Sam Stein on Ben Nelson's threats -

[kristopher]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/31/ben-nelson-on-ads-run-aga_n_249057.html
Sam Stein

Ben Nelson On Ads Run Against Him: They Could Kill Health Care Reform

Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) lashed out Friday at the ads being run against his position on health care reform in his home state, saying they would backfire -- and might even derail the entire reform process.

In a statement issued late in the afternoon by Nelson's office, spokesman Jake Thompson warned that if the new series of ads calling out the Senator's "stalling" on reform were "an indication of the politics going into August, then health care reform may be dead by the end of August."

"Nebraskans don't need outside special interest groups telling them what to think. Senator Nelson has nothing but praise for Nebraska groups working toward health care reform. Unfortunately, he says, these outside groups undermine the sincere and dedicated efforts of people in our state," Thompson wrote. "Recently, similar ads have run in Nebraska. Those ads by other special interests prompted hundreds of Nebraskans to call our offices, with 9 to 1 urging Senator Nelson to do exactly the opposite of what the special interest group wanted. In short, the ads backfired."...

...Asked if Thompson's warning would dissuade his organization from running the ad -- which is slated to air 200 times in Nebraska by next Wednesday -- Adam Green, founder of PCCC, responded: "Absolutely not. We're going to buy more ads in Nebraska on Monday."

"Ben Nelson just called a Nebraska small businessman whose health insurance costs went up 42%, an out-of-state special interest, while never disputing that he is bought and paid for by health and insurance interests who gave him millions to vote against his own constituents," Green continued. "If Ben Nelson stands behinds his spokesman's words, he just proved himself a fundamentally corrupt and out-of-touch politician who feels perfectly comfortable lying to his constituents and going to bat for private insurers who fear competition and want to rip off the people of Nebraska."

Nelson makes my skin crawl. What kind of ethics does this man possess?

[Laelth]

1. k&r for right action. Expose the corrupt! n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[The Magistrate]

2. Good For Mr. Green, Sir!

These empty heads from vast and empty windy spaces have to be corralled....

"Every time he opens his mouth he subtracts from the sum of human knowledge."

[JDPriestly]

3. We weren't promised a rose garden, at least not one without thorns.

The fact is that many members of Congress are beholden only to the wealthy, special interests that pay for their campaigns, and not to the people of the United States of of their own state. Nebraskans are sensible people. They want common sense government. Many of them will be shocked and disgusted to learn to what extent their senator answers to the big insurance interests. If Senator Nelson were to be heeded in his warning, many people in Nebraska would not have enough information about Senator Nelson's motivations in opposing health care reform to decide whether to support him or not.

[greendog]

4. Is Ben Nelson getting "outside money"?

If so, his complaints about "outside groups" are hypocritical and ridiculous.

[bemildred]

5. I guess the ads must be having an effect.

This guy sounds like he needs a good primary challenge next Spring.

[Walk away]

6. I will happily send my donation from N.J. for who ever runs

against him. I'm sure that people from all over the country will work hard to put a more progressive Democrat in his place.

[Maru Kitteh]

8. I hope Scott Kleeb will run against him. He very narrowly lost to Bush's ex Sec. of Ag.,

Mike Johanns, the squishy little prick who used to be our Governor.

http://www.scottkleeb.com/home.html

[Maru Kitteh]

7. Once upon a time, Ben Nelson was a good man. It makes me very sad he's come to this.

If he works against healthcare, I will spend his next election season working against him. This is my line in the sand.

[asdjrocky]

9. At this point Jeb Bush could move to Neb and win Nelsons

seat for all I care. Would anyone notice a difference?