TONITE: This Won’t Hurt A Bit

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[Illustration by ALEX FINE]

WASHINGTON POST: President Obama signaled that he would extol the value of a “public option” in health insurance reform when he addresses Congress Wednesday night on the issue but that he would stop short of threatening to veto a bill that does not include the provision. Obama’s much-anticipated nationally televised speech to a joint session of Congress at 8 p.m. Eastern time is aimed at providing details and clarification on where he stands as he attempts to push through an overhaul of a system that he says threatens to drag down the U.S. economy over time if left unchanged. MORE

DAILY BEAST: Alterman warns that Obama has to time his abandonment of the public option perfectly so that liberals don’t feel betrayed. “That way, he builds for the future and protects himself against a colossal screwup that leaves everybody furious and his presidency and (not incidentally) progressive hopes for the future of this country in the dumpster.” Obama and his advisers have concluded that the liberal base of the Democratic Party does not constitute a sufficient basis for effective governance. He cannot use it as George W. used his—to threaten, to cajole, to harass and to frighten recalcitrant legislators into line. MORE

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