Rockefeller: GOP Bringing "The Hammer" Down On Snowe

The Plum Line:

There's a very revealing moment in an interview that public option hero Jay Rockefeller gave to Ezra Klein. Rockefeller suggests he has first-hand knowledge of the tremendous pressure GOP leaders are putting on Olympia Snowe to not join Dems on health care reform:

I think the world of Olympia Snowe. She's got incredible courage, and the Republican leadership is brutal in the way they apply pressure. Much more so than the Democrats...

They bring the hammer down on her, and I'm not going to say how. She's very strong, and she represents a very rural state that has gone blue. So I don't know what she's going to do, and I'll respect her whatever she does.

Read the whole story: The Plum Line

Comments

[CaptainVideo]

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee & Democracy for America are running ads in Maine and Washington urging Snowe to support the public option. To see the ad, and hopefully to contribute, go to the following link:

http://www.actblue.com/page/snoweaccountability?refcode=poh_snowe-kicker-pccc-a

Contributing to this ad is an effective way of actually making a difference, rather than preaching to the choir here, which may make one feel good, but will not move the process forward.

PUBLIC OPTION. YES WE CAN!

[CaptainVideo]

What she needs to do is obvious. She needs to follow Specter's example. There is no more room left in the Party of No for people who are not right wing ideologues. The Republican pary has left her, so she needs to complete the process by switching parties.

[Freedom of Logic]

Dont do it snowe!!!! Dont drink the punch!!!

[atretrioeciii]

I'm trying to figure out just what the health insurance companies provide in terms of service. I'm 37 years old, I joined the Marine Corps at 19, got out at 22 and I have been fortunate enough to be employed ever since, there has been I would say at least 8 years where I wasn't sick or injured but I paid for health insurance during that time. When I multiply that by millions the amounts become incredible. I just can't figue out what the health insurance companies actually DO. Is it all just paperwork? How much can that truly cost? Ae we too dumb to do it ourselves? I get the feeling I'm being taken advantage of, but I don't know how. Becoming rich from curing the sick is only a little shady, but I can see why it happens, but becoming rich from paperwork? Being a doctor requires a skill-set most people just dont have, they should be compensated. But PAPERWORK? The insurance companies must do something else right?

[Ourrias]

Why would any woman be a Republican - - much less a Republican legislator??

Never underestimate the power of self-loathing, I would say.

[PhilipTaylor]

Republicans have it RIGHT! We need Health Care Competition with Internet Exchange so we can all compare 1,300 Insurers on Total Cost, deductibles, coverage, co-pays, etc. 100% of Citizens the Internet Exchange that shows Private and Public Plans ranked by cost, benefits, deductibles, or co-pays to select best plan for them!

Democrats have it RIGHT! We need a STRONG Medicare Public Option as part of that Internet Exchange!

Baucus has it WRONG! Isolates 180 Million people from having a CHOICE of employer Coverage or buying through the Internet Exchange!

If 0BAMA agrees with Baucus then 0BAMA is also WRONG!

If Medicare is ranked with the 1,300 Insurers by ANNUAL COST then Medicare will more frequently than NOT be the Best Plan (Top in the Sorted List) so competition will be the key to having a market!
_______________

COMPETITION with Private & Public Options = Lower COST Health Care for ALL

Insurers will have to lower prices and increase coverage to compete! That will be the best way to insure Innovation and lower costs!

NO Rejections of any kind by Insurers!

[patricksmom]

Quite frankly, if Ms. Snowe has a difference in conscience on health care reform with the GOP thugs, I don't see how she could remain in the party.

[rich misty]

If you have a conscience, voting it is contrary to Conservative ideology. As for what will they do? Well, they told people McCain had fathered a black child out of wedlock. Nobody knows just how low Republicans go.

[UncleJimbo]

I sorry but I think someone like Snowe with a nearly 80% approval rating in her State and a good reputation Nationwide would be able to vote her conscience on a Bill of this Import! Senators are supposed to be statesmen/stateswomen not political hacks! The pressure on her should not be from her party but from her own conscience!

[ArjenBoatsma]

Theoretically you're absolutely right, Jimbo, but haven't you watched how the repubs have operated since 1994?

[Cinnamonape]

Blue????

The two Open House Sea ts went "D". BHO won the Maine by over 5%. Maine voted Dem. for the l*st 5 Presidenti*l elections.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05E2DC103FF935A35752C1A96E9C8B63

[Kassandra]

We've got enuff trouble with the conservodems. We need to put pressure on THEM like Hamsher is doing with Act Blue over at FDL
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/healthcareaction

Tell Blanche Lincoln and Mike Ross to Act Like Democrats
http://www.actblue.com/page/arkansaspublicoption

[atretrioeciii]

Don't forget Conrad.

[BlackYowe]

The only hope for her is to change parties.

[Kassandra]

Yes, if she is a womon of conscience. But do we really need more "moderates" on our side of the aisle?

[capitaldysfunction]

Some think if Snowe comes on board the health care train the public option falls off. If she stays home a public option can be a reality. I think you're question is important. Democrats don't need more centrist-Republicanextremists.

[ladyvader]

Who is more foolish? The fool or the fool that follows?

[Erik Kurtz]

Republicans have no intention of voting for any of Obama's agenda. Period. To include them in any negotiation is counter productive.

[dumboldfarmer]

Republican party first, America and Americans second. Forget the rhetoric. Their actions are screaming what they are, and it isn't pretty.

[capitaldysfunction]

Two hours of penetrating discussion times the number of Republican health care amendments in the Baucus committee equals SEVEN (7) wasted months of Republican stalling.

[macweenie]

Just a minor change:

Republican party first.
America second.
Americans third.