Sen. Kent Conrad: 'Legislation doesn't pass on a vote from the American people.'

[seafan]

Kent Conrad.

He is up for re-election in 2012.



Ed Schultz just got done interviewing this weasel.


(Paraphrased)



On questioning why the wavering Democrats won't vote for a public option, in view of Obama clearly stating he wants it:


Conrad: We don't have the votes.


Schultz: Yes, you DO have the votes! For the first time in a very long time, Democrats control the House, the Senate and the White House.


Conrad: No. Legislation does not pass on a vote from the American people.


Schultz: But you have the people behind Obama. 75% of the public want a public option.


Conrad: No. Senators have to please their constituents. It's different in every state. Senators don't represent America. They represent their states.



That arrogant statement infuriated me more than anything he's said thus far.



What about FL, NC, IN, *red states* that voted for Obama in this election??? These constituencies voted for Obama's agenda. That means YOU, Bill Nelson, Evan Bayh, Kay Hagan. Why are these people defying their constituents? (Wished you'd thrown that back at him, Ed.)




Schultz: The pharma/insurance lobbies are pretty persuasive on you guys, is that how it is?


Conrad: (((Chuckles.))) There'll be a financial meltdown if we have a public option. We need to have budget reconciliation in 5 years time! We need to fix this now.


Schultz: We'll raise taxes to pay for a public option! And rescind Bush's tax cuts. Why don't we put a sunset provision on this in 5 years, so if your co-op plan doesn't work, we can revisit it again.


What about workers'comp that would no longer be needed if we attain single payer?


Schultz: If we have 60 votes will you support a public option?



Conrad: That's not the issue..




I got up and left the room when he said that.




Honestly, we have to remove these people from their positions of power. They do NOT have the well-being of Americans as their top priority.



Instead, it's THIS.








People, call your members of Congress.

[lindisfarne]

1. Phones & Faxes of Senate Committee members. Conrad is so spinning things - he might as well join the

GOP.

After, calling your members of Congress,
Call Senate Finance committee members (phones/faxes in # 1) & HELP committee members (phones in #11)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8473420

[seafan]

5. Thanks for that comprehensive list. This is our battle, people. n/t

[derby378]

2. Part of what the weasel said is true

A Representative has to act on behalf of his or her home district. A Senator works to serve his or her state. It's the President that has to represent the entire nation.

That said, Conrad's tone left me cold.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

3. Chuckling Kent Conrad chortles every time someone tries to tell him

that the majority of the American people want a public plan.

Iowans are not dumb - they proved that in the primaries. Please, Iowans, call and write this guy that is keeping you and us from real healthcare reform. And then, please vote him out.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. He's from ND, not IA. (nt)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

13. oops!. We're probably stuck with him then.

Not that there aren't smart Democrats in ND.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Conrad is right that Senators represent their states and not America.

And while you have a valid point that Obama won FL, IN, and NC, it's a much more difficult argument to make that they voted for Obama because of health care reform in particular. They may well have voted for him in spite of his policy in this issue - I don't know if that's true or not, but no one else does either.

I might well note that Conrad is from North Dakota, which is not an Obama state, so your statement would especially not resonate with him - he's got to represent people that were (by your logical conclusion) not on board with Obama's policy in this area.

Honestly, Democrats are truly suffering from not having Ted Kennedy around. This would be a much different debate if he were more in the picture, as jokers like Conrad would be staying out of the spotlight. All I can say is that I hope Sen. Kennedy regains enough strength to be there when things heat up.

[Blaze Diem]

8. I Grew up in ND. A very Repub State. How both Senators ended up as Dems is a mystery.

As far as I know, most NDers want to keep things as they are, adhering to a "We don't want to know and we don't like change" attitude.

Conrad, like Sen Byron Dorgan, has always been a favorite son. Admired for his bright mind for budget & numbers.
After today's appearance on Ed Show, I have lost much respect for this Senator, and am wondering just who or what factor is influencing him to denounce single payer as he has been.

I would like to know how the people of ND feel about Sen Conrad's Co-op vs.
Single-Payer proposal.

I really don't get his thinking on this one, and am baffled as to why he is so determined to denounce single-payer.
What the heck happened to this smart & reasonable man?
Something's not right with the Conrad picture.
hmmm

[sandnsea]

11. It is not co-op vs. single payer

It's co-op vs. a public option alongside insurance.

It's probably that kind of confusion or misrepresentation that the people in his state are responding to.

[Blaze Diem]

12. my bad...public option is correct....But you are perhaps on to something here..

It just may be that they will believe & support Sen Conrad, whatever he speaks of. This sounds true to what I know of NDers.
Public Option has no doubt been downplayed and from a State that understands & appreciates Co-ops, as applied to their own experience within the state, I suppose Conrad's proposal may just be thought of as a brilliant offering.

Insurance Co.'s have several Call-centers in the state also, thus employing NDers.
Insurance industry, business owners, ( ND is a right-to-work State anyway), Oil & Gas industry,Plenty of Doctor/Hospital influence, as well as the very well cared for elderly, and a healthy dose of medicaid/poverty level recipients, pretty much takes care of the population of Sen Conrad's State.

That's my take on the demographics of ND.
Why Conrad needs to appease his State constituents, as he so stated.

I understand that, however still don't think his plan fits with the needs of the Nation. Maybe ND, but not the Nation.

[sandnsea]

14. Change Minds, Change Votes

Can't say it enough. Until we organize a respectful organization that can talk to some of these rural states in language they can hear, we're going to keep having these same fights.

Although, constituency doesn't explain Wyden, Feinstein and some others whose voters are ready to string them up because they're playing games with the public option.

[checks-n-balances]

16. I thought Senators were also supposed to vote their consciences

He's just using that as an excuse. How could he be so heartless? He doesn't WANT the public option & he's hiding behind his constituents.

Another tonedeaf corporatist DINO shill.

[msongs]

7. a leadership vacuum allows senators to have too much authority nt

[butterfly77]

9. These people really think they have the final say...

I say no relaxation on their vacations it is time to pound them with protests,emails etc..I will bet you if something comes up with foreign policy or weapons their would be no excuse they would all be on board and cost wouldn't matter.


Our talking point should be that we want the same health plan that they have and let these mf know that it is our money and who in the hell are they to tell us what we can't do with our money. I don't want my money going for all of the useless weapon systems..

[Cleita]

10. This is the problem with Congress both houses. They have forgotten

that they represent the people and that we set the agenda.

[Left coast liberal]

15. Yeah, it was very tortured logic. Yuk