Gibbs Fights Off Questions About Admin Changing Stance on Public Option

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At the daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs again denied that the administration has changed its position on a public option.

Over the weekend, President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made comments many perceived as backing off the public option. President Obama had said the public option as a “sliver” of health care reform, and Sebelius said the public option wasn’t essential.

But Gibbs fought off that perception, saying the administration’s stance has not changed at all over the last several months. He said they would prefer having a public option, but it’s not a deal breaker. He even brought a stack of papers with past quotes from Sebelius and Obama, including transcripts from this weekend’s events.

He handed the stack to CNN’s Ed Henry, who was the most persistent questioner today.

Since the meme took hold, Sebelius and Gibbs have repeatedly shot it down, with Sebelius saying, “Nothing has changed.”

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