White House Denies Report They’re Pushing For Deal With Lieberman
The White House is shooting down a report in Politico claiming that Obama advisers are pushing Harry Reid to cut a deal to dump the Medicare buy-in to make Joe Lieberman happy.
White House senior communications adviser Dan Pfeiffer emails me:
“The report is inaccurate. The White House is not pushing Senator Reid in any direction. We are working hand in hand with the Senate Leadership to work through the various issues and pass health reform as soon as possible.”
Whatever the case, it doesn’t seem unlikely that the Medicare buy-in will be dropped if that’s what is necessary to get to 60 votes. But the White House insists it’s not pushing for any such thing, at least for now.
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“But the White House insists it’s not pushing for any such thing, at least for now.”
Politico and TPM notwithstanding, I guess.
But we’ve been doing this same dance since summer. The PO is Dead No it isn’t Yes it is Waltz.
While I have some reservations about the WH role in the HC ups and downs I have questions about Politico. they have this Drudge like mentality: it’s more important to be first than to be accurate.
We’ve done this with big breaking stories on White House deals that didn’t exist about 15 – 40 times now.
But we’ve been doing this same dance since summer. The PO is Dead No it isn’t Yes it is Waltz.
Precisely. As of now it’s clear that no one has a clear idea of how to get to 60 votes, and hasn’t had any such idea since, oh, last April or May.
oddjob – “Precisely. As of now it’s clear that no one has a clear idea of how to get to 60 votes, and hasn’t had any such idea since, oh, last April or May.”
No, you missed the point. We’ve been here with breaking stories on deals that didn’t exist.
I’m talking about the media.
This is waaaaaayyyy off topic but ThinkProgress just linked to a HumanEvents post from this weekend.
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/14/christmas-song-parody-immigration/#comments
And Republicans wonder why they are called racists. When their prominent publications print **** like this, how can they argue they aren’t?
Something like this should never have been allowed to be posted on a web site that is one of the leading conservative Republican publications.
“They’re going to spread bubonic plague this Christmas.”
Frakking idiots. Bubonic plague is already in this country and has been since I don’t know when but someone dies of it every single year in Northern New Mexico.
And tuberculosis is already in our prisons.
God forbid, however, that immigrants should get access to any health care in this country.
Does this White House ever push for anything?
They have been very quite about the whole; not paying for abortions, effort. They have done nothing about the; Don’ Ask Don’t tell, issue.
Fat Cat Bankers have lapped up all the White House Cream, without having had to share a single drop of it, with the scrawny labor strays.
Israel continues to expand settlements, because the know that will make the Palestinians boycott peace talks.
What price does this White House make any obstructionists pay. Joe Lieberman has been reverse trained; by this White House; the more he cr@ps on the Oval Office carpet, the more he will get petted and rewarded with more appeasement treats.
Really, does this White House ever get out front, and push hard for anything?!
I hate to see all those cobwebs draped over such a lovely bully pulpit. I really do!
Greg, this is getting ridiculous no? Not your reporting of it but the unnamed sources saying one thing and the WH denying it. I think I’ll just wait until we see what the Dems and Reid actually do re: Lieberman and HCR bill before I comment anymore.
Liam
I’m beginning to wonder what their strategy really is. Can’t help but be disappointed but rather than quitting like some commenters on previous threads, it just makes me want to work harder.
How can anyone in their right mind think that it would have been a great idea for Obama to push for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell? Brilliant – all we need is a media circus about **** in the military distracting from health care and everthing else, just like 1993.
I know there are people for whom it’s important, but I’m afraid we’ve got bigger fish to fry than the gay military issue right now. I’ve got issues I care about that are on hold too. Some things are just going to have to wait.
All, check this video out:
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/video-watch-lieberman-endorse-medicare-buy-in-three-months-ago/
I haven’t seen one site note that Obama just made a statement the other day in support of the Senate compromise. Now, he’s telling them to drop it? Doesn’t make sense.
The WH has seemed to support progressive actions in this process, and not comment or get involved directly in digressions or regressions.
Additionally, what evidence did Politico produce to support its claim?
Did ANYONE actually read the article? The journalist makes a claim and offers nothing — no quote, no background comments, nothing — to support her claim.
It’s shoddy journalism, and I’m quite disturbed by how eagerly other websites have picked it up.
This episode demonstrates exactly how dangerous Politico can be to the political process for Democrats: They run an unsubstantiated claim — source still unknown — that will deepen divisions in the Democratic party, and everyone on the left pounces on it first, and asks questions later.
@MikeinArlington…thanks for the link…I used to get really angry when I saw all that hate coming from the right…now I get truly sad for them.
The right is so terrorized…the terrorists have kicked their butts..witness the whimpering Cheneys…they are so full of hate imagine what it must feel like to wake up each morning with that much hostility.
In the end Obama is going to get some kind of HCR. It won’t be all that we want…but it will be an HISTORIC beginning. Victory will lead to victory and before you know our country will once again discover it has a heart. Senator Jim Demented and the rest will have THEIR Waterloo and fade into history as the insignificant hateful boobs they are.
Insimca,
The reply to Greg was very revealing. They said that they are not pushing in any direction.
In other words they are not even trying to show some leadership, and lay out what they must have.
That is truly an abdication of their vital leadership role.
If they are not willing to stake out a position, and push for it, then they are just making their selves irrelevant in the debate. Their is a sicking consistency to their approach. They sat out the debate all summer long, and allowed the Teabaggers and Republicans to go unchallenged.
“I’ve got issues I care about that are on hold too. Some things are just going to have to wait.”
I hate to have to bring this up, but the Gay Rights movement has lost 31 ballot initiatives in 31 states. Rather than sitting around blaming Obama I dearly wish they’d figure out what is going wrong.
I’m just as interested,almost, as gay Americans are in seeing them get full civil rights. Something isn’t working and it has nothing to do with Obama.
Virgina,
Pick one big fish, and show me how this White House is actually doing the frying of it. Their own words, back to Greg. We are not pushing in any direction: in other words; we are staying out of the health care reform push, lest someone might get the silly notion that we were elected to take the damn lead, and push for what we want.
I also mentioned Abortion rights. I guess it depends on whose Ox is being gored. Easy for lots of people to tell gay people to just ride on the back of the bus.
Yes indeed this White House had nothing to do with it. They have absolutely made sure of that.
They also made sure to stay away from the Abortion Health Coverage Issue.
Pfeiffer called it “inaccurate” – not “false”, “untrue” or the always reliable “inartful statement”
I guess, Liam, he’s just the worst most disappointing president ever. You’re so right.
Maybe we could get Bush back. Jeb hasn’t run yet, either.
Tena,
Yes that is exactly it, just because I am not fully locked in to your unconditional Cult Of Personality campaign.
People said at the beginning of this administration that the left will probably destroy the party from within like they did in the 90’s when they pushed so hard they alienated the majority of America by accepting nothing less than progressive purity from elected officials.
I figured, nah, that can’t be right.
I’m starting to get to the point that I’m about ready to say f-it and just stop ignoring the destruction from within and find another hobby because its so frustrating.
People say those who are willing to accept compromises to get a majority of what they want should stop attacking the left. Well, we’re saying stop attacking those that are working on getting a majority of what progressives want.
If Dems don’t control both Houses, you aren’t going to see **** passed that even remotely resembles something you would want passed into law. But go ahead, keep attacking the admin and elected Dems as incompetent and turning their backs on progressives and continue tearing down what little confidence is left in them and stifle whats left of Democratic enthusiasm.
Can someone tell me when Joe Lieberman was elected President?
Tena,
“I guess, Liam, he’s just the worst most disappointing president ever. You’re so right.
Maybe we could get Bush back. Jeb hasn’t run yet, either.”
there are not too many people to the left of me but this idea that we’ve elected Obama President but don’t expect him to lead is wrong-headed and dangerous. The man has a penchant for simply saying what the audience in front of him wants to hear. When the audience changes, so does his position. Remember when he was going to filibuster FISA? I can list many examples but it’s beside the point. Obama would like to pass health care reform. He also likes to avoid confrontations. The insurance industry will not go down without a fight. Which will Obama choose? Will he fight or will he cave? I know what his history suggests. Let’s hope he rises to the occasion but if he doesn’t, I’m sure there will be plenty of apologists there to tell us why it wasn’t his fault.
Rahm needs to be fired. Folks my age will not appreciate being forced to buy pricey insurance we can’t afford when we are unemployed.
yeah what tena said. I was despondent this morning simply because I did not see a way to get to 60 but I am just going to wait and see. and also dismiss the constant up and down narratives invented/propagated by people with agendas.
“. The man has a penchant for simply saying what the audience in front of him wants to hear. ”
What did I just say?
I’ve decided to forget history and just go with the crowd.
Obama = what a mistake.
“mike from Arlington | December 14th, 2009 at 02:54 pm
This is waaaaaayyyy off topic but ThinkProgress just linked to a HumanEvents post from this weekend.
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/14/christmas-song-parody-immigration/#comments
And Republicans wonder why they are called racists. When their prominent publications print **** like this, how can they argue they aren’t?
Something like this should never have been allowed to be posted on a web site that is one of the leading conservative Republican publications.”
Jesus, you truly are a moron.
Tena, you are snarking right?
The White House should be pushing Lieberman! Preferably out a Washington Monument window.
I am more than disgusted with Lieberman. He’s the biggest liar that the dem caucus has and they should kick him to the curb. He lied about health care so that he would win over LaMont. And I hope that the Senate decides on reconciliation, to heck with Lieberman, Nelson and a couple of others that don’t want health care. I see Lieberman as a lobbyist for the insurance companies.
The sad part of all this is that the American people are losing. Because there will be no PO more people will die while they wait in ERs to get help because they can’t afford health care. It’s beyond immoral for these “fat cat” Reps and Senators to not think of the poor of this nation. And also people who just can’t afford health care. As much as I respect and like Obama, I think it’s time for him to show a backbone and tell the Congress what he expects out of this bill.
BetsyM,
I’m not disappointed in Leiberman because anyone who’s watched him over the past two decades should know he’s a tool. I’d expect nothing less from him. For those who haven’t been paying attention, Leiberman want true health care reform like he wants another circumcision. He’s the senator from Hartford, the global headquarters of several large health insurance companies. The goal of health insurance companies is profit, not efficient health care delivery. Stripping out the complexities in the system will eventually decrease their bottom lines. Senator Leiberman is their man in Washington. You can bet that if he’s for it, it’s good for the Insurance industry. If he’s against it, it’s bad for them. The problem is there is no real way to get meaningful health care reform that does not make the insurance industry less profitable. Negotiating with him is a waste of time and energy.
That’s the kind of solidarity that really makes you proud to be a Democrat! I remember when Joe campaigned for McCain and Obama said “let bygones be bygones” when some yelled about taking away his committee chair. I remember when Reid said that Joe was the least of his worries when it comes to HCR. Wow. With such insightful leadership and strength we can’t possibly be disappointed that the people who are running the biggest government in the free world are on top of their game! And of course Republicans can pass absolutely any kind of legislation they want with nary a problem or worry of anything but Democrats can only pass incremental little pieces of **** legislation and the base needs to STFU and stop jinxing every thing that could just happen if we’d only learn to be happy with conservative Republican everything. Your logic leads to the conclusion that America really is conservative and Republicans are better at running the government because that’s the reality of how politics work. But didn’t we just refute that nonsense last November? Oh, wait. . . I guess Obama’s learned that presidenting is hard work and his base is just a pain in the rear.
Joe is my kind of independent U.S.Senator. He is helping wreck this awful legislation, and I wish him well.