Dean: Public Option "Linked" to Reform
A day after President Obama's health secretary indicated the administration might drop its support for a government-funded option from its campaign for health-care reform, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who's also a doctor, gave a second opinion the administration probably doesn't want to hear.
"I don't think it can pass without the public option," Dean said about the bill to CBS Anchor Maggie Rodriguez on "The Early Show." "There are too many people who understand, including the president himself, the public option is absolutely linked to reform."
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told CNN Sunday the public option is "not the essential element" of the administration's pursuit of health-care reform. She said the White House would be open to throwing its support behind a co-op model instead, which could receive more support from Republicans.
However, the administration hasn't withdrawn its support from a public option completely. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said "a government plan is the best way to provide choice and competition" on "Face the Nation" Sunday.
MOREAmazing how many idiots come out of the woodwork to support screamin' Howie Dean.
