What Democratic Senators are out there fighting hard for a strong public option?

[Better Believe It]

It's seems like the "centrist" Democrats and their Republican pals are dominating the news.

Are Democrats who support the public option campaigning publicly as hard?

Are they calling news conference, releasing daily statements, calling public meetings, granting TV/radio interviews, etc., to get media attention?

What's Senator Kerry and other prominent Senators doing and saying.

I really don't know and can't find much.

So I hope some DU'ers can answer these questions and put up lead posts highlighting Democratic Senators actions and statements in defense of a strong public option. They need to challenge those so-called "centrists".

If they fail to do the, the opponents of a public option will continue to dominate the news media and I'm really getting sick and tired of that with no response from other Democratic Senators

[Captain Hilts]

1. GOOD question. Anybody know???

[Zodiak]

19. The main Democrat on our side in the Senate has a brain tumor

So he is not getting out in front of cameras.

And apparently no one is taking up his mantle.

[rockymountaindem]

2. Dodd and Durbin are two of them

There have been posts about them in the last 24 hours.

[Better Believe It]

7. Start lead posts on Senators Dodd & Durbin recent public option actions with the news links.

Thanks!

[sisters6]

47. and include their office and phone numbers. both dc and home state please. thank you

[TheWraith]

3. Senator Gillibrand of NY. nt

[Better Believe It]

5. Start a lead post on Senator Gillibrand's actions with the news link.

[TheWraith]

9. Here you go.

Not a news link as much as her own diary on Daily Kos.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8483932

[Dr Fate]

31. Well, at least people who go to relatively obscure blogs knows where she stands.

She needs to take her views and this fight to larger outlets- TV shows, etc.

Then again, that might blow "the cover."

I've seen this pattern for 8 years- DEMS say all kinds of strong things on blogs that only the choir sees- but we generally get a different picture when it comes to what DEMS say on TV, etc.

[TheWraith]

34. Yeah, because NOBODY goes to Daily Kos.

I mean, who in the media has ever heard of that website? :eyes:

[Dr Fate]

35. None of my swing-voting aunts & uncles go to it. No one at my barber shop goes to it either.

Most people get their news "on the TV" or "in the papers."

If they get it on line, it's usually at a source citing AP or mainstream media.

Are you saying that posting a diary on a Liberal blog gets more media attention than getting on a TV show or in the papers?

Sure- the media has heard of the site- but do non-political junkie swing voters, moderates & independents go to it?

Sure- the media has heard of it- but did they visit it and then repeat the Senator's talking points on air after doing so?

[TheWraith]

36. No, but they do file stories on "So and so supports a public option."

Find me an example of Gillibrand saying something other than "I support a public option" to a TV camera, and you'll have grounds for your point.

[Dr Fate]

37. Actually- shouldnt you find that clip in order to make your point?

My point is that DEM Senators are not in front of camera's ENOUGH. If I found clips of here making longer arguments, that would prove your point, not mine.

Senators can get on those TV debate shows all the time- and once on, the can get in their talking points. If they are being "banned" or censored, I've never heard them say so- in a blog or otherwise.

Cant we at least agree that there needs to more effort than a blog diary?

In the case of Senator Gillibrand's blog post- DID the media in fact file a story that "So and so supports a public option"- and if so, was that more effective and widespread than an on camera debate & talkin points would be?

If we fail- and she says "Hey- I was all over the blogs on this- I was fighting-that was all I could do-the media failed to pick it up-blame them"- will that be an acceptable excuse?

Please know that you & I are on the same page here-I just need to see a stronger effort beyond preaching to the choir on blogs. I need to see these DEMS front & center, on TV where everyone else can see them. I dont think I'm being too radical, unreasonable etc. by saying this.

[RandomThoughts]

4. Howard Dean is making alot of sense.

I also saw a post that said 37 Senators were onboard with public option.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8482902
http://standwithdrdean.com/where_congress_stands?chamber=Senate&party=&state=&hc_status=1&commit=Filter

Also be careful, every time anything starts to be worked on, there are alot of people, including here, that post the worst articles on it.

And since media is not completely on board with the topic, it is easy to find upsetting articles.

Form ranks, but no reason to charge the hill in disgust yet.




Many people have posted numbers for people to call, that could always be an idea.

[Mass]

6. Kerry is doing NOTHING. Whitehouse and Brown are fighting for it. Schumer, Leahy, and Durbin have

sent email campaigns asking for people to sign petitions http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5881595

. In general, the answer is very little.

(I answered NOTHING for Kerry because he is my junior senator and you asked about him, but he is obviously far from being the only one, and he answered he supported public option to DFA, which is not what I call doing something).

[Better Believe It]

11. So where are the news stories and links? I'd like to know how they are fighting for it.

The opponents of the public option know how to get tons of news media. Surely, the Democratic Senators can do much more than little e-mail campaigns, which in reality is no campaign at all.

Have they lost their voices and ability to call news conferences, meetings and actions to take on the opponents of public insurance?

If you can find any news links for Whitehouse and Brown's pro-public option activity please start lead posts with that information.

[karynnj]

17. In fairness, Kerry is taking the lead on Iran, other foreign policy issues and global warming

The Schumer/Leahy/Durbin email campaign started today. It is possible that Kerry will initiate one as well.

It also may be that he is sensitive to becoming a big presence on what is Kennedy's signature issue.

[Mass]

18. Sorry, they ALL should take the lead on that. It is too important.

Schumer/Leahy/Durbin have done other things before this email campaign. Kerry has been totally silent on this issue, even though he is very involved in the preparation of the law, as reported by the media -- he is n 3 in the subcommittee for healthcare in the finance committee and has proposed or cosponsored many bills that are related to the reform. However, he has been totally silent on what will be the major issue of this law: "will this bill be a gift to insurance companies or something positive for us"). As I said, he is far from being the only one not speaking, but he should. It is too important. Personally, his continual silence whenever senators took public positions (public letter to Sebelius, Brown bill, ...) makes me doubt to his commitment to this issue. I know he will support it if it is in the bill, but I also think he does not think it is that important (and this may be the case of many of these senators, who have never had to worry how they would pay their health bills).

[karynnj]

21. If he has proposed and co-sponsored bills related to the reform, he hasn't done "nothing"

What he hasn't done is to be one of the people leading public opinion on this. This does not mean that he has not been working quietly. I agree that he never had to personally worry about not having health insurance, but it was an issue that he spoke about often in 2004 and afterward. I don't doubt his desire to get as good a health care bill passed and signed as he can.

I don't think he can lead on all issues, and he looks like he is working very hard. The fact is that more people are actively working on health care than on cap and trade. It is also true that Cap and trade can not use reconciliation. In addition, noone in the Senate has the position and his level of knowledge on foreign policy. It makes sense that a huge part of his energies are focused in those areas.

[Mass]

25. I would hope he fights for a public option as much as for the cellphone question. It is certainly

worth it, if he believes in the need of a good healthcare system. The bill out of the Senate Finance Committee is far from offering this.

[Better Believe It]

29. Co-sponsoring a bill is something. He needs to work loudly for this.

It wont interfere with his other "important" Senate work.

He should at least speak out as loudly in support of a public option as he has in prior years.

I hope he's not afraid of offending anyone in the Senate should he do the right thing.

[Sebastian Doyle]

22. Schumer?

Ok, what's his hidden agenda?

I find it really hard to believe that Wall $treet Chucky is in favor of REAL health care reform.

[Oregone]

8. Anyone with half a brain (fewer yet) are probably advocating single-payer

Maybe they just don't want to play this bait-and-switch "public option" game

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. In that case, you push HARD for 'single-payer', then negotiate down

to 'public option'.

Public option is better than nothing, and IT is currently the starting point, so any compromising or negotiating will HAVE to be at the expense of the public option, meaning that whatever is left will NEVER morph into single-payer.

And that is the result of marginalizing the unions - Democrats don't know how to bargain anymore.

[Zodiak]

26. I disagree

They know how to bargain, and are going to get exactly what they want.....window-dressing that allows the lobbyist money to keep pouring in.

At this point, it would be foolish to think that the Democrats miscalculated by going for the public option. They knew that by choosing this, they would split the left and guarantee that the health insurance companies remain in the driver's seat for the foreseeable future.

They simple do not care about their constituents. They have proven that more times than I care to list. and we are idiots for remaining loyal to them after all of these betrayals.

[Thrill]

10. Democrats are letting Republicans own the Debate

Outside of Obama and Dean. I've heard no one make the strong case

[Better Believe It]

13. Maybe they want it that way. Perhaps we've been played for suckers

[quantass]

14. Like Always!

[OHdem10]

15. I monitor TV and Isee different Republicans from House and Senate

almost daily and on several shows in one day. They have
their talking points making the case against Public Option,
National Health Care and Single Payer.

TV SCREEN IS BLANK when it comes to any Democrats from the
House and Senate giving any sort of positive message in support
of Health Care. Certainly not Public Option.

If we are lucky some Reporter will repeat what some Democrat has
said.

There is no Debate. We have GOP making the Case against.

[Better Believe It]

20. Should we call them Democrats who support the public option the "silent majority"?

It's easier for Republicans to "win" the debate now than when they controlled the Senate!

And nothing can pass the Senate without their approval.

If we could just elect 100 Democrats to the Senate I bet we'd have a fair chance at passing a moderate healthcare bill!

Well .... maybe not.

I just got carried away.

[RaleighNCDUer]

30. Make that the 'silenced majority'. nt

[Dr Fate]

33. Which DEM Senator was "silenced"- and by which TV interview show?

And what strategy did he take to correct this roadblock, if it even happened?

"The media wont let us say it" smells like the old-timey Bush era excuses to me.

Which DEM Senators confirm this theory that they are not allowed to go on interview shows and advocate for one thing or another?

[Dr Fate]

32. Name the DEM Senators who claim that they are being censored or banned from TV shows.

I'm not buying this excuse- DEMS can get on TV and say whatever they want.

If they are being censored or not being given equal time, then what are they doing about it besides falling back on this notion as an excuse?

I see DEMS on TV everyday- and no one is cutting their mics, or holding a gun to them, etc.

If DEMS are being told that they cannot advocate on certain TV shows, then I need to hear them say that. If they cant make that claim, then it smells like an excuse.

[redqueen]

16. Bernie Sanders is making a strong case.

But he's not a Dem.

We need public financing of campaigns.

[Sebastian Doyle]

23. We need 99 more senators like Bernie

Maybe human cloning isn't such a bad idea?

[Mass]

24. I take 50 more, so that we can pass single payer in the Senate...

[redqueen]

28. God, if only!

[grillo7]

43. Sanders is the best n/t

[Dr Fate]

27. Similar Question: Which "good DEMS" are putting pressure on the "we don't have the votes" DEMS?

In other words- are there any DEMS who are going on TV and NAMING the "we don't have the votes" crowd?

Helping, backing or organizing public campaigns to expose them, or to otherwise pressure them to vote with the people, not with the corporations?

If not, then it's just a game of good cop/bad cop, and they are all covering for each other.

Here is a translation of what I'm hearing from DEMS:

"I would vote for what voters want but 'we don't have the votes'- and I have no intention of dirtying my fingernails by fighting to get those votes. In fact- I'm not even going to name the DEMS who are threatening to side with the Republicans-and I'm certainly not going to help you fight them either. After all ,they are my good friends of 20 or 30 years. Instead of fighting to get the votes, it's easier for me to do whatever the conservatives say. Please except my excuses without question and don't forget to work hard for DEMS in 2010. Maybe after that we can start this all over again."

[blm]

38. Kerry backs public option & is also lead Senator on Iran-Iraq-Pakistan-Syria and has full hands

right now. Demanding Kerry take lead on EVERY issue is absurd. He already takes the lead on MOST and still is the FIRST Senator attacked here at DU.

You might also be interested to know that he has re-opened some BCCI matters and his investigator was threatened in Switzerland by officials there attempting to thwart the tracking of AQ Khan's funding.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5876524

That's all.

[Better Believe It]

39. He far to busy to help the people?

"Demanding Kerry take lead on EVERY issue is absurd"

Who had done that? Point to anyone on DU who has made such an absurd demand.

You can't.

But in 2004 Kerry indicated he felt universal health care was a major issue that concerned him.

If he still thinks that, can he not call a simple news conference with other Democratic party leaders to rally support behind a public option?

He has time to do that and a lot more. Did you forget he has a staff that can help out on this?

No more excuses for inaction by leaders of the Democratic Party.

OK?

[blm]

44. BS - he IS helping but not taking the lead on this as he is leading on other pressing matters

now. Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Syria issues didn't start last week.

And Kerry and his staff WERE working to help Kennedy and his staff on healthcare.


And YOU are the one who used Kerry as your bullshit example accusing him of doing nothing. He has NOT been inactive, at all. YOU have been inactive in noticing that he has done/does 100 times more work for this nation than most the Dems in DC put together.

[zulchzulu]

41. I guess it's OK to attack Kerry even though he has been on our side for decades!

Yeah, people like to piss on one of the best Senators this country has ever had... no surprise...

Here's a summary of his position on healthcare reform:

Through his plan, medical coverage would first be expanded to all children; the federal government would defray high-cost health care, helping to keep premiums low; and every American would have access to health care similar to that provided to members of Congress, using tax credits to help make health care affordable for small businesses, the middle class, and people between jobs. It also would focus on preventative care, so Americans aren't waiting until the last moment to seek care and entering emergency rooms.

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Newsletters/Washington-Health-Policy-in-Review/2006/Aug/Washington-Health-Policy-Week-in-Review---August-7--2006/Kerry-Talks-Up-Universal-Health-Care-Plan.aspx

And Kerry is on record saying that the insurance industry trying to go after the Public Option were asshats, essentially:

Since that leadership barred the single-payer plan from Congressional committees working on the bill, insurance companies have lowered their sights on the public option. At the first Senate committee hearing, insurance company agent Karen Ignagni offered to give up charging women more for medical insurance than men, as a concession towards killing the public option.

But Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) did not see that as a worthy bargaining chip. “The disparity between women and men in the individual marketplace is just plain wrong and it has to change,” he said. And before the day was out, Kerry put in a bill to ban that practice.x12x13 While that one try did not work out for the insurance companies, it still serves to show a contrast in bargaining styles. At one end, the people’s supposed representatives open with a position that has already ceded half the ground, while at the other end, the insurance companies see even a small concession as a bargaining chip.

http://theparagraph.com/2009/05/john-kerry-swats-insurance-company-bargaining-chip/#fn21056811894a3c19a8ca8a9

[Better Believe It]

45. So how is Senator Kerry campaigning on behalf of the public option?

Please provide credible links on how Senator Kerry has been fighting for the public option and against those want to destroy it.

Perhaps you can google it and find many instances of Senator Kerry campaigning for the public option in the past month or so.

Please post those links.

Or perhaps you will find nothing.

But, since you claim that Senator Kerry is helping to lead the battle for universal healthcare and the public option it is up to you, not me, to provide that evidence.

Do you have any?

[Mass]

46. Talking about it is not taking the lead. Sending an email on this issue rather than about

cell=phone contract. Cosponsoring Brown's bill and cosigning Schumer's letter is not taking the lead.

The problem is that NOTHING is going to happen if some good men do not go out there and do for public option what Kerry did for Iran. And nothing says he cannot do his part on this (or give up his seat on the healthcare subcommittee for somebody who is ready to do his job).

He is FAR from being the first senator attacked on DU. Baucus and others have been pounded on this issue, but saying Kerry cannot do his part of the job is wrong, and people from MA do expect him to do so.

[blm]

48. I wasn't talking about JUST this issue - Kerry's the first senator to get attacked on majority of

issues over the years with the 'Why isn't Kerry doing..... or ......?' and usually from those who are pretty clueless about the breadth of leadership Kerry has taken consistently, especially on tough and unpopular and unglamorous issues.

I imagine that a big reason he isn't on TV on healthcare is because the foreign policy hotspots are pretty damn hot and have been for the entire 6 months of Obama's presidency, and Kerry's broadcast appearances will be used on that while other senators like Brown and Sanders are the go to guys on public option for healthcare.

[Mass]

50. I have to disagree totally with you.

If Kerry has time for this,

http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/06/19/heeding-kerrys-call-fcc-will-investigate-exclusive-cell-phone-deals/

He has time for at least a statement of full support for a public option. In fact, I consider any senator not doing this as at best a weak supporter of a public option.

[blm]

52. I wouldn't miss a point you're making intentionally, Mass. You should know that by now.

Of course, I'd like to hear more from him on this, but, I can also picture those senators leading on this to be timing the public support. We don't know what's happening behind senate caucus doors, but, I'm pretty sure Kerry's giving Brown and Sanders back up there.

[Mass]

53. I erased because I found it too harsh, but we need him and others to make at least a statement of

support for the public and the media. a DFA survey is not enough.

[Canuckistanian]

40. Here's a question - where does Biden stand on it?

After all, he may be called in for a tie-breaker.

Anybody know?

[MiniMe]

42. Bernie Sanders is

Love Bernie

[Dr Fate]

49. Just to be accurate, Sanders is not a DEM party member, but a " far left" Socialist.

n/t

[sisters6]

51. Baucus was busy fishing and golfing with lobbyists this weekend. $2,500 got

you a chance to tee off with him.