Blue Dog Jim Cooper responds to Kos Poll showing him in trouble, pledges to support public option

[jefferson_dem]

TN-05: Jim Cooper responds, pledges to support public option
by kos

We released a poll noting that Blue Dog Rep. Jim Cooper's constituents aren't happy with his handling of the health care issue. He has responded.

Private polls are inherently inaccurate, and most people disregard them. He who pays the piper calls the tune, and the Daily Kos got what it wanted.

The whole premise of the poll is that I oppose a public option, and that is simply not true. I have repeatedly said that I’m FOR a public option, and that there are multiple ways to do it. I agree with Sen. Chuck Schumer’s position on the issue, and the Daily Kos is not attacking him. The Daily Kos can assign a false position to me if it wants, but it’s not accurate.

In addition, I did find things to like about this poll! Only 23% want to replace me? That’s great, since 34% VOTED to replace me in 2008. At this point, I might be gaining support.

But the real reason you have to doubt a poll like this is the following: President Obama won my district with 56% of the vote. This poll shows his favorable number at 66%, up 10 points. While I would like to think that President Obama’s numbers were that good, we all know that the polls have been bad for our President this month. The President has lost ground all over the country, but in the 5th district of Tennessee, he’s up by 10? I wish it were true, but I doubt seriously that it is.

I will continue my fight for health reform. We need to cover EVERYONE, and we need to do so responsibly so that we don’t bankrupt the country. This has always been my position, this is the President’s position, and I will continue to work with him to get the job done.

<SNIP>

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/24/771724/-TN-05:-Jim-Cooper-responds,-pledges-to-support-public-option

[ccharles000]

1. k/r

[Joanne98]

2. WOW. Gawd bless REAL poll numbers!

That was amazing! MORE KOS POLLS MORE KOS POLLS!

[uponit7771]

3. AMEN!!! Big Ed is sayin Baucus with a 34% approval right now...

[Soylent Brice]

4. K&R

[ProSense]

5. Excellent. n/t

[blm]

6. Cooper is telling the truth...he IS for Schumer's version...co-ops, which he and Reid

have already decided will fulfill public option - just as the corporatists intended all along.

Dumbass bloggers have been letting Schumer get away with doubletalking them for months to avoid their ire while he backstabs Dem progressives every step of the way.

[ej510]

7. All Co-Ops do is give the insurance industry 50 million new streams of revenue.

[blm]

8. yep....Schumer doubletalked Dems on public option all along...co=ops IS his public option.

.

[ProSense]

9. Schumer isn't going to get away with anything. His statements shouldn't fool anyone

The HELP and House bills are there for everyone to see. If they change one word, everyone in and out of Congress who support the current bill should jump all over their asses.

[blm]

14. he's apparently fooling plenty...even here at DU.

.

[Laelth]

10. Cooper says he supports co-ops and trashes Kos.

I am supposed to be happy about this?

:shrug:

:dem:

-Laelth

[TNDemo]

11. He has such a great view out his office window.

When we went for a tour we went to his office (he wasn't there) and they showed us his office and he has a straight shot of the capitol right out of his window in front of the desk. Sorry, changed the subject...

[Phx_Dem]

12. So far Baucus, Cantwell and now Cooper are now supporting

public option. I heard about Cantwell this afternoon on Thom Hartmann's show -- he confirmed that she's now backing a public option.

Things are looking up.

[justinaforjustice]

13. "Medicare for All" is only Effective Option.

The "public option" is a meaningless word. As we can see, some will claim cooperatives as part of the public option. Cooperative will do nothing to bring about universal coverage or reduce costs. The only "option" that will effectively cover everyone who needs it and substantially reduce costs is Medicare. Medicare must be extended to all.

[DrToast]

15. Way, way misleading

Cooper has always said he supports a public option. The problem is that his actions don't match his words. Unless he actually starts backing up his words, suggesting this poll somehow got a concession out of him is wrong.

[BlueIdaho]

16. Health Care Reform this year and Re-election next year...

It will be impossible for any of these assholes to double talk themselves into a re-election. They have to vote this year and if they kill the public option, they can start packing up their offices. There are plenty of us who get to have the final say on just who stays and goes.