Obama skips public option push to CBC

President Barack Obama used an address to the Congressional Black Caucus on Saturday evening to push healthcare, promoting “affordable choices” to the uninsured yet not mentioning the government-run public option.

“We are talking about expanding choices,” Obama said as he delivered the keynote address at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner. 

The speech was heavy on references to civil-rights advances over the decades for African-Americans, according to the pool report, then segued to a laundry list of what he wants in legislation on healthcare.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), the 21st chair of the CBC, introduced the president and first lady at the black-tie event.

At first, the president walked to a podium on stage right, before being directed to another on stage left. “They don’t want me to be on 
the right,” he joked. “This is the CBC.”

Obama also talked about economic stabilization during his presidency. “Some people seem to have forgotten how bad things where when I took office,” he said.