That's what I'm wondering after seeing this Daily Kos diary quoting an Obama aide as backing away from pronouncements last night that Democrats in Congress were going to press for healthcare reform without Republican support.
From the New York Times earlier today:
Given hardening Republican opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of the minority’s cooperation in approving any overhaul, and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks.
Top Democrats said Tuesday that their go-it-alone view was being shaped by what they saw as Republicans’ purposely strident tone against health care legislation during this month’s Congressional recess, as well as remarks by leading Republicans that current proposals were flawed beyond repair.
Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, said the heated opposition was evidence that Republicans had made a political calculation to draw a line against any health care changes, the latest in a string of major administration proposals that Republicans have opposed.
“The Republican leadership,” Mr. Emanuel said, “has made a strategic decision that defeating President Obama’s health care proposal is more important for their political goals than solving the health insurance problems that Americans face every day.”
Now here's what the Daily Kos diarist is reporting:
The Hill is reporting that this morning Robert Gibbs said the NY Times article about the Dems going it alone on health care is wrong.
He actually gave credit to Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee for working in good faith on reform.
I wish this administration would get its story straight. My head is spinning.
Bottom line: we're going to have to fight harder than ever before to make this happen.
The diarist then quotes The Hill as reporting:
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the administration remains committed to drawing Republican support for the bill, particularly in the Senate.
"I don't know why we would short-circuit that now," Gibbs told reporters.
He said the White House believes some Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee "are still working in a constructive way to get reform through the Senate and ultimately to the president's desk."
I hate to go comical on this, but these two seemingly contradictory stories are making me think there's a real Abbott and Costello game going on here with the question being "Who's on first?" when it comes to who is really speaking for the Obama administration on what is becoming an increasingly messy issue for them.
I'd love to know which Republicans have really been working to get a real health insurance bill through Congress since one of them that had been cited by President Obama-- lying Sen. Chuck (pull the plug on Grandma) Grassley-- has been spreading lies and disinformation against the bill.
I'd also like to know what sorts of behind the scenes negotiations are taking place between the White House and anti-healthcare reform Republicans to get a real bill past Congress and onto the president's desk.
I can't say it enough. Healthcare reform isn't healthcare reform without a real public option.
