
Here's a snapshot of the electorate, at the moment when a small handful of Democrats have teamed up to tank the public option. A new Research 2000 poll, commissioned by Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee finds that the overwhelming majority of likely voters believe Democrats who vote against the public option should face primaries from their left.
When asked: "If a Democratic member of Congress votes against a public health insurance option, would you want a more progressive candidate to run against them in a Democratic primary?" 84 percent of respondents said "yes," 11 percent said "no," and 5 percent said they weren't sure.
Those are fairly striking numbers, particularly given last night's news that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) is standing in the way of public option alternatives. Lieberman, along with Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) joined forces several weeks ago, insisting they'd filibuster a health care reform bill if it included a public option. That threat laid the groundwork for a new compromise, but Lieberman's saying even that's a no-go.
The overall survey, which will be released later today, polled 802 from December 11 through the 13th--it's margin of error is 3.5%. For the above question, which went to Democrats only question, 256 were polled, yielding a 6.1% margin of error.
pmb50
December 14, 2009 9:58 AM
And still Obama and Reid wont use this weapon
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JeffB
December 14, 2009 10:16 AM in reply to pmb50
Would Anti-Public Option Dems survive Democratic Primries?
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=6635
.
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Viva!America!
December 14, 2009 12:19 PM in reply to pmb50
What weapon? The Polls? there have been plenty of polls and these guys have not responded to either. Threats of a primary? And where are these strong progressive candidates who can win the primary and the general in all of these states? If they exist, they need to speak up the way Sestak did.
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Progressive Party
December 14, 2009 10:02 AM
I am not giving any money to DCCC and DSCC unless they are primary opponents for those who vote against HCR.
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Marquis de SeaToShiningSea
December 14, 2009 10:04 AM
I believe Queen Elizabeth I used pikes and severed heads at about this stage.
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sunnysteve
December 14, 2009 10:05 AM
Perhaps the best strategy for the 50 plus Dem majority is to begin a very public campaign to hammer the health insurance industry that has successfully lobbied Lieberman et al. If health care reform with even an alternative to a public option has to fail, the insurance industry should lose its anti-trust shield, face aggressive efforts to promote competition in every state and certainly not benefit from mandatory purchase of health insurance. Make them reap what they have sown, and make it clear to the American public why we must endure another long period of waiting to join the rest of the wealthy nations of the world in providing for the basic health needs of our people===because the entire Republican party and a few paid for Dems make up a large enough minority in the Senate to block what the public clearly wants.
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masanf
December 14, 2009 11:38 AM in reply to sunnysteve
The public clearly wants this bill? Bullshit.
http://www.pollster.com/polls/us/healthplan.php
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sunnysteve
December 14, 2009 10:06 AM
Perhaps the best strategy for the 50 plus Dem majority is to begin a very public campaign to hammer the health insurance industry that has successfully lobbied Lieberman et al. If health care reform with even an alternative to a public option has to fail, the insurance industry should lose its anti-trust shield, face aggressive efforts to promote competition in every state and certainly not benefit from mandatory purchase of health insurance. Make them reap what they have sown, and make it clear to the American public why we must endure another long period of waiting to join the rest of the wealthy nations of the world in providing for the basic health needs of our people===because the entire Republican party and a few paid for Dems make up a large enough minority in the Senate to block what the public clearly wants.
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JEP07
December 14, 2009 12:12 PM in reply to sunnysteve
"begin a very public campaign to hammer the health insurance industry that has successfully lobbied Lieberman et al"
Here's a good way to do that; get as many progressive candidates as possible to unify with that "hammer" as one of their campaign tactics, use the progressive campaign exposure as the vehicle to keep pounding, in races at every level.
It would be helpful if the left had a Rove character who could pose daily talking points for progressives to use n their stump trail.
There are already progressive organizations with good websites that could act as the core of this progressive ganglion, but the point is that if many progressive candidates were constantly reminding the public about this in their ad campaigns, it will help to help counter the media blackout about the subject.
But the more identical those talking points get, the more they are "hammered home" by repetition, the more the public hears those words as their own thoughts, when they ponder their political positions and contemplate their votes.
The best way for progressives to speak with one voice is to use the same words...
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JEP07
December 14, 2009 12:24 PM in reply to JEP07
84%?
"Those are fairly striking numbers"
overwhelming, at least...
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JEP07
December 14, 2009 12:27 PM in reply to JEP07
Here's a good one;
"America's Health Insurance Companies have not earned the privilege to provide our national healthcare, on the contrary, they have failed time and again to live up to their most basic promises and obligations."
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billpaustin
December 14, 2009 10:11 AM
Just pass it using reconciliation and be done.
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agio
December 14, 2009 10:12 AM
Nothing in the poll about tar and feathers. Those are the numbers I would like to see.
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ru4862
December 14, 2009 10:18 AM
Interestingly all four demcraps in this poll are beatable in a primary and general election.
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sbv
December 14, 2009 10:30 AM
you betcha! the good ol' machiavellian gop craving for the power back they think they alone deserve, know they can only win one of two ways: increase their base or depress the oppositions. all their "we want you to fail," birther, deather, socialist manipulations have been for exactly that.
pick a candidate, get out and work for him or her, ask questions, demand answers, be smarter but above all else vote and vote for a democrat who will represent the wishes of the people and not their own "wealth management."
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eztempo
December 14, 2009 10:53 AM
Reid: reconciliation NOW!
Then remove Lieberman from all committee chairmanships in January.
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Former Federal Employee
December 14, 2009 11:12 AM
Thank God we made that preemptive strike on Lieberman. Imagine if he had survived his primary defeat, won the general election, and then hollowed out or scuttled important legislation. The horror!
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biglith
December 14, 2009 11:26 AM
I am going to make sure as many Dem Reps. and Senators are made aware of this poll. TPM has an "email to friend" feature.
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masanf
December 14, 2009 11:33 AM
Why is there a picture of Lieberman up there? A primary for an Independent candidate? Not happening.
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masanf
December 14, 2009 11:37 AM
Remind me again, which party is supposedly having a "civil war"?
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madmatt
December 14, 2009 12:54 PM
Anybody who votes against healthcare is guaranteed a do-nothing job for the insurance companies as soon as he loses office...and the pay will be MUCH better...so much for a threat!
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