White House In Need of a Spine Donor on Health Care?

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel just said, "The goal is to have a means and a mechanism to keep the private insurers honest. The goal is non-negotiable; the path is [negotiable]."

His comments, in a Wall Street Journal interview, indicate that the Obama Administration would be open to health care reform without a government-run public option, the exact opposite message from New York Senator Charles Schumer, who on Face the Nation Sunday said he would fight for such an option.

"Make no mistake about it, the president is for it strongly. There will be a public option in the final bill," Schumer stated.

This comes after President Obama publicly scolded advocacy groups for attacking conservative Democrats who take money from the health industry and who are therefore leaning against the public option. Seems to be a case of broadcasting what you're willing to do without.

Not a very strong negotiating tactic.

After the jump, a short video giving the public the option of making a @#$! call or two to Emanuel...

Smith, Olbermann, Corzine, Schumer and Gillibrand at NY HRC Dinner

New York Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, and Senator Chuck Schumer all spoke at the Human Rights Campaign's New York dinner over the weekend. Newly-appointed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also sent a taped message.

I posted about Smith's remarks earlier this week. Said Smith: "I know one of your top priorities is the recognition of marriage between same-sex couples — something that I strongly support, something that I believe in and something that we will make happen together...Although we do not have the number of votes at this time needed to pass the marriage equality gender bill this legislative session, we are committed to pursuing its passage. And the question is not if; the question is when. So our work still needs to happen for it to happen this year. But I’m going to need your help, and I’m going to need your prayers."

You can watch all of them, AFTER THE JUMP...