For the third day in a row (1, 2), we find yet another instance of Sen. Ben Nelson positioning himself as the chief Democratic roadblock to health care reform in Congress. In an article on House Democrats' proposal to fund a large part of health care reform through a surtax on the wealthiest Americans, the Washington Post reports:
[T]he plan has drawn sharp attacks from Republicans and is already creating friction with Democrats in the Senate. "Tax is a four-letter word" with voters, said Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).
Once again, that's Nebraska's own Sen. Nelson leading the way in opposing President Barack Obama's agenda and undermining his fellow Democrats' efforts to achieve fundamental reform.
Nelson now adds a bit of folksy conservative spin that voters think "Tax is a four-letter word." Sadly, he doesn't seem nearly as concerned with other "four-letter words" like bankruptcy, pre-existing conditions, and denial of care - all with which the American people have become intimately and increasingly familiar for our failure to reform the health care system. For a sense of the truly obscene, Nelson would also do well to remember the "four-letter word" that is 47 million uninsured.
At this point, it's perfectly understandable that Nelson should have questions and concerns about the sweeping legislation that is being discussed. But, rather than working constructively for the best possible health care proposal, Nelson's instead emerging as the leading defender of the status quo, doing more damage than any Republican as he promotes the idea that Democrats in Congress are fractured and in disarray.
Thankfully, Nebraskans are finally going to be hearing a stronger voice for reform. The Democratic National Committee - through President Obama's Organizing for America - has unveiled the following ad that will be running for the next two weeks on local Nebraska stations:
Besides Nebraska, the Huffington Post reports that this ad will also be airing in Arkansas, Indiana, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, North Dakota, and Ohio - all states with Senators, like Nelson, whose votes are going to be critical to passing health care legislation.
The message that "It's time" couldn't be more simple or more true. This message also couldn't be more needed or more overdue in a place like Nebraska where our media and our Congressmen appear to be united in their calls for inaction and delay.
Nelson was quick with his response to the Associated Press:
U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson says television ads now running in Nebraska won't influence his decision on health care reform. The Nebraska Democrat says he's reserving his judgment on proposals in the House and Senate that include a so-called public option.
On Wednesday, during a conference call with news reporters, Nelson reiterated his concern about the public option, which would create a government insurance plan to compete with private plans. Nelson says he fears a public option "will materially and adversely effect the insurance of 200 million Americans who are currently covered."
If this ad won't influence Nelson's decision, maybe he'll at least take into consideration the new report by Families USA that shows 220 Nebraskans are losing their health care coverage every week because of the rising costs of insurance. Or, maybe he'll pay attention to the recent survey that shows 70% of small businesses in Nebraska support a public option.
Each of those Nebraska families that have lost their coverage and each of those small businesses that are struggling to survive have the same message for Senator Nelson - "It's time for health care reform!"