Lieberman Signals Opposition to the Public Option

Time to hammer that finger (0.00 / 0)

with a whirlwind of support for reform.


Drinking Liberally in New Milford
ePluribus Media

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by: Connecticut Man1 @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 14:04:40 PM CDT

Actually,Thats Progress (4.00 / 1)

Liebermans vote is probably not needed to get a bill with a strong public option in it passed.He only needs to vote for closure and I think this is a signal he understands the way this is going to work.

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by: ctkeith @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 14:10:07 PM CDT

I'd agree (4.00 / 2)

There's a sea change and he's bailing.

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by: notcho @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 15:06:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lieberman will screw over the Democrats- guaranteed! (0.00 / 0)

It's what he does.  With everyone of his right-wing friends on the other side, he will betray the public option.  

No doubt.

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by: thomashooker @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 23:54:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hadn't thought about it that way. (4.00 / 1)

You might be right. Still can't hurt to let him know where ya stand.


Drinking Liberally in New Milford
ePluribus Media

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by: Connecticut Man1 @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 18:14:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

for Lieberman it's always that good legislation needs to be made worse (4.00 / 2)

in order to have the votes to pass it.  And whose vote is among those that will only vote for it if it's made less effective?  Why his of course.

That's what I call a perverse conceit.  

"Not ideas about the thing, but the thing itself" - Wallace Stevens

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by: catchlightning @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 17:30:43 PM CDT

Lieberman (sputter sputter) (0.00 / 0)

words fail me.

"I am not a Blogger...But I play one on the internet."

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by: tessa @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 19:37:16 PM CDT

full body of email (4.00 / 1)

This looks like the same email I received a month ago (July 20) when I wrote Lieberman a long note on the topic.  So it doesn't reflect a recent change, I don't think.  If anyone is interested, here is the full text I got then, although most of the remainder is infuriating filler. Obviously you should all have written your own comments by now, to Lieberman, Dodd, and your rep. It is important to make it crystal-clear to Lieberman that continued opposition to the public option will be his Waterloo.

Dear Mr. Embree:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding health care reform efforts. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me, and I hear and understand your concerns when it comes to health care reform.

Americans today are faced with greater uncertainty than ever before when it comes to their health needs. These concerns often focus around rising medical costs, access to coverage, and quality of care.  With more than 45 million uninsured Americans and health care spending levels that exceed any in the world, our current health care system is unsustainable and one where we reward quantity over quality.  The need for health care reform has been evident for quite some time. We cannot afford to wait any longer to provide Americans with the high-quality, affordable health care they deserve, even though doing so will require making some difficult decisions.

As you may know, various health plans have begun to emerge from Congress, both in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.  These initial plans outline key objectives that President Obama has stressed as essential elements to any health care reform plan that might cross his desk.  The President's plan for health care reform addresses the need for protection of a patient's choice of provider and health plan, cost reduction, preventive care, health systems modernization, and long-term care and services.  While the plans that have been discussed thus far in Congress largely reflect the important objectives set forth by the President, final legislation has yet to be approved by the committees that retain jurisdiction over health care reform.

I will continue to work with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to resolve the remaining issues that are key to reaching a comprehensive final proposal.  A broad coalition is needed when addressing an issue as large, and as important for our nation's citizens, as health care reform.  While, in general, I would prefer not to see a public plan option because of cost concerns and the possibility that it could potentially prevent the formation of the coalition that will be necessary to pass reform, I am very open to all options that have been laid on the table. I am hopeful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will come together to achieve meaningful health care reform that expands coverage, reduces costs, and improves the quality of care in our nation.

Please rest assured that I will keep your concerns in mind as we move forward with this important work.  I hope you continue to visit my website at http://lieberman.senate.gov  for updated news about my work on behalf of Connecticut and the nation.  Please contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.

Sincerely,

Joseph I. Lieberman

UNITED STATES SENATOR

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by: gembree @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 07:47:06 AM CDT

argh I haven't reread this in a while (0.00 / 0)

Personally my favorite part is where we cannot pass meaningful reform, because of "the possibility that it could potentially prevent the formation of the coalition that will be necessary to pass reform."  

i.e. If we write a good bill, there's a chance of a chance that the Dream Team of Wellpoint, Pfizer, and Joe won't come together, and we can't risk that merely for the sake of meaningful reform.  The process is truly more important than the legislation.

Please try to stress in any letters you send that 1) you have voted for Joe before (if you have) 2) you could vote for Joe in the future (if you could) 3) there is zero chance you will vote for Joe if he remains the only Connecticut congressperson against the public option (I certainly hope so).

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by: gembree @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 07:58:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yeah (4.00 / 1)

I received the same reply yesterday(8/19,) to an email sent 8/18. Normally it takes weeks for any reply, but I see he has had a ready response for a while!

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by: alanb @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 20:05:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Write to Lieberman's Staff on Public Option (0.00 / 0)

I think it's important that Lieberman and his staff hear from constituents on the public option:

clarine_nardi_riddle@lieberman.senate.gov (Chief of Staff)
tara_yurgin@lieberman.senate.gov,
marshall_wittmann@lieberman.senate.gov,
todd_stein@lieberman.senate.gov,
sherry_brown@lieberman.senate.gov

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by: gregggonsalves @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 08:28:54 AM CDT

I Wouldn't Bother (0.00 / 0)

Joe listens to nobody. It's a waste of time.  Target your member of The House; that's where we need the most help if we want to ensure that a Public Option survives.

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by: Ann Galloway @ Mon Aug 24, 2009 at 11:37:40 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

He wants to be on the winning team (4.00 / 1)

He just doesn't know what a win looks like yet. The outcome is uncertain so he's got to continue his weasel ways.

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by: joejoejoe @ Fri Aug 21, 2009 at 06:10:53 AM CDT

Oh, He knows All Right . . . . (0.00 / 0)

His wife is paid a pretty penny to work on behalf of the very industries that oppose any measure that might make a dent in their huge profits. So the failure of any real reform could be bad news for the Lieberman family business.

On the other hand, if Jumpin' Joe winds up on the wrong side of successful reform, he might have to join/rejoin the Republican Party, lose his place in the chairmanship hierarchy, and compete for attention with the likes of Ms. Palin.

A well-earned dilemma . . . .

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by: Ann Galloway @ Mon Aug 24, 2009 at 11:35:04 AM CDT

[ Parent ]