If Obama and the Democrats are so far left, why was single payer not even at the table?

Because conservatives don't follow the news. Obama has let a lot of people down, they were counting on him to fight for UHC...instead he runs to the insurance industry for a plan.

EDIT; Stephanie...you are forgetting Kucinich.

Easy.

Single payer would basically amount to socialism. But forcing citizens to purchase a product (i.e. insurance) is FASCISM.

Everyone likes to argue about socialism right now, but socialism is not exactly the right word for where this country is headed.

When you're talking about fascism, you're really not talking about left vs right anymore. There have been examples of both right wing and left wing fascism.

Any time the government steps in on behalf of private banks or corporations, and makes a decision supposedly "for the good of its citizens" that certain industries or companies must receive favors from the taxpayers, that is fascism.

Any time the FDA colludes with private industry (Monsanto, big pharma) that is fascism.

Bank Bailouts = Fascism.

Forcing citizens by law to purchase a product from a private industry = Fascism.

Because Obama recognizes that most Americans are center-right politically. That's why he campaigned as a "post-partisan" moderate. Despite what he'd like to do he still has to face the political realities. This is obvious when you look at what how he campaigned. Do you think Obama would have been elected had he promised to sign a trillion dollar stimulus package, take over the largest banks and 2 of the 3 American Auto manufacturers? No. Obama keeps masquerading as a moderate, while pressing his far-Left agenda as hard as he can given the fact that there is so much opposition from the people.

Good Lord

Single Payer = Public Option

The single payer is the government, the public option is government issued insurance.

They changed the name because single payer sounded to socialist and then Nancy Pelosi changed the name to Consumer Option because she said that Public Option sounded to much like it would be paid for by our taxes.

Hmm, let me get this right, a family of 4 making $88,000 or less will receive a government subsidy, who is going to pay for that ? Gee you don't think it will come from money they collect in taxes do you.

Baby steps. Obama is for single payer...it came straight out of his mouth. But he's smart enough to know he could never get that at the present time.

Secondly, he is supposed to be the unifying president. So in that regard he strongly wants at least some perception of bi-partisanship.

The conversion to a government controlled society must be incremental. If tomorrow the government demanded all privately own guns be surrendered, even many self described democrats would stand up against that. The first step is to get the foot in the door, then to gradually, slowly but surely, a little at a time, take away all the citizen's freedoms and rights.

Not all Democrats have completely abandoned working for the good of the American people. The Blue Dogs still care about the country.. and without them, Obama doesn't have enough votes.

Don't confuse not having the votes with not having the desire though..

Bullwinkle is walking his zombies ever deeper into a socialist swamp.

Step by step.

You won't know how far you're into this swamp till it reaches your neck.

By then it will be too late, and even Michael Moore won't be around to make a movie about your plight. He'll be with Hugo Chavez dancing the Samba at your stupid demise.

It is basically a single payer. That is why the blue dogs and others are against it. It is not going to fly with businesses and doctors and will end up with single payer and they know it.

READ the bill and try to understand it....and not just what those idiots in office tell you it is about. You obviously do not understand....

I explain it by Barry & the dems realizing the majority of Americans don't want it. & they'll lose elections if they put it in.

But those wascly dems...they know anything passed will give them a foot in the door to do it later....even if we DONT want it...'cause they know better....we're just stupid guns & religion clingers...not uber-intelligent like these Havard educated elites.

good point, i cannot explain it, other than to say obama has always tried to build a consensus, and this can only be done by governing toward the center. Alas, since the right is too far right, it is virtually impossible to build bi-partisan support for most of the items on his agenda.