Like a quarterback heaving a desperate Hail Mary pass in search of victory, President Barack Obama unveiled a new health care reform compromise that eliminates the controversial "public option" provision that would let the government deny or reduce huge insurance premium hikes sought by insurers.

The public option, a government-run insurance plan favored by liberals, was considered a nonstarter by Republicans that Obama seeks to win over for passage of health care reform.

Meanwhile, the insurance premium increases drew anger from consumers and lawmakers, threatening passage of the reform package. The administration said the increases would bring coverage to 31-million currently uninsured Americans without raising the federal deficit.

Obama's compromises prove the president is staying true to his word, seeking an honest compromise with Republicans at what could be a decisive point for his most important policy initiative now stalled in Congress.

Through a year of partisan wrangling over the measure, Americans will get an up-close opportunity to see whether Democrats or Republicans are playing obstructionist politics with the proposal.

Republicans on Thursday will see a plan with changes made to try and win at least some of their support.

Aside from cutting the public option, Obama has adopted several other measures favored by Republicans to eliminate waste and fraud as well as a special provision made to benefit Nebraska residents to get the vote of Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson.

Now Obama faces anger from his own party for eliminating the public option and has again asked Republicans to submit their own plan for consideration.

Let's see on Thursday if the GOP takes Obama up on his offer.