Democratic Opponents Of Public Option Called Out In Ad

So, the public option! The GOP hates it, based on some weird read of free-market philosophy that says even though it will be a terrible and inferior product, it will nevertheless be too beloved by consumers for alternatives to thrive. The media thinks it's some oddball idea, which they constantly confuse with the socialized style medicine in Britain and Canada, when they are bothering to discuss the merits of health care at all. But the general public? Well, they love the idea of a public health care option. So, lucky for them the Democratic representatives they elected in large numbers to considerable Congressional majorities are... well, filled with people who have been bought off by insurance companies.

In the Senate -- where filibuster-proof supermajorities have become necessary to do anything, anymore -- Max Baucus, Ben Nelson, Kent Conrad, Mary Landrieu, Dianne Feinstein, Jeff Bingaman, and Blanche Lincoln have thrown up roadblocks to the possibility of a public option. Why? Because of something they call "centrism!" Paul Krugman made note of this in a column on Monday:

The real risk is that health care reform will be undermined by "centrist" Democratic senators who either prevent the passage of a bill or insist on watering down key elements of reform. I use scare quotes around "centrist," by the way, because if the center means the position held by most Americans, the self-proclaimed centrists are in fact way out in right field.

But what Baucus, Conrad, Landrieu, Feinstein, Bingaman, and Lincoln have found out there in right field are millions and millions of dollars from insurance companies which they can use to get re-elected! And when they run for re-election, they can all talk about the pressing need for more health care, which is just adorable!

So, what are the vast majorities of people who support a public option to do, arrayed against an indifferent media and cash-soaked coterie of compromised lawmakers? Well, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee will be running a new ad, calling out these wayward Senators, and are offering the public the chance to get all interactive and whatnot, by offering public option supporters a chance to have their name in the advertisement.

Well, it can't hurt! (If it does hurt, sadly, many of you don't have health care coverage.) The ad, sans names, runs as below:

PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST:
Public Strongly Supports Public Health Care Option
NYT Poll Indicates Even Republicans Back Public Option

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Comments

[Gover]

If there isn't a real, legitimate, national public option, financed so as to be sustainable in whatever legislation gets passed, quite simply Obama will have failed as a leader.

If Obama can't get this done, at the height of his popularity, with massive majority in both houses, than the American people are literally going to have to wait until healthcare costs are destroying every other sector of the country before anything gets done.

If I were Obama, I'd be threatening any dissenters with everything short of ordering some black-ops team to take them out if they don't comply. I'd threaten to endorse challengers in the primaries against them. I'd veto any legislation with their name on it. I'd use every thumbscrew in the drawer to make them comply.

[DestinationsUnknown]

PAC Contributions. Based on data downloaded from OpenSecrets.org, a.k.a. the Center for Responsive Politics. Contributions were tallied from two industry codes: F3200 (Accident & Health Insurance) and H3700 (HMO's). Data covers the 2004, 2006 and 2008 and 2010 campaign cycles.

Top recipients of PAC money from these industries since 2004 are as follows:
Senator Cycles PAC $
Baucus (D-MT) 3.125 $141,250
McConnell (R-KY) 3.125 $110,750
Nelson (D-NE) 3.125 $106,123
Kyl (R-AZ) 3.125 $106,000
Gregg (R-NH) 3.125 $103,500
Grassley (R-IA) 3.125 $95,000
Lincoln (D-AR) 3.125 $91,000
Enzi (R-WY) 3.125 $87,000
Chambliss (R-GA) 3.125 $86,750
Ensign (R-NV) 3.125 $85,750
==========­==========­==========­========
AVERAGE SENATOR $37,267


Three Dems
Lincoln (D-AR) 3.125 $91,000
Baucus (D-MT) 3.125 $141,250
Nelson (D-NE) 3.125 $106,123

'...Max Baucus, Ben Nelson, Kent Conrad, Mary Landrieu, Dianne Feinstein, Jeff Bingaman, and Blanche Lincoln have thrown up roadblocks to the possibility of a public option. Why? Because of something they call "centrism!" Paul Krugman made note of this in a column on Monday:'


something they call "centrism!"
Three Dems
Lincoln (D-AR) 3.125 $91,000
Baucus (D-MT) 3.125 $141,250
Nelson (D-NE) 3.125 $106,123

[olmossy]

Dear Members of the US Congress and Senate .
As you know we are all suffering during this economic downturn.
Alltough it pains us to take this drastic step, we are forced to do so.
We the People of the United States Of America, will no longer be able to pay for Your Health Care Insurance. We trust that this will not inconvenience you. as this is the same Predicument that many of US (Your Employeers) find ourselves in.
We also trust you will not object to a 25% reduction in your Yearly saleries , as you know times are hard..
We are sorry to inform you also that Your Federal Pension funds are bankrupt , and are now non existant.
We know you will bravely face these dissapointments with the same courage and resolve shown by the American Working People.

We trust you will continue to work hard for the American People as you have in the past.

Sincerley
The American People.

[SueInCA]

you should send this to all members of congress. i would send it to at least my representatives,

[olmossy]

I am not computer literate enough to send something to other places. Anyone that is Have At IT!!

[Chaimirija]

y'all should check out the comments on abcnews about BO's 'infomercial'

I have to say, I am quite used to the intelligence on here...eve­n from the who disagree..

[Lori Bowles]

I'm so sick of these people getting paid off, next election Im voiting out who I can. I really wish that these payoffs could somehow be criminalized.
There is always the hope that President Obama gets out of the way and lets prosecution commence on the bush administration, some of these people will be swept away seems how they are a bunch of , well , criminals.

[logicalchoice]

Are these the same Dems that took Clinton's power away from him. They really don't get how important Obama's success is to thier own relections. If Diane Fienstein blocks public health care i will participate fully in her impeachment.

[neesy08]

I don't like the ad. Why not put faces with the names? Americans do not know who Lincoln or Bacus are. Show their faces.

[ObamanextPresident]

Good idea!

[expired]

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[LeLoup]

"The media thinks it's some oddball idea, which they constantly confuse with the socialized style medicine in Britain and Canada..."

Jason,
Let's be clear once and for all: Canda's health care system is NOT ( I repeat: NOT!) "socialized" medicine. It is a private delivery of care, paid for in most part by a public entity. Doctors aren't on a salary, unless they want to be. It's mostly a fee for service like in the US.

GRRRRR!

[HeartT]

Thanks, Krugman. Now all we have to do is to make sure that no matter how much money the insurance companies lay out for these turncoats, that they do not get the votes needed for re-election if they do not consider our wishes for a public option plan.

[pfrogger]

forget reelection, let's get some recalls going.

why wait for them to s.crew Americans again, than wait for reelection.

also, a new law. we will no longer pay for their health insurance. they can all of them get private insurance. and all insurances are canceled when they leave office. right now, they have lifetime, free government-run, taxpayer-paid healthcare for them and their families. FOR LIFE!!!

no more. I don't care if these people pass single-payer or not. they are no longer getting taxpayer-paid healthcare for their families for life!!!

[peacegurl48]

It is time for the Dems to step up on many levels and be the party of the people!

[Jonni Rae]

It's great they are calling them out. I hope they are running the ads in their states. Keep e-mailing and calling, even if out of state. The volume of mail and calls adds up. I don't care what Dean says, which is to concentrate on your state. My state is Kerry and Kennedy, who favor it. So I have to go elsewhere. I say that as a lifelong registered Democrat, heavy donor to democratic organizations, and to the Obama campaign, I will do everything in my power to defeat their re-election attempts if they do not support the public option.

[Lilith33]

These repug light need to be defeated..­.unfortuna­tly they are mostly from the south where they hate "welfare" queens more than they love their kids.Or they are corporate dems who helped sell out the country.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

Read the article... or at least the title. It is about dems, not republicans. Go somewhere else to satisfy your appetite of repub-h8ing.

[Lilith33]

These dems are reug light.

[Lilith33]

Repug light...th­ey are NOT real democrats.

[Conservador-Rebelde]

I've got to go to work now, so please don't think I'm bIowing off any comments you respond back to me.

[millions]

It''s great that people are calling out the Democratic senators opposing the public health option. Perhaps when reelection time comes around, people will look at the independent alternatives to these senators. Of course, by then they can step into lucrative lobbying jobs for the health care industry.

[Graycat]

As long as those who "represent" us must raise thousands of dollars a DAY to insure their reelection every 4 or 6 years, then we can not expect them to act against their own best interests. They will do as their corporate and party masters tell them. Like all humans they act in their own self interests first and ours when and only when there is no conflict.
Health care, environment, financial regulation, you name it, so long as there is corporate money in campaigns WE THE PEOPLE will come second.
If you want to fight for something that will make a real and lasting difference fight for public campaign financing!

[Gingersp]

...and TERM LIMITS!!!!

[Osusuki]

Term limits don't work. Trust me. I'm from California, and I know.