Reich: Don't Believe The Third Wayers, Public Option Alive And Well

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 12:35:28 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Contra Third Wayers Ezra Klein and Steve Pearlstein, Robert Reich says the public option is alive and well:

Washington, D.C. is an echo chamber in which anyone who sounds authoritative repeats the conventional authoritative wisdom about the "consensus" of inside opinion, which they've heard from someone else who sounds equally authoritative, who of course has heard it from another authoritative source. [. . .] In the last few days authoritative sources have repeatedly told me that the public option is dead, that the President won't be able to get a comprehensive health care bill, and that the White House and congressional leadership already know the best they'll be able to do now is move incrementally [. . . ]with the hope of more reforms in the years ahead. Don't believe it.

[More...]

[W]e've come to the point where health-care incrementalism won't work. To be sure, the health-insurance industry is powerful and will fight reforms that threaten their profits. But they won't fight if they know their profits will be restored when everyone is required to have health insurance. (This isn't just conventional authoritative wisdom; it's political fact.) Obviously, in order to require everyone to have health insurance, tens of millions of Americans will need help affording it. The only way the government can possibly pay that tab is to raise taxes on the rich while also getting long-term health-insurance costs under control. And one of the surest ways to get long-term costs under control is to force private insurers [. . .] to compete with a public insurance option that can use its bargaining clout with drug companies and medical providers to negotiate lower prices.

. . . So forget the authoritative sources. Mobilize and organize. We can get comprehensive, meaningful health care reform if we push hard enough. And we must.

What he said.

Speaking for me only

< Friday Afternoon Open Thread | Ted Kennedy's Compromise On Health Care Reform >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Reich: Don't Believe The Third Wayers, Public Option Alive And Well | 39 comments (39 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

I hope! (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by jeffinalabama on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 12:53:28 PM EST

I have unbelievably good insurance now... Teacher's association insurance. time to make this type available to others.

Reich gives me hope, in part because he's saying what I want to hear. I hope!

My heart says "Hope" (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by Zorba on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:59:08 PM EST

But my brain says, "Ain't no way." If only every American could qualify for the same health plans as our Senators and Representatives. For the costliest family health plan for which they qualify, they pay $242.34/month, and the feds (i.e., us, the taxpayers) pay $727.03/month. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone (no exceptions, no disqualifications) could buy into this, at less than $250/month, with subsidies for those with lower incomes? That's just not going to happen.


: My congressman pays $326 per month (none / 0) (#39)
by shoephone on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 06:11:26 PM EST

At least that's what he said in the Seattle Times Q&A a few days ago.
Either way, all the members of Congress are getting something with our money -- as the bigger subsidized portion -- that we cannot.

Robert Reich (none / 0) (#15)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:27:43 PM EST

is not known for his astute political judgment. I like his ideology very much, but his sense of politics is usually pretty bad.


: I agree (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by Capt Howdy on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:51:33 PM EST

which is why I welcome this remarks above but take them with a grain of salt.

I am NOT getting over his previous actions (5.00 / 6) (#3)
by ghost2 on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:03:37 PM EST

Now, he is whining? Here's Reich last year:

From the site named, againstHillary:

Now, in one sense, the Reich endorsement comes as no great surprise. For some time, it's been clear to anyone paying attention that Reich favors Obama. Back in December, in a blog post titled "Why is HRC Stooping So Low?," Reich loudly and sharply criticized Clinton's conduct in Iowa and defended Obama's proposals for health-care and Social Security reform.

Also from Why is HRC Stooping So Low:

I'm equally concerned about her attack on his health care plan. She says his would insure fewer people than hers. I've compared the two plans in detail. Both of them are big advances over what we have now. But in my view Obama's would insure more people, not fewer, than HRC's.

People like Reich show themselves to be political hacks and are responsible for the populace not trusting any politician, and indeed, not trusting the process. Any time a person like him starts showing concerns, I have a strong urge of telling him to get lost.

He has no credibility with me. He expressed a lot of manufactured concerns during the primary. Why should I take him seriously now?

And when is he apologizing to Hillary for c*%p he peddled about her and Bill?

I do have a hard time keeping up with Reich's (5.00 / 3) (#5)
by ruffian on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:07:43 PM EST

shifting stances. Maybe he has been consistent on this one issue - I don't know because I stopped paying attention to him.

He is just as much a part of the echo chamber as anyone else.

All I can do is hope he is right about this.


I do seem to recall consistency on health care. (none / 0) (#7)
by jeffinalabama on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:10:27 PM EST

Might be a faulty memory, but this position I think is long-held.


: I meant his consistency about the politics of (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by ruffian on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:38:11 PM EST

it, and what advice he has been giving. I do believe he has always wanted universal health care.
anyway, moot point. He's eitehr right or wrong about what is going on, and we'll find out soon enough. Glad he is urging on the troops.

So the eff what? (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:09:58 PM EST

Either you care about the issue or you do not.

IF all you can do is worry about whether Reich was mean to Hillary during the primaries, then you never really cared did you?

You are no better than the ObamaBots.


I care (5.00 / 3) (#9)
by ghost2 on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:13:49 PM EST

Because Hillary was FAR better on the health care issue. I care b/c people like Reich told lies about her and her plans, which proves they didn't care enough about the ordinary people, who are now sc&^wed because of a corporate guy in a sheep's clothing. I care because Obama ran the Harry and Louise ad and told enough fibs during the primary. So any decent observer should have seen what they were getting.

Better luck next time.


Oh well (5.00 / 3) (#10)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:15:37 PM EST

so you care about YOU being right about Hillary vs. Obama, not the actull effing issue itself. got it.

I am so sick of cultists of all stripes.

All pols stink. All of them.

I do not give a fig about Hillary, Obama OR Reich.

I care about the issue.

Obviously, your mind works differently.


I do care. (none / 0) (#11)
by ghost2 on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:19:09 PM EST

And if Obama (or the Congress) is sucessful in getting a decent plan passed, good for him.

I do not forget. But that doesn't mean I am unable to give credit if credit is due.


: I tell you what (5.00 / 3) (#12)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:20:22 PM EST

Go tell us how much you remember in an Open Thread.
Do not relive the primary wars here in a post about the fight for the public option.

On this we will have to disagree (5.00 / 3) (#13)
by MO Blue on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:26:55 PM EST

Where is it written that we have to like anyone in the political area to accept his/her support on an issue we care about.

I'll take a SOB who supports my position over a so called nice guy who opposes it anytime.

Heck, if Nixon came back from the grave and supported Medicare for All, I'd be using his support anyway I could.


I definitely accept his support (5.00 / 2) (#18)
by ruffian on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:34:36 PM EST

and help. I just don't know whether to believe what he says when he purports to be in the know. If he turns out to be right a few times my perception of him will change.


I'm not sure that even Obama knows (none / 0) (#20)
by MO Blue on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:41:25 PM EST

what Obama and the Dems position is at the moment.

At this point in time, I think it is important to have as many voices out in medialand saying positive things about fighting for a good health care bill as we can. Need more people to offset the mounting cry for capitulation so that people who care about real health care reform continue to mount pressure on Congress.


: Which isn't happening. NYT interviewed (none / 0) (#27)
by oculus on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 02:11:59 PM EST

a couple who drove an hour each way to health care town hall in FL. She is 60 and has breast cancer. He is 62. Not quite Medicare-eligible. He spoke at the town hall against extending health care to people who don't have it now, as he is afraid his current private insurance provided health care would be adversely impacted.

Glenn Greenwald's approach is different. (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by oculus on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:29:53 PM EST

He emphasizes what people like Lieberman had to say in the past about health care reform (in favor of public option) and bashes them with quotes from their past.


Oh, and just for old-times sake, (none / 0) (#8)
by ghost2 on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:10:36 PM EST

A prophetic comment in the Reich's piece linked above:

[Obama]'s a walking, talking Hallmark card - no specifics at all.

When? (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by mmc9431 on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:27:22 PM EST

I realize the strategy was to take a back seat and see what plays out in HCR, but it's time for the Dem's to put a package together that they and their supporters can sell. All of this back and forth for months has got people more confused than they were before.

I read a survey from AARP where only 37% of the people had any clue what the public option was about. How can Democrat's expect public support when they still can't agree what message to get out?

People do understand Medicare for All (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by MO Blue on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 02:21:49 PM EST

Lost opportunity.

I can't think of one Republican agenda item that I agree with but when it comes to consistent messaging they win hands down. Not to mention the fact that they are willing to fight to the death for their atrocious positions while the Dems only game plan is capitulation.

You would think that the Dems would become embarrassed by giving in all the time.


: Stockholm syndrome (none / 0) (#36)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 04:16:39 PM EST

Sounds about right (5.00 / 2) (#17)
by s5 on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:31:56 PM EST

For something that's "dead" there sure is a lot of talk about it.

The trouble with this is... (5.00 / 5) (#26)
by Dadler on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 02:07:58 PM EST

...in hard, cold reality, their profits HAVE to disappear, or at least be seriously cut, for any healthcare reform to actually work. that is the 1000 pound gorilla farting on the pool table we seem to be forgetting. exhorbinant profits and good healthcare accessible are not compatible. let's face it, when the industry talks about profits they mean PROFITS, they are not in this for nickels and dimes.

The only way to create change is to agitate for it (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by cawaltz on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 02:33:55 PM EST

insist on it and keep pushing even when it looks improbable.

I will keep pushing for health care even if DC goes on record as saying it is dead. It's the right thing to do. Particularly when you have so many without comprehensive access to it.

I'll tell you one thing (5.00 / 3) (#31)
by pluege on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 03:28:42 PM EST

if I have the option of a public plan equal to what I have with a private insurer, I'm dumping the private insurer in a skinny minute. I imagine its people like me that have the private insurers fighting like mad to prevent a public option.

I will also work in the coming years to oust any politician (democrat or republican) that doesn't support a public option.

: Especially (5.00 / 1) (#34)
by Fabian on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 04:06:36 PM EST

if you don't have to worry about a public plan dumping you the minute you file a claim.
The most painful stories are the people who become ill, seek treatment, make sure they get pre approvals, get the treatment and then suddenly get socked with a pile of bills because the insurance company didn't pay. Then they raise the rates or cancel their policy. End result - having insurance was fine until they used it.

: I'm with you on that (none / 0) (#32)
by MO Blue on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 03:42:29 PM EST

I will also work in the coming years to oust any politician (democrat or republican) that doesn't support a public option.

Reich doesn't seem particularly well connected (5.00 / 1) (#35)
by catchy on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 04:13:32 PM EST

"use its bargaining clout with drug companies"

Obama already cut a deal with big Pharma and folk on the inside wouldn't forget that.

But yglesias and Ezra are making sh*t up as well about the political realities, as if the current dynamics they perceived were written in stone. Even as objective observers vs. opinion-shapers they're useless.

... I've been skimming through the archives here and like your obvious pts. on strategy.

My diagnosis is that a weenie like Klein always tries to figure out the final score before the game is played and then aims for that. That never works. You need to fight to get the most points while the outcome is still undecided.

He and yglesias have shown themselves to have absolutely no shred of a fighting progressive spirit. For some reason they think it's their job to talk down the left using Ted Kennedy's memory. Worse than useless.

I got Reich to agree with me (5.00 / 1) (#37)
by masslib on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 04:38:27 PM EST

it may have been (was) better to advocate for Medicare for All ala TeddyCare than some so-called public option. Let's mobilize and organize for that.

Unfortunately, Ezra Klein has (none / 0) (#2)
by oculus on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:02:26 PM EST

the floor. I googled Senate HELP bill and hits started with Huff Post, which went to Wash Post, which went to Ezra Klein.

: I sent Mother Joness' (none / 0) (#29)
by hairspray on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 02:22:09 PM EST

inestigative fund my regular contribution and told them to fire Ezra Klein. Ha!

: Figures (none / 0) (#33)
by Militarytracy on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 03:58:07 PM EST

Time to question Ezra, call him out....strongly

it is nice to see RR here (none / 0) (#4)
by Jlvngstn on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:06:50 PM EST

....

Well (none / 0) (#21)
by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:48:54 PM EST

I'm not getting that the public option is alive and well from this. What I'm see here from Reich is that people should continue to fight for it even though others are saying that it's dead.

Well the only way to keep (5.00 / 2) (#24)
by MO Blue on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 01:59:55 PM EST

a meaningful public option alive is for people to accelerate their pressure on their Congresscritters in favor of it. They need to know that votes have consequences and that capitulation is not an option we will accept.


: Oh (none / 0) (#38)
by Ga6thDem on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 04:50:20 PM EST

I agree completely. It's just Reich's absolute certainty that it's still out there is just silliness.

If a public option isn't dead (none / 0) (#40)
by Militarytracy on Sat Aug 29, 2009 at 09:11:19 AM EST

then what are all the third wayers yammering about? Just so they have something "serious and cool" to write up they are willing to jeopardize passage of good policy for the citizens of this country? That's sick and sad, really pathetic.