Senator Ben Nelson Is Angry (Second in a Series)

Change Congress launched its second "good souls corruption" attack yesterday, this time against Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. (Two Dems in a row; we'll be more balanced next time.) The attack has excited an hysterical response from the Senator's office. Read about the charge (here) and the response (below), and then please sign our petition to Senator Nelson.

At the beginning of May, Senator Nelson was reported to have said that including a "public option" (giving Americans a choice to opt into a public system) in a national health care proposal was a "deal breaker," and that he would "form a coalition of like-minded centrists opposed to the creation of a public plan, as a counterweight to Democrats pushing for it."

On May 7, our friends at Public Campaign produced a report that showed that Senator Nelson has received more than "$2 million from insurance and health care interests in his three campaigns for federal office."

These two facts together expose Senator Nelson to the charge of "Good Souls corruption" -- legal, even ethical acts that reasonably lead the public to wonder whether it is the merits or the money that is driving this Senator's decision.

Senator Nelson responded immediately to the attack by issuing the following press release. [Bracketed annotations are courtesy of me, not the Senator's staff.]

NELSON: NEBRASKANS BEWARE OF MISLEADING FUNDRAISING GIMMICK

May 28, 2009 - The office of Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson today warned Nebraskans not to fall for a misleading fundraising gimmick by a special interest group called Change Congress. The group has issued a press release concerning Senator Nelson and said it was sending mailers to Nebraskans.

Senator Nelson's spokesman Jake Thompson issued this statement:

"There's no doubt Senator Nelson understands the insurance industry's important role providing health care for millions of Americans. After all, he's been an insurance executive [The ever effective, "I'm a former insurance exec!" defense], an insurance industry regulator, a governor who created a children's health insurance program, and today he represents Nebraska, arguably the insurance capital of the world. [And no doubt the insurance industry fundraising capital of the world.]

But let's look at this group closely. They claim, 'Ben Nelson said he may not support Obama's plan.' Can they send us a copy of the plan? [Maybe not, but we can certainly send you again to the report indicating he opposed a key element of the President's plan] No, because President Obama hasn't offered a specific plan yet. Next, they ask if people are ready to change Congress and 'take on special interests' and 'only donate to politicians who prove they are willing to do that.' Then, they promote an election law proposal they're lobbying for.

So, let's get this straight: These people are endorsing something they haven't seen [No idea what this means: We're endorsing a bill introduced by Senators Durbin and Specter. We've seen this bill.], criticizing Senator Nelson for something he hasn't done [Interesting. Where is the press release denying the reports from the beginning of May?] and using health care as a fundraising gimmick [A "fundraising gimmick"? If he means we're fundraising around this issue, that's false. If he means our strike is a "gimmick," then what's he so upset about?] --to lobby for unrelated special interest legislation. ["UNRELATED"!?!! Are you kidding me? One can define corruption as unrelated to the objects corrupted, but that doesn't make it so.] These people have a political agenda that has nothing remotely [We have an agenda. It is to create a Congress where legislation is on the merits -- not, as it is today, guided by the implicit threat of large campaign contributors.] to do with helping Nebraskans get and keep affordable, high quality health care. Their effort is silly, sad and sophomoric. [Unlike this sort of name calling.]

Nebraskans are far too smart to fall for just another special interest group grabbing a hot issue and misrepresenting both the president [Um, where did we misrepresent the President?] and Senator Nelson [And where was Senator Nelson's letter to Ryan Grimm complaining he had misrepresented him -- before we raised this issue?] to raise money to lobby Congress [And where is our effort to raise money to lobby Congress -- we've asked people to STOP giving money to Congress.]"

Here are some facts about Senator Nelson and health care:

1. During his presidential campaign and recently President Obama has said Americans who like their private insurance will get to keep it, or have the option to join another plan.
2. Ben Nelson agrees and he's eager to see more details from the president, and he wants to make sure that the 85 percent of Nebraskans who have insurance today will continue to have the option of staying with their existing plans.
3. Senator Nelson believes that all Americans should receive health insurance and agrees with President Obama that those who currently have health insurance should be assured that it won't be taken away from them.
4. Senator Nelson is spending much of the congressional break in Nebraska this week meeting with Nebraskans, listening to them discuss health care and reform ideas. He's listening to patients, providers, employers and others. He looks forward to hearing from many more Nebraskans on ways to strengthen, broaden and provide stability in America's health care system."
5. [But please notice, Senator Nelson has not indicated that he supports a central idea in Obama's plan -- that Nebraskans will also have the freedom to choose a public option if (and imagine this) the private options are too costly.]

As I said, this is only the second in a series. (The first was Representative Conyers.) We will continue to call out members of both parties -- and again, I promise, a Republican is coming soon -- who make it too easy for Americans to believe (as 88% in my district believe) that money buys results in Congress.

Congress could change this problem tomorrow -- by enacting the Trustworthy Government Now Act (aka, the "Fair Elections Now Act"). And of course Members can avoid the charge of "good souls corruption" by co-sponsoring that bill now.

But meanwhile, we'll be working hard to make more enemies, by making the status quo very uncomfortable. Nice was for the 90s. CHANGE was the promise for today.

Tell Ben Nelson to (be)come clean.

Join our Donor Strike -- promising not to support any candidate who doesn't co-sponsor the Trustworthy Government Now Act.

And finally, celebrate this good news just in: Senator Nelson now indicates that he has changed his view, and is now "open" to the public option.

Bravo, Senator. Now about the system of funding that makes people wonder?

Comments

[castlerider]

Americans, we still have a long way to go to really experience our best days, and our best freedoms.

When that day comes, it will be absolutely illegal for ANY financial institution, corporation, health organization, or religious institution to buy their way to power and contribute to ANY political campaigns.

That day sure can't come soon enough for me.

.

[oldgeek1]

I am sick of the health care debate.

I don't understand why this has become a Federal Government issue and think it should become confined to the States.

I see this no different than education. No way I would move my family to Texas, Florida or a hand full of other states where the school systems are second rate. Low tax's is is nice political bumper sticker but it comes at the price of second rate services.

If the heath care burden became a state issue rather than federal, then states who step up to the plate would benefit from increased employment and migration from those states who are working their way into 3rd world country status.

[DougNTexas]

Well if health care is left to the Republicans in the State of Texas we won't have any health care!!!

[WowJones]

The cost of health care is far to burdensome for the states alone.

[Mugzi]

DUH!!!! You've got to be kidding...of course, he's bought, paid for, and wrapped with a bow!!!!

[schatsie]

Let me think about this, one man in the state received over $600,000 for each campaign from the health insurance industry...that are acknowledged as being from the health insurance industry..How much did his opponent get, how much did the judges get for their campaigns, how much did the state legislature get, how much did the governor get??????

And this was money that was paid in premiums from the WORKING STIFFS (like me) in this country and so the Elite in the Health Care Industry is looking out for themselves at our expense....and not just at our expense, but at the expense of our healthcare????? With this money alone, they probably could have funded 100% immunization and healthcare for all the children in the state...... WHAT A CF....

[Jim Jaffe - Huffpost Blogger]

puzzing this, asking someone whether they'll support something that cannot be defined because it doesn't exist. is a public plan (a) medicare, (b) existing federal employee health insurance program, (c) new program where government imposes prices as medicare and medicaid do or (d) new program where government is insurer but negotiates prices with providers as private insurers do. all of these have been described by various proponents as the "public plan."

telling an incumbent that you won't back him if he fails your litmus test sets up a situation where he has no reason to listen unless he's already losing, which Nelson isn't. If you're predisposed to be against him, why should he be responsive to you? such tests are techniques that extremists of various stripes have been using to marginalize themselves for years. here we go again.

[castlerider]

Exactly, which tells us why should we even bother to consider this corrupt old coot politician?

Let's just get rid of him as soon as possible and find a way to elect someone who comes from the grass roots and is willing to represent his folks without being bought and paid for ! ! !

Americans, we still have a long way to go to really experience our best days, and our best freedoms.

When that day comes, it will be absolutely illegal for ANY financial institution, corporation, health organization, or religious institution to buy their way to power and contribute to ANY political campaigns.

That day sure can't come soon enough for me.

.

[babyboomerorig]

I wonder how anygry his constituants were at his public meetings. He's not up for reelection till 2012, so he's not caring right now about that...but he should be.

There are time you wish you could be a fly on the wall to hear what somebody else's Senator really has to say at these things. Sure glad I can count on our Senators...Feingold and Kohl.

[tomasedison]

Old Ben is bought and paid for. He knows who he dances for.

[bayside]

I would bet that many of the good old boys club including some dems and most republicans will be found out and we will find out what they did to us.Including the neo con fox news channel.

[joekerr]

Campaign contributions. Hmmm, that’s a tricky one. If everyone running for office was on a level playing ground, then I could see limiting the contributions and the types of individuals who do contribute. Personally, (and remember this is a personal opinion) I don’t think corporations should be considered people, or entities for that matter. A corporation has only one goal, and that is to increase the value of the shareholders profits. Period. That imperative directly conflicts with any loyalty to country or home. BUT on the other hand what if a candidate is cash poor, idea rich and he or she is up against another candidate with money to burn? We’ve all seen it happen, where essentially a candidate buys the election, simply by having more commercials, flyers and opportunity to broadcast a message. So while I would love the whole issue to be as cut and dried as “Don’t take contributions”, I think the only ones who would heed such a request would be the aforementioned candidate. And then we would be doomed to governed by the richest of us all and that just can’t be good. Is there a way to reform the system? For sure? Is there a way to reform the individuals who use that system? Much harder to say.

[LeighAnnes]

I'm with you on that corporation thing. They are not people and should not be given those rights.

[Kassandra]

Thanks for the petition link. I always enjoy giving these camo-republicans a piece of my mind.

[TJCole]

"We have a system of legalize bribery..!"

Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski

[schatsie]

nice quote

[Jaybot]

So in what remote corner of the planet would Nelson have to go to find a political spectrum so skewed that he could be considered a centrist? Once he got there would there be enough 'like-minded people' to actually form a coalition, beyond just a coalition of one?

[Querent]

I don't know. Nebraska is pretty remote, but not actually in a corner. Nebraskans in general seem like a pretty obtuse bunch. They are the descendants of people who gave up on the prospect of reaching California by wagon train in order to huddle in fear in their sod-houses, which resembled nothing else so much as prairie-dog burrows, from the Kiowa and the Pawnee. Who knows what makes such people tick?

[WorkingClass]

I used to live across the river in Iowa. We didn't see Nebraskans as much as you might think. When we did they were usually running from the law.

[Dystopic]

Sounds like to original settlers in the Ozarks ... lacked the gumption to push forward, and ended up farming rocks and meth.

[blindhog]

It's time we did some serious rethinking about alot of things that seem to have gone wrong in this country because the sad thing is, WE'VE DONE IT TO OURSELVES!!!!!!

First, the cost of living for our elected federal employees is so out of hand that they become beholden to major contributors. WE'VE DONE IT TO OURSELVES!!!!!!!

Our reality TV courtrooms are filled with poor people fighting with each other over the scraps the uber rich have left us. WE'VE DONE IT TO OURSELVES!!!!!!!!!!

Like an old USSR dictator once warned, the United States of America is being destroyed and WE'VE DONE IT TO OURSELVES!!!!!!!

[Kassandra]

Ahhhhhhh..­..B*llsh*t­! they've done it to US. Nothing short of a continuation of the revolution of the 60's would have really changed the outcome we see today. But you guys dropped the ball.
Put this on YOUR own shoulders, if you like. I ain't gonna take the blame.

[blindhog]

Who is the they? The people we elected? The USSR?

[Opygollopy]

You should because you are among the millions who by your vote let these elected officials get away with anything they wanted and the time is now to stop them. The internet provides the tool to get the truth out and remove the bums from office. The internet gives a poorer nominee a more level playing field in some aspects especially the truth factor.

The people want the truth now and they are determined to get it. Only republican sheep go for the hype and dont care about the truth. They are so far gone now it doesnt matter.

[WorkingClass]

Senator Nelson bought his senate seat with blood money from crooked health insurance companies. So that he can remain in the senate he wants me to die because I have no access to the health care monopoly. Excuse me if I take this personally. Signing a petition somehow just doesn't do it for me.

[Opygollopy]

Signing a petition will be a step in getting rid of the guy. He is a tool of the insurance company (a perfect one because he was one of them). It wont happen overnight, but, one step at a time will give you back your hope.

[Dystopic]

everyone sing along ...

Ben Nelson of Omaha is people ... people you can count on if you are a large corrupt insurance company...

[marijam]

Thank you so much for this. I certainly did sign the petition and I am looking forward to the next "target".

[BurtonOerney]

Insurance companies must beware of the cunning diabetes patient and the wily cancer victim, for they both fuel and smother the wild flame of success. We must carefully preserve the basic criterium of financial solvency when evaluating coverage eligiblilty. The goverment's role is to act as fire fighter, rushing to bail out the infirm when payment cannot be made. That payment, the ancient and noble custom of transaction, the incantation that makes prayers audible to us every day is sacred. Let the fire fighter remain a public servant so that insurance companies can continue to be its savior.