Sebelius 'Misspoke' on Public Option

Kathleen Sebelius said yesterday morning that the public option "is not a essential part" of health care reform.

An administration official says "Sebelius misspoke."



From The Atlantic:

An administration official said tonight that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "misspoke" when she told CNN this morning that a government run health insurance option "is not an essential part" of reform. This official asked not to be identified in exchange for providing clarity about the intentions of the President. The official said that the White House did not intend to change its messaging and that Sebelius simply meant to echo the president, who has acknowledged that the public option is a tough sell in the Senate and is, at the same time, a must-pass for House Democrats, and is not, in the president's view, the most important element of the reform package.

What?

This official claims that Sebelius "meant to echo the president."

That's ridiculous.

Clearly, she wasn't echoing Obama, not even close.

A second official, Linda Douglass, director of health reform communications for the administration, said that President Obama believed that a public option was the best way to reduce costs and promote competition among insurance companies, that he had not backed away from that belief, and that he still wanted to see a public option in the final bill.

"Nothing has changed," she said. "The President has always said that what is essential that health insurance reform lower costs, ensure that there are affordable options for all Americans and increase choice and competition in the health insurance market. He believes that the public option is the best way to achieve these goals."

A third White House official, via e-mail, said that Sebelius didn't misspeak. "The media misplayed it," the third official said.

The White House is in complete disarray on this.

Sebelius mispoke.

No, she didn't.

I'd like to hear Sebelius comment on the matter.

One thing is certain: ObamaCare is in trouble.