Nelson: If Reformers Keep Attacking Me, Health Care May Be Dead By End Of August
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) sure doesn't like being called out by health care reformers. Here's an ad that's been running in Nebraska, criticizing him for slowing down the legislative process.
In response, Nelson's spokesman says he's "looking to support bipartisan legislation that reduces health care costs, boosts the quality of care and expands coverage to people who can't obtain it now." But: "If this is an indication of the politics going into August, then health care reform may be dead by the end of August."
Shorter version: Critics should shut up about me and my fellow centrists or we'll kill health care reform. You can read the entire statement below the fold.
"Nebraskans don't need outside special interest groups telling them what to think. Senator Nelson has nothing but praise for Nebraska groups working toward health care reform. Unfortunately, he says, these outside groups undermine the sincere and dedicated efforts of people in our state."Recently, similar ads have run in Nebraska. Those ads by other special interests prompted hundreds of Nebraskans to call our offices, with 9 to 1 urging Senator Nelson to do exactly the opposite of what the special interest group wanted. In short, the ads backfired.
"If the impact is the same this time, Howard Dean's Democracy for America will be sorely disappointed. Further, these scare tactics are certain to further divide the public on health care reform, make it less likely Congress will pass real reform and call into question the motives of those who say they want reform, but use the issue to raise money to try to buy influence inside the Beltway.
"Senator Nelson believes that while most Nebraskans want health care reform, they don't want it rushed; they want it done right. He has said he will consider a "public plan" as long as it doesn't undermine the health coverage 200 million Americans have now. He supports Medicare, TRICARE and S-CHIP, and each is a public plan. He also helped establish Kids Connection, Nebraska's public-plan health insurance for children.
"In the Washington debate, various 'public plans' are still being considered, but no single plan has emerged. So, it's ridiculous to suggest that Senator Nelson is "leading the charge" --as the ad says--against something that doesn't exist.
"Nebraskans know Ben Nelson is an independent thinker. He also has a long record in the governor's office and the U.S. Senate of bringing people together and working constructively so important legislation becomes law. Today, he's looking to support bipartisan legislation that reduces health care costs, boosts the quality of care and expands coverage to people who can't obtain it now.
"If this is an indication of the politics going into August, then health care reform may be dead by the end of August."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
This just in from Congresswoman Nancy
July 31, 2009 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
18,000 Americans die every year due to lack of healthcare access but it's all about Ben's ego.
July 31, 2009 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Was this statement on video? They seriously should this statement into an ad and turn right back around and use it against him.
July 31, 2009 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fuck you, Ben Nelson. You work for us.
July 31, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nelson is aware that the Democratic "centrists" killed Clinton's effort at health care reform in 1993. He thinks that history is predictive. He'd better be wrong.
If Nelson and the centrists can kill health care reform, then the Democratic Party is as doomed as the conservative Republicans have already proven themselves to be. With both current major parties self-discredited by the 2010 election then what comes out of November 2010 is simply unknowable.
It might be time right now to start building a true Progressive party outside the two major parties. The media won't figure this out for at least two election cycles. The conservatives, with their backwards view of politics as being a move to what was good in the past, cannot take advantage of such a situation. Progressives, however, are more capable of dealing with such s changing political and social situation.
This is, of course, pure "Blue Sky" thinking, but the problem seems to be that both parties are mired in the experience of the Congressional Leadership with the past, but facing a society and economy that is moving rapidly into the (currently undescribed) future.
July 31, 2009 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
As if they can stop us.
No fucking way.
I don't see anyone stopping this fight.
And I don't see the enormous costs of health care going away.
This is a problem that we will either solve, or will hit us in the face.
Progressives have destiny on their side.
July 31, 2009 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Health care under reconciliation. Tell Ben Nelson he's not a player.
July 31, 2009 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ad must be hitting home. Keep it up!
July 31, 2009 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what I was thinking. Nebraskans should keep the heat up, along with all of the grass roots organizations.
July 31, 2009 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reminds me of what Barney Frank said about the House Republicans after they ditched the bailout because of mean things Nancy Pelosi did in her speech.
Why would these guys think it's fair to punish the country because their feelings are hurt?
July 31, 2009 6:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bill Nelson - dude, you're giving me a bad name. Get your act together.
Ben Nelson - wahhhhhhhhhh
Ben can go screw himself. He can't even figure out whether he wants to vote yea on Sotomayor even though she doesn't change the balance in the court and she's supremely qualified. If he can't even stick with his party on that, what' the point of having him in the party? Go git your Republican registration already. Oh, wait you won't do that because you know well that you have more power being in a strong majority.
July 31, 2009 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who produced this ad? I want to send them some money!
July 31, 2009 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/
I've contributed to them, so I was very pleased to see my donation going to good use!
July 31, 2009 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks! I will send them some bucks!
July 31, 2009 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I went to the site; I have already donated, and will continue to do so.
July 31, 2009 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those ads by other special interests prompted hundreds of Nebraskans to call our offices, with 9 to 1 urging Senator Nelson to do exactly the opposite of what the special interest group wanted.
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Bullshit. If those ads got hundreds of people calling in to say in essence they support what Nelson is doing he wouldn't be complaining about them. He's be hoping for more of them. He wants them to stop because he must sense its hurting him.
July 31, 2009 7:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've got no evidence, but I'd give 3:1 it was an astroturf organized response to the commercials and, again without evidence, I'd give 2:1 it was coordinated with people inside Nelson's office so he could say shit like this next time it came out. Cynical? The people we're fighting on this take cynicism to the level of pathology.
August 1, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
After what came out late last week in terms of fraudulent mailings to one Virginia congressman, I think you may be absolutely right. I seriously doubt that particular mailing was unique.
August 3, 2009 3:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Shouldn't Nelson's statement be reversed? If healthcare reform doesn't pass, he's dead (politically, I mean)
July 31, 2009 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
oceankat beat me to it, but this:
"Those ads by other special interests prompted hundreds of Nebraskans to call our offices, with 9 to 1 urging Senator Nelson to do exactly the opposite of what the special interest group wanted."
Is a fucking lie.
July 31, 2009 8:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
So Sen. Nelson is threatening to kill health reform for the struggling Nebraskans out of spite? That old tactic won't work Mr. Nelson. The only "outside special interest" groups calling you to vote against public option is the insurance companies. I do feel sorry for you, though, you gotten yourself between a rock and a hard place by accepting bribes. Let me help you, vote for the Nebraskans needs and give the insurance money back. I promise you, you will feel much better.
July 31, 2009 8:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...If this is an indication of politics going into August..."
Had the Senatorial Democratic caucus acted like Democrats, this wouldn't be happening in August.
"...then health care reform may be dead by the end of August."
Well, "bipartisan" health insurance reform may be dead by the end of August, but not health insurance reform. Which means Senator Nelson will have to pay off his campaign contributors by voting against reform in full view of his voting constituents instead of killing it with "bipartisanship".
So sad.
July 31, 2009 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alas, I see you have the new talking points. We are reforming INSURANCE now not CARE. What kind of CARE anyone gets is more than obscure. By reforming INSURANCE they avoid making any commitment whatsoever to universal health CARE. It's a very conservative message and the Republicans have been successful in intimidating them into it. After all, CARE is SOCIALIST and implies the dreaded E word - empathy. Insurance is a good financial word and makes certain we all know that insurance is essential otherwise we wouldn't be troubling to reform it we'd simply get rid of it.
July 31, 2009 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nonsense.
Universal taxpayer funded single payer replaces the insurance industry. In and of itself it does nothing to change the manner, quality or efficacy of care.
By contrast we could totally change the way we deliver care-- to improve quality and lower cost-- and it wouldn't really matter who was paying (although paying in a way that rewarded improvments in the quality of care received would be important).
August 1, 2009 12:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let me add to the wave of observations that this Nelson person must be some sort of sorry individual if he is willing to condemn the American people to more of the rotten health care we've been getting just because his feelings are hurt. And the bit about needing more time to do it right just doesn't fly because you aren't working on getting it right anyhow. Your whole purpose has been to get it wrong.
July 31, 2009 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ben Nelson campaign contributions:
Total Campaign Contributions Received: $7,406,540
Top 10 Interests Funding
Interest Contributions
Insurance $608,709
Lawyers/Law Firms $515,785
Banks and Credit $300,219
Lobbyists $283,395
Securities & Investment $278,799
Health Professionals $233,426
Real Estate $225,646
Agricultural Services/Products $186,600 Map
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $183,098\
Food Processing & Sales $151,000
Nelson Opposing Health Care Plan Public Option by
Paul Krugman of the New York Times says so-called centrist Democrats are the biggest threats to a national health care plan public option. He names Ben Nelson as one of them — and guess who is Nelson’s top source of campaign contributions? The insurance industry.
Posted by dale mead, Jun 25, 2009 (11:30pm) at clipmarks.com
Further from campaignmoney.org:
Of Sen. Nelson’s campaign contributions from the insurance and health care industries, 83.4% have come from out of state sources, according to our analysis of data downloaded from the Center for Responsive Politics.
So, out of state interest group money is fine, but out of state criticism is not!
July 31, 2009 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
"9 to 1" is a pretty close approximation of out-of-state contributors to Ben Nelson's campaign pools in relation to people from Nebraska. And a pretty remarkable percentage of those out-of-state special interests are top executives of HealthSouth, other insurance plans, and lobbyists. But then, in fairness, many of these same people also contributed significantly to Max Baucus.
Please see for yourself at www.fec.gov .
July 31, 2009 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
A side effect of the health care reform is corrupt politicians get exposed for the parasites they really are.
Maybe they should ask their pharmaceutical buddies if there is a pill for that!
July 31, 2009 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stick a sock in it, Nelson. You don't know what you're up against. You should probably get on the right side of this before you become known as the lone Democratic senator who tried to kill health care reform.
Do those insurance companies really mean that much to you? Then why don't you resign from the Senate so you can work for them full-time.
July 31, 2009 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Nelson should resign or recuse himself if he is incapable or unwilling to proceed. He has covered himself with disgrace and shown himself to be unworthy of the position he holds. It seems he's not ready for the bigs. Unless "bigs" means big bags of money from insurance companies.
August 1, 2009 1:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Nebraskans don't need outside special interest groups telling them what to think."
Odd. I don't hear Sen. Ben Nelson complaining that more than 55% of his campaign funds come from outside Nebraska.
August 1, 2009 7:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is long past time for someone to bitch slap Ben Nelson! I wouldn't give a damn if his seat was won by a Republican. At least it would be the devil we know!
August 1, 2009 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, the anger, defensiveness and veiled threats in, and the length of, his responsive rant are good signs. It means he's afraid. As long as he's not scared into irrationality fear is the only thing capable of getting his mind right and inclined to screw his contributors and his special interest and wingnut pals rather than screwing his constituients and the nation.
On the other hand, the inclusion of the code phrase "they don't want it rushed; they want it done right" is not such a good sign. That's Blue Dog for "I am Jim DeMint's Bitch!"
Guess we'll find out which impulse wins.
Ordinarily, I'd suggest that we need some carrot with the stick--some reason to believe that the money he loses from the insurance industry will be made up by real people or some legislative plum he wants will be given to him. Unfortunately, in the case of Nelson and Landreiu, I don't think anything other than stick, and lots of it, will get their minds right.
As for Lieberman, I don't know what the hell works on him. His wife's a Big Health sockpuppet and he knows--or thinks he knows--he can get reelected with Republican votes. (And yeah, I know he's getting old, but these guys are like Hyman Roth--they think they're gonna live forever and behave accordingly.)
August 1, 2009 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nelson knows that we Nebraskans don't have much choice. We Democrats either grit our teeth and vote for him,... or let a Republican take the seat. He couldn't get elected as a Republican himself (otherwise, he would be one), but since his stance is always pro-Republican, he can get enough cross-over votes.
So he's sure he doesn't have to keep Democrats happy, only Republicans. Well, I've had about enough. I don't think I can grit my teeth and vote for him anymore.
August 1, 2009 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
So after all the back stabbing he's done to your state over the years FIND someone who holds your values and run them. He's toast next time, and the republicans are a joke and getting worse all the time. Plan and act NOW to oust that ass&ole.
But How???? Start by working for the ONLY solution to this type of crap from Washington and the special interests: Public campaign finance.
When those who run are funded by US then they'll act FOR us. Until then it's "business" as usual.
We get angry with, and attack the pawns while the real power just sucks all the life, liberty and pursuit right out of our children's children's lives.
August 1, 2009 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Democratic voter needs to knock off some high profile Senators who constantly side with Corporations over the public. We need a house cleaning. Chris Dodd is a player, sad to say, he should lose his next race. If we don't send messages to these cretins we deserve the Ben Nelsons we get. Baucus should go. Feinstein should go. And we need to look at Schumer who is in bed with Wall Street. We have to usurp the Clinton wing of the Democratic party.
Bernie Sanders is the only one with any integrity.
August 2, 2009 8:49 AM | Reply | Permalink