Holocaust survivors to protest Nelson, Obama Miami fundraiser

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Miami Herald

A group of Holocaust survivors, who once considered themselves friends of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, will be protesting his Miami Beach fundraiser with President Barack Obama on Friday because they say the Florida Democrat has broken a promise to them.

Their unprecedented protest outside the swank Fontainebleau Hotel will be aimed at Obama, too.

Three years ago, they say, Sen. Nelson promised South Florida survivors in his Washington office that he would file legislation to allow them to sue European insurers that sold their families millions of dollars in life insurance policies before World War II. During the 2008 presidential campaign, they say, Obama and vice presidential candidate Joe Biden gave their word of support, too.

Now, a group of survivors, who were children during World War II, say Nelson and Obama have gone back on their word. They accuse them of siding with giant insurance companies over Holocaust survivors.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/01/2091256/holocaust-survivors-to-protest.html

[Wilms]

1. Obama? Siding with insurance companies?

Only Scott Walker entertains side-bar communication with powerful interest groups. No? :shrug:

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[Bardley]

3. policies probably had a 'no death camp clause' in the fine print

no disrespect intended to the h survivors, that's a shot at insurance company gouls, who'd steal the paint off your car if it werent stuck on

[FLPanhandle]

4. Why would the US need to pass legislation to sue EU companies?

Why can't they just file suit in Europe?

[harmonicon]

6. Good question.

This is the first I've heard about this entire issue, and it would interesting to now how it's developed.

[dflprincess]

10. Some of the insurers involved in the practice

were the European branches of American companies or, since WWII, have been acquired by American companies others are European companies who are doing business in the U.S..

[FLPanhandle]

12. Still doesn't stop them from suing in the EU

Just confused why this even requires US legislation. If they are American companies, they can sue right now. If they are EU companies, sue there. Confusing.

[Democat]

5. This is really inflamatory. None of us are getting everything we were promised!

This group (or the media) wants to make Obama sound like an anti-semite because they aren't getting everything they were promised. None of us have ever gotten everything we were promised by a politician.

[COLGATE4]

7. Are you denying the central allegation of this thread?

[JDPriestly]

9. These are people who bought insurance policies. I would guess that

they claim the insurers refused to pay. They should get their day in court. And Obama should do everything he can to give it to them.

Remember this next time your insurance company refuses to pay you the damages you believe are due. You, too, will deserve a day in court to redress your grievances.

Obama has broken so many promises to so many. This is just yet another.

[Nihil]

11. Shame that they don't care as much ...

... about claiming redress from the descendants of the war-profiteers
who were coining their fortunes from the deaths of the claimants' parents
and still living on the funds today ...

Maybe even they know that there is zero chance of bringing a Bush to court?

Or maybe they think that foreign insurance companies are a more acceptable
target for pointless litigation as there is less likelihood of a defensive
PR blowback in this case?

:shrug:

That said, I don't disagree with your last paragraph.

[classysassy]

13. The 40 acres and a mule

Is it too late to sue?

[Fuddnik]

8. Bill Nelson side with insurance companies?

The same Bill Nelson who used to be the Insurance Commissioner in Florida? The one who let the homeowners insurance companies buy re-insurance from heir parent companies, ship all the profits upstairs, then plead they are losing money and need massive rate hikes? Which they do!

That Bill Nelson?