Looks Like It's Option Three

Earlier today, I went over Sam Stein's options for where Obamacare was going:

1. Make Lieberman play ball.
2. Get a Republican instead.
3. Dump the Medicare/public option to appease Lieberman.
   
4. Budget reconciliation.

Of course, option three is the least favorable option for the Dems.  So guess which one Obama's going for?

The White House is encouraging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to cut a deal with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), which would mean eliminating the proposed Medicare expansion in the health reform bill, according to an official close to the negotiations.

But Reid is described as so frustrated with Lieberman that he is not ready to sacrifice a key element of the health care bill, and first wants to see the Congressional Budget Office cost analysis of the Medicare buy-in. The analysis is expected early this week.

And Democrats continue to play directly into the Republican dream scenario:  either progressives kill the public-option free bill from the left and they take the blame, or the Republicans get the plan they wanted that precisely none of them will vote for and they will ride that right back into power to finish America's middle-class off for good.

Keep it up, guys.  You're doing a hell of a job.  Now granted, this is Politico reporting this, so it has to be taken with a metric ton of salt.  But the White House goes down option three on this, they're goners in 2010 and 2012.

[UPDATE 3:30 PM] White House is denying the Politico story outright.  Clock's ticking however:  the deal has to be struck before the end of this week or it's on to the next deadline:  the State of the Union address.

[UPDATE 2 4:15 PM] Lieberman was for the Medicare buy-in just three months ago.

Democrats are idiots for dealing with this man.

[UPDATE 3 6:45 PM] HuffPo's Sam Stein says the guy behind the White House push to get Reid to cut a deal with Lieberman is...surprise!  Rahmbo!

His direct message to Reid (D-Nev.), according to a source close to the negotiations: "Get it done. Just get it done."

And it keeps getting better.

[UPDATE 4 10:55 PM]  CNN is backing up Stein's information.

Senate Democrats are preparing to drop a compromise health-care plan that would allow 55- to 64-year-olds to buy into Medicare because of opposition from Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, two senior Democratic sources said Monday.

"It's what the White House wants, and there aren't many other options that allow us to finish by Christmas," said one source.

The Hill is backing it too.  All indications are Harry Reid will drop everything to appease Lieberman.

Keep walking into that jet engine, boys.  Senate King Poobah Lieberman owns your asses because you're letting him do so.