(Thumbnail image: The New York Times)

President Obama invited leaders from both sides of the aisle to a televised discussion of health care later this month. Supporters hail the move as transparency in action—with Democrats hoping to move forward on negotiations, and Republicans urging the bill be scrapped and started over.

We're looking at perspectives from PBS, Comedy Central, Fox News, McClatchy Newspapers, CNN, and MSNBC.  

Some FOX News panelists suggest that Mr. Obama's plan for an open discussion won't be so simple.  Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino argues - legislators just can't get down to business with the media scrutinizing their every move.  

SCOTT: "Now some pundits like Rush Limbaugh are saying, 'Oh, well it's a trap!'  Is it?  Is it a made-for-TV ambush?"

PERINO: "Well, I wrote this week that I think the President would be better served to not have it on television because we all know what's going to happen.  Anyone, Republican or Democrat, that has a moment where they roll their eyes, or yawn, or scribble something on their paper, or snicker to their neighbor, that's going to be the news, like, that's not enough substance."

The Daily Show's Jon Stewart had a little fun with the speculation that Democrats only want a public meeting so they can catch Republicans off guard.  

STEWART: "An open, transparent, substantive conversation on one of the most pressing issues of our day, or to put it another way..."

GORDON: (media montage)

CROWLEY: A trap.

LIMBAUGH: Nothing more than a trap.

AKBAR (STAR WARS): It's a trap!

STEWART: It's a trap?"

Congressional analyst Norman Ornstein told McClatchy Newspapers the health care meeting is a direct result of Republican filibustering.  

"Republicans have ratcheted use of the filibuster up to completely unheard of levels. Look at the things that the House [of Representatives] has passed that can't make it through the Senate."

Political analyst Keli Goff told CNN she isn’t satisfied with the attempt at a bipartisan approach and instead looks at fracturing from within the Democratic Party.  

KURTZ: "So are you saying the media have missed the story and really the story is a bit of a civil war within the Democratic Party and not Republicans not wanting to give this President any legislative achievements?"

GOFF: "I think the answer is it's both, I don't think it's either/or, I think it's actually both.  And I do think, though, that it's a sexier news story to say that it's the GOP versus Obama as opposed to saying that there is a bit of inner-party warfare going on here."

MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell is arguing that this isn't a debate at all.  He says the Democrats have given up on the health care bill, but need to let it "fade away" gradually to maintain their credibility.  

"I think the Democrats are very deliberately letting their health care bill fade away.  The White House scheduled the meeting for the end of the month because they want to give the media a few weeks to focus on something else.  There's no more talk of deadlines.”

So what are the Democrat's intentions?  Are they hoping to get an open debate, to trap the Republicans, or to abandon their bill?

Writer: Ben Stewart