Ben Nelson ADMITS the Public Option has strong public support (but then says the Opt-Out is better)

[berni_mccoy]

This is an indicator that we may be getting a Public Option after all, though it may be at the cost of an Opt-Out compromise.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/nelson-publi...

For weeks now, Greg Sargent has been making the point that, though polling shows the public wants health care reform to be bipartisan, what it really shows is that people think bipartisanship is nice, they'd happily scotch it if that's what it takes to secure a public option.

That doesn't exactly square with the pronouncements of some conservative Democrats--particularly Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)--who say bipartisanship is a crucial part of health care reform's legitimacy with the public. I caught up with Nelson earlier today and asked him to speak to the poll's findings.

"Well, there are different kinds of public options.... What was interesting in the poll numbers that I saw, that while there's support for public option generally, generically, when you start talking about it specifically as it relates to states being able to opt out or opt in, have their own, the support overwhelmingly goes up to 76 percent."
...

If even Ben Nelson admits the PO has overwhelming support (at 57%) that's a pretty big admission from someone who has been against the PO. The fact that he is talking this way is a good indicator for the final bill, though I do not like the opt-out compromise.

[jgraz]

1. Can we OPT-OUT of Ben Nelson?

Maybe we can just privatize him.

[TheCoxwain]

2. or better still -- outsource his job to a certain congressman from Florida.

wouldnt that be awesome?

[jgraz]

3. LOVE that diagram.

I'm totally stealing that.

[peace frog]

4. Are you thinking of Bill Nelson

the Florida senator? Sen. Ben Nelson is from Nebraska.

[TheCoxwain]

12. Dont tell me you did not get this ?

you are allowed 3 guesses.

[mstinamotorcity]

5. Ben Nelson is ok for now

You must remember republicans don't want government run healthcare. And its okay remember shitie as dick army said they would not let him opt out of social security so they made away for republicans to fuck themselves. think about the medical bills that can occur to average everyday people in a years time.After a year they will be begging for a public option.and guess what, since we don't exclude anyone for a pre existing condition they can come over to the public option sometimes you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar

[coconut22]

6. You tell em!

Ms.Motor city! Tell Dick Armey to take his shitty old ass and sit down somewhere!

[mstinamotorcity]

7. Dick Army

He is definitely an asshole but Ben Nelson is the whole ass to deny your own kind (aliens from outer space) the right to decent healthcare well fly me to the moon

[coconut22]

8. Time for targeting on Ben Nelson...

he is right in our faces telling us that he doesn't give a damn. Time to show him and any other Bluedogs who think we are playing where we stand

[Vinca]

9. He doesn't have to vote for the damn bill, just vote to stop a filibuster.

[dhpgetsit]

10. If the public option is passed thanks to the opt-out clause

I bet not a single state opts out.

[mstinamotorcity]

11. opting out is not an option

thats the reason its there as soon as you make those dizzy republicans think that there is something going to minorities or people of low to moderate incomes and they can't get on the gravy train trust me there will be some chuck wagon in the old GOP barnyard tonite