Healthcare Reform: Competition and the 'Public Option'

Last night, ABC News televised a so-called "

town hall" from the Obama White House. Today on Capitol Hill,

committees were meeting both in public and behind closed doors while thousands rallied on the streets outside. There's a rare consensus in Washington that this is the moment for healthcare reform if Congress takes action before the end of this year. With protracted wrangling, the opportunity could be lost, and debate has bogged down over a public plan to compete with private insurance. Would it help maintain high quality at reduced cost? Would it drive insurance companies out of the healthcare business? We look at the pros and cons and at competing efforts to shape a winning message. What are the roles of ideology, media manipulation and money?