In what seems like a troubling resurrection of the health care status quo, President Barack Obama is indicating that he's willing to part with a public option in order to push through his health care "overhaul." Obama said Tuesday that the White House has not "drawn lines in the sand" about a government-run plan, though he considers it "an important tool to discipline insurance companies."
Meanwhile, Rahm Emmanuel told Senate Democrats Tuesday night that the president is "open to alternatives" to a public option. According to North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad, Emanuel conveyed a sense of urgency on the part of the White House.
"His message was, it's critical that you do this," Conrad told Bloomberg.