Health-Care Activists Targeting Democrats

[babylonsister]

Health-Care Activists Targeting Democrats
Sniping Among Liberals May Jeopardize Votes Needed to Pass Bill

By Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 28, 2009


In the high-stakes battle over health care, a growing cadre of liberal activists is aiming its sharpest firepower against Democratic senators who they accuse of being insufficiently committed to the cause.

The attacks -- ranging from tart news releases to full-fledged advertising campaigns -- have elicited rebuttals from lawmakers and sparked a debate inside the party over the best strategy for achieving President Obama's top priority of a comprehensive health-system overhaul.

The rising tensions between Democratic legislators and constituencies that would typically be their natural allies underscore the high hurdles for Obama as he tries to hold together a diverse, fragile coalition. Activists say they are simply pressing for quick delivery of "true health reform," but the intraparty rift runs the risk of alienating centrist Democrats who will be needed to pass a bill.

In recent days -- and during this week's congressional recess -- left-leaning bloggers and grass-roots organizations such as MoveOn.org, Health Care for America Now and the Service Employees International Union have singled out Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Arlen Specter (Pa.) and Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) for the criticism more often reserved for opposition party members.

"Will Mary Landrieu sell out Louisiana for $1.6 million?" says one Internet ad that suggests a link between contributions she has received from the medical industry and her reluctance to back the creation of a government-sponsored insurance option.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/27/AR2009062702232.html?hpid=topnews

[sandnsea]

1. Wyden sent out a huge mailer

Supporting his bill and whining about being attacked by unions and interest groups. I should dig it out of the trash and scan it. I could not believe it. He is spending campaign money defending his bullshit and pretending there is no reason to be attacking him.

[babylonsister]

2. He was the most surprising on that list to me.

I thought he had more integrity; is he bought and paid for by the insurance industry, too?

[sandnsea]

6. No idea what his issue is

He voted for the final Medicare bill too. He seems to follow Feinstein on health care matters. He has a bill with Bill Bennett of all people.

Oregon has subsidized insurance and no plan for a full public option that I'm aware of. They just passed a bunch of new taxes, including taxing insurance premiums. There is also some kind of hospital tax that I don't understand. They're expanding the subsidies and children's insurance with that money. So that's sort of what he's pushing. Most people here just think it's his ego. I really don't know. I kind of liked that theory of looking at local state contributions as well as big business. Haven't taken the time to do that yet.

I do know he is getting enormous pressure and it's only likely to increase.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Good!

Cut their (most precious bodily parts) off.

I have NO love for these assholes and no respect for their views.

[WeDidIt]

4. The Democratic Party SOLD OUT to the insurance companies

So what the activists are doing is perfectly all right.

Treat them like the Republicans they emulate.

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. The problem is that the list is too short.

Maria Cantwell should be front and center on it.

[global1]

7. The Dems Better Take Heed......

we the people learned in Nov 08 that we can change the tide in Washington D.C. We elected a president that sold us hope and we gave him the power by giving him both the Senate and the House to back him up. If they let us down - we know that we can change the tide again - and we will use that.

If our elected Dem officials let us down because they buckle to Repugs or give in to corporate interests because they are more concerned about their future than ours - we will put these people on the unemployment line.

The Repugs learned their lesson and look what we've reduced their party to. If the Dems don't watch out and don't do what they promised to do for us - they will also be on the outside looking in.

Progressive candidates ought to be lining up behind these people all over the country now - ready to take their place - should those who we elected not keep their promises.

The threat of knowing that they will lose their cushy job might just jolt them into doing the right thing for us.

Is there a National Progressive Party out there? If not - we ought to be organizing one right now.

I'm going to a Town Hall meeting this coming Tuesday that is being held by my Congressman - a Dem. I'm under the understanding that he's stacked the deck with speakers from the insurance and pharma industries in order to justify his ultimately voting against any 'public option'. I called his office last week and the official word is that he is waiting for the bills to come out of committee before he makes up his mind.

My response is that health reform is nothing new and if he can't form his own opinion - than he has no right being in Congress. This debate has been going on for decades now - why does he have to wait for the bills to come out of committee. He should be able to tell us whether he is for or against a 'public option' right now.

I think he'll see that the people in the audience at his Town Hall - will make it very clear to him that he won't survive his 2010 bid for re-election - if he doesn't support a 'public option'.

We need to start lining up candidates right now and push this threat right in front of these incumbents now - before any of them have the chance to vote against us.

[caffefwee]

8. Health Kare Kick!

(so it's not all Michael Jackson)

[caffefwee]

9. Health Kare Kick!

(so it's not all Michael Jackson)