Now Rachel Maddow seems satisfied, even pleased, with another option to the public option when just a week ago, nothing else would do except for the public option. Just like that, the public option that progressives fought so hard for is now passe.
The reality here is the public option was just another tool for the left to battle the right.
This new healthcare compromise, which would allow more people into the Medicare program, is better than the public option and it's exactly where Obama's leadership led. He announced his goals for healthcare and never pushed the public option. But the left criticized him heavily for not advocating more strongly for the public option.
Obama said at the get go, he wanted something that met his stated goals, whether it be the public option or some other idea.
The public option was made into political mincemeat. Now it looks like they're trying to make mincemeat of this idea too but perhaps there isn't enough time for it to get destroyed in the political process. I hope not because for some people, health care isn't about politics.
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