Obama today: “I have not said that I was a single-payer supporter because frankly we historically have had a employer-based system in this country, that’s private insurers.”

Obama in 2003: “I happen to be a proponent of single-payer, universal health care plan.”

Also, on the point Rich’s correspondent made about Obama’s explanation today that there’s a difference between a “universal” plan and a “single-payer” plan — something he did not say in 2003 when, as just noted, he said he was a proponent of “single-payer, universal health care” – here’s Obama in 2007:

My commitment is to make sure that we’ve got universal health care for all Americans by the end of my first term as president. I would hope that we can set up a system that allows those who can go through their employer to access a federal system or a state pool of some sort, but I don’t think we’re going to be able to eliminate employer coverage immediately. There’s going to be potentially some transition process. I can envision a decade out or 15 years out or 20 years out. [Emphasis added.]

And here he is again in 2003:

I see no reason why the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, is spending 14% — 14% of its gross national product on health care — cannot provide basic health insurance to everybody. And that’s what Jim’s talking about when he says, “Everybody in, nobody out,” a single payer health care plan, universal health care plan. That’s what I’d like to see but, as all of you know … [Emphasis added.]

Rush had it all today, here.