Obama To Wait And See On Health Care

1. While democrats work their individualistic, self-determined derrieres to desperation trying to deliver some form of deal, at this point, almost ANY kind of health reform that can muster ALL 60 senators plus that mere margin of 218 in congress, the White House on Sunday sent signal after uncertain cipher that it is 100% willing to WAIT AND SEE.

2. Now, there's leadership anyone can get lost in.

3. When it comes to the critical question of the public option, mandated by the majority in Pelosi's Place but a non-starter in upper house, the president's spokesfolk on Meet the Press and CNN's State of the Union mumbled Obama's firm BELIEF in government guaranteed coverage.

4. But "he's not demanding that it's in there," jettisoned Valerie Jarrett on MTP.

5. When pressed on CNN, Rahm the Ram resorted to recitation of his "four C's," cost, coverage, choice and competition.

6. The president "will obviously weigh in when it's important to weigh in," reasoned Rahm.

7. How about NOW?

8. NOW's not important?

9. The party complete approaches catastrophe over this problematic poser, health care, all the president's accomplishment.

10. If they can't pass SOMETHING, they're all going down.

11. And the president will "weigh in" LATER?

12. When matters become IMPORTANT?

13. Unbelievable.

14. This fool just does NOT understand American politics.

15. Asked whether Obama would sign a bill terminating the anti trust exemption for insurance companies, a controversy White House created, impelled by ITEP's "sucker punch" report two weeks ago predicting upped premiums under Plan Olympia, David Axelrod on ABC's This Week said, "we'll see what Congress does."

16. Questioned about the tax on benefits that has AFSCME all annoyed and agitated and 170 progressives in Pelosi's Place pledged to impale any plan that contemplates John Kerry's choice conception and the president's oft repeated "favorite" revenue source, Axelrod demurred, "I think that this thing is going to be adjusted as we go along."

17. As we go along?

18. Just how does this wondrous White House expect the party to cattle prod its cat-like congregation in any definitive Obamacare direction with hemming and hawing herdsmen like Axelrod?

19. Indeed, freshman dem Eric Massa of NY openly lamented the administration's total lack of leadership on this crucial leitmotiv.

20. "The Senate bill and House bill are on different planets," complained the plebe this morning on Bill Press' program, "and they're on different planets because, as much as I want this administration to succeed, they did not present a piece of legislation to the United States Congress."

21. "We're kind of like pilots flying blind," the forlorn freshman followed up.

House Dem: Obama not leading on healthcare - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

22. On the other hand, when it comes to villifying as FOES those Americans who disagree with him, like Fox News and insurers in general, this dithering, undecided administration is suddenly all determinative.

23. "The insurance industry is rolling out the big guns and breaking open their massive war chest to marshall their forces for one last fight to save the status quo," charged the Chief Exec in his Saturday radio address.

24. Such martial imagery---cannons and war chests and all this marshalling of forces.

25. "They're filling the airwaves with deceptive and dishonest ads, and they're funding studies to mislead the American people," continued the cavilling captain of health care.

26. Oh, my.

27. "It's smoke and mirrors, it's bogus, and it's all too familiar."

Obama Decries Health-Insurance Industry Effort to "Kill Reform at Any Cost" | 44 | washingtonpost.com

28. Is the public option, Mr President, real, or just another mirage?

29. Is the tax on benefits, as angry AFSCME alleges, bogus?

30. Or will we all just have to wait and see?

The White House will not commit to healthcare legislation that would cap insurance premiums or tax benefits, taking a wait-and-see approach as congressional negotiators seek a deal, advisors said Sunday.

President Obama will not demand that a final bill include a government-run plan as a way of driving down costs through competition, though that's his preference, they said.

"There will be compromise. There will be legislation, and it will achieve our goals: helping people who have insurance get more security, more accountability for the insurance industry, helping people who don't have insurance get insurance they can afford, and lowering the overall cost of the system," senior advisor David Axelrod said on ABC’s “This Week.”

Asked whether Obama would sign a bill that would end the antitrust exemption for the insurance industry and allow caps on premiums, Axelrod said, "We'll see what Congress does."

Axelrod was similarly noncommittal when pressed about whether Obama would support taxing insurance benefits, a proposal that has brought criticism from labor unions and others. "I think that this thing is going to be adjusted as we go along," he said, "so let's see what the final proposal says before we talk about what the president will or won't sign."

Obama "will obviously weigh in when it's important to weigh in" on the possibility of a public option, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett said: "He's not demanding that it's in there. He thinks it's the best possible choice."

The president promoted his healthcare initiative Saturday in his weekly address and challenged policymakers to resist special interests. He accused the insurance industry of "filling the airwaves with deceptive and dishonest ads" and paying for studies "designed to mislead the American people."

Jarrett said the president's criticism was a sign of his frustration with the insurance industry's efforts to "tank this bill."

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Obama to wait and see on healthcare bill -- latimes.com


The Prof

Why was this numbered?

Anyway I just can't believe this isn't going through. A majority of Americans support it and it's just right. If a government cannot guarantee health to its own nation, why should the nation allow the government to have its own health?

31. Why does Obama insist on the democratic process of letting the other branches of government do their jobs?

32. Shouldn't he be more like Mao and Hitler and just force congress to obey him?

:doh

other branches...

LOL!

when it comes to reform, the EXECUTIVE BRANCH does not exist

ask the hill, the LA times and the washington post

"like pilots flying blind," said the rookie congressman from NY, newest member of the legislative branch

Tell that to someone who doesn't know any better.

Click to expand...

True dat. It seems like Democrats and Republicans are trying their damndest to make sure that nothing happens politically. They feed on this constant state of political turmoil like parasites. I'd spit on any congressman or senator if I had the chance.

Joe1991 said:

31. Why does Obama insist on the democratic process of letting the other branches of government do their jobs?

32. Shouldn't he be more like Mao and Hitler and just force congress to obey him?

:doh

Click to expand...

It is normal for the President to present his wishes directly to Congress when signature legislation is being considered. Obama has been hands off through the entire health care process.

Why has he done this??

It's simple... he doesn't want to take the blame if it doesn't pass or if the final legislation doesn't please his base. He will simply try and say that he tried but those nasty Republicans in Congress, or Fox News, or the insurance industry foiled him.

Based on the comments on the far left blog sites, this strategy is not and will not work. Even they are getting fed up with his doublespeak and broken campaign promises.

Once again, he is voting "present".

^ Anyone who was expecting differently isn't familiar enough with the American political process.

anyone who expected the president to act like a president isn't familiar with our process?

LOL!

even the freshman from NY knows better

"flying blind," he said

we'll "weigh in when it's important to weigh in," countered the chief of staff

absurd, AWOL

No, he is acting like the president... That's the problem. He needs to be stronger than just the leader of the executive branch, he needs to channel the needs of the nation. Historically, the president just has not done that.

huffington post: more senators would back public option if president pushed harder

Hill Aides: More Senators Would Back Public Plan If Obama Pushed Harder