The Strategic Value of Ambiguity

Jill Lawrence writes in her Politics Daily column that President Obama's ambiguity about the public option may be strategic. Writes Lawrence, "If I were formulating strategy at the White House, I would be thinking it's way too early to play hardball about anything, especially the public insurance proposal that has inflamed both liberals (who insist on having it) and conservatives (who insist it must be dumped)." Lawrence feels that the President must eventually find 60 votes in the Senate, and he can't afford to lose any votes this early:

The best way NOT to get those 60 votes is to declare right now that you won't settle for anything less than a full-scale public plan. The second best way not to get them is to make clear you'll insist on a public option later, when the Senate is in negotiations with the House to mesh their bills. Thus the best strategy right now is to stay flexible – or at least appear that way. Whether by accident or design, Obama and his team have achieved this. Nobody knows for sure how hard he'll push, or when, or what for.

Interesting. You can read Lawrence's entire column here.