Liberal groups continue to target Democratic senator
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/11/art.nelson0811.yt.jpg caption="Liberal groups said Tuesday that they will continue to target Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska even after the senator put out an ad defending his views on health care reform."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Liberal critics of Sen. Ben Nelson's position on health care reform sent out a new plea Tuesday asking for financial help in keeping a statewide television commercial that targets the Nebraska Democrat on the air.
For the past week, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America have run a 60 second ad on Nebraska cable in an effort to pressure Nelson to embrace President Obama's approach to health care reform. This week, the organizations moved the commercial to local broadcast stations in Nebraska and Nelson, himself, has begun airing his own 30 second commercial to explain his position on health care reform.
Related: Nelson buys TV time to frame health care debate
"Ben Nelson's new ad says nothing about the public option, and for good reason –Nelson's efforts to undermine the public option are out of step with the overwhelming majority of Americans, including many rural voters and even Republicans," Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee said in an email to CNN.
"We'll keep holding Nelson accountable until he bucks his special interest contributors and supports a public health insurance option for his constituents."
Nelson's biggest contributors are the health care companies. The same companies that sentence many of his constituents to death via denial of coverage, termination of policies and refusal to pay for life saving procedures. He wants the insurance companies to dictate who dies and who lives. He wants to allow PROFIT to be made from DEATHS of his citizens.
He represents Nebraska, home of Omaha.....he represents Mutual of Omaha. A company making a profit, a KILLING by coming between doctors and patients, sentencing the patient to death all in the name of bigger bonuses and a better quarterly earnings release.
Yes, everyone has a right to an opinion and free speech. Most of the coverage is going to right wing attacks, but equal coverage demand that incidents like this are reported as well.
I disagree with the Senator, but he has a right to his opinion. Health care, and the rest of our problems, won't be solved by mobs and spurious charges. It will be solved by disagreement, compromise and polite discourse.
Unfortunately, that seems to be as rare as Chateau Margaux at a bargain price.
And supposedly Repubs and Insurance Carriers play ball ugly? That comment is unbelievably hipocritical. God forbid anyone speak their mind anymore. We get lambasted from both sides if we disagree with an opinion. What a shame.
I hope senator Nelson continues his ads stating his position which are reasonable compared to the liberals that want to spend more money this country can not afford. It sure would be interesting to do a study and see if liberal Americans make up the majority of the home foreclosures in the US because they love to spend money they do not have.
This is making me sick, if you are a private person and you disagree they say you are a plant and are told what to say, btw nearly every single shoving match and things going beyond loud voices have been by people supporting the plan NOT those against it.
If you are a republican congress person, they say you are holding things up.. even thought there is a 61 majority.
If you are a Dem and you do not fall lockstep with the President you are attacked.
You can not make people shut up this is America and they have the right to their opinion. The name calling, the threats, the bullying... it needs to STOP.
Obviously Senator Nelson's views are not out of step with a very key group – his constituents!
Mmm, the party of tolerance, as long as you hold to the party views. Where have we heard that one before? Perhaps the USSR? They had a national health care system. With two levels – one for the elite politicians and another for the 'common' folk.
On an opinion poll today. %82 agree with the Canadian health plan.
These people are crazy. Where did they get the data that says that most people want a public option. The fact is that less than 37% want a public option. It's just like democrats to lie and decieve. Give it up. American people don't want government involved with health care.
Buh, bye democrats.
Gee – sounds like an orchestrated attack. Oh yeah – Obama's attack dogs are OK. Obama opponents – not OK. sorry.
Just checking.
Question Authority!
Get in line with"the Party" or else. No differing opinions needed. The Democrats can pass health care reform without GOP support. They have the votes. But passing legislation that will cost too much while covering too few is bad business. Lets get a congress that will cooperate and come up with real tort reform and insurance refom in a package that has a chance to succeed. Passing this just because you can will make the public revolt against the Democratic party.
come on nelson i know we dont have the money to give you like the insurance companies but your job is to reresent us and stand with your party. we want heathcare now!
These demoncrats cannot stand anyone, especially in their own party, disagreeing with them on anything they attempt to do in our Congress.
And they talk about the town hall meeting dissenters and protesters being out of line.
Are they going to email the White House and report Senator Nelson of saying something "fishy" about the proposes health care reform?
Seriously? Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America aren't special interest groups? Maybe he just talked to his constituents and they said they don't want a socialist health care system so he is championing their position. An organization who calls itself "Democracy for America" should understand a concept that simple.
get to work stop the fighting... we should change our parties and get the green party to run this country
Ben Nelson is bough and paid for by the Insurance Lobby; keep the heat on this weasel until he get's on board with the public option
or we can vote him out
they don't trust him nd he wants to get re-elected.
Let's "pressure" and "force" people to think like we do. Is this really the direction we are turning CNN? Are we proud of this journalistic effort? The election is over. You got "your" guy elected. Now it's time to have him do his job and allow Americans to debate his tenure.
Great quote in the Economist about the lap-puppy journalism we're seeing from CNN and the like,
"(Obama) has been curiously ill-served by a press short of useful criticism, with liberal America prepared only to debate what sort of water he walks on best, while conservative radio hosts argue over when exactly he became a communist."
Nelson's efforts to undermine the public option are out of step with the overwhelming majority of Americans?
Not from what I've been reading and seeing. If anything, the public option is what has most people riled up over this health care reform bill.
Try explaining where the money will come from to pay for the public option and explain to people on Medicare how expanding an already financially troubled program is not going to effect their quality and quantity of health care. They cannot.
Mr. Green and the Democratic Party are the ones"out of step" with vast majority of Americans. He obviously hasn't seen a poll lately.
Public...............people..................for the people by the people...........
sounds like what the original constitution had in mind..
yes.
public option.
choice.
freedom.
Ohhh Obama is going to be sending SEIU after you now. They are going to beat you worse than they did a man handing out buttons. Now get in line and carry this water.
Federal representatives should open their minds and embrace health care reform. Those who are against reform are either misinformed of the details, and purpose of this important legislation. Sen. Nelson has accepted large donations from insurance lobbyists who are meeting with every representative in the House and Senate. How much cash has your representative accepted.
I doubt he objects to health care reform, just the plan that is set forth. I bet most politicians agree to some health care reform, just disagree with one that will cost an ARM and a LEG of our children.