What was best about the Edward's Plan, and Hillary's plan--last I checked, Obama was going to be "figuring something out" but maybe he's refined his position--was that they introduced competition between a national health care plan and the insurance companies, hoping that the national health care plan would serve as a Trojan horse for single payer. Or that was the rationale. DDay seems to agree this is a good idea:

Now, what HCAN['t] actually* favor[s] is a public option being given the ability to compete with private insurance, making gradual the transition to a national health care plan [which I assume is single payer, but maybe not]

(See the note for what HCAN't actually favors). DDay concludes:

I think that the goal ought to be single payer, but anything that helps 47 million people get health care is positive

So let me ask: If you think the goal should be single payer, then why not support it directly and explicitly, right now? Read more…