Nancy Pelosi v. Obama

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made it clear she is in support of the public option. Pelosi is siding with the Progressive Caucus. No public option means no health care bill.

Any real change requires the inclusion of a strong public option to promote competition and bring down costs. If a vigorous public option is not included, it would be a major victory for the health insurance industry.

President Obama has said that a public option will keep the insurance companies honest. If someone has a better idea for promoting competition and reducing health care costs, they should put it on the table. But for the past month, opponents of health insurance reform have demonstrated that they are afraid of the facts. They have only offered distortions, distractions and misrepresentations to try to kill this historic legislation.

A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House. Eliminating the public option would be a major victory for the insurance companies who have rationed care, increased premiums and denied coverage.

We have a President that values Republican support more over the Speaker of his own party. No bill passes in Washington without Pelosi's approval. It was the same when Tom Delay Dennis Hastert was Speaker. It is becoming increasingly clear Obama was never behind the public option. The White House wants a bill that makes health insurance and pharmaceutical companies happy. This is sickening.