Nelson (D-Ne) : Obama faces 'tough sale'

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20090721/NEWS01/707229968

By Joseph Morton
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama faces a “tough sale” as he prepares for a prime-time news conference Wednesday on his effort to overhaul the country's health care, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Tuesday.

Americans certainly are concerned about health care costs that are spiraling out of control, but they also want Washington to tread carefully, Nelson said.

“They want to make sure that at the end of the day, whatever we do back here doesn't make things worse, doesn't raise taxes, doesn't add to the deficit and I think they're probably not convinced yet that we can do that,” Nelson said.

The president needs to explain how legislation “will be able to reduce costs, improve care, find access for individuals who don't have it and explain why the 200 million Americans who currently have it, shouldn't be worried about losing it as a result of the health care reform effort,” Nelson said.
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The Nebraska senator could end up being a key vote. He has expressed concerns about the measures proposed by fellow Democrats so far, while reserving final judgment until after the Senate Finance Committee finishes its work.

[SeattleGirl]

1. The Republicans and the Blue Dog Dems are the tough sell, NOT

the American people. Most of US want a better system, one that allows everyone to be covered, and one that doesn't break the bank.

I wish these nimrods would understand that!

[LiberalAndProud]

2. This isn't a tough sell. There are too many families who don't have

insurance, who need medical care.

Ben, even here at home in Nebraska, this is not a tough sell.

[MarjorieG]

3. The 200 million should be afraid of losing it, becoming more unaffordable, employers going out of

business.

Obama needs to discuss economy in general, especially in comparison to endof Bush years, 30 years of what low taxes and no investment in infrastructure will do. Definitely remind the problem with tarp mostly the fall lack of oversight leislation.

[damonm]

4. Senator Nelson,

"(explain why they)...shouldn't be worried about losing it as a result of the health care reform effort.."
WTF?
What part of "if they have a private plan they like, they can keep it" are you NOT getting?

[Cali_Democrat]

5. A tough sell? The American people want health care reform.

Oh that's right, I forgot he has to try and sell it to those fuckers in Congress that don't represent the American people.

[FrenchieCat]

6. A majority of Americans voted for Barack Obama AND his promise

to do Health Care reform.

We already had the sell, and we Americans bought it.

What we didn't buy into is having these dinosaurs attempt to
act like we didn't have an election back in November.

What we don't buy is the media attempting to brainwash us into thinking
that we don't need no stinkin' health Care reform.

What we know is that a majority of Americans didn't vote for Nebraska's Senator,
and someone needs to let him know this.

[bluestateguy]

7. First it's Zell Miller, then it's Joe Lieberman

and now it's this clown.

Lieberman has (mostly) been on better behavior of late, but now we have to deal with the this guy. It's always someone.

[Cali_Democrat]

8. Well Zell Miller is a Dixiecrat, Joe Lieberman is a neocon and Ben Nelson is a douchebag

3 types of people that will never like Barack Obama.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

9. LOL

:thumbsup:

[Colobo]

10. What a loser. The only tough thing is not having health insurance because one can't afford it.

[Dennis Donovan]

11. "A tough sell?" This, coming from a man who's been bought & paid for??

:eyes:

[Jennicut]

12. He wants it to be a tough sell. What a creep.

And he calls himself a Dem.

[Thrill]

13. He needs to switch parties. This guy was the biggest Bush enabler

and now he has the nerve to talk about a tough sale. The Bush tax cuts which he pushed so hard to pass is the problem with the deficit, right now.

[WCGreen]

14. Take a fucking poll...

I truly believe a majority of taxpayers would accept a small increase in taxes in order to get Universal Coverage...

[TheKentuckian]

15. I'm almost starting to believe if we can just let the opposition keep talking

They'll actually make the case for single payer their own damn selves. They keep making arguments that are about a frame away from demanding it.

[jmondine]

16. The only way Nelson can believe that Obama hasn't yet addressed "our concerns"...

... is if every time Obama has spoken in the last month he's stuck his fingers in his ears and said, "LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

[laugle]

17. All I know is, if

the POTUS puts through a health reform plan for the few, at the expense of the many, he is done.......

[Omaha Steve]

18. Talk radio in Omaha wants Nelson to give Obama advice

Nelson used to be the director of insurance in Ne. before he was elected Gov.

Big deal.