Liberal Groups Target Key Democrat in Health Ad

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the moderate Democrat running the health care deliberations in a key Senate committee, is the target of a new ad from progressive groups pushing for a more liberal health care bill.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) and Democracy for America (DFA) will launch the ad tomorrow in Baucus' home state of Montana, as well as Washington, D.C. In it, the senator is asked, "Whose side are you on?"

The spot promotes a government-sponsored health insurance plan, or "public option." The ad will air the same day Baucus' committee, the Senate Finance Committee, is slated to consider amending his health care bill to include a public option.

The one-minute spot features Bing Perrine, a young Montana father with over $100,000 in medical debt because of his congenital heart problems.

"None of this debt would have piled up if I'd had the option of buying into a public health insurance plan," he says in the ad. "Senator Baucus, when you take millions of dollars from health and insurance interests that oppose reform -- and oppose giving families like mine the choice of a public option -- I have to ask: whose side are you on?"

Baucus has taken more than $1.7 million in political contributions from the health sector for the 2010 election cycle, and his health care bill does not include a public option. However, the senator is on record as personally supporting a public option.

PCCC and DFA aim to raise $100,000 in donations to keep the ad running. The groups similarly went after moderate Democrat Ben Nelson for his lack of support for a public option.

Other groups are targeting moderate Democrats as well.

Formal Democratic political committees have seen a drop in fundraising this year -- which may not be surprising the year following a significant election. Yet while Democratic officials told the Washington Post that fundraising drop can be attributed in part to complacency among the Democratic base, some liberal voters are handing their money over to left-wing groups out of dissatisfaction with the Democratic party establishment.

The liberal group FireDogLake, for instance, continues to raise money for an ad targeting Arkansas Democrats Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Rep. Mike Ross, pushing them to take a more liberal stance on health care.

[stuart-johns]

Great ad. So timely and true. Max....are you listening or too busy counting you millions the insurance lobbyists have given you.

Baucus. I do hope you are voted out of office.

[RuthCalabria]

THE POLITICS OF MONEY

With the nonsense about it spouted on TV clarified

With the concepts of entropy and information

And with a personal story of judicial conspiracy and contradiction

That makes clear that we live, not in a just democracy,

But in a kingdom of clever liars and thieves



By The Calabria Family, ?, Ruth Calabria, Sept. 27, 2009, Lubbock, Texas, Contact: [e-mail].

[stn_sage]

First, I'm glad to see 'liberal groups' going after liberal Congressmen who are taking HUGE contributions from big business to DENY the public reasonably priced health care!

Second, I hope it has it's desired effect. And in 2012 or 2014, when Baucus comes up for reelection, we can all give him a collective, 'buh, bye'!

Third, I agree that celebrities have it FAR TOO GOOD in America!
As their great wealth garners opportunities and favors the average
citizen doesn't get, and the tax code originally taxed them on that
basis (paying a higher rate), it's only FAIR that they pay higher
rates!

Fourth, Congress and the President shouldn't shrink from raising the
taxes of the ultra-wealthy 20%, they got big tax cuts under Bush
during a time of war---unprecedented in American history---and it's
time they start 'pulling THEIR weight', if not out of fairness, then
because they CAN!

[mariatalk]

Not only do I find the Will Ferrell & Friends Insurance Clip Hypocritical, it?s out right Insulting! If it wasn?t true, it would be laughable! A man who makes $30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million not Thousand!) working part-time at a pampered job has the stones to throw at Wall Street! Hollywood & Wall Street playing the blame game, preaching their poison, spending millions of dollars on advertising and lobbyists to sway votes! Both Industries are Corrupt! Huge Salaries, meritless bonuses, expense accounts, company cars, Cadillac insurance plans, fable tax deductions and golden parachutes! Celebrities with their $20k/ hr private jets, 10 mpg limousine service, Luxury Mansions which take 4 A/C units to cool, personal assistants, baby sitters, catered lunches and gourmet dinners, favorite snacks and ?Gift Bags? of the latest and greatest goodies! HELLO FROM THE REAL WORLD! Subway sandwich, $600.00/wk pay check and an hour commute home! I?m the idiot who supports Your Millionaire/Billionaire LifeStyle!

Americans are sick of Hypocrites! Do You Realize How Damaging a Movie Crew is to the Environment??? Trucks, Trailers, Limousines, Styrofoam cups, Camera Emissions, Carbon Emissions and Damage to the grass, trees, air! All the wasted money!

One Man making $30,000,000.00 is equivalent to 600 Men making $50K per Year!!!! Face it Hollywood & Wall Street, ONE of You is not worth 600 Hard working, Ethical Americans! Yes, you all have worked hard, but we ALL work hard - Everyday! The playing field is not level! The top 10% are capping salaries, discontinuing benefits, and raising consumer prices while they grow THEIR Fortunes! It?s a fact, in order for there to be a KING there must be a KINGDOM!

Not only do Celebrities, Musicians, Producers, TV Actors, CEO?s and EFO?s make Millions of Dollars per year ? Every time they get a chance ? They Endorse a Product for a Few Extra Million!!!!! So, the Millions of ?Average Americans? Who Enjoy your service, Who spend their Hard Earned, Taxed Income for your service, - The Ones Who support YOUR UNIQUE LIFE STYLE ? Now incurs a 25% Increase In Price for the product the Millionaire just Endorsed few a few extra Million!!!! That?s a Fine Thank You! This adds up quickly across the consumer line!!!

To make matters worse, Celebrities aren?t satisfied with their outrageous salaries, endorsement gigs, free trips, clothing and dinners they use their notoriety to open Private Sector businesses! Being an author no longer depends on your ability to write ? it depends on your celebrity! Clothing Lines and Clothing Boutiques! Restaurants, food products & Jewelry all offered by a Celebrity ? who already has millions! Celebs. Marrying Celebs, who produce little Celbs! We are creating extremely rich, strong dynasties of Hollywood Celebs. People who have never lived in ?Reality? - the Real World! WE are allowing the top income earners to become richer, more powerful, bolder and more involved in our LAWS! People who have never walked a block in OUR Shoes! People who think it is normal to be driven to school in a limousine!! People who think its normal to get gifts just for being them!!! The funniest line I heard this year was from Tom Cruise!!! Tom Cruise personally brought his adoptive son to read for a part in a movie being produced by his Good Friend Will Smith! Tom was surprised and shocked that his son got the part????? Come On!!!

Millionair Celebrities are paid millions, by CEO?s who are cutting salaries to produce a commercial that costs Millions to air!!! Who?s the loser here??? The consumer needs lower Prices!!!! We can?t Raise Salaries because or Products are already too Expense To Export!! THE TRADE DECIFIENT IS HUGE!! So, How do we lower prices??? Trickle Down Economics!!!! The top 20% of income earners need to take a HUGE pay cut!!!! For EXXON to report RECORD BREAKING TRILLION DOLLAR PROFITS ? is not an example of Capitalism ? It?s an example of a corporation who is charging too Much for their Product!!!! If you are making Record breaking Trillion Dollar Profits while 60% of Americans have seen their annual income DECREASE by $2,000 per year, When Average Americans are paying 15% - 20% of their net income to buy gas ? You are overcharging ? You are killing the American Economy!!

I guarantee ? That if tomorrow ? President Obama said ? Everyone in the top 20% will have their salaries cut by 2/3. The CEO?s, The Bankers, The Professional Athletes, The Entertainers, Models, Musicians etc. etc. will take the cut and continue doing exactly what they are doing today!!!!

[stuart-johns]

Great post! Good job.

[mjvwsr]

by mariatalk September 28, 2009 12:36 PM EDT

I guarantee ? That if tomorrow ? President Obama said ? Everyone in the top 20% will have their salaries cut by 2/3. The CEO?s, The Bankers, The Professional Athletes, The Entertainers, Models, Musicians etc. etc. will take the cut and continue doing exactly what they are doing today!!!!

________________________

I gaurantee you I'd quit employing 86 folks.