Video: Nelson strikes back against ObamaCare
posted at 9:28 am on August 12, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Oh, it’s subtle, but Senator Ben Nelson’s new ad that will run in Nebraska makes one clear point to his red-state constituents — he’s not going to be corralled by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, or Barack Obama on health-care reform. Nelson lays out his principles for reform, which include two mentions of cost control and no mention of universal health insurance or public plans. It’s a line in the sand, and it shows the difficulty that Democratic leadership will have in rolling Blue Dogs in either chamber after August’s protests:
Chris Cillizza at The Fix reports on Nelson’s ad campaign (via Jake Tapper):
Criticized by two liberal groups about his approach to President Obama’s health care reform proposal, Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson is hitting back, evidence of the issue’s potential political peril for the 13 Senate Democrats who represent states carried by Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) in 2008.
After Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee went up with ad hitting Nelson for “leading the charge to delay health reform” and accepting millions in campaign contributions from the insurance industry, Nelson launched his own commercial on Tuesday responding to the charges.
“You’ve probably been hearing a lot about health care reform and like too much stuff that comes out of Washington it’s hard to tell what is fact and what is fiction,” Nelson says in the ad, going on to outline his belief that a bill must keep spending down and aid small businesses. “You can count on me to always put Nebraska first,” says Nelson at the ad’s conclusion.
As the polling shifts overall towards opposition to ObamaCare and especially in Blue Dog constituencies, expect to see more pushback. Nelson may be a Democrat, but he wants to remain employed (hey, it’s a tough economy out there!), and voters won’t send Nelson or any other Democrat back to Washington except in the most liberal districts and states after approving a bill that is becoming as unpopular as ObamaCare. As these Representatives and Senators returned, shellshocked, to Washington, that message will be clear.
Blowback
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Looks like the Kos Kids have already gotten to the video. 2 stars. Let’s bump up those ratings.
ZJPolitical on August 12, 2009 at 9:29 AM
let’s vote ‘em all out.
kelley in virginia on August 12, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Which means he will still vote yes for OgabeCare as long as it contains a few provisions he agrees with?
I won’t believe any of the ‘rats until the vote is over.
Bishop on August 12, 2009 at 9:30 AM
One hopes….it would be better for us to dislodge the blue dogs but the rick is we wind up with the USS RiNO trying to spend 100% of the money the donks want with 85% of the invasiveness….
sven10077 on August 12, 2009 at 9:31 AM
From the NYPost. Obama is now drafting his own plan.
Wethal on August 12, 2009 at 9:31 AM
When I lived in NE, I liked Ben Nelson but was wary of his wishy-washy politics. I don’t trust the blue dogs on the HC bill. Unfortunately, we need these blue dogs to scrap this POS.
jbh45 on August 12, 2009 at 9:32 AM
The “What I did on my Summer Vacation” essays in the cloakrooms should be extremely interesting this year.
The thing that amazes and astounds me is that it still appears the filthy liar is going for broke on this legislation. He’s not willing to regroup and come up with something more moderate. Presidents with a 70% approval rating can play a zero sum game. This bastard, not so much.
highhopes on August 12, 2009 at 9:33 AM
I don’t care if there is a D or a R after their name….if they are against these bills designed to destroy our way of life and put us under the Gubmint’s thumb I support them!!! Someone has to have a spine and stick up for what we believe!
search4truth on August 12, 2009 at 9:35 AM
NB still should toss this Dem tool. They get 2 years of reason in exchange for 4 years of lefty BS. A conservative is needed at this unique time in US history as the electorate awakes, not a conservative poser.
exdeadhead on August 12, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Nelson enjoys fairly high popularity in NE despite the fact that we’re a red state. I could be wrong, but I don’t think he’s about to squander that good will over this issue.
HuskerNate on August 12, 2009 at 9:37 AM
I live in a state (NY) with both guaranteed issue and community rating – in addition to mandates by the state to cover all manner of maladies. No wonder, according to an article in today’s WSJ, that my premiums are on average triple that of people in other states.
HSA’s have been a blessing to people like me who are blessed with not having major or serious illness, but obviously need access to healthcare. The joke is that even routine medical care of any quality is prohibitively expensive in NY: $250 for routine gyn, $100 to the internist if I have the sniffles. In spite of this, HSA is a pretty good option – and one that the Dems are desperate to destroy because it puts spending decisions into my hands, not theirs.
redfoxbluestate on August 12, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Encourage the “blue dogs” to oppose this legislation. Sweet talk them till you’re “blue” in the face; just don’t vote for them, even if they help to kill this bill. Why? Blue dog or not, they are still Democrats and they will still screw you eventually. This is guaranteed. Unfortunately, so will the Republicans these days.
SKYFOX on August 12, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I wasn’t impressed. I found the content to be vague.
Shy Guy on August 12, 2009 at 9:39 AM
The back door on this legislation needs to be closed.
Any of these Dems that gets voted out of office has to be prohibited, through inserted legislation, from ever occupying a position in a health care, energy, education, medicine, pharmaceutical or other government lobby or special interest group.
I am sure that the White House will sacrifice some of these Dems in order to get this legislation passed. The way they’ll help them is by buying them a slot in the governance of it through some czarship or other leadership position in the administration of this hoopla.
Contact your Senator and Congressman. Close the back door.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Given his track record with legislation not completely written and pushed by someone else, I think it’s safe to say he’ll fail miserably at this.
teke184 on August 12, 2009 at 9:40 AM
I can get behind this plan.
myrenovations on August 12, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Given his track record with
legislation not completely written and pushed by someone elseanything, I think it’s safe to say he’ll fail miserably at this.FIFY
H60Doorgunner on August 12, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Joy. So that will make a total of six different HC bills currently in the mix.
I wonder what the Lieutenant is pressuring Ogabe to include in his bill.
Bishop on August 12, 2009 at 9:43 AM
he’s calling it ‘health care reform’. he must have missed the memo. it’s health *insurance* reform now.
Phoenician on August 12, 2009 at 9:43 AM
I wonder what Pelosi and Reid will think when, after all the hassle they went through to draft bills and all the flak their members are getting from constituents, Obama comes up with his own bill at this time.
A bit bass-ackwards, but then Obama has no legislative or executive experience to know better.Unless this is some sort of good cop-bad cop set-up, the bad cops being Granny Botox and her gang.
Wethal on August 12, 2009 at 9:43 AM
So a
blueyellow dog has donned sheep’s clothing but he could very well be a wolf in disguise with his attempt to assuage his constituents that he won’t vote for Obamacare unless it saves them money blah, blah. He lost me when he said “You can count on me …”Meanwhile, Obama tours the country polling audiences to see what they hate the most. And based on the cheers from the crowd after he vilified the insurance companies, he will continue to bang that populist drum … even though, for now, he has made deals with insurance companies, until such time as he can throw them under the bus permanently.
It’s gonna be a long, hot summer.
VibrioCocci on August 12, 2009 at 9:44 AM
a cruel, cruel summer
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 9:47 AM
“We need the blue dogs to scrap this POS.”
The blue dogs will not do anything until they are re-elected in 2010 first. Then they will become Peloser lapdogs again. The answer is simple. Flush the 219 in 2010. The 219 that voted for cap & trade should never be elected again.
volsense on August 12, 2009 at 9:48 AM
OT: On Rasmussen, Obama hit 52% disapproval.
Phoenician on August 12, 2009 at 9:48 AM
This way Obama can say that with complete sincerity that a specific provision is not in “the bill” because not all of the bills will have the same provisions.
Great cover.
VibrioCocci on August 12, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Don’t trust him. We need to hold the line and not negotiate on this at all. Let them force theis takeover on us or let it die. We need a plan that keeps the government out and includes portability and tort reform.
elduende on August 12, 2009 at 9:50 AM
We need to call total and utter BS on this crap. When they have >2 bills out there floating around it gives them freedom to say they don’t know which bill you’re referring to or “we’ll have to see what happens with that during reconciliation” as a way to maneuver around the specific issue.
There needs to be truth in legislation. Keep it simple stupid. One bill, one issue, one debate, vote it on its merits and be done with it. The single payer or public option (are those synonymous?) is such a contentious issue that it has to be stripped out of this health care “reform” legislation as a stand alone bill and voted up or down on the damn thing.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Let’s not forget that there are some really divergent views on the issues particularly public plans and federal funding of abortions. There will be some serious political calculations made in Congress before anything gets decided.
highhopes on August 12, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Trust me. Ben Nelson’s chief concern is Ben Nelson’s career. Yes, he has cast a few conservative votes over the years. But he was also an early big supporter of Obama. He has to cover his backside for that one, especially since his counterpart in the senate, Mike Johanns, is a true conservative, unlike what Hagel was.
I’m hoping our governor will run against him in 2012. I will eagerly vote Nelson out of office.
NebCon on August 12, 2009 at 9:52 AM
What nonsense–He still comes from the position that there SHOULD be a bill.
NO BILL! LEAVE US ALONE!
woodswalking1 on August 12, 2009 at 9:52 AM
What strikes me as questionable is that competition is the most powerful economic force we have in our economy, yet our government wants to eliminate that competition.
What happens when there is a monopoly in any business, even a government run one? The prices go up because the demand doesn’t lesson, but the supply has.
TKSnider on August 12, 2009 at 9:52 AM
i agree with the above poster that we not negotiate at all. that will be our undoing.
we need to stand firm on this.
and we need to start working for 2010.
kelley in virginia on August 12, 2009 at 9:53 AM
As a former banking lobbyist, it amazes me to read that Democrats are now suddenly in favor of national standards and regulation of insurance. For years, we tried to convince them that we needed national standards for mortgages with preemption of state regulation. But the attorneys general in most states are Democrats and they did not want to lose their ability to sue lenders for big bucks and make headlines. The result was a mishmash of 50 different sets of state rules that the shadier lenders played, bent, and ignored. The regulatory soup and distortions of the market that resulted played a large role in the runup and subsequent crash of the subprime mortgage market.
On the other hand, state regulation of insurance has worked well for decades. There’s no regulatory arbitrage going on, and I can’t remember the last time we saw an insurance business fail (even AIG’s insurance business is still profitable, as is GMAC’s). Most state insurance commissioners are appointed, and those that aren’t are not as political as the AGs are. They are answerable to the people in some way. A national health insurance commissar won’t be.
rockmom on August 12, 2009 at 9:53 AM
I was at the Post Office yesterday at 4:00 PM. Fourteen people in line and ONE worker behind the counter. A guy would come out every 5 minutes to ask if any of us were there to pick up a package. Then he would run back behind a wall knowing full well that the line was out the door and helping no one. 40 minutes to get a next day air letter mailed. I can’t wait until we apply this level of excellence to the health care system.
Kansas Gman on August 12, 2009 at 9:53 AM
What can the liberals do to the Blue Dogs? Run a bigger, fatter liberal in the Democrat primary for an otherwise red state? Real recipe for success that would be.
Sekhmet on August 12, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Want to see how a federal health care system would work?
This is Olympia Snowe’s web page describing how she receives mail.
This should send chills down your back!
http://snowe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorSnowe.PostalMailDisruptionNotice
woodswalking1 on August 12, 2009 at 9:55 AM
I wish all government votes were done by secret ballot, with nobody knowing the tally until all the votes are in.
Too many times politicians put a finger in the air, see how the vote is going, and jump onto the politically-advantageous side. “Side with the ‘winners’ or side with the ‘opposition’ – which will get me re-elected? Hmm…”
In a perfect world (and it is NOT) a secret ballot would make these lawmakers have to take a stand, and possibly vote their true beliefs.
rockbend on August 12, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Nah. She’s just trying to cover for the post office’s inefficiencies and their multi-billion dollar losses every quarter.
That’s how long it takes for the government to deliver her mail.
VibrioCocci on August 12, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Doesn’t Nebraska have a big nest of those evil insurance companies?
highhopes on August 12, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I won’t believe any of the ‘rats until the vote is over.
Bishop on August 12, 2009 at 9:30 AM
rockbend on August 12, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Good opinions.
In a recent interview Juan McLame said that the ‘blue dogs’ will bark and threaten to bite and then roll over.
He knows them better than I do.
IlikedAUH2O on August 12, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I live in NY too – community rating and state mandates (mental health care, alternative treatments, OB coverage for men in their 60′s!) have driven premiums through the roof. I’ve been shopping, based on where I would like to live and in NY. For essentially the same kind of coverage, here are the monthly costs:
NY $1050/month
New Hampshire $550/mo
Tennessee $330/mo
This is what you will see with Obama’s own plan. Skyrocketing premiums.
piglet on August 12, 2009 at 10:02 AM
The Blue Dogs are a tough pill to swallow… akin to sibling lip lock.In this case however, we need to be very vocal supporters and back patters.
When they flop over on amnesty (King Barry The Hopeful promised it’s coming this year ) or some other tripe, there will be plenty of chance to oppose.
realityunwound on August 12, 2009 at 10:02 AM
That’s a big amen! Or to put it in Nancy Pelosi’s own words when she was made Speaker:
“It’s time to drain the swamp!”
Sweet_Thang on August 12, 2009 at 10:03 AM
This whole thing is blue on blue. The attacks against conservatives by the Dems is nothing but a smokescreen to distract attention from their own disarray.
wildcat84 on August 12, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Also feel there is NO DEAL unless every congressman agrees to put their families in the same pool of insurance options. The president too.
piglet on August 12, 2009 at 10:03 AM
If the Kossacks and the SEIU press hard enough, Nelson can always switch parties. Of course, his party switch, unlike Specters’s, would be portrayed as a betrayal of principles and the voters of Nebraska. Specter’s switch was portrayed as being caused by the new “extremism” of the GOP driving out moderates, dontcha know.
ChrisB on August 12, 2009 at 10:04 AM
your forgot the /sarc
VibrioCocci on August 12, 2009 at 10:04 AM
“You can count on me to always put Nebraska first,” says Nelson.
I am more confident that he will put Ben Nelson first.
Hiya Ciska on August 12, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Yes. And Ben Nelson made his private sector bones working in the insurance industry prior to his election as Governor of Nebraska.
HuskerNate on August 12, 2009 at 10:05 AM
As more and information is revealed about Obama’s plans for the US, is it me or is he beginning to rise to the level of impeachment?
Even Wilson and Roosevelt never so blatantly tried to usurp power and authority from the American people. They came close … but this is clearly an attempt to rewrite “We the People” with “Me your King”. The democrats will be his court and us the subjects.
darwin on August 12, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Nelson was the “Uniter” in the Porkulous Spending Boondoggle.
Strange thing about us Elephants in Nebraska….We Remember How You Voted, Ben. Enjoy your last years at the public teat.
PappaMac on August 12, 2009 at 10:08 AM
OlbysMessiah straw man argument/retort:
There are those who say my over the top initiatives since taking office will tax and spend us into into the stone ages.
I say, so what’s the problem with that? Those were MUCH simpler times!!!
Sweet_Thang on August 12, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Democrats are crooks, liars, and possibly soon, murderers.
They can’t be trusted.
madmonkphotog on August 12, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Conservatives tend to be very patient and tolerant people. But enough is enough. It’s time to deal with our federal government (and state and local as well) like you have to deal with a drug addict – kick them out of the house, lock the back door and don’t answer no matter how long the cry and complain. Our political elite class is simply addicted to power and money. Like an addict, they will say anything to stay in power and their few honorable decisions are simply not enough to outweigh the harm they continue do. It’s time for Congressional Term limits. It’s time for a more truly representative Congress. It’s time to send people to Washington who really don’t want to be there but believe it’s their duty to right the direction of this country. We The People are responsible for the condition of our country. But there is nothing gained by complaining about our laziness. People are waking up and our Senators and Representatives can’t handle it when granpa starts raising his voice. How weak. I’d say any incumbent, on either side of the isle, who has served more than 2 terms, needs to be sent home.
j_galt on August 12, 2009 at 10:09 AM
I don’t trust the blue dogs as far as I can throw them…
cmsinaz on August 12, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Has anyone done a cost analysis of a hospital bill? What fraction of a bill goes towards paying litigation costs, what fraction to uninsured, what fraction of the bill covers collection, etc. When these “miscellaneous” costs are removed, what is the cost of the actual service? If I was trying to control costs I would first want to understand what my big cost drivers are and develop a plan to address these.
Bikerdon on August 12, 2009 at 10:10 AM
An oxymoron only a politician could love.
Dusty on August 12, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Even better. The final disaster will a 4,000 page, conglomerated monstrosity that would require months of intensive study to completely understand.
Bishop on August 12, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Senator Nelson
Cannot keep his hands off
Pretty blue tunic
Haiku Guy on August 12, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Sen. Nelson must be booted out of office- he has been there to long and there for no longer trust worthy on protecting our constitution.
hawkman on August 12, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Just stop it. Stop it right now.
There is no room in this discussion for COMMON SENSE.
Feelings and Emotion, that’s what we want.
s/
PappaMac on August 12, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Any jackov w/ a rug like that should be horse whipped.
Yes, that includes the Breck girl and Trent Lott.
TheSitRep on August 12, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Darn right, my father works for one. His company is sending out contact-your-representative letters to all the employees with a desperate tone; they know exactly what’s in store for them and their customers should ObamaCare pass.
Dark-Star on August 12, 2009 at 10:18 AM
As a Nebraskan who has been dealing with Nelson for a long time, I’ll just say….
HORSE FEATHERS!
I don’t trust him anymore.
rollthedice on August 12, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Nelson is about as tolerable as it gets for a democrat…..I still vote against him every six years. The alternative has always been better.
gmbdds on August 12, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Despite what the filthy liar says in front of the teleprompter this isn’t about controlling costs. It is about controlling Americans by forcing them into state-run healthcare.
Any responsible analysis of the problem would do exactly what you suggest. Identify the various components that make up the cost and see where savings (if any) can be found. The filthy liar’s plan simply assumes that the insurance companies and healthcare delivery systems are padding bills for profit. They present no proof of this other than anecdotal stories but that’s part of the tactic.
highhopes on August 12, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Medical tort reform or it’s all a lie.
Watch the gal in blue near the start – at first she seems pleased, then says something strongly, then at the very last second her head goes up, chin up, her lips push out, and her eyes flash – seems to get very angry at something. Would have liked to have seen and heard the rest of that clip.
Friendly21 on August 12, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Specter said more or less the same thing in Pennsylvania yesterday. He said he wouldn’t vote for the bill if it funded abortion, wasn’t deficit neutral, denied cancer care to the elderly and a bunch of other hogwash. He’s a loyal DEMOCRAT…for now anyway. ALL politicians say pretty much what ever they think will get your vote.
Barb Dwyer on August 12, 2009 at 10:26 AM
For you cornhuskers, wouldn’t it be nice to vote for a senator who didn’t have to fake his/her political positions? These commercials are just words people say to get elected, then it’s party time. Don’t be suckers.
If there’s no tort reform, there’s no medical reform.
Mojave Mark on August 12, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Specter is Specter
A feckless little weasel
Knife you in the back
Haiku Guy on August 12, 2009 at 10:29 AM
highhopes on August 12, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Yes, we sure do. And I’ve always credited the insurance industry here, at least in Lincoln, as part of the reason we handle economic downturns better than other parts of the country. They are stable entities that employ a lot of Nebraskans.
NebCon on August 12, 2009 at 10:29 AM
That would be an excellent TV ad.
Phoenician on August 12, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Obama is holding on for dear life on the ropes with independents. I think that UPPS vs. Fed Ex/UPS example is something that they can hang around his neck for the rest of his administration. He said it himself: government-run programs suck. And he was clear about it. His own example kills both sides of the same coin: either the government-run option is so heavily underwritten that it destroys private competition or the government-run option is a black hole that taxpayers will perpetually subsidize.
With Obama on the ropes, conservatives must come forward with the best of their best proposals. They should scream tort reform and make Obama the b**** of BIG LAW (plaintiffs lawyers). Demonize the hell out of Obama and the plaintiffs’ lawyers lobby. Look what it’s done for Texas and Alabama (I think). This is low-hanging fruit that should be harvested daily. Conservatives should also demand that interstate competition for health insurance be opened up as it is for auto insurance. Premiums should tumble.
Where’s the fricking GOP? Most people are interested in reform, but not Obama’s version. Steal the issue by turning the table on the hard left. I really think that this is a one-third/two-thirds issue with Obama leading only one-third of the country.
Time to deliver some knockout blows. Don’t simply stall, slow down. Seize the initiative while people are watching and turn the damn tables on him.
BuckeyeSam on August 12, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Sorry Bikerdon, that simply wont do. Makes far too much sense to ever fly.
There IS a problem with healthcare in America. It’s just way to damn expensive. But rather than analyse the waste, fraud, and hand-in-my-pocket litigation, our esteemed leaders come up with this pile of crap, that does NOTHING to address high costs, other than drive down the level of service.
Sorry, I just cant trust the bluedogs. Sure, I hope they kill this POS, but I still cannot bring myself to trust them, or a lot of republicans for that matter.
JusDreamin on August 12, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Believe it or not… like it or not… our only salvation in this mess is Democrats. The GOP can’t prevent anything without help.
CC
CapedConservative on August 12, 2009 at 10:49 AM
“and accepting millions in campaign contributions from the insurance industry”
these libs have no shame. Lavin is right. They live in a world mired in conspiracy where everyone is a paid whore by big oil or big insurance. Why anyone in their right mind could think people like this should be in charge of our health care let alone our country is beyond me. God help us.
jawkneemusic on August 12, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Good call, mr.Nelson
Streecar on August 12, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Real Hope and Change?
Bread and Circuses on August 12, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Go get them … they say anything when at home, do anything when in Washington.
tarpon on August 12, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Two of those 13 Blue Dog senators are mine, and I don’t have a lot of confidence they won’t roll over and vote for this effing thing when it comes down to it. One is on record as saying he’s in favor of a public option, and the other is one of the architects of S-CHIP. Neither has the guts to face their constituents over this break.
I give the House delegation a little more credit. At least they are meeting with people and seem prepared to fight the bill, at least in its current form.
Make no mistake about it, tho. Arkansans will vote these tools out in 2010 if they come down on the wrong side of it. We know better than most states what a burden it is to have a lot of uninsured and underinsured in your population, the shortages and wait times it ALREADY creates, even for people who do have private coverage. And STILL this bill is unpopular here. We want them to address the discrete issues of people who need coverage and are unable to get it; we do not want a wholesale takeover of our health care. If it happens, they are outta there.
NoLeftTurn on August 12, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Anyone can stand and point at an Xray, move his mouth and look like he’s doing business. A trained monke…hey… there are some simularities between the neo-dems and trained monkeys… I think we’d get further with the monkeys.
CynicalOptimist on August 12, 2009 at 10:56 AM
If ObamaCare passes, millions of people will not pay their taxes and there will be fights on the street.
I hate being negative, but things are going to get worse.
Defeat ObamaCare, Blue Dogs!
SCOOPTHIScarlos on August 12, 2009 at 10:58 AM
HuskerNate and OmahaConservative
We need to call Senator Nelson and find his townhall meetings to attend before they go back to Washington D.C. after Labor Day.
There are lots of insurance companies in Omaha and lots of moderate voters who voted for Ben and he’s up for election in 2012.
yoda on August 12, 2009 at 10:59 AM
I hope he’s wise on the fact that this and thousands of other Nebraska voters are already hard pressed to vote for him again after he voted for “Porkulus” but I hope he’ll redeem himself somewhat by voting against this and (knee)cap and tax should it come to the Senate.
Yakko77 on August 12, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Anyone know approximately how many people in the US work for the Private Insurance Industry?
Most of the problems in Lincoln come from the State, County, City Governments….and UNL.
PappaMac on August 12, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Nebcon
Is Senator Nelson going to be in Lincoln soon for a townhall meeting?
yoda on August 12, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Yes! And if that fails and they pass some craptastic bill, we should insist that the congress and all federal employees be required to enroll and, if after five years they haven’t begged for forgiveness for what they wrought upon themselves, then consider opening it up to the general public.
Beware of the chef that doesn’t eat his own cooking!
redfoxbluestate on August 12, 2009 at 11:04 AM
I don’t see what you see, Ed. It could just be that he’s shying away from mentioning the public plan because he knows its unpopular. This ad is hardly a promise to oppose Obamacare.
joe_doufu on August 12, 2009 at 11:21 AM
I hear you. Even if he does vote against Obamacare and (knee)cap and tax I’m still likely going to vote for someone else in 2012. His voting for “Porkulus” pretty much devastated any chance of me voting for him again. Sure, he’s pretty conservative on enough social issues like gun control and abortion to get Nebraska voters to vote for him but on fiscal matters he’s been a real letdown IMO.
Yakko77 on August 12, 2009 at 11:23 AM
vote him out Nebraska – he has proven he can’t be trusted.
suzyk on August 12, 2009 at 11:31 AM
At the end of the day, the blue dogs are gonna get a couple of lame concessions so they can claim they were a moderating influence, and then the’re gonna vote for it.
red26 on August 12, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Seems to me I’ve heard that song before, Oh Yes that’s exactly what Obama is saying!
Herb on August 12, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Any language about “controlling spending” or having a “budget neutral” bill is just code for, Don’t worry, I’ll roll over in the end. Of course, if they go with reconciliation, Nelson has the cache to get wiggle room to vote no and still be viable for 2012 when he’s up for re-election. Then again, there’s enough dummies to go around that they would forget his thumbs up Deathcare sometime in the next four years.
Any of these officials who doesn’t publicly recognize the inherent danger of a big brother “health” system is just obfuscating until they drop their vote in the box.
Western_Civ on August 12, 2009 at 11:43 AM
This so-called health care reform is reparations straight-up.It is a massive Welfare Program for illegal alians and ghetto bums who won’t work for a living. To cover pre-existing conditions gives aid to aids victims for example which will reduce other’s benefits and eventually bankrupt the country. It would be a massive transfer of wealth which could cost more than The Great Society and The War on Poverty combined!! Our Communist president promised Joe The Plumber that he would do this! Why are we now shocked that it is happening?
Marco on August 12, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Nelson doesn’t have any townhall meetings scheduled as of yesterday when I contacted his office – I have an inside contact there who says there’s no way he’ll vote yes for this POS – the calls have been 9 to one against and he’s feelin’ the heat so let’s keep the pressure on folks, same for cap and trade
huskerdiva on August 12, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Nebcon
Is Senator Nelson going to be in Lincoln soon for a townhall meeting?
yoda on August 12, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Not that I’m aware of. I’d guess this commercial is his way of avoiding a meeting.
NebCon on August 12, 2009 at 12:17 PM
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