Pelosi on health care, Cheney
Posted: Thursday, October 22, 2009 5:44 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Congress, Democrats
From NBC's Mark Murray
In an interview with NBC's Andrea Mitchell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi repeated that the House health-care legislation WILL have a public option in it -- although it won't be called "Medicare for Everyone."
She also countered former Vice President Cheney's recent statement that the Obama administration has been "dithering" on Afghanistan. "The fact is the American people very overwhelmingly approve of the president deliberating on this issue, because they know its consequences are very serious." Pelosi added, "Because the American people support the president's serious approach, I think the vice president decided that he would have the dissenting view."
Mitchell's full interview with Pelosi will air tomorrow on MSNBC beginning at 1:00 pm ET.
Pelosi: Well, everyone has their little catchphrases. Public option does not reign as the great choice of words. But it does have an appeal with the American people. And that's why over 60% of them support having a true competitor to the insurance industry. They know full well there needs to be something to keep the insurance companies honest, and to have true competition, whatever you call it.
Andrea: Are you going to end up calling it "Medicare for Everyone"?
Pelosi: No, no I don't think so. But it isn't a question of what the bill is named. It's a question of what the bill will do.
Andrea: And it will have a public option?
Pelosi: It will have a public option. And we've always had the votes for the public option. It's just a question of what form it will take.
And on Cheney...
Andrea: Do you think it is appropriate for a former vice president to accuse the president of dithering when it comes to the safety of our troops?
Pelosi: There are so many things that are so inappropriate about the Bush-Cheney administration and their aftermath... I don't think public receives this message very well. The fact is the American people very overwhelming approve of the president deliberating on this issue, because they know its consequences are very serious. Because the American people support the president's serious approach, I think the vice president decided that he would have the dissenting view.
