Ailing Woman Starring In Ad Hitting Reid Says She’s Received Outpouring Of Support From Nevadans
I just got off the phone with Lee Slaughter, the ailing Nevada woman who is starring in a powerful new ad demanding that Harry Reid prove “strong enough” to pass the public option, and she says she’s received an outpouring of supportive calls from other Nevada residents who want Reid to man up and make it a reality.
She got in touch to relay an anecdote that, she says, shows what’s really at stake for Dems: Her sister, an evangelical Republican, has pledged to switch to the Democratic Party if Reid delivers on the public option.
“She’s a small business owner,” Slaughter said of her sister, whom she declined to name. “She said, `If this happens it will change my whole view of the Democratic Party,’” Slaughter continued.
Slaughter’s plight — she’s a nurse with two broken hips whose family is being bankrupted by health care costs — is detailed in the ad by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which is running in Nevada. In the spot, she asks whether Reid is a “strong enough” leader to pass the pubic option.
Slaughter said she has emailed Reid to tell him that she will work for his defeat if he doesn’t get the public option done. “I emailed him to explain that I have always been a supporter and that he doesn’t really have a good understanding of his job description,” she said.
“I’ve received probably 100, 125 calls since Monday,” Slaughter added, referring to the day when the ad was first announced. “It’s all been, `Thank you for doing this, it’s how I feel, why is Reid doing this.’”
When I pointed out that Reid says he’s working actively behind the scenes to secure the public option, Slaughter said she was optimistic that he would come through.
“I get a sense that he might,” she said. “His language has been changing. He’s getting lots of calls from his constituents. I’ve called everyone I know and asked them, Please call Reid.”
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Now THIS is awesome investigative reporting. Great work Greg.
Who cares? Presidents Snowe, Lieberman, and Conrad are going to stamp their feet and declare that the little people with broken hips or cancer or diabetes don’t really matter.
It’s all about the pressure we, or women like her, can put on the Senate and Reid in particular at this point. Good work getting the interview Greg.
I keep reading so many conflicting reports and opinions about the prospects for a PO that some days I don’t know what’s going on. Obama says to OFA last night something about even without the PO it’s a good bill, and then today I read that he’s really working hard behind the scenes for the PO.
I’ll be glad when this fight is over and we see what we actually get from Congress. Then we can move on to Financial Regulation, which is even murkier.
Cut the man some slack:
Harry is not in a position to make absolutist pronouncements at this stage of the game. He has to talk in vague terms, because he has to avoid upsetting one faction or another in his own caucus.
Harry has to serve many masters, especially 59 of them in his own caucus. They are all Independent Actors, and a Majority Leader is constantly trying to herd cats.
Let us see what the end product turns out to be. If it is not to our liking, there will be plenty of time to unload on those who did not deliver. On the other hand, if they do pass a very good bill, then all this current vituperative language, aimed at Harry, will look down right mean, and have served no useful purpose.
It is counter productive to start calling Senator Reid names. That is not going to make him more likely to support the position of the name callers. In fact it might make him want to stick it to them. That is just human nature, so just push for the PO, in a positive manner, and hold your fire until you know if you really need to pull the trigger or not.
“Her sister, an evangelical Republican, has pledged to switch to the Democratic Party if Reid delivers on the public option…`If this happens it will change my whole view of the Democratic Party,’” Slaughter continued.”
That’s nice but it makes no sense at all. Why does it have to pass? If it doesn’t pass, it will be the Republicans’ fault, so she ought to quit identifying with and voting for the party that squelches what she claims to value so much.
Liam, I think she’s hoping to inspire him.
The Fool:
Well, I’d say the point there is that if the PO passes, the sister will see a stark difference between the two parties.
Seems as if the Dems don’t even have the votes in the House yet for the robust PO – let alone the Senate.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/21/public-option-within-eigh_n_328561.html
Unclear. Assuming a positive outcome, the pressure of these ads aimed at Harry and some Ultramarine Blue Dogs could be seen as having played a very helpful part. E.g., there’s nothing like a Joe Sestak to keep an Arlen Specter in line.
Speaking of which, that’d be the best leverage I can possibly imagine on Harry Reid — a credible primary challenger. With his home-state popularity in the tank, he’d have to sit up and take notice.
@TheFool
It’s not the Republican’s fault. They can’t fillibuster. The idea that this needs any bipartisan support at all is a myth. Dems have 60 members in their caucus, they can bring the bill to the floor…and only need 50 votes to pass it. The PO has that. If this doesn’t get done, it’s all the Dems fault.
@sbj
Either you don’t understand that report, or your being intellectually dishonest.
They are currently 8 votes short of the MOST robust pubic option being talked about in any of the 5 bills. That would be the PO tied directly to Medicare rates (Medicare rate +5%). The House bill WILL have a PO option in it, it’s all a matter of how progressive it will be. They are 8 votes shy, with about 15-20 members undecided, of getting through the most progressive version of this legislation possible.
And you act like that’s a mark against the PO? Laughable.
Positive pressure is fine, but I am seeing a lot of people calling Harry names, on here during the last few days. That is what I am cautioning against.
Urging him to support a PO is one thing. Calling him spineless, etc, is not the way to make him feel kindly toward those who want a PO.
@Liam
I’ve been advocating people pledge volunteer hours if Reid puts in a PO. I’m in FL, so I’m not much help, but imagine if a petition of a couple hundred people in CA, NV, AZ, all saying they’d make phone calls and give a weekend of canvassing work during his reelection campaign…if he included the PO.
Positive reinforcement.
@BBQ
That is a great suggestion. I hope that some people in Arizona pick up on it.
This is the time when Ted’s booming voice is really missed.
@BBQ: “Either you don’t understand that report, or your being intellectually dishonest. They are currently 8 votes short of the MOST robust pubic option being talked about in any of the 5 bills…And you act like that’s a mark against the PO?”
If you’ll carefully read my comment I referred to the “robust PO,” so kindly eat your words.
And yes, in the House they don’t even have a majority, in the Senate they don’t have enough for cloture.
@BBQ: “Either you don’t understand that report, or your being intellectually dishonest. They are currently 8 votes short of the MOST robust pubic option being talked about in any of the 5 bills…And you act like that’s a mark against the PO?”
If you’ll carefully read my comment I referred to the “robust PO,” so kindly eat your words.
And yes, it is a mark against the robust PO. In the House they don’t even have a majority, in the Senate they don’t have enough for cloture.
sorry for the dupe post
Good job, Greg. I think this is the sort of thing that could gain traction-and should!
There is little chance of someone more liberal than Reid winning the Democratic nomination, much less the state. I ask again, for the umpteenth time on political blogs- why primary him if it means the GOP wins?
I’d like to know how the GOP as a Party polls in Nevada right now: knowing that a well-liked GOP candidate could win anyway.
sbj
I don’t think we know yet how many votes they have for the strong PO (medicare +5) as they still have some undecided whom I would presume they’re still working on.
In the Senate, we may get the 60 for Cloture, they haven’t come up with a final bill yet, so it’s premature to say we don’t have them. Once the bill is ready, we’ll see if any side with Repubs. on a filibuster. I think threatening a filibuster and doing it may end up being two different things.
@Imsinca
Sorry about the Angels loss. I gave up on watching after the Yankees scored three runs. It looks bleak for your team now, as it does for the Dodgers. The umps sure did not call a very fair game either.
One of SBJ’s favorite ploys is: do not have the votes yet. Big deal, no one is voting now, so he just trying to play his usual FUD planting game.
@lmsinca: I mostly agree but need to reiterate that we DO know how many votes the Dems have for a robust PO in the House – 200, shy of 208. They can’t currently count a majority in support. They will soon begin the whipping – which means throwing in a bunch of **** that none of us want to see – just to appease 8 members. And that’s in the House. In the Senate who knows whether they have the votes for cloture? I am assuming, based on what Baucus and Snowe and Lincoln have said, that the votes for cloture if the bill includes a robust PO simply aren’t there. I don’t suppose we will find out, either, because I think the bill that Reid brings will not have the robust PO. It might have a Snowe trigger, I think, at best.
It’s fun to watch! And it’s a bit perplexing. Most of us won’t even be eligible to purchase the government option. Many of us who would receive subsidies would probably still go with private insurance. The whole debate surrounding the PO is fascinating because it will impact so few. It is interesting to see how large a role it is playing in this debate.
“If this happens it will change my whole view of the Democratic Party,’”
This is perhaps the largest part of what is driving the Repubs obstructionism. Not just a chance to defeat Obama in the midterms…but the LASTING change of perception…The R’s have been against EVERY piece of legislation that actually has benefitted the majority of everyday Americans…Social Security…Medicare Labor laws…The R’s realize that if a strong PO passes and should heaven forbid, ultimately lead to a single payer system…they’ll look as cold hearted and WRONG as they have been on SS and Medicare.
And the Repubs bs about fiscal responsibility is just sooooo hypocritical…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jo-comerford/cashing-in-the-war-divide_b_327287.html
The 14 million American children in poverty, the millions of citizens who will remain without health insurance (even if some version of the Baucus plan is passed), the 7.6 million people who have lost jobs since 2007, all of them will have to take a number. The same is true of the kinds of projects needed to improve the country’s disintegrating infrastructure, including the 25% of U.S. drinking water that was given a barely passing “D” by the American Society of Civil Engineers in a 2009 study.
Dwight D. Eisenhower warned us of ALL of this before he left office..How Ironic…one of our most famous and successful Military men..a repub.. warning of the budget monster..the infamous military industrial complex. Another General turned Statesman Colin Powell has refined it a bit…”The Terrorism/Industrial complex. Can you say Haliburton…Blackwater…….
Liam
Yeah last night was pretty painful. I was disappointed right off the bat with Sciosa’s pitching choice and then it was downhill from there. That’s okay we only need to win 3 out of 3. Ugghhh!
“That’s okay we only need to win 3 out of 3.”
Hey, they swept Boston didn’t they?
I left a message for Senator Ben Nelsen, an Johanne. I voted for both, as a lot of us have(one Republican,One Demacrate), but betcha we will drop Both if we don’t get small bussiness loan help an the Public Option! We really don’t care if they are Dem’s/Repub/Indep they are out, if they side with the Insurance comp. against Us this time!
Video clip of White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino standing at her podium, while Attacking NBC News.
http://www.dailykostv.com/w/002274/
Why did Faux News not come to the defense of NBC News back then, like they now want other networks to defend them.Hmmmmm!
Why would her sister switch? The Dems are for the PO and the Repubs are against it. If she’s for government safety nets then she has liberal preferences. Is she only a Repub because she thinks the Dems are ineffectual? (Which admittedly they are.) Weird. She sees her own party actively trying to kill this bill. Isn’t that enough reason to switch?
She is talking about switching provided her ailing sister gets what she needs. It is personal now, and I do not believe that she would actually switch. She sure did not switch when George W. Bush was blocking stem cell research to find cures for lots of debilitating conditions, so I think she is just saying what her sister wants her to say.
Bush did not block stem cell research.
Bush block Stem Cell Research, and President Obama lifted the ban on that research. Even Nancy Reagan and her son Ron campaigned to lift Bush’s blocking of stem cell research.
SBJ; you truly are a pathetic wretch.
Bush blocked Stem Cell Research, and President Obama lifted the ban on that research. Even Nancy Reagan and her son Ron campaigned to lift Bush’s blocking of stem cell research.
SBJ; you truly are a pathetic wretch.
sbj~ good lord you are soooo obvious these days….Bush totally blocked embryonic stem cell research, even some Republicans disagreed with him about it..you have become such a hack in the last few months…are you just mainlining GOP talking points…”up is down, down is up, black is white, white is black, lee atwater is my savior” kinda talking points….
Republican’s are against America. It’s clear – they want “us” to lose. Limbuagh said it. Kristol said it. Hannity said it. The Republican’s aren’t a party any more – they are a cult. They are anti-American. They are against you and I! The Party of No – is lobbying for the Insurance Companies – listen to them carefully – they don’t mask it. They do not work for the People of the United States of America. They work for themselves.
If it weren’t for liberals, democrats and progressives, the Republican’s would be living on a flat world administering leeches as health care.
If it weren’t for the progressives, we won’t be having this nation to start with. Our founding fathers were progressives for their ages.
Liam and Jenn: You both need to become a little bit more familiar with the history of federally funded embryonic stem cell research. “The Bush administration in 2001 enunciated a policy that would permit some research to go forward with federal funds, albeit with very stringent restrictions.” He also threw a few vetoes in there but Bush was, in fact, the first President to provide federal funding for this research.
It is apparent that none of you own a company. If you did you would be looking at the additional costs for health care vs the reduced revenue due to the economic recession and start looking at ways to cut expenses ie: job lay-offs. The conundrum of unemployment will be exacerbated by the approval of of this health care bill. I am seriously looking at reducing 20-30% of my work force of 1000. we should be looking at job growth as a #1 priority so people have employment with health benefits. Increasing costs to corporations with revenues greater than $1,000,000 will not solve the high unemeployment wows and will not stop the recession, it will only cause it to be pro-longed.
A life-long Democrat, I’ve decided that I won’t vote in the next two elections if the Dems can’t deliver a public option.
The idea of a public option represents what the Democratic Party is all about. 70% of the American people want it. Democrats have a clear majority in both houses of Congress. If they can’t do THIS, then they clearly have the special interests and their bank accounts ahead of the American people and I have no use for them anymore. Screw ‘em!
LMP. How can you say that 70% of the American People want the public option when less than 50% of the population don’t support health care reform.
By the way, I would check the facts in this story. This woman is a nurse and has better health care than most people in America. Propaganda with lies.
“And the Repubs bs about fiscal responsibility is just sooooo hypocritical…”
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
Because Democrats favor spending federal funds on battling economic injustice and other injustices faced by “commoners” in this country instead of on waging a repeat of Vietnam, we are fiscally irresponsible!
Who says we don’t have a class system is the US? Republican policies demonstrate their zeal to perpetuate the class system they have created; the gap between the rich and the poor in this country has never been greater. But because Democrats want to enact policies aimed at enabling hardworking members of the working class to feed and shelter their families and take their children to the doctor, we are socialists!
As to the evangelical Rep. sister, she probably feels obligated to vote Rep. because she is pro-life. I would challenge her, and all other evangelicals, to examine the true values reflected by Rep. policies. Which is party is truly the pro-life, pro-family party? The Rep. party talks about family values, but actions speak louder than words. That’s why I am an evangelical and a Democrat. Democratic attempts to combat every kind of injustice in this country, and around the globe, mirror Biblical teachings! I personally feel that if you are an evangelical and a Rep., you are not reading your Bible. There, I said it. I am prepared for the inevitable outraged replies!
Liam says “Harry has to serve many masters, especially 59 of them in his own caucus. They are all Independent Actors, and a Majority Leader is constantly trying to herd cats.”
Seriously? Then he needs to take a lesson from the Republicans. He can start with Tom DeLay. The man was a shameless crook, but he could deliver not only every single vote from his own party, but most days he could deliver most every vote from the opposing party. Stop making excuses for what is already a sorry excuse for a man.
It’s about time!
president is agod take fox of the air .only let kool aid drinkers give their spin
I checked with the Nevada State Board of Nursing, there is no nurse by the name Lee Slaughter, now or ever.
Nice try, and very pathetic and telling of your mindset that you would fabricate an entire follow up story.
Very sad.
Liberal Fail!
-Cheers