Progressive Groups, Supporters, Go After Baucus In New Ad Buy

Progressive groups are launching a new round of advertising against Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, (D-Mont.), in an effort to persuade him to support a public option.

The Montana Democrat was the (unfortunate) winner of a contest sponsored by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America, in which the groups allowed members to choose which senator to target in an ad campaign. Baucus has, at times, indicated he supports a government run plan but it is not certain if the proposal will make it into the final version of his committee's bill.

For this, 15,000 progressive voters determined that he should get an additional bit of political pressure. The ads being run against the senator, which will air in three media markets in Montana -- Billings, Butte-Bozeman, and Helena - are duplicates of an old PCCC spot. Only it is customized for Baucus, pointing to the $3.9 million he has taken from "health and insurance interests."

According to PCCC co-founder Adam Green, the ad will be broadcast for the first week of airing on broadcast TV during news shows, with an eye towards raising money for a second week after that.

The choosing of Baucus as the target of the spot is an interesting reflection of where the progressive sentiment lies in regards to the current debate over health care reform. There were, arguably, other senators whose skepticism of a public plan makes them more deserved targets, notably Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.).

But Baucus plays a unique role in crafting health care legislation. And while he has a reputation of being turned off -- as opposed to influenced -- by political attacks, roughly 23 percent of the nearly 64,000 progressive voters determined over a ten-day period that ads should be run in his home state.

Perhaps an equally noteworthy aspect of the voting: Sen. John Kerry, (D-Mass.), was second in the running with more than 13,000 voters (20 percent) calling for ads to be run against him in Massachusetts.

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Comments

[Imzadi]

Glad my dollars helped!!!!

[LeLoup]

"And while he has a reputation of being turned off -- as opposed to influenced -- by political attacks...­"

We are in the Great Recession Senator; while YOU don't feel it, a LOT of people among the public feels it in their flesh and bones. You ought to understand that the "fed-up" factor is reaching dangerous levels for any incumbent who opposes the legislations that would help the majority.

If the above does not sway your thinking, let me ask you this:

How turned off would you feel if your Senate seat would switch to "Eject" during the next election?

Just look at what happened to the Democrats who opposed President Clinton attempt at reform.

[spinns17]

dinos must go next election

[MrJM]

We can either: 1) b'tch and moan about the quality of the ad, or 2) we can take our future into our own hands and contact the lawmakers who will make a difference on this.

I am amazed at the number of people on this board who expect Congressmen to bravely turn on their corporate paymasters, but who lack the political courage to make the phone calls that will decide the outcome of this battle for health care.

If you want to see political courage, demonstrate it! Make the calls and DEMAND IT!

US Capitol switchboard: [phone].

Max Baucus (MT) "... public option 'on the table'..."

Evan Bayh (IN) "Wants to shift the focus away from public option..."

Mark Begich (AK) "...[his] next election isn't until 2014."

Michael Bennet (CO) "Prefers co-op idea..."

Robert Byrd (WV)

Tom Carper (DE) "Wants co-ops."

Kent Conrad (ND)

Diane Feinstein (CA) "lots of $$ from insurance companies.­"

Blanche Lincoln (AR) "Options should include private plans as well as a quality, affordable public plan or non-profit plan..."

Bill Nelson (FL) "... has avoided openly opposing it." and "... claimed he would not support a filibuster­."

Mark Pryor (AR) "... quiet on the public option."

Jon Tester (MT)

Mark Warner (VA) "... avoiding having to confront the public plan issue."

Ron Wyden (OR) "sponsored Healthy Americans Act without public option."

- from tpm, h/t dems08

[dillydawg]

Thanks.

[Lilith33]

We need a hit list and we can send them money every month.....

[Jerry Rubin]

I would have chosen Sen. Liberman for he get more money from insurance firms.

[John Mainstream]

They call themselves “progressives” now. They see “single-payer” as a kind of Utopia. Normal Democrats think they are nuts!

[MrJM]

Mr. Mainstream

Congratulations on joining HuffPo this just month.

In fact, you're just in time to post industry talking points about health care reform.

Your comments will be considered accordingly.

-- MrJM

[Imzadi]

Luntz talking point.

[John Mainstream]

You can’t expect any Democrat with half of a brain to support what the left-wing, single-payer crowd wants to do to health care. Fortunately, that’s not what President Obama has been advocating. And thank God there are some Democrats in Congress trying to prevent this health care train wreck from happening. We need a genuine bi-partisan approach to health care reform to get something positive done for the American people, as well as for our businesses so that they can start hiring again.

[JackRusselTerrier]

I could care less whose idea it is. Bi-partisan- please give me a break. The only thing you're talking about; is compromising our health care to the insurance companies and big pharma to make more money - at the expense of the American people.

Other counties have it we can too. And don't give me any of that BS about how they don't. I, unlike you, do my research and don't fall for propaganda.

[MrJM]

Mr. Mainstream

Congratulations on joining HuffPo this just month.

In fact, you're just in time to post industry talking points about health care reform.

Your comments will be considered accordingly.

-- MrJM

[zest]

Does not Sen. Baucus see the game, or is he in denial. He is beholden to big health and big pharma for campaign donations, that cannot be denied. He is coming out against health care reform. If Sen. Baucus sides with health corps. and votes against health care reform he will be voted out of office by the American people who are dearly in need of affordable and attainable health care. If he sides with the American people and votes for health care reform he will lack the financial support from health corps. to secure his re-election.
So either way, Sen. Baucus, you will be out of office. So why not go the statesmans route and side with the American people, the people who actually voted for you sir.

[JackRusselTerrier]

If he gets voted out - he'll get a job waiting for him at one of the big pharma or big health companies as a reward for service. Then Big pharma and big health will put their money into the next candidate. They'll donate to both sides of the aisle too, just to make sure there foothold is kept in the game.

There are times when I hope I'm wrong. I don't think this is one of those times.
Please someone. Prove I'm wrong.

[JackRusselTerrier]

I'm not talking about - "there" should have been "their"

[expired]

Health Care: The Public Plan Option

These Democratic Senators have NOT agreed to support it:
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)

These names are reported by The Hill here and here

Update: Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) says she supports a public option.
Update: Senator Jeff Binghaman (D-NM) says he supports a public option.

You can also contact the White House and voice your opinion
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414

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On The Show
Coming up Wednesday, July 22, 2009

[GeorgeBright]

That ad has no emotional content at all - why would anyone care about two doors and some flying numbers over "Apple Macintosh Lite" music? That ad will have no effect on the voters and no affect on the Senator. It's a shame they wasted money producing that ad and then thinking it would be a good idea to buy airtime...

[meremortal]

If the people responsible for this ad are reading this, please fix it! It doesn't work - it needs a strong voice-over and the music doesn't convey any kind of urgency. It's weak, weak weak. This is not the way to fire people up.

[Mij13]

No O Fortuna though.

[PiscesPrincess]

am Not concerned about whether Max is "turned off" by the ads. Rather, the impact on his constituency is the real point here.
tsk.
and of course, John Kerry really icked himself a few weeks ago when he came out against the public option. and this guy was going to be our Secretary of Health ? and push the reform bill ? what a terrible joke that turned out to be.

[JackRusselTerrier]

The joke is on us. Democrat / Republican - The lobbyist contribute to both sides. This is the old tactic of divide and conquer or good cop / bad cop. Don't believe me: follow the money of just about ANY politician nowadays. There a few good ones out there , but they are far outnumbered.

[socalgal38]

You are absolutely right on this. Check out www.opensecrets.org. I don't know anyone that wants public INSURANCE option. This is not health care reform.

[spinns17]

check this out http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2009/05/08/fortune-ge-healthcare.fortune/

[asscher]

oops...'co­untry'