Senator Ben Nelson was the most powerful policy maker in Washington on Saturday, as the nation awaited the outcome of his negotiations with leading Democrats in the Senate. The primary issue on the table was federally funded abortions. Sen. Nelson's stance - publicly - was unwavering. Privately, it seems, he had his price. Now it's up to Americans, and especially Nebraskans, to judge whether the price was worth it.
Nelson is known as a "Blue dog" Democrat, or a Democrat with strong conservative leanings. He's received the official endorsements of right leaning groups like Nebraska Right to Life, Nebraskans United for Life, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Nebraska Farmers Union PAC, National Farmers Union PAC, the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC, the Business-Industry Political Action Committee, the Omaha Police Union, and the National Rifle Association. He's been called Obama's "ambassador to the right" by TIME magazine.
Among Nebraskans, an historically conservative populace, he's managed to be elected to the offices of Governor (twice) and U.S. Senator (twice), thanks in large part to his projected image as a progressive conservative. Now this image is being called into question as Nebraskans seek to understand exactly what concessions his recent crisis of conscience were awarded.
Apparently little, except perhaps an amount of shame when facing the people of America. Nelson's acquiescence was bought with an earmark, and a bit of legislative sleight of hand. In return for the sixtieth vote necessary to pass the health care reform bill, an earmark was hastily drafted to provide Nebraska's future Medicaid growth with virtually unlimited and complete federal funding, as well as a provision allowing individual states the opportunity to vote against using federal funds for abortions.
No doubt Senator Nelson will tout this as a triumph back in his home state, but Nebraskans have yet to come to terms with what he really accomplished; namely surrendering financial responsibility for our poorer residents to the good citizens of America at large, while receiving funding for a program that's likely to soon to be obsolete under nationalized health-care. Oh yeah, he also won the right for a state to opt out of federally funded abortions; a right called nullification, which each state already enjoys.
So the questions must be asked, Mr. Nelson. Were you duped by senatorial fast-talkers? Are you really pro-life, or is that merely political posturing? Most importantly, which of your principals are actually personal convictions, and which are for sale (at a bargain price)?
Comments
Ben Nelson is a sellout.
I thought it was the responsibility of leadership to lead. Ben Nelson lead. Mike Johanns did not. The cost of health care has gone up 10% a year for the last 8 years. That is not sustainable. And, guess what? That means that many of our frinds, family members, and neighbors have not been able to get the health care they needed when they needed it most, when they were sick or injured. The current health care system is terminally ill. The U.S. in the only major industrialized nation in the world that does not have universal health care, yet we spend more money per capita on health care. Sen. Nelson listened to the cries for help, and responded in a thoughtful way. I say hooray for those who try to make the world a better place to live. By the way, letting people die because they lack the money to buy health care insurance, or because they had a pre-existing condition is not pro-life in my book.
No one disagrees on health reform. I am tired of the argument that the left are doing us such a favor. We all agree it needs reform...but this is a major overhaul that no one understands yet, no one knows what it will cost individually, it covers abortion, creates a huge marital tax, will cost jobs and attempts to legislate that no one can ever change it (which is unconstitutional) Notwithstanding the closed doors, the partisan politics the lack of transparency and the insistence on speed....Nelson had the chance to do the right thing which was to do it right. He blew it and has embarrassed us and his party. I'll be surprised if his "deal" even stays. Well, they still will have to reconcile between the House and the Senate. Is not yet a done deal for us but it is for Ben.
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