Nelson(NE): Public Option May Be Popular, But Opt-Outs Are Really Popular

[SpartanDem]

For weeks now, Greg Sargent has been making the point that, though polling shows the public wants health care reform to be bipartisan, what it really shows is that people think bipartisanship is nice, they'd happily scotch it if that's what it takes to secure a public option.

That doesn't exactly square with the pronouncements of some conservative Democrats--particularly Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)--who say bipartisanship is a crucial part of health care reform's legitimacy with the public. I caught up with Nelson earlier today and asked him to speak to the poll's findings.

"Well, there are different kinds of public options.... What was interesting in the poll numbers that I saw, that while there's support for public option generally, generically, when you start talking about it specifically as it relates to states being able to opt out or opt in, have their own, the support overwhelmingly goes up to 76 percent."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/nelson-public-option-may-be-popular-but-opt-outs-are-really-popular.php?ref=fpb

[ej510]

1. I want to see Governers opt out!

[Oregone]

2. Why?

You want to see their constituents mandated to purchase private healthcare, with no affordable alternative to speak of at all? Thats bad policy

[ej510]

3. No, because it will expose the corporate funded political leaders.

These fuckers will be voted out.

[Oregone]

5. Those people are already quite exposed...and still in office

It will fuck people on the bottom...for pretty much a political game with no guaranteed beneficial effect

[Clio the Leo]

6. Yup......

.... the only thing stopping the people here in TN from staging a mutiny on Gov. Bredesen when he intially said he'd turn down the stimulus money was a pirate ship and some eye patches.

Took him all of 24 hours to change his tune. A public option would be no different.

[SpartanDem]

4. I don't think any will

they took the stimulus money they'll take the public option.

[ej510]

7. Exactly!

[Hippo_Tron]

8. And if any opt out that will probably change in a few years

Once they look at other states and none of the right wing horror predictions have come true they will decide to opt in.

[quantass]

9. That doesnt even make sense -- Why would people be excited to opt-out of Choice? nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

10. I don't know any myself

Maybe Nelson does but that's not horribly surprising considering the company he keeps. :eyes: The Dems should go for broke and demand a robust PO at the federal level and maybe include some kind of provision that allow the states to also develop their own alternatives to offer their citizens. More choice and competition is supposed to be good for all of us, right??? :shrug:

[jefferson_dem]

13. If we end up with a robust public option and an opt-out exception...

I would be thrilled. That's a compromise I can more than live with. Opt- in, on the other hand, would suck.

[SIMPLYB1980]

14. Yep and I will bet even Texas won't turn it down.

Anyone want to put a $100 dollar bet for a charity of their choice on the line?

[TicketyBoo]

11. This is actually progress

from what he's been saying.

He was our governor before being our Senator, so it's understandable why he'd be in favor of States' Rights.

I've written two letters to him, begging for the public option, and in the last one I specifically mentioned Medicare For All. On Countdown last night, Howard Fineman said Ben Nelson told him he wouldn't vote for a bill with a public option. I tend to believe Howard Fineman, although maybe Nelson hasn't made his mind up quite as firmly as he stated to Fineman, after all?

Ben Nelson used to be an insurance company executive before running for public office, so guess where he will likely end up when he is done in the Senate? Lobbying for the insurance industry, maybe?

Guess he probably knows which side his bread is buttered on. I've voted for Ben Nelson every time he has run for office, but if a bill with a public option comes up for a vote before him and he doesn't vote for it, I won't be voting for him again.

[mstinamotorcity]

15. Hey Ticketyboo

You are smart to cast your vote somewhere else if you do not get what it is thats needed for your district. Maybe some of your friends can right letters about how many voters are in your family and in their families and it wouldn't take long for the word to get around that voting for Ben Nelson is something you are opting out. Maybe then he will understand that the American people will no longer be held hostage for their political or monetary gain. And your voice carries a lot of weight.So if he doesn't vote for a public plan you will opt out of voting for Senator Nelson.

[vaberella]

12. I'm with you Nelson. Opt-Out is best.

It will be political suicide for Repubs to even think it. Plus it mollifies the stupid constituents who don't want it.

[Thrill]

16. Democrats on the hill are basically begging Obama to push them

towards the public option.

Like Cenk said last night. The real Question is, does Obama really want it?

The comments by Landrieu and Nelson today show they can be moved towards it. Or certainly can be pushed towards voting for cloture. Why isn't the President trying harder for it?