Public Option Campaigns Working on Senator Harry Reid
The New York Times reported Harry Reid is leaning in favor of a public health insurance option, and quoted a senior Democratic aide saying:
“There is a growing sense that we need to lead on this issue and not wait for it to be offered on the Senate floor. The idea is that it’s better to show some fight.’’
Long, consistent and inventive campaigns conduction by many progressive bloggers and advocacy groups including FDL Action and Bold Progressives seem to be working on our own Senator Harry Reid.
Two recent polls have shed new light on just how unpopular Reid is among Nevadans and how strongly Nevadans support a strong public option. Progressive Change Campaign Committee commissioned a Research 2000 poll of Nevada voters on Wednesday showed 55% of Independent voters want a public option, 59% of Independents disapprove of Reid, 55% of Independents who disapprove think Reid is “not progressive enough,” and 53% of Independents see Reid as a “weak” leader. The Research 2000 poll results were release just after PCCC’s ad “Is Harry Reid Strong Enough?” featuring Las Vegas health care worker Lee Slaughter whose insurance company did not cover all the care she needed for hip surgery.
PCCC’s poll backed up an earlier Research 2000 poll conducted by Daily Kos in early September that showed Reid having higher unfavorable ratings among Nevada voters than almost all of his proposed opponents in the upcoming 2010 election.
And just today, FDL Action launched a phone bank targeting Reid, keeping the pressure on from within the state. The FDL action targeted 40,000 Nevada Democrats, asking them to call Reid’s office and “encourage him to include the HELP Committee’s public option in the final bill without limitation (no triggers, co-ops, “opt-outs” or other weakening measures).”
While I don’t necessarily agree with the end game of many progressive activists who would be fine if Reid were not re-elected in 2010, I am in favor of pressuring Reid to do what Nevadans want. Nevadans want a strong public option and they should get it just like all Americans.
Progressive bloggers and activists deserve major kudos for keeping the pressure on democratic lawmakers for months now and thankfully, they aren’t letting up. Nor should you. Call, call, call!
Click thumbnail twice to see full-size version. See more fabulous Peaco Todd cartoons
Similar Posts:
- Public Option Supporters, Call Senator Harry Reid Today!
- Time for Titus and Berkley To Take The Public Option Pledge
- Interview with Senator Harry Reid about Health Care Reform
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