The big media announcement this morning is that Obama is backing off the public option as part of a new health care system in a bow to political reality. Such was the impression given by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on the Sunday talk shows. What raised my suspicion as to the total rejection of a public plan to compete with private insurance were remarks I heard made by Sebelius on CNN's "State of the Union" and Gibbs on CBS "Face the Nation."  Both concluded that although the government insurance option is not essential, keeping insurance affordable is.  Sibelius further stated on CBS that the whole new marketplace can't be turned over to insurance companies because they can't be trusted to do the right thing.  Gibbs further clarified his position on CBS by expressing a need for choice and competition in the insurance market.  Gibbs further went on the...(Read Full Post)