OH SNAP! Pelosi On Obama: ‘There Were A Number Of Things He Was For On The Campaign Trail’

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi had little to say this afternoon at a press conference following a meeting between House leaders and health care principals. She and other members acknowledged that a number of differences must be resolved between House and Senate bills before a final reform package can be signed in to law–and all are aware that too much tinkering could upset a delicate balance in the Senate, where legislation often must meet a supermajority threshold.

But Pelosi did toss a jab President Obama’s way.

Referring explicitly to one of Obama’s campaign pledges, a reporter asked Pelosi whether C-SPAN cameras would be allowed to film the House-Senate negotiations.

“There are a number of things he was for on the campaign trail,” she said, without addressing the question.

Recently Obama infuriated progressives when he claimed he “didn’t campaign on the public option.” (He did.)

But because of opposition in the Senate, House Democrats must pass a bill without a public option–one of several concessions they’ve been forced to make. Many rank and file members place the blame for the demise of that provision at Obama’s feet, and it’s hard to imagine that his statement, and indifference on that front in the past several months, didn’t inspire Pelosi’s comment. At least to some extent.

Either way: Zing!

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