Exclusive: MoveOn Targets DiFi On Healthcare In New Ad

Intensifying efforts to keep recalcitrant Democrats in line on health care, the progressive activist organization MoveOn.org is launching a new television ad calling on Sen. Diane Feinstein to stop "dragging her heels" and support "significant" reform.

"California voters sent Senator Dianne Feinstein to Washington to fight for us," goes the script. "That includes fighting to pass President Obama's health care plan. A recent poll shows that 71% of California voters want a significant overhaul of the health care system now. But Feinstein has been dragging her heels, saying health care may just be too 'difficult.' News flash Senator: We don't expect you to lead just on the easy issues. Senator Feinstein, please: Fight for California. Fight for President Obama's health care reform now."

The ad, which will be released on Friday and runs in Washington D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco through the week, comes days after Feinstein expressed doubts about health care's passage during a segment on CNN.

The California Democrat has, since then, come under assault from a variety of progressive-leaning health care and advocacy groups, many of which have long viewed her politics skeptically.

As for MoveOn, the new ad also reflects a stepped up effort on its part in the health care debate. The vast majority of the group's five million members already likely support a progressive vision for health care reform. And they could play an important role in maintaining cohesion within Democratic ranks. Feinstein is an early target. But it wouldn't be surprising if there were others.

WATCH:

Comments

[OneHeart]

Ever since Sen. F stood at the steps of City Hall and announced the death of Moscone and Milk, you could feel the gleam that she was now in power. She scoffed the murder and went on to be the conservative Dem for SF. The people of SF and Cal deserves her and Pelosi. Both were into the power more than serving the public. ...and now, we all have to deal with Sen. F. forever because she's an incumbant, and people vote with name recognition rather than their record. She needs to go but will the people of Cal be intellectually strong? Nope.

[Chaimirija]

So, we did not learn our lesson from the Harry and Louise years. And when premiums are 25K a year, who ya gonna call?

[millions]

I'm glad that Moveon.org is calling her out, but I really wish there were some mention of the public option in the add.

[ohmetoo]

Take the PROFIT out of the Suffering. It's simple, it's called SINGLE PAYER Dianne.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

Instead of these bought and paid for senators telling us how difficult it is to produce a single payer universal healthcare plan,why can't they just shut their pie holes and vote for what their constituents want?It's a slam dunk it's the cheapest and best way to go and yet those $$$$$ they've been taking in, like children taking candy,precludes any independent voting on their part.

[jmpurser]

I think, sadly, you just answered your own question.

[econ1]

I'm astonished that 29% don't want someone else to pay for their health care.

[jmpurser]

Actually that's 72% who are willing to pay FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S health care.

America appears to be far better than the people elected to govern it. I know, I was shocked too.

[Coltrane1234]

It's not even really about that, it's about bringing down costs for everyone and covering people the health insurance people won't cover because of preexisting conditions, the exact people who need health care the most. Everyone benefits from health care reform, all companies who provide health care would benefit from reduced costs, even health insurance companies themselves.

[juanjo]

This is a joke right? After all we all pay for health care whether we receive it or not. We pay taxes, part of which go to public health programs which are often overburdened due to people using them as their medical treater [think emergency rooms]. We pay for it in inefficiencies in the productive output of the country caused by people working while ill or missing work with serious illnesses that could have been easily and less expensively treated early on.

Some form of a single payer program, similar to what Kaiser set up for his employees during WWII is cost effective, spreads the costs out among all, increases efficiency and most importantly keeps people healthy.

[Chaimirija]

ummm, by getting a tax break, quite a few people are already getting it at least subsidized by others...

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

The most important question that can be asked of almost all senators regarding their position on healthcare,"What's in your wallet".

[jmpurser]

Good one.

Health care reform? Expensive!

Massive bribes to PREVENT health care reform? Priceless!

[TovSquirrel]

There could be 99.99% of Californians for health care "reform", not that it would matter to DiFi. She will vote her "conscience" in any case.

But her "real" constituents, the corporations who contribute to her campaign fund, will be well-represented by her vote and rhetoric.

[calfacon]

And her conscience is clearly reflected in her net worth and the improvement thereof. What a flippin' explicative!!!!

[westreal]

That's what I'm talking about. This ad has me fired up and ready to go!

[jmpurser]

Ready to go where? President Obama doesn't actually have a health care plan.

[TruEngineHearing]

Big Pharma is killing the nation. Fact. Read about it... go find out; it's a huge part of where America is right now.

Feinstein must lead in this area or she will take the biggest fall of her life. People are fed up with the inaction of people who sit in chairs meant for people who can act. I have much admiration of DiFi - but I'll help throw her under the truck if she does not lead on this issue. Fact.

[Bronxdude]

Tort reform is the republican answer to the health insurance crisis undermining America. Incompetent and substandard doctors kill or injury thousands of people everyday, and the republican response to this spiraling epidemic is to place a cap on liability claims, which in their deluded state of reality will reduce healthcare cost by reducing malpractice settlements. Malarkey! Making incompetent doctors unaccountable will not lower healthcare cost, just their malpractice premiums. Like any profession, if greed-driven doctors want lower liability premiums, then they need to police their ranks and drive out those responsible for driving up the cost of malpractice insurance. While doctors will talk amongst themselves about poor quality doctors, they never report them to the Medical Board. Instead, they allow them to quietly relocate to another state, so they can continue practicing dangerous medicine. It’s no surprise why crooked republicans silenced by pay-offs and kickbacks would ruthlessly push reform that punishes the victim and rewards the perpetrator. The military is notorious for commissioning doctors who have had their license revoked or suspended. Unlike civilian doctors, military doctors don’t have to have a license from the state where they practice; instead, they can shop around, conceal their malpractice history, and get licensed in a state with less stringent requirements, since the military does not require their doctors to carry liability insurance, and they can’t be sued for negligence or malpractice. Competition via the public option choice will drive down cost and impede republican profiteering.

[Bronxdude]

If competition is the lynchpin of capitalism, then let the greed-driven health insurance providers compete with the feds for my business. Limiting choice drives costs up, increasing profit for a select few, which is why republicans support the monopolistic advantage health insurance companies enjoy. Since obstructionistic republicans embrace the methodical pilfering of Americans by ruthless corporations like UnitedHealthcare, this is why we need the government between the public and parasitic health insurance providers. Through mendacious scare tactics, republicans distract and whip up baseless fear by cautioning Americans that reform will lead to rationed healthcare, with the end result being that the feds will come between the patient and their doctor. Contrary to specious talking points authored by self-serving republicans long on rhetoric and short on substance, as it stands right now, without true marketplace competition a public option will generate, unregulated health insurance companies dictate not only the cost of my healthcare, but how, when, and where I receive medical care. Republicans are bankrolled and controlled by the same health insurance industry they fought to deregulate, which is why they defend the extortion of the American public by these opportunistic companies. Historically, deregulation inspires corruption, which is the case in Georgia, where the Insurance Commissioner, an elected republican, is under investigation for receiving illegal contributions from the same health insurance providers he is tasked with regulating. The majority of Americans want a public option because the current system is rigged against them.

[jmpurser]

There's no evidence that "limiting choice" drives up cost when one of the "competitors" isn't out to make a profit. There IS evidence that having thousands of health insurance providers dilutes the pool for insurance purposes and results in massive duplication of efforts which both serve to drive costs up.

And there's no evidence that health care follows a choice model either.

And there's no evidence that any future "public option" will either be public, an option, or will drive costs anywhere. The plan hasn't been written yet and no one is saying how it will accomplish anything.

Single Payer on the other hand has a long well proven record of dealing with exactly the problems that are causing our current health care crisis. A shame President Obama took it off the table.

[Chaimirija]

I think it is because it would be hard to beat in a debate

[Bronxdude]

In collusion with health insurance corporations, pharmaceutical manufactures, and physicians who regard healthcare as only a revenue stream, the Reagan deregulated, for-profit medical culture has methodically raped America, while complicit, unscrupulous, and self-serving republicans silenced by special interest and kick-backs acquiesce. Since obstructionistic republicans support the systematic plundering of the middleclass by ruthless corporations like UnitedHealthcare, this is why we need the government between the public and greed-driven, parasitic health insurance providers. Profit at the expense of human suffering is a republican engineered abomination. Forget bipartisanship; true not-for-profit reform will provide affordable and competitive options that include a public offering. Since Georgia is self-insured, state employees have no due process patient protection rights, which means UnitedHealthcare can deny medical care and authorize exorbitant copays and deductibles with no appeal oversight. Real, quality-driven reform will end the monopolistic strangle-hold enjoyed by morally bankrupt health insurance corporations. In Georgia, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare officials colluded with state republicans to eliminate Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a competitor, narrowing the slate of choices to two, with the end result being higher premiums, bigger profit, and reduced benefits. Mr. Obama: The health insurance industry (and the despicable republicans they bankroll) will not retreat quietly from billions in annual profits! I want the same public option Congress and the military enjoy. When compared to the average American, why do politicians live longer? Answer: universal health insurance. Real choice will end the single profiteer option extorting Americans.

[calfacon]

BRAVO!!!!

[KevinLoyalAmerican]

Feinstein has been "Joe Lieberman in drag" for a very long time - I am astonished that a progressive state like California can't come up with somebody to get her out in a primary election.

The time has come.

[jmpurser]

They're only partially a progressive state. The core of CA is staunchly regressive republicans. It's why they're in such a pickle financially now.

[jmpurser]

And thank you SO MUCH for the "Lieberman in drag" image. Can't get it out of my head and he's singing the "Monty Burns" song from the Simpsons.

I KNEW I gave up drinking too soon!

[naschkatze]

Unfortunately you have to wait until 2012 now. I griped about her on the blogs in 2006 as being exactly like Lieberman, in drag or not, but the liberal blogosphere could only deal with one Lieberman at a time. I can't see her getting a primary challenge--she's just too powerful, but I think the general election is going to be much tighter for her than her previous contests.

[Lemeritus]

Nate Silver has an interesting model tracking the effect of lobbying money on health care reform at:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/special-interest-money-means-longer.html

Bottom line: the more money, the less support -- across the board.

[aigeanta]

Interesting link; thank you.