OK, we are going to be talking health care until this thing gets PASSED. And we are calling out all these senators who have taken boatloads of CASH from the health care and insurance industries, who are NOW trying to slow down legislation, take it easy, don't want public option, etc.
Over at TPM these senators are cleverly and lovingly called the Gang of Sickos!!! In honor of Michael Moore. So, let's see who is on the list. The senator in the number one slot is none other than Ben Nelson.
Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska, the ringleader of the group, has raised more than $2.2 million in campaign contributions from the health, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries over the course of his career according to Blumenthal, averaging more than $700 per day since taking office in January 2001. Public Campaign Action Fund (PCAF) gives a slightly lower career total of just over $2.0 million for Nelson, and provides extensive detail on his ties to the health, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries. Before entering politics, as PCAF notes, Nelson spent his career as an insurance executive, as an insurance company lawyer and, early in his career, as Nebraska's state insurance regulator. As PCAF also notes, a number of Nelson's former Senate staffers have moved on into lucrative careers as health, insurance and pharmaceutical industry lobbyists. Comments may be addressed to Senator Nelson via his Senate contact page (Nebraska residents only) or by direct e-mail at: senator@bennelson.senate.gov (CRP: Ben Nelson).
Good ol', Brother Ben. Are we surprised? Remember he did not want to work with the Obama Administration in reconstructuring the student loan fiasco, which banks in this country have taken advantage and left many students with loans after leaving college equivalent to purchasing a HOME. for real. So, no one should be shocked at Brother Ben wanting to keep his cash cow in check, by calling for SLOWING DOWN the Health Care Debate. A debate that we, the public have been having for 25 years or more.
Next, our lovely Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. Well, she came right out and NO TO PUBLIC OPTION. Even though she has supported this in the past. What do you expect from a senator bought and sold by the very industry this country is angry at and demand change. But the most pathetic thing about all of this is that Louisiana residents have some of the WORST HEALTH CARE in this country for its residents. After Katrina, you would think that Landrieu would carry a populist tone on this particular point, but no, money talks and bullshit walks.
Democrat Mary Landrieu of Louisiana has raised more than $1.6 million in campaign contributions from the health, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries over the course of her career, averaging more than $300 per day since taking office in January 1997. PCAF provides extensive detail on Landrieu's ties to the health, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries. Like Nelson's former staffers, several of Landrieu's have also gone on to work as health, insurance, and pharmaceutical industry lobbyists. Landrieu's opposition to the public option was attacked in a TV ad from MoveOn aired in her home state. Landrieu is also listed as one of the twenty most corrupt members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Comments may be addressed to Senator Landrieu via her Senate contact page (Louisiana residents only) or by direct e-mail at: senator@landrieu.senate.gov (CRP: Mary Landrieu).
Now, Ron Wyden of Oregon. I was not hip to the skip on this particular senator, but I have seen him pop up on television and radio for the past week solidly. Wyden even offered to stay in D.C. during his summer break in August to work on health care with the President. Ummm, or does he not want to hear what his constituents, his voters got to say TO HIM!! Oregon is a pretty independent state, but one that is hurting from job loss. Remember, with job loss comes health care loss, so Wyden's wishy-washy stance needs to be firmed up. We are watching this person very closely, since he is raking in the dough from the big dogs at the health care and insurance industry.
Sicko #3: Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon has raised more than $1.4 million in campaign contributions from the health, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries over the course of his career, averaging almost $300 per day since taking office in February 1996. Comments may be addressed to Senator Wyden via his Senate contact page (Oregon residents only) or by direct e-mail at: senator@wyden.senate.gov (CRP: Ron Wyden).
Read the links and the whole article.
This is an eye opener and gives everyone full understanding what money will do and how it can buy votes. Don't think for one minute that these senators are not under pressure, THEY ARE. They are reminded by their lobbyists friends that checks have been written and pressured by the mounting number of Americans, their constituents that we want health care reform. In the end, if these senators want to continue to remain relevant, meaning keep their jobs, they better listen to us, the voters because how they GOT THAT JOB is a job that can be easily taken away by the power of the voting booth.
I hope these senators remember that.
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