The PCCC Ad on Big Ed's show is extremely misleading (Senate doesn't have 51 votes for PO)

[berni_mccoy]

The ad shows various senators making statements and a count of votes in support of the Public Option. The only problem with this ad is that some of these statements are taken completely out of context. They even went so far as showing Sen. Byrd voting on the Senate Bill passed in December as a vote count for the Public Option. Sorry, but even Whipcongress.com doesn't have 50 confirmed votes. According to whipcongress:

24 have signed a letter to Reid saying they support the PO via Reconciliation.
19 have given statements to reporters or their constituents.

Then they claim 4 have made statements on video and 4 are likely. That doesn't add up to 51 votes for the PO no matter how much you want it.

They quote Warner's statement of the need for competition as vote 46 (this is not an endorsement for a vote for the PO)
They quote Baucus as saying he wants a public option (which is completely laughable) as vote 48
They have an out-of-context statement by Hagan as saying "the public option would have been good" as vote 49
And they have the shameful video of Byrd voting for the Senate bill in December saying "This is for Ted" as vote 51.

It's shameful. I want a Public Option too, but I'm not going to claim there are 51 votes when there aren't. And taking statements from Senators out of context to make up the myth that you have 51 votes as pressure on Pelosi to put the PO back in is just plain wrong.

[napi21]

1. Yea, I heard the guy7 from Whipcongress on Ed's show on Fri.

Some if those cimments he quoted were questionable at best. I don't blame Nancy for not including the PO in the recon. bill. I don't have any confidence in the Senate vote either.

[tekisui]

2. It is plain right. Someone needs to put some pressure.

Good for them for calling it out and putting it all out there for us to see. No more excuses.

[berni_mccoy]

3. Putting pressure on Pelosi is fine. Lying to do so is absolutely not. Putting those lies in an ad

against her is downright Rovian.

[tekisui]

4. I don't care what it is called if it is effective.

Someone needs to stand up and make it happen. Good on them! Shame on Pelosi, Reid and Obama for not standing FOR and making a Public Option a reality.

[berni_mccoy]

5. Explains why you'd rather see the bill killed than help 31 million Americans

got no morals.

[tekisui]

6. I didn't say I wanted the bill killed.

I think it is ultimately a weak bill from where it started. It could have been true reform. But, I recognize that it must be passed now.

If it fails, liberals will never hear the end of it from the likes of you. I can hear it now: "Those damn liberals, standing up to the insurance companies are the reason Americans are dying!!!!@111!!1" Of course, you'd be wrong, as it is the conservatives and the insurance companies causing the pain. I'd just assume swallow it and start pushing for Single-Payer or Public Option the next day.

The fact of the matter is Obama and the Dems are far too invested politically to not produce something. I am just disappointed that the Democratic leadership gave so much away so early to the conservatives and then treated liberals like the opposition.

No, it has to pass now, of Obama will be a lame duck. I am pleased that we now know what the score is within the Democratic Party.

ETA- Fuck your moral judgments.

[ellenfl]

7. wrong. if that's what it takes, we have to do it. they always do.

we don't have time to be nice anymore.

ellen fl