Obama promised a public option (July 17, 2009)

“Any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange — a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, costs, and track records of a variety of plans — including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest.”

Obama said mandates weren’t the answer (February 5, 2008)

“I mean, if a mandate was the solution, we can try that to solve homelessness by mandating everybody to buy a house. The reason they don’t buy a house is they don’t have the money.”