Deeds was not for a Public Option?

[itsrobert]

Running away from the base just doesn't work. This should scare the blue dogs/moderates. If you want the base to come out, you need to woo them.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Dems always run away from their base. nt

[liberalpragmatist]

2. Yes, he said he would opt out - nt

[Tesha]

3. That worked out really well for him, didn't it? (NT)

[tblue]

4. That's what I keep saying. Ignore The Base at your peril!

I really hope the Democrats figure that out before too late.

[Karmadillo]

5. Didn't he say it wasn't required? Kind of like the Obama administration?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-10-18-health-public-option_N.htm

Public health option preferred but not required, White House says
Posted 10/18/2009 4:49 PM | Comments 347 | Recommend 6 E-mail | Save | Print |

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama will not demand that a final health care overhaul bill include a government-run insurance plan as a way of driving down costs through competition, though that's his preference, top White House advisers said Sunday.
The advisers indicated the White House is taking a wait-and-see approach as congressional negotiators seek a deal on Obama's top domestic priority.

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. Near unanimous Republican opposition is expected.

"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," aide David Axelrod said.

more...

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/21/creigh-deeds-might-opt-virginia-out-of-the-public-option/

During the final debate in the Virginia Governor’s race, Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds opted to share some of his “thinking” with the public:

he “shared the broad goals” of health care reform, but would “certainly consider opting out” of a public option “if that were available to Virginia.”

“I’m not afraid of going against my fellow Democrats when they’re wrong,” Deeds said. “A public option isn’t required in my view.”

This is stupid on two levels. First, on a policy level, Creigh Deeds said health care reform needs to reduce cost. The CBO has repeatedly concluded that a public option would reduce the cost of insurance for middle class Americans

[Karmadillo]

6. So maybe he really should have run away from Obama and embraced genuine health care reform.

nt