Is Ben Nelson Really Standing up to Reid and Obama?
Today, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb) said he will not vote for cloture on the Senate health care bill. Without his vote, Reid does not have the 60 votes required to stop a Republican filibuster. Sen. Nelson has been holding out until abortion restrictions similar to those in the House version of the bill were put in to the Senate bill. But now he is claiming that even if the abortion language in the bill is changed to his satisfaction, he still will not vote for cloture.
I’m hoping that Sen. Nelson really means what he is saying. If he stops this bill, he will save the most innovative and technologically advanced health care system in the world. However, I’m worried that he may not be taking this stand on principle and could be holding out for some kickback and pork barrel spending for his state. We heard how the blue dogs in the House were not going to vote for the health care bill, but in the end they did. In the Senate, we heard that Lierberman and Landrieu were not going to vote for the bill, but Landrieu was bought off with the new “Louisiana Purchase” and Lieberman recently said he expects to vote for the health care bill. Every other Democrat that has claimed they would not vote for this bill has eventually succumbed to the pressure of the left wing of the party. I’m not holding my breath, but I truly hope Sen. Nelson stands strong.
I encourage everyone to contact him and tell him to stay the course and kill this terrible bill. The phone number for his D.C. office is (202) 224-6551. You can also contact him via email by clicking here.
Here is the audio and transcript of the interview where Sen. Nelson made the claim,
