Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ar) Opposes Public Option

[Alhena]

Source: OzarksFirst.com

(Russellville, AR) --U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas got an earful from her constituents at a health care town hall meeting in Russellville Wednesday.

"What you're proposing now in your public health reform is crossing state lines and that's not what our forefathers intended," said one man opposed to the Senate reform bill.

About 1,000 people showed up for the meeting at Arkansas Tech University.

Lincoln told them she won't support a government-funded insurance option as part of President Obama's overhaul of the health care system.

But she does believe that reform is necessary.

At times the debate got heated, but not as contentious as some meetings around the country.


Read more: http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=182342

[derby378]

1. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) is an asshole

No public option, no health care reform.

[sui generis]

2. our forefathers?

oh right we're children who can't think for ourselves.

good thing our forefathers could see the future.

Also, didn't some of our forefathers intend to have and keep slaves?

[MidwestTransplant]

9. How do our forefathers feel about Arakansas getting way more back in federal money than they send?

How does this guy feel?

[Hansel]

24. 41 cents more as a matter of fact.

This is what cracks me up about these people from low population states whining about buying other people's health care. They're lucky as hell that the people from many large pop states footing their bills aren't quite as unanimous about being stingy.

My state loses 28 cents for every dollar we pay in. I still would pay more to make sure everyone has affordable health care.

Sen Blanche Lincoln should be showing just a bit more appreciation for the United States contributions for her state. If she is so concerned about the cost, maybe she should make sure her states start rejecting the windfalls it gets from other states.




Edit for grammar

[Hansel]

23. Why yes they did. I suspect that is why some of the people are going insane

Someone doesn't know "his place".

Also when are forefathers said "all men are created equal" they meant white men. All them outspoken white women Tea Baggers need to learn their "place".

Assholes.

[Botany]

3. Lincoln Receives Most Health Industry Contributions in 2009

Key Democrat in Health Care Talks Receives Most Health Industry Contributions in 2009


snip

“I would not support a solely government-funded public option. We can’t afford that,” Lincoln said. The senior Arkansas senator is
also the top recipient of campaign contributions from the health industry among senators this year.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Lincoln has received $325,350 in contributions from the health industry, as of June 30.
The large amount in contributions underlies a constantly shifting position by the senator on health care reform.

One of Lincoln’s biggest contributors this cycle is the insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield. The company’s political action committee
and employees have combined to give the senator $29,500 this year alone. Blue Cross Blue Shield and their parent company Wellpoint
are vocal opponents of the inclusion of a public option plan in any health care reform bill. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the dominant insurer
in Arkansas holding a 75 percent market share.

Blue Cross Blue Shield does not need to only rely on campaign contributions to reach Sen. Lincoln, as they retain Lincoln’s former top health
care policy adviser as a lobbyist. Elizabeth Barnett worked for Lincoln from 2000 to 2007 before leaving to become the top Democratic lobbyist
for Blue Cross Blue Shield. Earlier this year, Barnett left Blue Cross to work for Avenue Solutions, where she retains Blue Cross Blue Shield as a
client. Avenue Solutions’ profile of Barnett notes that she “had primary responsibility for representing and its 39 member
plans before the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Democratic Leadership, and other key Senate committees and offices.” Barnett also represents
other health industry organizations including UnitedHealth Group, Aetna, Bravo Health, Healthcare Leadership Council, Medco and the National
Health Policy Group.

http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2009/09/02/key-democrat-in-health-care-receives-most-health-industry-contributions-in-2009/

[Alhena]

4. Here's a longer article on her speech ... link

http://www.rollcall.com/news/38102-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

“For some in my caucus, when they talk about a public option, they’re talking about another entitlement program, and we can’t afford that right now as a nation,” Lincoln said in a speech to the Elder Law Task Force at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “I’m not going to vote for a bill that’s not deficit-neutral, and I’m not going to vote for a bill that doesn’t do something about curbing the cost in the out years, because it would be pointless. ... I would not support a solely government-funded public option. We can’t afford that.”

But in an opinion piece she wrote for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in July, Lincoln said the public insurance option should be included in health care reform legislation. A public insurance option would compete with private insurers to offer health care coverage.

- end quote -

Great profile in courage there, Blanche.

[wysimdnwyg]

5. Oh, REALLY?

"'What you're proposing now in your public health reform is crossing state lines and that's not what our forefathers intended,' said one man opposed to the Senate reform bill."

Can someone show me where in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, or any other document written by our founding fathers, it mentions healthcare insurance? Anyone? Bueller?

[katkat]

12. Amendment 37ax

That would be Amendment 37ax: No healthcare for you, non-rich folks.

[SOS]

33. Amendment 37:

"The government shall make no law which benefits any citizen, excepting the mercantile and insuring classes"

It's the one that prohibits Medicare and VA hospitals!

[sinkingfeeling]

6. And just 2 or 3 weeks ago she DID support a public option. She wrote an op ed in the

state's newspapers. Call her office and tell her to get back on track.

[Alhena]

7. Like Ridge in his book, she was misquoted in her Op-Ed

:)

[sinkingfeeling]

20. She pulled the oped from her own website!

[LynnTheDem]

8. NO true American would EVER oppose a public option; Healthcare is a RIGHT.

NOT a benefit.

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL AMERICANS!!!

[Robb]

10. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ar) should start packing.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ar) is finished if she won't support the public option.

[april]

11. she does't want to bite the hans that feed her. check this out

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians

Hospitals/Nursing Homes $137,500 $20,000 $117,500
Health Professionals $119,750 $1,250 $118,500
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $87,000 $13,500 $73,500

ESOP Assn $26,000 $0 $26,000
American College of Radiology $25,000 $0 $25,000
Home Depot $25,000 $0 $25,000
AT&T Inc $22,500 $500 $22,000
American Seniors Housing Assn $21,000 $0 $21,000

[EC]

13. I don't know, she said "government-funded" insurance option

and the public option is NOT suppose to be "government-funded" but premium funded.

[Joanne98]

14. That's it. We need to let these people go.

Run someone against her and if they don't win just stay home.

GOOD RIDDANCE!

[Mystayya]

15. She needs to go then.

And every single asshole like her.

[samsingh]

16. anyone opposing the public option is enabling future repug

crimes against the country.

dems who are doing this are absolute idiots.

[Marthe48]

17. the longer we wait the less chance of any reform

Sitting on it is only giving MSM and rethugs the time they need to scare the people living in a fog into being against health reform. People, we are holding the knife while we get our throats cut. Please notice that MSM is airing every single bit of opposition to health reform, whether it is valid or made up, and minimizing the support that is out there. Well, if all we see on TV is opposition, then what do you think is going to happen?
And as far as I'm concerned, the blue dogs need to be honest and run on a repug ticket. Also, let's come up with a new name-blue dog is an insult to dogs.

[David__77]

18. Absolutely, and the sad thing is that this could have been long since done.

With proper utilization of parliamentary tactics and party discipline, this could have been done already. I am always in awe of Democrats' incompetence.

[libodem]

19. Obama should do

a Bush style signing statement and get this the hell over with. I'm pissed at any Dem who bucks us, now. If we can afford trillion dollar wars we can afford health care for all. It should be a human right not to die of bowel, breast, or prostate cancer. We need some safety net preventive care and screening. Dental stuff too, needs to be made available to people who can't afford it.

[liberal N proud]

21. What is reform without a public option?

Mandate that the poor have to buy health insurance?


Blanche does not subscribe to the same Democratic ideals that I do.

Selfish DINO!

[No Elephants]

22. What does he think the interstate commerce clause of the COTUS is about?

Now, why would anyone quote such a dumbass comment? And, if they do quote it, why would they not mention the interstate commerce clause?

Luckily, Arkansas is such a rich state. No one there needs affordable health insurance. Even when the prices keep going up, they'll all be just fine.

:sarcasm:

[fascisthunter]

25. another sell-out revealed

[liberalhistorian]

26. Then take away her own "socialized" medicine, i.e.,

her federal cadillac coverage paid for by we, the people, many of whom (yours truly included) don't even have health insurance. Until these idiots have to deal with the same issues most of the rest of us do, they just will NOT get it. It's that fucking simple.

[Cass]

29. Agree 1000% on this.

If it's not good for us, it's not good for them either.

[mvd]

27. Another one to call/e-mail

[mvd]

28. I just sent her this from the "contact" on her website

Specifically didn't mention single payer even though I nwant it, because I wanted the public option to be the focus of the e-mail.

"I just read that you are opposed to a public option in the health care bill. Well then, you'd be opposed to your own health care. A public option is needed, or insurance companies will have no competition (we have tried more private competition, and it hasn't worked.) Co-ops have also been shown to fail. Please act like a Democrat and get behind President Obama on such a critical issue. And put your constituents ahead of the insurance industry, which you have received a lot of money from. Prove you can't be bought off. If you don't change your position on the public option, I strongly hope you are replaced with another Democrat."

[Cass]

30. That's a great letter...so well said, short and right to the point.

I always end up with these long winded letters and wish I had your knack of summing it up so succinctly.

[mvd]

31. Thanks, Cass!

:hi:

[Zorra]

32. And the overwhelming majority of Democrats now oppose Blanche Lincoln. n/t