August Ad Wars Begin: Progressive Group Targets Ben Nelson (VIDEO)

As Congress approaches the August recess with health care legislation still in flux, progressive groups are making an early push to target wavering Senate Democrats.

On Friday morning, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, in alliance with Democracy for America., unveiled a new television ad attacking Sen. Ben Nelson, (D-Neb.) for slowing down the reform process. Narrated by a local Nebraska businessman, the spot relies on the same type of highly personalized testimony of health care struggle that has become a dominant theme for reform proponents.

"Last week my health insurance agent called. He told me my rates were going to go up 42 percent from last year. I can't afford that. I told him I may have to cancel the coverage. I'm just going to pray my kids don't get sick," says Mike Snider, a restaurant owner from Ralston, Nebraska. "Now I hear that Ben Nelson, the Senator that I voted for is leading the charge to delay health reform this summer. That is exactly what they [the health and insurance companies] want...."

PCCC officials say the minute-long ad, one of many run against Nelson over the last few months, will start running this weekend and will air at least 50 times in Washington D.C. and 200 times in Nebraska by next Wednesday. The ad purchase could very well portend a far more politically active and entertaining August than any in recent memory.

Comments

[Level7]

02:56 PM on 08/04/2009

WRITE TO YOUR SENATORS NOW AND OFTEN ! TELL THEM YOU WANT A PUBLIC OPTION. This is far more effective than blogging about it.

[huffy2001]

05:47 PM on 08/03/2009

everyone can donate to this ad at:
http://www.actblue.com/page/stayatwork?refcode=pob_e2_nelson_responds-ns

I did and I feel great. Get the b@st@rds!

[floridafun]

07:34 AM on 08/02/2009

great ad! public option now! this ad clearly and simply explains the only reason the nay-sayers are fighting the public option.
if all the money pharm and ama interest groups are spending telling us obama wants to kill senior citizens was spent instead on visible internal corrective actions maybe we wouldnt be demanding our right to a fair public option!

[swift goat pet for truth]

01:47 PM on 08/01/2009

"the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, in alliance with Democracy for America."

I'm going to have to send them a donation.

[biglith]

10:47 AM on 08/01/2009

The message of progress is powerful. Take heart fellow progressives, our message is resonating with the American people. If our President is a pragmatist and not a leader on progressive issues, he is going to listen to the vast majority who want a system of health care that works for us all. There are NO compromises!

[mcantwell]

09:43 AM on 08/01/2009

Wow, one of the best ads I've ever seen.

[floridafun]

07:34 AM on 08/02/2009

agreed!

[AtlantaBill]

09:22 AM on 08/01/2009

I've just gone to DFA's website and made an initial contribution of $25. I sick of the entire DINO bunch and am willing to put money up to support what I believe. I encourage others to do likewise if you are fortunate enough to have a job and able to give a few bucks. I will keep watching and probably will sign up on a recurring basis if this outfit continue to demonstrate a willingness to go after these dino's

[AtlantaBill]

08:52 AM on 08/01/2009

Wow! Great ad. I'm giving a few bucks now to help support the effort.

[cuniverse]

12:50 AM on 08/01/2009

Wow America are waking up at long last, they are beginning to say that their are other things greater than the mighty dollar .
If you can no longer control the masses by buy them or scare them corporate control is up the creek without a paddle.
The USA social revolution is upon us!!

[patricksmom]

01:41 AM on 08/01/2009

IT is great that we are n ot letting ourselves be defeated.

[Cyclone]

02:30 AM on 08/01/2009

I second that !

[cuniverse]

12:49 AM on 08/01/2009

Wow America are waking up at long last, they are begining to say that their are other things greater than the mighty dollar .
If you can no longer controle the masses by buy them or scare them corperate control is up the creek without a paddle.
The USA social revolution is uppon us!!

[Solja]

12:43 AM on 08/01/2009

I love PCCC. They do better than the DNC! I've donated to them and voted to pick Ben Nelson out of the other Democratic traitors. I support their efforts 100% and hope they push even harder against Nelson because I'm sick and tired of his corrupt politics and keeping us all from having affordable health care. Eff Ben Nelson! LOL!

[unite4change]

11:17 PM on 07/31/2009

We should ask Nelson why he isn't listening to his employer?

[Mikeeee]

10:50 PM on 07/31/2009

I want someone, anyone to ask nelson and the blue dogs, and make them answer the question, why they should have a Gov plan and everyone else shouldn't.

[Level7]

02:58 PM on 08/04/2009

Write to Senator Nelson yourself and ask him. Write to all Blue Dogs and ask them. I did and you can as well! It's easy to google their contact info.

[spytheweb]

09:35 PM on 07/31/2009

Damn, they have dollar amounts up on the ad, that's got to be a killer. People are going to watch this ad and then look at their hospital bills and say, WTF!!!

[whoknew42]

08:12 PM on 07/31/2009

For all you people that have children in hospitals or on medication and you don't know how you can afford their care - wait till after congress gets back from vacation

For all you people that just found out that you have a chronic disease that you didn't see coming and you can't afford the necessary treatments - wait till after congress gets back from vacation

For all you people that have been laid off from work and you have no health care and your spouse/child/loved one needs emergency care and possibly more - wait till after congress gets back from vacation

After this all done and over with - they can all take a vacation for a long time, because they're not getting voted back into office!!

[crazylikeafox]

12:49 AM on 08/01/2009

The bill is written so that nothing happens until 2013!!!!!!!!!!

This is not acceptable. Not by a long shot.