Kathleen Sebelius: 'Nothing has Changed' with the 'Public Option' Plan - Blames Media for Her Words.

The Obama administration on Tuesday insisted that "nothing has changed" about its support for a government-run health insurance plan, after liberal Democrats threatened to abandon a health care reform bill that doesn't include the so-called "public option."

Liberal members of the party had protested after Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and President Obama in public remarks over the weekend referred to the option of a government-run plan as a non-essential element of reform.

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., called the option "fundamental" to a package that brings "real change" to the system." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it the "best option," and one that has "strong support" in the House.

During a speech on Medicare Tuesday, Sebelius insisted the administration has been consistent in its support of the plan, pointing the finger at the media for reading too much into her remarks.

"All I can tell you is that Sunday must have been a very slow news day, because here's the bottom line. Absolutely nothing has changed," she said. "We continue to support the public option that will help lower costs, give American consumers more choice and keep private insurers honest."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs also suggested that headlines in major newspapers declaring the "public option" up in the air were overstated and unsubstantiated.

Asked if Sebelius' earlier remarks were a signal that the administration was shifting position, Gibbs said, "If it was a signal, it was a dog whistle that we started blowing about three months ago."

He said the president has been "boringly consistent," having always preferred that a government-run health insurance plan be part of the bill but also being open to alternatives all along.

But Obama had earlier in the year described a public option as critical. It didn't sound that way Saturday at a town hall in Colorado.

"The public option, whether we have it or we don't have it, is not the entirety of health care reform. This is just one sliver of it, one aspect of it," Obama said, saying both sides of the debate have become "fixated" on the proposal.

Then Sebelius said in an interview Sunday that the option is "not the essential element."

That drew recriminations from the left, as some reform proponents threatened to walk out on the bill.

Ken Lisaius, former spokesman for President George W. Bush, said objections from powerful Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led the White House to rein in its trial balloon.

More at http://www.cnn.com

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[RoyalDemonforChrist]

she's a builderberger

[DominicMetal1979]

F--- this nasty communist Hillary-Clinton-type b*tch. These people are selling our country into slavery, and the Obama-voters are cheering as they do it.

[BamaKattt]

Sebelius, another communist in the Obama administration and the average dumbass American has no clue.

[rasaxSF]

No to Obamacare?  LOL. Republicans really have some entitlement issues to work on, don't they? Apparently, they've forgotten the old rules to enact legislation reform - a majority in the House and Senate with approval from the White House. All ducks are in place, now we just need the reform not a cheerleading squad from the health insurance monopolist lie factory. We need a single-payer plan. Republicans need less attention & more coping skills.

[rasaxSF]

Media have had a central role in muddling the discussion by giving too much focus on the most ill-informed segments just because they make a lot of noise. It's telling when many of the noise-makers don't have the slightest clue about their own health care system, let alone have bothered lifting a finger to find. I favor raising the bar to limit public comments to those with informed views rather than having any tin can posse undermine policy discussions with superstition, nonsense & noise.

[TheElizabethMarion]

She blames the media for responding to the fact that she made a very important statement about healthcare reform. The white house cannot keep saying things, and then if it isn't popular enough turn around and go 'Oh I never said that!'

[lifeline52002]

I agree with you ButterflyDragon9, that is also why if they are going to reform health care, they need to include Tort reform.

Other wise it will not cut the cost on anyting.

[MrLetfreedomring]

Nothing Changed? Or maybe, SOMEBODYS LYING, or more like , Who the HELL is running the country? LMAO! Typical DEMOCRATS cant keep their shit together.....Laughable Leftists!! NO TO OBAMACARE!!!

[ButterflyDragon9]

There is more money being made by trial lawyers than by insurance companies.

[lifeline52002]

Well I know that pvt insurance companies make a profit but most of their profits than end up in what is call

Reserve Account that is Mamdatory not only by the Federial Goverment but by even States were their Insurance is sold.

This reserve account is their incase the insurance co. ever have a huge claims to pay out. Even non Profit insurance have to have reserve account. Funny how Democratics in Congress seem not to say anything about this.