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Pelosi: No Public Option, No Mandates?

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 01:59:59 PM EST
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Brian Beutler:

Speaking at her weekly press conference just off the House floor moments ago, Speaker Nancy Pelosi made her most impassioned argument in weeks, for including a public option in comprehensive health care reform legislation, arguing against the idea, favored by some conservative Democrats, of mandating that people buy health insurance, and then throwing them into what she called the "lion's den" of the private insurance industry.

[. . .] The House, she said, "will not force America's middle income families to negotiate with insurance companies."

You go Madame Speaker!!

Speaking for me only

< The Hill: Pelosi Has Votes For Robust Public Option | Blue Dog Suggests Medicare For All? Where Do We Sign? >

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    Pelosi: No Public Option, No Mandates? | 9 comments (9 topical)

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    Thank God someone has the (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by Anne on Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 02:13:00 PM EST
    cojones to stand up and fight for what Democrats should be fighting tooth and nail for - that it's a woman who has to show the way does not surprise me in the least.

    Hang tough, Nancy!  You have no idea - or maybe you do - how many people are in your corner.

    This is (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Zorba on Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 03:01:33 PM EST
    a no-brainer.  I have already contacted my Senators and representative to tell them "no robust public option, then no mandate."

    I've been thinking about this (5.00 / 4) (#3)
    by ruffian on Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 03:09:15 PM EST
    quote for a couple of hours now:

    "will not force America's middle income families to negotiate with insurance companies."

    trying to think of the last time I heard a sound bite that great coming out of the mouth of a Dem. Nothing springs to mind. I just love it.

    This is (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 06:46:29 PM EST
    a good statement and more people should be here putting out the praise for Nancy. I mean, if we're going to gripe about Obama then we also should reward them for good behavior.

    So far, it's just words (none / 0) (#10)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 08:19:25 AM EST
    and she needs to put some action behind it to get my accolades, I'm afraid. Current fed gov't trends are to just say what the people want to hear and, if they respond with higher poll numbers for you, no need to follow through.

    Parent
    The difference is that, (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Anne on Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 08:46:04 AM EST
    for the most part, what we have heard from most of the Senate Dems and Obama is a lot of weasel language: they're "considering all the ideas," and saying one day that co-ops sound good, and the next day that, well, triggers might be worth thinking about, and then Obama will tell us what he's "always" been in favor of, but then hedge the next time he opens his mouth - so, I think what people are reacting to is the consistent and strong message that Pelosi, with the Progressive Caucus, delivered.

    True, she did come out and say that once this all goes to conference, the chances are that whatever they pass in the House in the way of a public option may not be incorporated in full - but, think we all knew that.

    In many ways, Pelosi is coming at this as if she's going to be negotiating with Republicans instead of Democrats, and intends to be sitting at the conference table with the strongest bill possible.

    It pains me to think what kind of legislation we could be ending up with had the Senate taken the same approach...a great opportunity squandered.

    Parent

    In McDermott's email newlsetter today (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by shoephone on Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 07:32:12 PM EST
    he reminds us that he was was one of the signatories to the Progessive Caucus' July letter to Obama, clearly implying that "no public option, no bill" meant exactly that.

    The battle is joined. The caucus members are not budging. Good!

    much as i'd like to believe this, (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by cpinva on Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 09:42:47 PM EST
    You go Madame Speaker!!

    the cynic in me says "wait until you see it in writing."

    I think (none / 0) (#4)
    by DancingOpossum on Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 03:50:20 PM EST
    The last equally good zinger I heard from a Democrat was when Howard Dean said "I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."

    Nothing else springs to mind, though.

    Pelosi is really starting to get impressive!

    Pelosi: No Public Option, No Mandates? | 9 comments (9 topical)

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