TPM: Public Option Pressure: As Stories Leak WH and Dem Leaders Say No Decision Has Been Made

[flpoljunkie]

Emphasis mine.

Public Option Pressure: As Stories Leak WH And Dem Leaders Say No Decision Has Been Made

Christina Bellantoni | October 23, 2009, 8:42AM

House leadership sources are telling TPMDC they think news on the "robust" public option is leaking out to pressure House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the health care discussions are getting hotter, and closer to the final deal.

Politico's story this morning suggests Pelosi doesn't have the votes, but our sources insist the leadership isn't yet at that stage.

Presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett jabbed at the Politico story while appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe today, saying of the reporter who penned the piece, "I don't know if Mike Allen knows how to count votes."

But House sources think Democrats may have spoken with Allen to apply pressure on Pelosi at this late stage in the game.

Sources also knocked down a suggestion that President Obama expressed his preference for a type of public option during a huddle with Senate Democratic leaders last night at the White House.

An administration source tells TPMDC that last night Senate leaders updated Obama on their progress toward the final merger. The group discussed a public option that includes a state opt-out clause, but stressed they had not made a final decision.

more...

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/public-option-pressure-as-stories-leak-wh-and-dem-leaders-say-no-decision-has-been-made.php?ref=fpa

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. You can get mental whiplash following this. Too much media-induced manipulation

going on. Probably best to take a deep breath...and to not trust anything that comes out from "news*" sites like Politico.

[FreakinDJ]

2. VERY Well Said - thanks

if I see one more "AP Staff Writer" article my head is going to explode

[flpoljunkie]

3. MSNBC: Pelosi pushes back on Politico story. Votes still being counted on 'robust public option.'

[Aramchek]

4. the Public Option will be in Obama's Bill despite the Mike Allens of the World

Lies will give way to Truth, like Darkness flees at the sight of Light.

[joeycola]

5. A few days ago Jarrett said Obama NOT demand the PO..............

Aides: Obama Not Demanding Government-Run Option
Sun Oct-18-09 05:17 PM

Source: The NY Times

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama isn't demanding that health care legislation include a government-run insurance option even though he believes it would best meet his reform goals, White House advisers said Sunday.

The White House and lawmakers are trying to blend five House and Senate committee versions of health care legislation into a bill that will pass both houses, where near unanimous Republic opposition was expected.

House Democrats are insisting that there be a public option in competition with the private insurance industry to drive down the cost of coverage. In the Senate, Republicans and some Democrats oppose the measure, meaning inclusion of the public option would foreclose winning the 60 votes needed to advance a bill.

Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said Obama believes the public plan is still the ''best possible choice,'' but she said he's not demanding it. David Axelrod, Obama's top adviser, said Senate opposition in both parties means ''we have to work through these issues.''

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/18/us/politics/AP-US-Obama-Health-Care.html?_r=1

[Aramchek]

6. but he will get it just the same...

;)