Speculation that President Obama would use his upcoming health care address to issue clear requirements for a bill seems to be premature:
White House political adviser David Axelrod said Obama is “not walking away” from a public plan. But asked if the president would veto a bill that came to him without the option, Axelrod declined to answer.
The president “believes it should be in the plan, and he expects to be in the plan, and that’s our position,” Axelrod told The Associated Press.
Asked if that means a public plan has to be in the bill for Obama to sign it, Axelrod responded: “I’m not going to deal in hypotheticals. … He believes it’s important.”
I don’t see any way the president can take charge of the health care debate without a clear position on the public option. If his address just gives us more of the same, it won’t do him any good. Is he expecting to change the tide of public opinion with nothing but charisma? I would enjoy seeing him try.
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