Breaking: Hoyer says public option could go
posted at 1:23 pm on August 21, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
In a definite reversal of Congressional leadership the last few weeks, House Majority Leader and chief lieutenant to Nancy Pelosi Steny Hoyer indicated that the public option is negotiable after all. In a conference call with reporters, Hoyer says he wants a public option, but he wants a health-care reform bill more:
Hoyer (D-Md.) emphasized his support for a public option in a teleconference call with reporters, but also said he wants to ensure Congress sends a bill to the president.
“I’m for a public option, but I’m also for passing a bill,” he said. Democrats believe the public option is necessary, useful and important, he added, “be we’ll have to see.”
He then said there are many other important parts of healthcare legislation that have been approved by three committees in the House.
President Barack Obama already has signaled he won’t insist that a public option be included in final healthcare legislation, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Sunday opened a firestorm with the political left by saying that a public option was “not essential” to a healthcare bill.
Hoyer has long been seen as a voice for centrist Blue Dog Democrats, who have reservations about the public option.
Yesterday, as The Hill notes in this piece, Pelosi told an audience that she couldn’t get a bill passed in the House without a public option. The two seem to be on different pages, or perhaps they’re trying to mollify different constituencies. If Hoyer has more resonance with Blue Dogs, Pelosi certainly represents the leftist wing of the Democratic caucus in the House.
If this is just PR and strategy, it won’t last for very long. Hoyer has given Blue Dogs hope that they can avoid voting for an increasingly unpopular part of reform. Pelosi practically promised the Left that they will get their public option. At some point, those two directions are diametrically opposed, and raising expectations in both camps looks more like a strategy for civil war in the caucus than for getting anything done.
Are Pelosi and Hoyer on the same page anymore? Or has Hoyer thrown in with the Blue Dogs? In these situations, we can only offer one piece of advice: pass the popcorn.
Blowback
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can anyone really believe anything that comes out of their mouths???
search4truth on August 21, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Watch them fight each other and enjoy
dpierson on August 21, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Retreat!Tactical withdrawl.BadgerHawk on August 21, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Another day. Another internal poll. Another change of direction for the democrat party.
SouthernGent on August 21, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Fixed.
Christien on August 21, 2009 at 1:26 PM
This is a head fake – they’ll keep it or pretend to take it out but put it back in under a different name or configuration.
gwelf on August 21, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Those townhalls were more powerful than even we thought…power to the people.(I haven’t said that in years)
d1carter on August 21, 2009 at 1:27 PM
The Dems don’t know their head from a hole in the ground.
mobydutch on August 21, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Any more word on their attempt to split the bill, which is a phony ploy……
Rovin on August 21, 2009 at 1:27 PM
The Dems are confused. They have not had this level of power since 1993-1994. And we know how that turned out. The pressure from the statist for the public option would not abate.
We conservatives would be just as pissed if ALL was reversed.
WashJeff on August 21, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Individual mandate GOOO!!!!
The Calibur on August 21, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Exactly.
Mommypundit on August 21, 2009 at 1:27 PM
OBAMACARE IS DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!
battleoflepanto1571 on August 21, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Blatantblue says Democrats could possibly be losers
blatantblue on August 21, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Yep…sounds like they are going back to the old lefty standby in these situations…tell everybody what they want to hear, then try to sneak the camel into the tent. I predict chaos.
AUINSC on August 21, 2009 at 1:28 PM
I call B.S.!!!!!
KILL THE BILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The WHOLE damn thing!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m sick of this crap.
Anyone in their right mind would have scrapped this bill weeks ago with all the push back.
These guys are up to something.
katy on August 21, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Screw the public option – the whole darn thing needs to go.
The GOP has a superb weapon in this battle with the Marxists in the Democrat party whose goal is to assume total power and control over our health care and in time our lives, the Constitution.
The Founders were brilliant in explicitly listing the powers of the Federal government rather than listing those the federal government is prohibited from doing. The Founders wisely left all powers not explicitly granted the Fed to the states. This serves as another check on government power by allowing citizens to freely move from one state to another. Don’t like the taxes or regulation in CA? Move to TX!
If the GOP wants to win this battle simply challenge the Democrats to provide the provision in the Constitution that allows the federal government to run a health care system. And yes Medicare and Medicaid are unconstitutional as well.
There is no escape from federal law and the Marxists like it that way. They can then make us all prisoners of their failed ideas and ideology. If they truly believed in their ideas then they would be in support of letting the states experiment. As Louis Brandeis said “states are the laboratories of democracy”.
“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson
DerKrieger on August 21, 2009 at 1:29 PM
I wouldn’t celebrate just yet. The public option will be dead when the Dems lose control of Congress.
Chekote on August 21, 2009 at 1:29 PM
The whole bill (all versions of it) must be junked. Nothing less will be acceptable. The federal government is responsible for fixing Medicaid and Medicare, and that’s it. They have to keep their hands off of my private insurance and have no business other than opening up inter-state commerce for health insurance.
This fig leaf from Hoyer doesn’t come close. It all has to go.
progressoverpeace on August 21, 2009 at 1:30 PM
keep fighting and give no quarter – keep eyes peeled for other configurations of “public option” while also turning fire toward individual mandates, abortion, etc.
Fallen Sparrow on August 21, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I’m thinking Kettle Corn is in order.
txag92 on August 21, 2009 at 1:30 PM
“but I’m also for passing a bill”
or: lets just pass any POS that we can soon so we can declare victory and move on from this clusterf**k we created
Jussi on August 21, 2009 at 1:30 PM
OT: Obama announces new book “Dreams of My WeeWee”
faraway on August 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM
There are so many other seeds of destruction in the bill that they don’t really need the public ‘option’. President Obama needs to get something passed (and will, whether we like it or not).
All the attention on the public option gives him a massive bargaining chip to offer to Grassley, the Maine Sisters and the Blue Dogs in the House. That will come out in exchange for passing a still massive bill with a bunch of still horrible provisions in it.
BadgerHawk on August 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Eventually we can get them down to passing legislation simply recognizing the contributions of Jonas Salk to American medicine.
Keep the hammer down.
SteveMG on August 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM
For the first time in my life, I’m proud to be a Marylander!
This is the best we can hope for from liberal east coast tools.
Laura in Maryland on August 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM
pass the popcorn.
xtra butter on mine please……
SHARPTOOTH on August 21, 2009 at 1:32 PM
OT:
ObamaClinton announces new book “Dreams of My WeeWee”faraway on August 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM
FIFY
Laura in Maryland on August 21, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Yes, his mouth was moving.
jukin on August 21, 2009 at 1:32 PM
I wish a reporter would ask any of the Democrats what radical reforms are in HR3200 without the government option.
The government option is the centerpiece of HR3200 and almost all of the questionable parts of the bil relate directly to the creation of the government option.
Without it, what is the reform?
myrenovations on August 21, 2009 at 1:32 PM
This is the ass that went on and on about the Suez Canal being built when his constituent asked him a direct, relevant, health care question. The next week he called them unamerican. He can rot in hell.
tessa on August 21, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Implode baby implode
gophergirl on August 21, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Now that’s just plain old unAmerican of you Steny.
Sucks to be you.
Knucklehead on August 21, 2009 at 1:33 PM
The history of Progressivism is a history of incrementalism. They may tactically retreat but only to regroup, plot, and strategize for their next attempt. The Left never gives up on its statist goals. They have been trying to nationalize health care since at least Wilson’s presidency.
Their strategy is a simple one, demand a mile, negotiate with the GOP for half a mile. Next year demand another mile, negotiate with the GOP for half a mile, and voila! the original mile is achieved. And the idiots in the GOP fall for it every time.
DerKrieger on August 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Wait, didn’t Obama say that he wouldn’t sign a bill without a public option and he wouldn’t sign a bill unless it was deficit-neutral?
Keef Overbite on August 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Hoyer is a terrible hateful republican who wants to kill poor people.
liberal343 aka liberal4eva on August 21, 2009 at 1:32 PM
portlandon on August 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Incompetents. Can’t come up with a coherent explanation of what they want to do. We’re just supposed to “trust” them.
RIIIIGHT.
n0doz on August 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Which way is the wind blowing today? Could they at least decide on some talking points and stick to them? I’m getting dizzy trying to keep track of their plan.
Exactly. Don’t trust them.
conservative pilgrim on August 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM
The wee-wee comment is so appropriate for Obama and his buds.(especially when they have $h1T for brains)
mobydutch on August 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM
You are not the fine Texan I thought you to be. Either popcorn or carmel corn, but kettle corn…YUCK! I don’t think I can post with the likes of a kettle corner;)
Now pass the milk duds and think about what you’ve said.
Laura in Maryland on August 21, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Popcorn here, getcha popcorn!
amerpundit on August 21, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Hoyer is the bravest liberal.
““In the Soviet army it takes more courage to retreat than advance.”
- Stalin
faraway on August 21, 2009 at 1:37 PM
WATERLOO
a/k/a Save Granny from Dr. Obama.
a/k/a Let the Libs know we’re not putting up with it.
a/k/a they are reading the devastating drop among independents.
a/k/a They are scared of the Wheelchair Mafia.
a/k/a Bootlick Media can’t prop them up anymore.
1-20-13……stay focused!!Noon on the steps of the U.S. Capitol saying goodbye to the Marxist pretender.
PappyD61 on August 21, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Obama: Hoyer misspoke. Let me be clear… I inherited this. If you like it, you can keep it.
Ferris on August 21, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Enjoy the final days of your term, Madam Speaker. Steny’s already ordered new drapes for when he takes your office.
Christien on August 21, 2009 at 1:37 PM
wow…no trolls.
SHARPTOOTH on August 21, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Libs going Huffington Postal in 3….2….1….
portlandon on August 21, 2009 at 1:38 PM
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…kettle corn!
WashJeff on August 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM
This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed at home.
This little piggy has roast beef,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy cried “Wee! Wee! Wee!” all the way home
gatorboy on August 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Retreat? No.
Strategic redirection of the day.
JoeinTX on August 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Somebody remove all the sharp objects and cleaning products from Ann’s house.
Chuck Schick on August 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM
wee wee!
DrW on August 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM
GET OUT THE POPCORN!
GarandFan on August 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Goodness, these guys make my head spin.
No wonder life long Dems are not paying attention.
ORconservative on August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Don’t fall for it GOP…
KILL the BILL…
Listen to ‘Cuda… TORT REFORM NOW
phreshone on August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Hoyer is all wee-weed up.
ladyingray on August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
This is getting good..but I dont trust any of the Dems.
becki51758 on August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Hoyer is gunning for Pelosi. He sees her as a wounded dog and is ready for the kill.
izoneguy on August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
From Hoyer’s lips to… Obama’s butt.
Bat Chain Puller on August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Perhaps it is good way to kill of the entire bill. Throw out this bit, let the Dems divide into two camps, and ultimately blame the GOP for misinformation and obstructing the goal of healthcare. The window for passing this legislation isn’t as large as you would think. Maybe Hoyer is just runnning out the clock.
highhopes on August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
can’t they just busy themselves by naming roads after each other
gatorboy on August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Watch it, bub!
Laura in Maryland on August 21, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Fiasco.
I wouldn’t put these bumbling Washington jackasses in charge of a baloney sandwich, because they’d find a way to screw that up.
Anyone who thinks this crowd can improve health care is either on dope, is a dope or both.
NoDonkey on August 21, 2009 at 1:41 PM
WARNING: DO NOT TRUST ANYTHING FROM THESE TWO SHREWED AND SAVVY CAREER “POLITICIANS”.
I’m dead serious. You can’t take Hoyer at his word any more than Obama. Pelosi will find a way to push her radical left agenda right by all of you, (Hoyer included) She still thinks she’s running this whole show. You’ve been warned.
Rovin on August 21, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Exactly… for everybody that doesn’t know how this works already… go read the Forgotten Man.
The ideal of socialism never dies, it just scurries back into the corners of society until they can regroup under a new agenda. This time it is the Green Movement.
The Dead Terrorist on August 21, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Do not trust them people! They want some r’s behind this gosh horrible bill. KILL the entire thing, PERIOD!
L
letget on August 21, 2009 at 1:41 PM
I’m thinking that I haven’t gone through this much dental floss in 15 years (the kernels ya know).
TxAnn56 on August 21, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Cracker Jacks
fourdeucer on August 21, 2009 at 1:43 PM
So you say socialists are like cockroaches?
We need a big ol’ roach motel then.
We can call it the Motel California (“they stab it with their steely knives but they just can’t kill the beast.”)
NoDonkey on August 21, 2009 at 1:43 PM
*****BREAKING NEWS*****
Dems still have the votes to make it law, without a single Rep. vote.
Later today, Gibbs will say it’s because of the Republican resistance that these provisions have to be removed. It’s their fault.
BobMbx on August 21, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Hoyer is a terrible hateful
republicansocialist who wants to killpoor peoplePelosi.liberal343 aka liberal4eva on August 21, 2009 at 1:32 PM
izoneguy on August 21, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Not a word.
If they threw up, I’d suspect that it might be novelty store fake vomit coming out of their mouths.
Daggett on August 21, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Diamondback, Timber, Sidewinder….all the same critter.
Limerick on August 21, 2009 at 1:44 PM
You know who’s got to be enjoying this whole Pelosi-Hoyer showdown? Michael Steele. It’s a Maryland thang.
Christien on August 21, 2009 at 1:44 PM
I would not give the republicans any credit….
It’s the American people who have stood up to the socialists…..
izoneguy on August 21, 2009 at 1:44 PM
thomasaur on August 21, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Are monitoring B Frank and his current positions?
WashJeff on August 21, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just send everyone to medical school? No more health care worries.
Limerick on August 21, 2009 at 1:46 PM
True enough and, then again, not so much. Like anything related to this legislation the devil is in the details. Some of the co-op schemes are essentially the public option with a different name. The House rats can wail that they’ve sacrificed the public option in an effort to pass healthcare reform- all the while backing a co-op scheme that does exactly what the public option does. Stay vigilent and don’t trust these bastards for a second.
highhopes on August 21, 2009 at 1:46 PM
That’s right, run away!!!
FontanaConservative on August 21, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Anything these pigs try to foist on us is suspect. Kill the bill!
elduende on August 21, 2009 at 1:48 PM
How much you want to bet that if this crap sandwich gets defeated, that Bro-Bama hangs it around the necks of Pelosi and Reed. He will make them the scapegoat, push them out, and get who he wants in there.
Remember, these people have no problem eating there own to get what they want or keeping their careers alive.
The Dead Terrorist on August 21, 2009 at 1:49 PM
LOL. Brilliant, Limerick.
progressoverpeace on August 21, 2009 at 1:49 PM
I never would have thought that watching a “super” majority at work could be so much fun!!!
DrStock on August 21, 2009 at 1:49 PM
kill the bill. kill the bill. keep up the pressure. call your Senators.
kelley in virginia on August 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Hah!
elduende on August 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Must have had some accident with a kettle in your childhood causing this deep seeded animosity towards kettle corn.
If\when in Chicago avoid Garretts Popcorn on Michigan avenue. The smell of their kettle corn may bring out the worst in you. ;-)
WashJeff on August 21, 2009 at 1:51 PM
I don’t like kettle corn either.
ladyingray on August 21, 2009 at 1:51 PM
defeat the bill, blame it on Pelosi & Reid, then get rid of them.
dead terrorist, what a wonderful thought. simply delicious.
kelley in virginia on August 21, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Whats your problem with kettle corn? I mean, I like popcorn just like any other person here. But kettle corn is sweet and delicious. And no. I will not pass you your milk duds and sit in the corner and think about what I said.
:o)
FontanaConservative on August 21, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Y’all probably remember Hoyer wasn’t Pelosi’s choice for the No. 2 leadership post… the legendarily corrupt John Murtha was.
Hoyer is quite likely using this as a stalking horse for a challenge to Queen Botox I at some point… most likely 2011, when Pelosi’s chickens come home to roost with either a sharply reduced majority or (more hopefully) minority status.
Sprinkle some cheddar on that popcorn, gang. It’s gonna get real good real soon.
either orr on August 21, 2009 at 1:52 PM
I know it’s too early to celebrate and we need to stay loud and in their face, but I think I may celebrate just a little…a corona instead of a churchill?
jwp1964 on August 21, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Obama just told OFA he wants to create a “farmer’s market” outside the White House to sell Michelle’s WH garden vegetables.
andy85719 on August 21, 2009 at 1:53 PM
“The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue”
- Mao (hehe)
faraway on August 21, 2009 at 1:54 PM
I, too, am a kettle corn fan. But only if it comes fresh from the county fair.
myrenovations on August 21, 2009 at 1:56 PM
I would pay to see the the Blue Dogs and the Liberals have an all out brawl on the House floor Indian style
uknowmorethanme on August 21, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Bingo.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on August 21, 2009 at 1:57 PM
You know they found high levels of lead in the soil for that garden, right? Not enough to kill anybody but higher than normal. Remember the fuss when GWB raised the ppm of arsenic acceptable in private wells? You would have thought the feds were actually adding arsenic to the water to make people sick.
Well, why does Michelle Obama want to give lead poisoning to schoolchildren?
highhopes on August 21, 2009 at 1:58 PM
WeeWeeLoo
PatriotRider on August 21, 2009 at 1:59 PM
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