Landrieu To Get The Nelson Treatment From Health Care Reformers

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) took quite the political heckling in Nebraska the past few weeks. Both he and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) have come under fire for their on-again-off-again opposition to a public health care option as part of the overhaul now in Congress.

Nelson has said he won't filibuster a bill with a public option in it, so his foes have moved on.

Now Landrieu will be getting the Nelson treatment. Change Congress, the group that sniped at Nelson the last few weeks, is now setting its (web) sites on her. She'll be on the receiving end of $10,000 worth of online ads targeting her for taking $1.6 million from big health care and insurance interests.

The ads link to a petition calling on Landrieu to back a public option and break with big insurance companies.

The Howard Dean funded group Democracy for America will also go after Landrieu, sending e-mails to its 20,000 Louisiana members asking them to call her office and press her to back a public option.

If Landrieu doesn't move back in support of a public option, said Adam Green of Change Congress, direct mail will be sent to Louisiana donors calling on them to withhold campaign funds -- call it fund-suppressing. DFA, meanwhile, is working on a TV ad set to attack Landrieu for her opposition to a public plan.

Before opposing the public option, Landrieu signed a letter declaring, in specific terms, her support for it.

Landrieu, while saying she opposes a public option, told the Huffington Post that she might still vote for a compromise that included it -- much as Nelson said he wouldn't be the vote to kill it.

"It would be unlikely, but I'm not saying no, no and no," she said.

She reiterated that openness in a statement to HuffPost in response to the new campaign against her.

"Senator Landrieu is committed to reforming the health care system and ensuring that all Americans are covered. She is currently reviewing all of the reform proposals, but does not believe that health care reform starts with a public option. Sen. Landrieu supports a predominantly private system that features a federal backup plan that serves as a safety net. This approach is part of the bipartisan Health Americans Act, which she has co-sponsored," said her spokesman Aaron Saunders.

"As the debate proceeds, Sen. Landrieu is open to compromise in a comprehensive legislative package, and is focused on appropriate consumer protection and patient-centered care."

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Comments

[debrief]

It is so funny yet sad, that in reading the position of people like Landrieu, you can actually feel the coldness of thier response. It is so shallow. We are in a new age and President Obama is buying us time with his continued insistence on a public option, which is our second best option. I just signed the petition linked above, and added some choice words for her perusal. Let's not waste this time and this opportunity.

[lsucwells]

There is no health care reform without a public option. I am a Louisianian who voted for Senator Landrieu. I hope she follows through for us on this important issue.

[Japhet Els]

if you are in favor of the public option AND voted for Senator Landrieu, let Change Congress know:
info [at] change-congress [dot] org.

They need your voices!

[marignymitch]

You can absolutely count on her to 'follow through' to the benefit of herself and the insurance industry, the only constituents that matter in the issue.

[UncommonSenz]

I hope she was just thinking she could have her cake and eat it to- that nobody would notice if she is the one that tanks reform entirely.

I have already written her (yeah, I am sure that will make the difference) and now will be trying to get a letter to the editor published in her state.

To think one person can hold the power to scrap all health care reform (at least that which would actually DO something) is really frightening.

[debrief]

You are one link, do NOT diminish your importance to the strenght of the entire chain. I wrote her too. It is the cumulative power of our actions that count, as was demonstated this past fall, and even now in Iran. Even if you are only one rung on the ladder, rather the first or the last, the top cannot be reached without you.

[UncommonSenz]

Oh, I won't give up- but it does sometimes have a "will this help" feeling to it.

But I am not about to walk away and hope for the best.

[Icantbelieveher]

How much will her campaign contributions from the insurance industry mean if she's voted out in the next primary?

[jonbw]

Let her know that her career is on the line. I would rather have a republican that stabs me in the chest instead of a democrat who stabs me in the back. If you can't get behind something which over 60% of votes support and is a core promise of your party's president what good are you.

Call and demand a public plan open to everyone now.

Callforhealthcare.com

[Paulied]

With so much of her democratic base gone from New Orleans due to Katrina, Sen. Landrieu is working overtime to appeal to the rest of La's conservative. It is a shame , though, that she spends so much energy trying to keep her job instead of actually doing her job.

[tjdumas]

Call her and email her. Trust me, she is starting to feel the pain and I'm sure in a couple of weeks, this itch will be on board. One thing I know about politicians, they like to remain politicians.

[bichn]

"She is currently reviewing all of the reform proposals, but does not believe that health care reform starts with a public option. "

Actually, Senator, there is no real health care reform WITHOUT a public option. Exactly how stupid do you people think American citizens are? I am of course not referring to those who get their 'news' from Rush, OReilly, Beck, Savage, and Faux News in general.