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Last week, Mike Ross said he opposed a public option because his constituents did:
"I have been skeptical about the public health insurance option from the beginning and used August to get feedback from you, my constituents," he wrote in a statement his office released publicly. "An overwhelming number of you oppose a government-run health insurance option, and it is your feedback that has led me to oppose the public option as well."
Turns out Mike Ross’s constituents actually support a public option. Per a Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of Arkansas residents:
Do you favor or oppose creating a government-administered health insurance option that anyone can purchase to compete with private insurance plans?
Favor Oppose Not Sure
All 55 38 7
Dem 81 14 5
Rep 22 71 7
Ind 56 34 10
There are 4 congressional districts in the state – Mike Ross’s is the second most Democratic. So the likelihood that all the "opposed" are clustered in his district is pretty much nil.
Maybe Ross means his other constituents, the lobbyists from the medical industrial complex.
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Jane you never rest and we are oh so appreciative.
that last add you put up was crazy ass. We need a commercial with an add with people in wheel chairs in nursing homes carrying
” No government controlled health care programs. Cut off Medicare and Medicaid Now!”
think we could get the Billionaires to lobby some seniors or dress up as seniors carrying signs like that?
Just not sure if meat heads get the sarcasm
Scary new meme in Texas – new declared candidate for gov- (Perry not wild-eyed RW enough_ somebody Medina – wants to – wait for it – “nullify federal law” in Texas. Yes, Medicare and Medicaid, she said. “we’re looking at the education madates, too.” and she wants to eliminate property taxes for a sales tax (no income tax anyway) – but she doesn’t want to secede.
: 0
It just gets crazier and crazier.
I may be moving back East soon myself. The next governor’s campaign, at the least, is shaping up to be bat-s–t insane.
be of good cheer tejana,
the smart kids on our side all say Perry and Hutchison will destroy one another in the primary – leaving the ‘winner’ with nothing but voter antipathy in the General – now we just need Kinky to sit down and stfu
nothing new I’m afraid. Clearly, Olympia Snowe’s constituents aren’t in Maine since Mainers support a public option, Lieberman represents only himself and a few insurance companies (although to be fair, there actually are rapacious insurance companies headquartered in his state, at least), and Mary Landrieu has never even pretended to represent Louisiana on this issue (and probably on any others).
This poll and Jane’s summary:
Last week, Mike Ross said he opposed a public option because his constituents did:
Turns out Mike Ross’s constituents actually support a public option
There are 4 congressional districts in the state — Mike Ross’s is the second most Democratic.
needs to be a commercial running throughout his district w/ overlap in Snyder and Berry’s district would be a bonus as well, ASAP.
Lincoln and New Dem Snyder should find this to be a wake up call too.
Well, to be fair, it’s been majority support all accross the country all the time. Before the teabaggers and the GOP/Media Complex shot their load in August and after.
So, yeah, I’d say all that oppose it are doing so for their “other” constituents.
Amazing, but I’ve seen four polls this summer (nationwide) that showed 55%-60% for SINGLE PAYER, and almost every poll shows up majority for the public option.
Yet single payer is OFF LIMITS, and the public option is dead. Quite the fucking democracy we got ourselves I’d say.
Jane Hamsher for President 2016!!
He’s a LIAR.
You’d figure someone would get into politics out of some sort of ego adventure. Ghandi or MLK or hell even Reagan might be the inspiration. But a Blue Dog? I’m gonna NOT represent the interests of my down home constituents? It’s unreal.
We ain’t got no democracy. It’s government of the corporations, by the corporations, for the corporations. Otherwise known as Business As Usual. Obama’s just the newest model of puppet.
Seconded.
“Medical Industrial Complex”. I like that.
Mike Ross, former pharmacy owner, is a puppet for Big Pharma (of course) and the medical ins corps. I call him just another traitor agst the american people. And a liar and a crook.
“Maybe Ross means his other constituents…”
No, he means to say that only the Republicans in his district are his constituents. He’s implying that he doesn’t represent Democrats and independents.
Someone is selling their soul down there in Arkansas, that’s ugly obvious. Good reporting!