Not the person you replied to, but there are different narratives for it:
"Democrats didn't want it because their insurance company sponsors didn't want it."
"Democrats didn't fight for it because they needed votes from a few people who wouldn't support it."
I'm partial to the view that they could have motivated those few senators to vote for a public option if they tried. Democrats wave their hands too much on the viability of progressive policy for my taste. Whether the belief in that unviability is genuine or a smokescreen is uncertain.
"Democrats didn't want it because their insurance company sponsors didn't want it."
"Democrats didn't fight for it because they needed votes from a few people who wouldn't support it."
I'm partial to the view that they could have motivated those few senators to vote for a public option if they tried. Democrats wave their hands too much on the viability of progressive policy for my taste. Whether the belief in that unviability is genuine or a smokescreen is uncertain.