The White House and members of Congress are playing down the public option on health insurance.

They are trying to get as much bi-partisan support as possible to get the legislation passed - and the public option seems to be one of the most divisive parts of the reform.

"I urged the president to take the public option off the table. There's no way to pass a plan that includes the public option," said Sen. Olympia Snowe. R-Maine.

Snow added that clinging to a public option "leaves open a legislative possibility that creates uncertainty in this process."

White House Adviser David Axlerod said "We should not let the whole debate devolve into this one question."

Instead, Democrats seem to be redirecting the debate to imposing regulations on insurers and promising coverage regardless of medical condition.