We’ll NEVER get real reform, let alone national coverage. Yesterday I and thousands of other bloggers noted how the American Hospital Association Pre

We’ll NEVER get real reform, let alone national coverage.

Yesterday I and thousands of other bloggers noted how the American Hospital Association President just punked Obama on Obama’s claims on how much in annual cost savings hospitals would provide under healthcare reform.

Well, it turns out there’s even more to the situation. White House staff “aren’t even sure whether or not Obama misspoke on the AHA’s original statement.

Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, said “the president misspoke” on Monday and again on Wednesday when he described the industry’s commitment in similar terms. After providing that account, Ms. DeParle called back about an hour later on Thursday and said: “I don’t think the president misspoke. His remarks correctly and accurately described the industry’s commitment.”

Here’s my guess.

DeParle spoked correctly the first time. But, Obama can’t admit he goofed this badly, first, and second, he still hopes he can browbeat the AHA. Alternative suggestion is he knew from the start he was misstating the AHA position and was determined to use this as a world-moving lever.

In either case, he had to tell DeParle she needed to go out and “respeak.” And she did.

In the first case, we have a president flying by the seat of his pants. Wunderbar.

In the second place, we have a president who thinks that, without the threat of legislation or regulation, he can beat down one of the top players in the medical-industrial complex. And I wouldn’t bet on that.

And, I haven’t even touched the issue of Obama’s Senate water-carrier, Max Baucus, ruling single-payer healthcare off the table.