Handy Guide to 13 Bluedog Democratic Senators Opposed to the Public Option

[zulchzulu]

Thanks to OpenSecrets and OnTheIssues web sites, here is a list of the Bluedog Democrats who are consistently trying to be Republicans in terms of voting against Obama on many issues. These so-called Democrats are on record as being opposed to the Public Option in the current healthcare reform legislation.

Write them. Call them. Look up where they get their money. Check their record on the issues. And mostly, let's try to replace them if possible in upcoming elections.


Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
Web contact: http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00004643&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/max_Baucus.htm


Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Web contact: http://bayh.senate.gov/contact/email/
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00003762&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Evan_Bayh.htm


Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Web contact: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00007836&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Maria_Cantwell.htm


Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)
Web contact: http://carper.senate.gov/contact/
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00012508&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Tom_Carper.htm


Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Web contact: http://conrad.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00004613&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Kent_Conrad.htm


Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Web contact: http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00007364&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Dianne_Feinstein.htm


Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Web contact: http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00005395&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Mary_Landrieu.htm


Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
Web contact: http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00000616&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Joe_Lieberman.htm


Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Web contact: http://lincoln.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00008092&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Blanche_Lambert_Lincoln.htm


Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Web contact: http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009926&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Bill_Nelson.htm


Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Web contact: http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact-me.cfm
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00005329&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Ben_Nelson.htm


Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)
Web contact: http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00013823&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Mark_Pryor.htm


Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Web contact: http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/
Phone: [phone]
Contributions summary: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00007724&cycle=2010
Issue Ratings: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Ron_Wyden.htm


On edit: The Nelsons are updated...

[thunder rising]

1. Bill Nelson is intermingled with Ben Nelson info ... Bill ain't that pretty.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. Yea that ain't Bill Nelson's picture either

[zulchzulu]

9. I fixed the Nelson's...

My bad.

:hi:

[Cha]

69. I can't imagine how they could

get mixed up..yeah, sarcasm.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Good list. Doesn't Kay Hagan (C for confused-NC) belong on the list?

[zulchzulu]

5. Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) says she now supports a public option

Also, Senator Jeff Binghaman (D-NM) supports a public option as well.

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. If that is indeed confirmed, that is great news. Guess lots of calls in worked!

[zulchzulu]

10. Link

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/hagan-comes-out-in-support-of-public-option.php

[bertman]

60. Actually, I think our "C" Senator, said she would 'consider' supporting a public option

once she knows what it involves.

She ought to be on the list.

Bombard her with emails, calls, letters. Thank you.

[Schema Thing]

3. All politics is local, and the USA is my locale

Yes, let's replace these worthless corporate whores.

[WI_DEM]

6. All 13 oppose public option!? well that 60 vote majority just fell to 47

[SemiCharmedQuark]

13. They just need to vote for cloture and 3 of them need to suck it up and do the right thing.

[WI_DEM]

8. What the heck is with Wyden and Cantwell?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

14. Wyden said he's "open" to the public option, but prefers his crappy plan.

This was May though, I don't know if he changed his mind. Landrieu did.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/26/wyden-open-to-public-heal_n_207638.html


Update: Apprently, Wyden doesn't want people to know if he supports a public option or not.

http://www.loadedorygun.net/diary/1854/wyden-stonewalls-on-public-option-questions

[Sebastian Doyle]

70. I suspect Wyden's getting some big bucks from Kaiser Permanente

They're pretty big in Oregon. And they want to stay that way.

[ellenfl]

11. thanks. eom

[SemiCharmedQuark]

12. That coward Bayh never answers his email or returns messages.

But I'll try again.

[JTFrog]

16. But surprisingly Lugar does.

I write them both at the same time and the only one I ever get a response from is Lugar, hard copy and all.

Bayh is a disgusting corporate tool who's only interest is furthering his own career and lining his pocket book.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

18. Geez, that makes me dislike Bayh even more!

Remember when he was one of the "frontrunners" for the 08 Dem Nomination?

[JTFrog]

22. Yes, scary times.

I had a hard time believing that any DINO would be considered. I think there was pressure from Clinton to include him, but that was just my gut feeling (besides the urge to vomit).

[PVnRT]

34. Despite being a Republican, Lugar is actually a good guy

He's one of those weird people that thinks he's actually accountable to his constituents, even if he votes against their interests much of the time. Bayh just thinks he's entitled to his seat in the Senate, and fuck everyone else.

[MidwestTransplant]

15. Rec. so others can see it!

[Jennicut]

17. Thanks zulchzulu! So, I wonder if any of them can be persuaded.

We will do our best here in CT to get rid of Loserman by 2012. Such a long wait...

[blackbooks]

19. Kent Conrad

I must say, even though I already knew where he fell on this issue, it's disappointing to see Conrad on this list. I grew up in a little town right across the border from North Dakota, so I saw his political ads far more than I did those of Minnesota's politicians. I even got a chance to meet him a few times. He's a good guy.

I hope he does the right thing.

[rurallib]

20. Kick & R - this needs to be on the front page.

[Dawgs]

21. It'd be nice to see a quote on their position from each one. Maybe I'll look for some after lunch.

:hi:

[Merlot]

23. Thanks for the link. Here's my letter:

Senator Feinstein,

What possible reasoning can there be behind being opposed to a public option? Do you not realize that people who are ALREADY insured are dying due to the insurance companys drive for profits? And the millions of uninsured? How is it possible to even justify that a country as rich as the US can continue to deny basic healt coverage to it citizens? It's embarassing that the US is below third world coontries when it comes to it's citizens health care.

It's not all about corporate profits, it's about peole being able to lead their lives without fear of illness or banruptcy or death due to lack of health care.

You are a gov't employee, you have wonderful health care. What about the pubic you serve?

[sandnsea]

24. Blanche Lincoln supports people funded public option

"I can be supportive of a public plan if it's structured correctly," Arkansas' Sen. Blanche Lincoln told reporters Thursday. The second-term Democrat is a member of the Finance Committee, one of two Senate panels writing the health-care legislation.

"My concerns that I've expressed have been that it's got to be something that works on a level playing field," Lincoln said. "If what we do is just put out a government-backed and government-funded plan, then there'll be very little incentive for the private industry to be able to be competitive."

http://www.nwarktimes.com/adg/National/261756

[treestar]

25. What are their excuses?

It can hardly be the Republican ones (big government can't do anything efficiently, taxes should not be "stolen" from the "deserving" who worked so hard for their precious $$, etc.)

[Arkana]

26. What's Cantwell's problem?

I remember all the others being massive tools about this issue, but Cantwell surprises me.

[mimitabby]

27. what is your problem with Cantwell?

have you seen her voting record?
She's strong for abortion rights
education, oil reform...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

28. Uhm, the title of the thread is about senators opposed to the so called public

option in health care.

[Sebastian Doyle]

71. And unfortunately weak on just about everything else

The former CEO of Real Networks INC (makers of the shittiest media player in history) remains a corporatist to her very core, unfortunately. :evilfrown:

Even worse, Patty Murray's almost as bad anymore.

[WonderGrunion]

29. Some of them are from safe Blue states

They have no excuse to fight against the will of the people.

[Enrique]

30. PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THIS INFO

I called Bill Nelson last week and was told he was still open to the public option. I can find no news story saying that Bill Nelson is "on record as being opposed to the public option."

If you want to know how your Senator comes down, go to a trusted news source or call them yourselves.

[zulchzulu]

35. A little Googling is your friend

Public option not optional for Florida Senator Bill Nelson
http://www.examiner.com/x-10758-Seminole-County-Liberal-Examiner~y2009m6d28-Public-option-not-optional-for-Florida-Senator-Bill-Nelson

If you look at Nelson's own site, he's not officially for the Public Option...

Practically everybody agrees something needs to be done to fix a broken system. Right now, I'm working with the Finance Committee to draft reforms intended to make insurance coverage more available and affordable, while reducing the overall cost of medical care. Pretty soon the White House will be putting forth specific details on how it wants such a plan to work including a so-called public option. So, I’m keeping an open mind. There also are various developing proposals out there in Congress and from my perspective the problem remains how to pay for them.

http://billnelson.senate.gov/news/hottopics.cfm

An "open mind" to other options other than the Public Option is NOT being for the Public Option. Perhaps he could say in a statement that he's for it and people will cease and desist... otherwise, he's not for it.

[Enrique]

56. you said he's on record against it

what good does it do for us to mislead each other?

[Mass]

50. These people do not oppose public option, They have not answered to Dean concerning a public option.

Only Landrieu said she was opposed to it.

[bvar22]

31. Thanks.

Evan Bayh is up for re-election in 2010.
The American People should organize and target him in his Primary.
We have the resources to make his Primary a national effort (a la Lieberman).
I will donate to a Progressive challenger.

As for the rest of this group of criminals, their photos and names should be plastered on billboards nation wide. It is beyond time to start calling them out.

[TomCADem]

32. Bravo! Thanks for the Info!

It is one thing to vote against healthcare reform. It is another to actively support a filibuster along with the Republicans. Thanks for the info!

[robertpaulsen]

33. K & R! Fuck those fascist enablers.

:kick:

[Jakes Progress]

36. Seeking opinion here.

Would a letter worded as below be too much, not enough, or acceptable?
______________

Dear xxx

In the nicest way possible I would like to ask you to stick to your oath of office to serve the people of your country.

There is only one way that a stand or vote against a true public option in the health care reform debate can be seen. When you run for office again, a stand against the people's welfare and a fight for corporate interests over the needs of millions of citizens will not look good for you.

You are wealthy and have exceptional health insurance. The leaders of the insurance companies you seek to protect are wealthy and have exceptional health insurance. Most of this country is not wealthy. Most are uninsured or underinsured because of your friends in the insurance industry.

Does this seem right to you? Does it seem right that you would deny to the people that you represent the same benefits which your public office provides for you. It will not look good in the press and in the primaries or the next election either.

There is no ethical, ideological, theological or economic defense for standing against a strong public option.

Please do the right thing and support public option. Your children and grandchildren will know how your voted here and whom you supported. Let them know with you vote that you stood for the people rather than the money.

Thank you.

___________


I really want to just tell them that hell is waiting for them, but that might not be helpful.

[zulchzulu]

37. Nicely phrased in a polite yet firm fashion...

We'd all like to tell these peeps to bugger off and die in a mosquito pestilence, but...

You might append the sentence:

You are wealthy and have exceptional, reliable government-run health insurance that we, the taxpayer, pay for.

:thumbsup:

[nolabels]

38. They are (D) in name only

There are probably more like twenty-five or six but these 13 have obviously became more blatant in their contempt.


I don't think anyone should be surprised that these type of folks are in office. The rich and wealthy who fund both sides of the aisle most often have a big hand in also gets selected to run. They are a secondary bet in a gamed and rigged market. Guess we are just lucky that the whole larger portion of population is seeing how it really works. Money don't buy everything but you bet it buys a lot more than you will ever get to see

[Cleita]

39. Thanks for all the work you put into putting this together.

I hope it get's kicked up until a health care bill is passed.

[zulchzulu]

42. Unfortunately the list can be used again and again...

The same players in this list are prone to being "Blue Dogs"... I figured a list was in order.

:hi:

[mopinko]

40. replacement options

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6014304&mesg_id=6014304

[Dr Fate]

41. K & R-Saving & printing this out. Thank you for this fantastic list. n/t

n/t

[zulchzulu]

62. This list will be handy for a lot of other votes coming up too

It's the same set of characters trying to undermine change.

[Egnever]

43. WTF DIFI is against the public option?

We need a third party. The fact that in order to kick these asshats out of office you have to vote for the oposition is really starting to bother me.

[zulchzulu]

44. Di Fi just needs to lose in the next election

She was saying that the Public Option would "bankrupt" California... except that she's lying. She pads her purse with LOTS of Big Pharma money.

[xxqqqzme]

72. "bankrupt" California???

Too late. Steroid boy managed to do do so w/o the excuse of healthcare.

[tledford]

45. Most of these people *will* be replaced the next time they're up for election...

...unfortunately, probably by Republicans.

Feinstein? Wyden? Carper? Considering where they're from, they are a bit of a headscratcher to me, they're not automatically required to be DINOs in order to win an election. I was going to include Cantwell in that list, but then I remembered "Oh yeah, east of the mountains" and the fact that she only won by a handful of votes as it was.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

46. See, I'd add her to that list. Given the results in Washington st. the last

couple of elections. I'm pretty sure they ain't going for the repigs any time soon.

[LynneSin]

47. Except there are only 12 democratic senators on there

Lieberman is not a democrat

[zulchzulu]

52. True...

Lieberman is supposed to be on a leash since he was backing McCain in the last election and was allowed to keep his seat...

[Mass]

48. Cantwell and Wyden are not Blue Dog Democrats. They are not great supporters of a

public option, but they tend to be progressive most of the time.

This does not mean you should not call them, but the point is that you should call ALL 60 Dems to remind them that a public option WITHOUT TRIGGER is what is needed, if they do not want single payer. It is important to reming the 37 who say they support public option is that compromise is not an option.

[zulchzulu]

54. I'm sorry, but you lose being called a "progressive" if you are not vocally FOR the Public Option

That's like saying you are for women's rights except that they need to stay at home barefoot and pregnant.

There is no room to "think about it" or say "you haven't made up your mind".

That's bullshit. Pure. Bullshit.

[Mass]

55. Vocally? There may be 2 Dems in the Senate calling vocally for a public option and even the White

House cannot make its message clear on this issue (See Emmanuel). It may be these ones are just more honest than others and not ready to call for a public option that would be useless (as it would seem McCaskill and Schumer and others are leaning toward).

So, I continue to say: Call all 60 Dems and remind them that this is not a negotiable issue. I do not care whether they think it can pass or not. If there are not 50 Dems to vote for a public option that is worth something (not just one that does not hurt insurance companies), may be it is time to create a new party with people who actually care.

[Fire1]

49. None of mine on that list. n/t

[SpartanDem]

51. According to Stand with Dean most of are listed as Don't Knows

With exception of Landrieu and Liberman I don't remember any of them speaking out against the public option, but they haven't spoken for it either.

[zulchzulu]

53. A "Don't Know" should be considered a "No" until they say they are for the Public Option

What the f%&k do they mean when they "don't know"...

:eyes:

[harun]

57. Agree. Although we don't know how much bite the Public Option is

going to have. So I can agree with them that it is hard to say they are for or against. They should say they are for it in principle.

[Enrique]

61. I prefer "Stand with Dean"'s approach

truth being more useful than propaganda.

[avaistheone1]

58. k&r Let's call these senators and get them on board.

[Ganja Ninja]

59. I suggest we e-mail each and every one of them and let them know

in no uncertain terms that we will be sending a check to their opponents in the next Democratic primary if they stand in the way of a public option.

[a kennedy]

63. just keeping this info kicked.....

:mad:

[hfojvt]

64. nice to see that Tim Johnson is not on that list

I am not sure how I can call Senators I have no connection to, although I did donate a small amount of $$ to Sherrod Brown.

[flpoljunkie]

65. Was pleased to hear Blue Dog Loretta Sanchez say today public option needed to drive down the cost

of health care and that Congress needed to look at PHARMA's high profits. She was interviewed this morning on MSNBC.

[Soylent Brice]

66. wasn't Mark Pryor the moron on Religulous that said "you

don't have to pass an IQ test to be a Senator"?

[blm]

67. Deserves a kick for handy info....

.

[Cha]

68. What the fuck's up with Ron Wyden?

I thought he was a Progressive from Oregon? I know all the others have to answer to their corporatewhore masters.

Thanks for your, OP, zulch!

[depakid]

73. He's got his own pet health care plan that panders to insurers

and has been getting big money from them in return.

He also voted for the Medicare Part D scam.

[Cha]

74. Oh

dear..looks like he needs to hear from Oregonians.

http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/

[depakid]

76. "looks like he needs to hear from Oregonians."

He has been:

Fifty people gathered outside the downtown federal building today during the lunching hour, shouting up to the fifth floor, “Wake up Wyden! Why are you hidin’?!” U.S. Senator Ron Wyden is not here in Portland today—right now he’s back in Washington, defending his health care plan to a finance committee that will be making major decisions this week about whether his and other healthcare plans up for debate are actually viable.

Wyden’s plan has roused the ire of health care reform groups for not including any public option, but he refuses to drop the idea and sign onto Obama's plan. “Lobbyists out! Americans in!” shouted the crowd, referencing the view that Wyden’s plan is shaped more by the desires of big pharma lobbyists than his constituents (a timely discussion given our “Rate the Lobbyists” feature this week). A MoveOn.org representative delivered Wyden’s secretary a 7,000-signature petition demanding a public option.

More on what this knucklehead's "plan" is all about:

http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/why-not-wyden/Content?oid=1416681

[Cha]

77. Thanks for the info kid! I've

seen how progressives and liberals can get active on the ceo of Whole Foods and Oregon is full of Pros and Libs.

How's Senator Jeff Merkley doing?

http://merkley.senate.gov/issues/issue/?id=58dc8050-58a2-42b5-8ea0-a07a506e7470

[depakid]

78. Merkley is a fantastic Senator and will be an up and coming leader

not a back bencher like Gordon Smith.

Interestingly enough, Wyden got his start with the "Grey Panthers," and advocacy group for the elderly- which sort of shows how far he's fallen during his years in DC. Given Merkley's history, I doubt the same will happen in his case.

[Cha]

79. That's very good to know about Merkley

because my daughter and her fam live in Portland, Ore and there was some talk about something not as good about Merkley as Smith.

But, they have a grandfather who filled their heads with all kinds of mccain shite so I took it with a grain of salt.

[grantcart]

75. If your not a constituent they won't care much - unless you indicate that nationally

progressives will be working to get their chairmanships revolked.