Where does Nelson get his running money, besides the insurance cos.?

[annabanana]

Surely there are a LOT of people in Nebraska who would benefit GREATLY from a genuine public option health plan. Surely there are a LOT of small businesses could keep their doors open longer without having to pay insurance companies buckets of money to insure their workers..

How can Nebraska get Ben to change his mind on this? Is there any leverage at all out there. And if there is, how can the 'net help?

[progressoid]

1. That's going to be a tough row to hoe.

He usually has a 60-70% approval rating. While he's Democrat (barely), he still does well because so many Repubs and independents like him.

We are up against some pretty heavy hitters here (Mutual of Omaha, Berksire Hathaway, Blue Cross/shield).
However, highlighting his ties to Insurance industry, while tapping into the populist anger might help.

[annabanana]

2. It sounds like you can use the repup/indies that vote for him...

Was there a big response there to the teabag thing?

It seems to me that they might be receptive to talk of a public option... It can be framed as "competition" for the private plans, something that will keep them from raising their rates too fast.. getting them to drop the "preexisting condition" clauses etc etc etc... If the private plans are as good as the public one, they have nothing to worry about.

[Cowpunk]

3. Don't make the mistake of thinking tea-baggers are rational

Sure, a few of them are, but most equate government health care with fascism, thanks to Mr. Beck & Co. I just read Nelson's op-ed in the World-Herald about health care. He thinks the threat of a government plan may make the insurance companies make a few concessions, like universal coverage. Great, but what happens when the Deomocrats no longer dominate and the threat is gone? Back to their old tricks, that's what.