Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson is the object of this ad, produced by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America. DFA is the present incarnation of the old Dean For America operation. PCCC is a new PAC, created by veterans of MoveOn.org, union organizers and some 2008 Congressional campaigns, including the campaigns of Tom Perriello and Darcy Burner.
The ad features a small business owner in Nebraska whose health insurance bill went up 42% this year, so he had to drop the policy. The ad notes that Nelson has taken over $2 million from the health insurance industry in recent years.
Nelson is NOT happy about it. He has basically said, "If you guys don't stop going after me, I won't support a government option."
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.
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.
If the impact is the same this time, Howard Dean's Democracy for America will be sorely disappointed. Further, these scare tactics are certain to further divide the public on health care reform, make it less likely Congress will pass real reform and call into question the motives of those who say they want reform, but use the issue to raise money to try to buy influence inside the Beltway.
Of course, he already doesn't support a government option, so his vote is already lost. Maybe he is just predicting that pushback will piss off the conservatives.
Keep pushing, folks. And if you agree, contribute to the campaign.
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