"Is Harry Reid Strong Enough?"

by: AdamGreen

Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 13:00

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee unveiled this TV ad today, pressuring Harry Reid on the public option -- what do you think?

If you like it, click here to help the PCCC air it 200 times in Nevada.

The Huffington Post's Sam Stein reports today:

As [Reid] takes over the leadership role in merging different variations of health care legislation in the Senate, there have been indications that he's prepared to abandon the government-run plan.
In going after Reid on this front, the PCCC has two important data points at its disposal. A September 2009 poll commissioned by Daily Kos showed that 52 percent of Nevadans support a public option. In that same survey, only 36 percent of respondents said they had favorable view of Reid -- 52 percent said their view was unfavorable.

That poll is very significant because, as Chris Bowers first wrote about, it means "we have leverage over Harry Reid."

PCCC co-founder Stephanie Taylor elaborated on how we are using that leverage in our email to 225,000 folks today:

We know that Sen. Reid is concerned about his election next year. Polls show him trailing Republicans, and he's already running campaign ads.
Our ad will remind him that for many voters back home, the public option is a make-or-break issue. Voters want Reid to fight for the public option and win -- not cave.

This week is critical. Now's the time to put pressure on Harry Reid and let him know that his legacy will be judged by the strength he shows in this moment.

You can help send him that message here.

AdamGreen :: "Is Harry Reid Strong Enough?"

Tags: Harry Reid, PCCC, public option, health care, progressive change campaign committee, reidfail, (All Tags)

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"Is Harry Reid Strong Enough?" | 9 comments

I can't wait to hear... (0.00 / 0)

what Rahm says.

New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.

by: Hopeful in NJ @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 17:53:03 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Reid (4.00 / 1)

If I may, I just wrote a post on why Reid's re-election prospects is a big reason the public option could be included in the bill: "Why the public option is not dead just because it's in Reid's hands"

As an already vulnerable Dem who'll really need union support, he's far more susceptible to political pressure here than senators like Nelson or Landrieu.

by: Taniel @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 18:01:02 PM UTC

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Yes, Reid needs us... (0.00 / 0)

And that's why I'm hopeful he'll come through. I just got off the phone with Reid's Las Vegas office (details coming soon), and they assured me again that he's fighting for a public option to be included in the Senate bill. I have no doubt Reid will win reelection next year so long as he has the unions and the progressive base on his side. I know he knows this as well, especially after seeing the Obama operation in Nevada last year, so let's keep nudging him the right way and watch him come along. :-)

Yes, Virginia, there are progressives in Nevada.

by: Andrew Davey @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 20:51:11 PM UTC

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by: you @ soon

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Reid's fight (0.00 / 0)

Since he is the sole "decider" of whether the PO is in the Mark that goes to the floor, who exactly would he be fighting with? Maybe the dark angel that is telling him how many millions he will rake in as a health insurance industry lobbyist after his defeat in 2010??

by: Theory of Art @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 23:28:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Stein repeats the falsehood about the filibuster (4.00 / 1)

Reid, the highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate, is a self-proclaimed public option proponent. He has, however, also stressed that his current priority is to cobble together the 60 votes needed to break a Republican filibuster on health care reform. And as he takes over the leadership role in merging different variations of health care legislation in the Senate, there have been indications that he's prepared to abandon the government-run plan.

There is no threat of a "Republican filibuster on health care reform".

You need 41 votes for a filibuster, the GOP couldn't hold up a bill without at least one democrat taking the unprecedented step of joining the republicans and going against their own party.

Stein knows better than that, so why repeat the falsehood?

by: willf @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 18:08:06 PM UTC

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"In this Congress, there's no such thing as a Republican filibuster." (0.00 / 0)

Or even "There's no such thing as a Republican filibuster."

Say it, post it, tweet it as often as you can.

by: NC 11 CD @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 19:39:16 PM UTC

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by: you @ soon

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good job (4.00 / 1)

ad looks good!

do we know when it will air (assuming PCCC gets the support it needs)?

by: The Big Hurt @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 18:17:26 PM UTC

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yup (4.00 / 1)

starts Wed...

by: AdamGreen @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 19:09:47 PM UTC

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Good ad. (0.00 / 0)

I hope to see them here in Vegas soon. Also, thank you for using a local Nevadan and using a message that resonates here. All too often, I see "netroots progressives" getting angry at Reid (sometimes for no reason) and saying stuff about the election next year or the climate in Nevada that just makes no sense. If we want Reid on our side, we need to show him that Nevadans want a strong health care bill with a public option. Thanks for making this happen.

Yes, Virginia, there are progressives in Nevada.

by: Andrew Davey @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 20:53:26 PM UTC

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"Is Harry Reid Strong Enough?" | 9 comments

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