Nebraska Voters Favor Public Option, Want Ben Nelson To Back It

If Ben Nelson decides to filibuster a Democratic health care bill that includes a public insurance option, he should expect to lose support among Nebraska Democrats. According to a new poll, 46 percent of the Nebraska Democrats interviewed would be less likely to support Nelson in a primary. Only seven percent would be more likely to cast a vote for the Nebraska Democratic Senator.

By a 53 to 31 majority, all Nebraska voters think that Nelson's judgment on the issue could be clouded by the $2 million in campaign contributions he received from health care and insurance interests.

The poll was conducted by Research 2000 for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America, which have been dogging Nelson in Nebraska, from Oct. 29th through Oct. 30th. It sampled 503 likely voters by telephone. The margin of error is 4.5 percent; for Democrat-only questions, it was five percent.

The survey, which was first reported Monday night by Rachel Maddow, also found that Nebraska voters want the public option 46 to 44 percent.

Nebraskans, who live with a heavy insurance industry concentration in their state, have little faith in the sector to put people's health first. The poll found that 69 percent think that insurance companies put their own profits above the health of patients. Just 19 percent say that insurers put patient health first.

Read the survey here.

A spokesman for Nelson declined to comment.

Comments

[grf67]

The Nebraska voters are smarter than their representative.

[GeoLee]

Where does the Oracle of Omaha stand on this issue?

[dcrinaz]

Gee, maybe Nebraska's voters will be able to change his mind if they can give him more money in campaign donations at big pharma and the private health care companies. They should know where his loyalties lie. :)

[Christian Troy]

If he filibusters the healthcare legislation, I will send donations to any progressive who is the most formidable opponent in the next democratic primary.

On a side note, Ben Nelson has terrible hair....it looks like a helmet or a birds nest ;)

[hetrose]

19% think Insurance Companies put customers ahead of profits! What are they smoking up there?

[SeymourButz]

Whenever I see this guy I think of the corrupt Senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

[roquelaure]

I think the money is worrisome and all that. I truly do. And I wish Nelson would fall in line for this, but the poll sounds DEEPLY weighted in favor of a public option. That's a teeny sample size, and a HUGE margin of error.

All of the polls I've seen in the past put Nebraska voters as significantly different from *most* Americans, in that they truly don't favor a public option. That's from a variety of trusted sources, and cited by trusted analysts..­. like Nate Silver. Until I see some polls with more rigorous standards, this seems like propaganda to me. I really hate it when our side does that. Reality has a well known liberal bias, y'all... we don't have to weight the scales to win the debate.

[brady61995]

the people.dem­ocrats are telling him what they want him to do. public opinion is what they are supposed to listen to, variety of trusted sources? i do not trust any source at this point. 0. zip. none

[4real]

With all the money this guy is pulling in from the health care lobby you would think he would buy himself a better hair piece...sh­eesh.

[earlyautumn]

If you're doing business with any company in Nebraska, cancel your business with them, and tell them you cannot deal with a state who has such a backward "prosititute" as their senator.

[earlyautumn]

I've just cancelled credit cards with an Nebraska Bank, and told them it is because of their backward Senator Nelson, who seems to be owned by the health insurance companies.

[1worldaddy]

Ben Nelson is the guy who said we should not judge insurance companies for what they have been, but should judge them by what they will be!" Ben Nelson is also the guy who said "the uninsured aren't really uninsured they can go to the emergency room and receive care"
He claims they (private insurance companies) will "solve the problem of their exclusionary practice of declining coverage for people with current medical problems and preexisting conditions.
He offered no explanation of how they will pay for these drastic changes in their business model. I say they will charge everybody up the WAZOO! Hence the insurance industry averages 30% handling charge/adm­inistrativ­e cost makes for windfall profits that will make Goldman- Sachs jealous.
I am a dad and will soon be a grandpa, lets cut the corporate welfare of an industry that has had 50 years to get it right and costs are further out of control than ever.

[angeranddespair]

If you want to know who's interest Ben Nelson represents you only have to look as far as his pocket book.
Ben Nelson does not represent the citizens of Nebraska he represents himself and the inside of his pockets.

Ben Nelson’s Dirty Money
Polluters & Wall Street
Agribusiness $553,300 Insurance $644,586
Oil & Gas $164,200 Securities $277,899
Electric Utilities $140,199 Real Estate $224,146
Railroads $102,150 Banks $196,429
TOTAL $959,849 $1,343,060
2010 cycle, Center for Responsive Politics, compiled by Center for American Progress Action Fund.

[illinoisan]

Hard to believe that a full 19% of any population would think that an insurance company would put the health of its customers ahead of its profits. They must not have understood the question.

[brady61995]

same ones that still love bush and palin. there is something really wrong with them. they need mental health care worse than anyone.

[Lorianne]

Bait and switch: How the “public option” was sold

http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/07/20/bait-and-switch-how-the-%E2%80%9Cpublic-option%E2%80%9D-was-sold/

[Emerald1943]

Until we get sweeping CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, we will not see any significant legislation that truly benefits the American people over the interests of the big corporations.

But Campaign Finance Reform is not a particularly s e x y subject, not one that will hold the attention of the average American who is more concerned with some silly reality show on TV.

I am hopeful that the current health care reform debate will bring this issue into the light. Lobbyists have free and unfettered access to our lawmakers while we must stand on the steps of the Capitol with our signs and banners, hoping that someone in that shining citadel will hear our plea. The American people need help NOW! And Congress is only listening to those who stuff wads of money into their pockets. The big corporations have all the money...al­l we have is our vote.

C'mon Nebraska! Vote this Blue Dog shill for the insurance companies OUT of office!