Schumer: Progressive Ads "Hurting Us" On Public Option

The defeat of two amendments that would have attached a public option for insurance coverage to the Senate Finance Committee's health reform legislation has spurred a fresh round of recriminations and finger-pointing within the Democratic Party. And, in a bit of irony, those who have most forcefully championed the government-run plan were among the first to be blamed.

Appearing on MSNBC's Hardball shortly after his public option amendment was defeated, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) lamented the tough ads that progressive groups have run against Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), saying they were counterproductive to getting the provision in the final bill.

"It's hurting us and I wish they wouldn't do it," said the New York Democrat. "What we have to do is show Max Baucus that we have the votes. Today he said he likes the public option. If he thought there were 60 votes on the floor of the Senate he'd be for it. His job is to get a bill through and we all know that getting a bill through is the job number one. And we are showing him. My guess is if you asked Max Baucus at the end of today he was impressed. He was impressed with the argument. He was impressed that we picked up some moderates on the finance committee who people didn't expect. And that's going to continue on the floor."

Schumer is hardly the first Democrat to call on progressive groups to stop targeting members of the party. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel reportedly called the advertisements run against Baucus and other conservative Democrats "f---ing stupid" during a closed-door meeting.

All of which is likely to rankle those progressives who see the failure to pass a public option as a byproduct of massive conservative and special-interest pressure - which they were attempting to counteract. Asked for a response to Schumer's remarks, officials with two groups running the now-controversial ads insisted that they were playing a constructive role in the debate and vowed to keep the pressure on their targets.

"Of course Schumer was going to say what he said," said Adam Green who heads the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. "Good cop can't publicly embrace bad cop. But that doesn't mean bad cop is not needed to strengthen the negotiating hand of good cop. Schumer can thank us after the public option is passed."

Added Charles Chamberlain, political director of Democracy for America: "Senator Schumer was chair of the DSCC, so of course he doesn't like ads against Senator Baucus. And he's right to be worried about these ads hurting Senator Baucus's approval ratings back home in Montana. Montanans want a public option and are counting on Sen. Baucus to lead. So far, he's been letting them down..."

"The ads make sure Senator Baucus understands what's at stake. Bing Perrine, his family, and Montana need real reform. This isn't a political game to them. It's their lives. So, no - we're not pulling the ads. In fact, the first thing we did after the vote, was we doubled our ad buy goal to $200k. As of midnight, we'll be only a few thousand shy."

Comments

[WarriorLemming]

What, Schumer, fails to see is that the money for these ads come from people like me who are his constituents but not for long trust me, Charley, NOT FOR LONG!

Our side won with a landslide last Nov., Mr. Schumer, because we supported President Obama's ideas and plans for healthcare which included a public option so stop telling us to "be quiet" when the other side is making so much noise. We have the majority and a mandate SO USE IT!

[dl63]

I don't get Schumer or any politician. Their position seems to be just shut up and vote and we'll handle the rest. Maybe these ads are hurting, but what have the democrats done to make their voting constituents satisfied that they are working for the 65% of the voters that want a public option. Oh sure schumer is for it, but the ads don't attack schumer. If we cannot express our dissatisfaction with our elected officials, then what kind of democracy do we have. Or shall i say, if the only interests that can express their dissatisfaction with elected officials is corporations, then what kind of demcracy do we have. Has schumer expressed dissapproval of the corporate ads that attack the public option?

[batguano]

If the Dems and their "leadership" had had a spine and pushed the public option (we know they didn't for the real deal, Single-Payer), the progressive block and movement would not have had to come out so forcefully. The lack of resolve and spine by Dems, even after a mandate for "change we can believe in" is the reasonfor the people taking the Bull by the Testicles and doing their job for them. Timid too-little-too-late support for a strong public option has the electorate that elected these people pulling their hair out.

Chuckie sez "we all know that getting a bill through is the job number one"; I disagree, getting a GOOD bill through is job number one, and anything less is not acceptable and should be defeated! I say: If the magic "60 votes" they are trying to sell as the only way to pass reform are not there, then reconciliation and the 51 votes required for that are the answer, and they ram that down the obstructionist Repubs throats to give our nation a semblance of real health care reform!

[jmpurser]

It's a disgrace that ANY elected representative would claim that the problem was American Citizens expressing their dissatisfaction with the behavior of their elected representative. But for a Democrat to do it is even more inexcusable.

Schumer needs to be run out of town on a rail.

[Helzapoppin]

You aren't conning anyone, Schumer.

[SEQUOIABISON]

I would like a further explanation from our sometimes liberal senator as to how exactly progressive ads against blue dog democrats are hurting the cause to reform healthcare?

Are the Democratic senators who have said they will not vote for the public option going to get angry and threaten not to vote for the public option? Sorry senator Schumer we progressives have a right to be heard and to call out the hypocritical senators who lack integrity and are allowing legal bribes to influence their vote, over the needs and demands of their constituents.

[Elderlady]

I respectfully disagree with the Senator from New York.

The ads being run by progressives are fair, accurate, and tell the truth.

Senator Schumer, if the truth hurts...... so be it.

The health care lobbyists, bribing Senators for their vote, are causing people to die. ..... over 44,000 each year.

Which do you suppose is the most "hurtful"?

I thought so.

[eniobob]

No,senator.You are hurting us.Get a spine and grow a pair.

[BARRISTER]

First of all, I do not understand Baucus' logic; if the Option had the votes he would vote for it. What is the basis upon which one votes for a particular bit of legislation? That that legislation 'has the votes'?, or, that that legislation is good for the People? If the latter then Max should vote for it as a matter of princi[pal, if of course he agrees with it. 'Having the votes" cannot be the basis of supporting anything.

Schumer and Rham are two weasels parading as Democrats. They are enablers who will bring down the Democratic Party for their own goals. Sadly, Obama follows them like a jellyfish.

2012 will bring "Change" we can believe in.

[Paisano]

If enhanced interrogation techniques = torture...

Then...

Corporate campaign contributions = bribes!

[Grim Truth]

The only thing hurting health care reform are democrats.

[nomobull]

so because these ads are causing pressure for you to represent your constituents they need to be stopped because they are irritating the guy who is fighting for the insurance companies. scratching head.

[RitaS]

Screw the 60%.... The Repubs could care less what the average Americans are going thru so long as they enrich their personal wealth by getting money from the lobbyist/c­orporation­s!

[Lori Bowles]

The adds should heat up because now we have a dem that has heated the floor up. Grayson, keep these blue dogs and spineless ones in-line, apparently there is a politician from Florida that is setting an example that might light a fire for the rest of them.

[Lori Bowles]

Keep up the adds, there is no way they should stop. No politician likes the light shined on them especially one as crooked as Bacaus, so keep these adds running please. I say expand them. People need to know the truth about who the reps really work for.