Nebraska Senator Nelson's disingenuous opposition to a public option, now supports a trigger.

[ProSense]

Sen. Ben Nelson Expresses Support For Public Plan ‘Trigger’

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) has long opposed a public health insurance option. In May, he expressed concern that “the public plan would be too attractive and would hurt the private insurance plans.” A Nelson spokesman even suggested that the senator would be “building a coalition opposed to the public plan.” And this past week, Nelson said health care reform “implodes” if a public option is included.

But this morning on CNN, Nelson moderated his stance ever-so-slightly. He indicated to host John King that he would support a so-called “trigger” (which would establish a public plan after a certain period of time if the private market fails to control costs):

Well I think he (Obama) has to say that if there’s going to be a public option, it has to be subject to a trigger. In other words, if somehow the private market doesn’t respond the way that it’s supposed to, then it would trigger a public option or a government-run option. But only as a fail-safe backstop to the process.

When I say trigger, out here in Nebraska and the midwest, I don’t mean a hair-trigger. I mean a true trigger — one that would only apply if there isn’t the kind of competition in the business that we believe there would be.

Watch it:

more

[ananda]

1. Nelson was CEO of National Insurance Group.

He is SO corrupt.

[chimpymustgo]

2. And that's why we can't be suckered into the "trigger option." As someone put it

"we get health care when Halley's comet comes around."

[freddie mertz]

3. If only we had an LBJ right now...

Nelson might risk being put into his place in no uncertain terms.

But there is no fear of this president, and no sense that he will act in any decisive way to push through a public plan.