DNC targeting centrist Dems in health ads

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: The Hill

Reflecting the troubles President Obama will have wrangling his own party into line, a wing of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is launching a new television advertisement targeting nine of its own senators on healthcare.

The advertisement, funded by Organizing for America (OFA), will urge senators to back a major healthcare overhaul by spotlighting five Americans affected by high costs.

<snip>

Among centrist Democrats targeted by the advertisement, Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) have voiced concern over the program's cost.

Meanwhile, though Republicans have not embraced Democratic initiatives, the DNC is also aiming ads at three Republican senators. Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and George Voinovich (Ohio) are in Democrats' sights.

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dnc-targeting-centrist-dems-in-healthcare-ads-2009-07-15.html

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. Glad to hear it. People in their states should be outraged at their lack of support. nt

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Well, I think Blanche Lincoln is more concerned with losing Wal-Mart's support than with

the cost.

[dhpgetsit]

3. They worry about the cost, but...

What about the cost of doing nothing?

We effectively have our health held hostage by a sector of Corporate America that had no real benefit to the economy. The health care insurance companies do not manufacture anything, therefore they don't create wealth. They are a drain on our economy.

Defending for-profit health insurance companies is like defending the school bully who demands a quarter from every kid who wants to enter the cafeteria.

Edit: I can't spell when smoke is coming out of my eyes.

[primavera]

5. Yet, strangely, they don't seem to be concerned about trillions in corporate welfare

I guess it's more important that CEOs get gold lear jets than that people's lives be saved. :mad:

[Ian David]

4. They're not "Centrist." They're "Bought." n/t

[wroberts189]

8. Thank you ..I prefer conservadem myself. nt

[Ian David]

14. I prefer Douchecrats. n/t

[Lorien]

9. They're Right Wing DINOs

the entire party is center-right. Those cited are outright conservatives.

[Dr Fate]

11. I've always wondered how agreeing with the FAR RIGHT makes one a "centrist."

Seems like far right is what it is- far right. Not "centrist."

[seafan]

6. Is Bill Nelson on this list? Yea on bankruptcy *reform*; Nay on setting limits on credit card usury

Bill needs to get a clue on health care. Thus far, his record is not encouraging.

His membership in C-Street ("The Family") is disturbing enough.




Public option not optional for Florida Senator Bill Nelson

By Dennis Boyle
June 28, 2009

Senator Bill Nelson feels safe in his senate position because he looks so much better when compared to other former-Confederate-States-of-America senators. Clearly, he is preferable to Senators Jeff "white supremacist" Sessions of Alabama, Saxby "smear disabled Vietnam War veteran, Max Cleland" Chambliss of Georgia, David "hypocritical whoremonger" Vitter of Louisiana, Lindsey "South Carolinians still hold a grudge against Lincoln" Graham, John "filibuster Minnesota seating its 2nd Senator" Cornyn of Texas, or Florida's own Mel "use Terri Schiavo as a political pawn" Martinez.

However, not being a lunatic is not enough. Florida's Senator Nelson has already built a track record of favoring the big guy over the little guy. In 2005 he voted in favor of the bankruptcy "reform" bill that made it harder for individuals to rid themselves of insurmountable debt. This year he voted against setting a limit on credit-card company usury. So thanks in part to Senator Nelson, credit card consumers are no longer allowed the fresh start of bankruptcy and companies can charge loan shark level rates at will.

Democrat or not, Senator Nelson now has two strikes against him. He needs to get a hit on healthcare or it's three strikes and he's out. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that Bill Nelson support the Public Option for healthcare.

Real healthcare reform is not just making everyone buy health insurance. Many consumers cannot afford insurance as it is. Private insurance companies make their profits from not treating people. The government can provide affordable insurance that doesn't drop people when they get sick. Of course private insurance companies oppose this idea. Anyone who represents his or her constituents must stand up to the insurance industry and give the people access to the same care they get from the government.

Right now many Americans face premature death or financial ruin when illness strikes. If Senator Nelson were facing this situation there is no doubt how he would vote. Failure to support the public option for healthcare is not an option for Mr. Nelson.

It is beyond a travesty that we must shame this man into doing the right thing for the people, instead of for the corporate power structure.

[wroberts189]

7. I hope they go after Baucus as well. What a load of bird droppings that guy is. nt

[sasquatch]

10. About fucking time

Light those fires goddammit, I wanna see those flabby asses move.

[bvar22]

12. Now this is very interesting.

According to the source, this is NOT an activity of the DNC, but is being financed by a "wing" of the DNC called "Organizing for America", a group I am not familiar with.
The article implys that this "wing" has direct ties to the Obama Administration. ???

"The new advertisements are the first significant pokes the Obama administration, through its political wing at the Democratic National Committee, have taken at centrists in their own party. OFA has been organizing around healthcare reform for the past month and a half, kicking off its canvassing program on June 6.

And the administration has no intention of being rolled by members of its own party. OFA could launch a new series of ads as the healthcare debate continues, according to a Democratic source."

Is this "wing" of the DNC using DNC money to finance these ads?

Obama himself appeared in public last week defending the conservative Senators asking Liberal groups NOT to target them, and now this article claims close ties with the "wing" of the DNC producing these ads.
Whats Up?

Who knows anything about Organizing for America?

[SpartanDem]

15. It was Obama's campaign arm

that was renamed after the election

[sybylla]

13. Creating cover or targeting?

Makes no difference to me as long as they understand we're playing for pinks.

[Zorra]

16. Great news. Real Dems need to keep the pressure on the corporatists.

Exposing them daily on TV is a great idea.

[GrantDem]

17. This is playing in Indiana as well.

I assume targeting Sen. Bayh.

[corpseratemedia]

18. good job!