Liberal Groups Target Ark. Dems on Health Care
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: So much for Rahm Emanuel’s cease-fire. Two liberal groups are launching new advertising campaigns targeting moderate Democratic members of Congress from Arkansas, attacking them for not supporting a “public option” as part of health care reform. One ad bluntly warns Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., that they will face Democratic primary challenges if they persist in “trying to kill the public health insurance option.” “Stand with Democrats now — or we’ll find someone who will,” says the ad from the FDL Action PAC, which organizers said would run for the next 10-14 days in the Little Rock market. That ad also uses footage from raucous rallies and town-hall meetings, and cites Rep. Joe Wilson’s “you lie!” outburst on the House floor last week. Another group, Change Congress, is also targeting Ross. The ad uses footage of MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann attacking Ross — a leading “Blue Dog” conservative Democrat — for opposing the public option. “Congressman, if you’re so tired of raising money from special interests who oppose your constituents on issues like health care, do something,” says that ad, which asks Ross to support a bill that would establish public funding for congressional races. Ads from liberal groups targeting Democrats have been less prevalent since White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel warned a collection of groups to stop running them, dismissing them as “stupid.” But advocates of a public option have been harshly critical of Sen. Max Baucus’ health care reform bill, which does not include provisions for a government-established plan that would compete with private insurers. For months, liberal groups have been frustrated by concessions made by leaders in Congress to appease their fellow Democrats — notwithstanding their large majority in the House and the Senate.
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The liberal group ads will be seen as “carpetbaggers” and will have the reverse effect.
Posted by: Jeff | September 18, 2009, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Well, well, well, my family is from Arkansas, many still there. Actually the dems need to NOT BACK the public option. You think the north is tired of the lies, the south is outraged. The dems don’t have a chance there in 2010 if they do vote for this….
Posted by: lyineyes1956 | September 18, 2009, 11:19 am 11:19 am
Bully tactics by radicals not interested in the democratic process…they think they have more power than they do…they’re the only ones that don’t realize how radical they are….call their bluff and throw them all out in 2010…they want to dictate to people
Posted by: phillysmart | September 18, 2009, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
Hate to inform the DNC but Senator Lincoln does not answer to them. She answers to the voters of Arkansas. Arkansas is a conservative Democratic state. Lincoln is smart enough to know that the people of Arkansas have gone about as far to the left as we are willing to go. She’s also smart enough to know that the best thing for her career would be to stand up to Yankee liberals. Our Congressmen know it too, that’s why Ross is standing up.
Politicians are elected to represent the people, not the party. Democratic leadership seems to have forgotten that. Maybe they need to learn it again. As a voter in Van Buren, Arkansas I’ll vote for Senator Lincoln if she stands up to represent us instead of her party. If she lets yankee liberals push her around, I’ll do what I can to see her replaced.
Posted by: oonogil2 | September 18, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
Sounds like the far left is helping the democratic party implode.
Posted by: LongT | September 18, 2009, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Long T
Take a look at
Limbaugh
Beck
Hannity
Fox News
Talk about killing a party those clowns are burying the Republicans day by day hahah lol
Posted by: Angie in PA | September 18, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
Angie in PA
Limbaugh is an idiot. I never heard of Hannity until Obama talked about him. Seldom watch FOX or Beck.
The only people who pay any attention to them are the right wing who love them and the left wing who hate them. Most Americans really don’t care about Limbaugh and the rest. We do care if our politicians represent their party instead of us.
Posted by: oonogil2 | September 18, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
Is Health Care Reform Constitutional?
The administration seems to be operating under a distorted version of the Commerce Clause that has been grossly misinterpreted over the years as allowing the feds to regulate and control just about everything. In United States vs. Lopez in 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Congress can only regulate human activity that is truly commercial at its core. One does not go to a doctor to engage in commercial activity. The Supreme Court has specifically rejected the idea that Congress can regulate noneconomic activities simply because through a chain of collective events they might have some impact down the road.
Posted by: Sandcrab1612 | September 18, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Those Yankee liberals attacking Sen Lincoln need to look up the term “paradoxical reaction”. That way they’ll have a name to put on what they’re about to see. I’m an Arkansas voter who never voted for Senator Lincoln or thought well of her. Until now. My hat’s off to you Senator. Take care of Arkansas, we’ll take care of you and keep you right where you are.
Posted by: oonogil2 | September 18, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Liberals can turn into rabid hounds
faster than you can say…..”ACORN”
and have been known to cannibalize
their very own. Liberal fur flying
is a definite traffic-stopper.
Posted by: Trajan | September 18, 2009, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
Don’t care what the people posting on here say. Many of them are probably paid staffers. What matters is that if the poll numbers ARE accurate then the people of AR do want the public option, no matter how much you liars shout out your lying lies.
Posted by: Mystic55 | September 19, 2009, 4:08 am 4:08 am
We’re dying out here. Sure, we can go to the local E.R. but they don’t treat breast masses, or other chronic, dangerous conditions. If you’re under 65 and have an “uninsurable” pre-existing condition – you’re screwed. A death sentence without a panel.
E.R. only diagnoses and will cast your arm if you break it. I had insurance until I had a routine minor skin (2mm)lesion froze off. My insurance company then used their exemption to the HIPPA law to publicly trade that medical information to other insurance companies. Now I’m uninsurable everywhere.
The E.R. doc can recommend the oncologist, endocronologist, the gastroenterologist; but just try getting in to see them without really good insurance. In my town, many doc’s won’t see medicare patients anymore and recently their group stopped accepting Blue Cross and Blue Shield (stating it didn’t pay enough). So even good insurance can’t get you in to see a doctor. You may be happy now, but you or a family member going to be next. Your great health insurance plan is going to deny your cancer claim. Then you can join us… the Americans who are sent home to die alone untreated.
Posted by: Buddy | September 27, 2009, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
The more Olberman talks, the more votes Mike Ross will garner. Keith, stay with sports…..
Posted by: besser1 | October 7, 2009, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm