Senator Lincoln,
Congratulations on your new title, Queen of Cash from the Health Industry. After months of deceptively hinting at support for a real health care reform, including a public option, we are greeted by your sudden change of opinion yesterday.
I am so glad that your campaign is raking in this kind of money from the for-profit health insurance industry. Hopefully, they will more than make up for the lack of private contributions you will be receiving from Arkansas Democrats.
I feel you have betrayed my trust by your failure to support the 2008 Democratic Party Platform. You stand in opposition to our Democratic President.
I can think of no reason for my continued support of you.
How many votes will you receive from Blue Cross Blue Shield or Wellpoint? I know none will come from me or my family.
History will show that you voted often with the George W. Bush crowd, adding almost $5 trillion to the national debt, but when it comes to spending less than $1 trillion over 10 years on the common people, we "can't afford it."
I'm including this blog from Huffington Post. It is but one of many. Please note that we, Arkansans, are not clueless and understand that you've been 'bought' and that you'd rather represent business than people.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/03/lobbyblog_n_275136.html?view=print September 3, 2009
BLANCHE LINCOLN IS THE QUEEN OF CASH FROM THE HEALTH INDUSTRY The Sunlight Foundation's Paul Blumenthal reports that Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) has taken more money in campaign contributions from the health industry than any of her Democratic peers in 2009. According to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, Lincoln benefited from $325,350 in contributions from the health industry in the first half of 2009.
"The large amount in contributions underlies a constantly shifting position by the senator on health care reform," notes Blumenthal. Lincoln sits on the Senate Finance Committee, the lone panel that has so far failed to get its act together on health care reform legislation.
Lincoln told the Huffington Post's Ryan Grim in May that she was open to a public option. "We're looking at that option to see if it's going to be competitive and, you know, if it's going to be productive," she said. "I'm still open minded."
On Tuesday, Lincoln revealed that her mind had apparently closed. "I would not support a solely government-funded public option. We can't afford that," she said, according to Arkansas News.
The Sunlight Foundation's got the goods on the tangled web of staffers-turned-lobbyists who help the industry funnel money to Lincoln and her colleagues. For more, including a helpful chart, go here.
-- Arthur Delaney
An Ex-supporter,