Democrats Demanding that White House Keep "Public Option"

In the wake of angry mobs haranguing members of Congress at every turn over proposed healthcare reform legislation, President Obama is also not facing pressure from members of his own party, who are urging the president not to drop the government-run insurance plan from his overhaul. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Congressional Progressive Caucus noted that "to take the public option off the table would be a grave error. Passage in the House of Representatives depends upon inclusion of it."

Sebelius had noted last week that President Obama may be willing to drop the public option from the legislation in what was clearly an attempt to calm frayed nerves amongst both the American public and more conservative members of Congress. The letter went on to note, "We stand in strong opposition to your statement that the public option is ‘not the essential element’ of comprehensive reform." That specific phrasing was in direct response to comments made earlier by Sebelius, who noted, "What’s important is choice and competition."

For now, President Obama is walking a fine line between angering his party and getting a win. If he insists on keeping the public option on the table, there is a chance that his pet project will fail, but removing it from consideration may alienate his most ardent supporters to date. With higher interest rates and higher taxes looming in the coming years due to astronomical government spending and borrowing, a loss on this bit of his social agenda could not only leave him without the legislative victory he so badly wants, but left without much of a platform when it’s time to run for re-election.