete against private carriers.”
Axelrod disputed that interpretation in an e-mail.
“In no way did I back off our position,” he wrote. “I must have said half a dozen times that he thinks the public option is an important tool to bring about competition and choice that will help consumers. To say that it is not the whole of health insurance reform, in a country where 160 million people have employer-sponsored health insurance and would not even be affected by this, does not mean I am backing off!”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
I watched the interview - I am no fan of David Gregory, but he asked the question about three times, and the answer was clear as mud.
Being nonprofit they have no incentive whatsoever to improve their performance.
Maybe by allowing competition across state lines and requiring ALL medical insurance/HMO operations to become profitable that would be incentives enough to reduce prices.
Axelrod needs to get the SHAFT!
Mammals?
“Mammals?....”
No, “mammers”.......didn’t you ever see that sequel to “A Fish called Wanda?”
Changing their mind every hour.
What a great plan to regain people’s trust, David and Rahm.
Boobs, of course!
So is this the flipflop, or the backflip after the flipflop?
These guys are a riot. They should play the government on SNL. It would make a great sketch.
LLS
“I watched the interview - I am no fan of David Gregory, but he asked the question about three times, and the answer was clear as mud.”
Not for the same reasons though as you hold. He kept asking because he wants a reply that there is continuous, unrelenting backing for national medicaid.
That’s why he was following up that way. He wanted an ironclad commitment.
That what all liberals and leftists are demanding.
Axelrod = talks out of both sides of his mouth saying one thing and denying saying it at the same time. Learned that from his mentor, 0bama.
I was flipping between Axelrod and Gibbs, who was on at the same time with George Stephonopolous. Gibbs was saying the public option was a valuable tool but would NOT say it was necessary, while on MTP, Axelrod is saying it was necessary. Left hand and right hand LOL
The far-left loons went ballistic I guess, so they now have to backtrack. LOL
They must be losing their base support badly. Axelrod needs to shore up the base and get the poll numbers back up pronto.
Trouble is by flip flopping they confuse and alienate the mushy middle. But that’s secondary to getting the base back on board.
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