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Why the Public Option's Still Alive

Polls, time, and activism keep popular concept on the table

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 21, 2009 12:57 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Reports of the public option’s demise look to have been exaggerated. Nate Silver breaks down what revived it at FiveThirtyEight.com:

  •  “The tireless, and occasionally tiresome,” advocacy from liberal bloggers and interest groups.
  • The CBO thinks it will save money.
  • The shift of focus from the Gang of Six (Bingaman, Conrad, Baucus, Snowe, Grassley, and Enzi) to the Group of Six (Pelosi, Dodd, Obama, Reid, Baucus, and Snowe).

  • The opt-in/opt-out compromises, which liberals prefer to triggers or co-ops.
  • The fading memory of the tea partiers.
  • Various polls showing its popularity, particularly in swing states and districts.
  • The insurance industry’s misleading study—did they think it was still 1993?
  • The Washington Post’s “somewhat bizarre decision” to run its poll showing support for the public option on its front page, even though support’s been steady for months.

Demonstrators protest in front Blue Cross offices in downtown San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.
Demonstrators protest in front Blue Cross offices in downtown San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Demonstrators protest in front Blue Cross offices in downtown San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.
Demonstrators protest in front Blue Cross offices in downtown San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Katina Economou, 79, of Potomac, Md., holds a pin supporting the public health care option, during a rally to support health insurance reform in Rockville, Md. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.
Katina Economou, 79, of Potomac, Md., holds a pin supporting the public health care option, during a rally to support health insurance reform in Rockville, Md. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 21 comments
cornelison
Oct 22, 2009 12:00 PM CDT
The drug companies have really screwed your economy as well. That's why Americans have been coming to Canada for years. It's evidence that the politicians represent the institutions who give them the most money - including Wall St.
LovinLife
Oct 22, 2009 2:09 AM CDT
Exactly, Cornelison. There's also that part about providing for the common welfare - the general well-being of the people who make up the union. I wish these goons would stop cherry picking the Constitution, the Bible and their own morality (judgment is imposed on others, not so much on myself) and stop fighting for insurance companies’ wealthcare. Gaaacckkkk!!
cornelison
Oct 21, 2009 11:54 AM CDT
Why is it, in your opinion?

 
Congressional Budget Office • health care reform • activists • Nate Silver • public option • health insurance industry • Gang of 6

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