Think Progress

Rep. Keith Ellison interviews his colleagues about need for a public plan.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) has posted a YouTube video that shows him interviewing many of his progressive House colleagues about the need for including a public health insurance option as part of comprehensive health reform. In the video, Ellison states, “I am a dedicated advocate of a public option…but I’m not the only one.” He then talks to Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Lewis (D-GA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA). As OpenLeft’s Adam Green writes, “These progressives seem to have their heart in [this fight]. And having a visual representation of that sends an important signal that needs sending.” Watch it:



24 Responses to “Rep. Keith Ellison interviews his colleagues about need for a public plan.”

  1. katy says:

    thank you rep. ellison…

    caught the end of bill press show on XM this morning… he suggested contacting these congress people and let them know what you think:

    These Democratic Senators have NOT agreed to support it:

    http://billpressshow.com/


  2. KaneJeeves says:

    Ellison’s a great guy, and a “triple threat” to Repubs: Dem, Progressive, Muslim! DOES NOT COMPUTE WILL ROBINSON, DOES NOT COMPUTE…


  3. Another Joe says:

    Sorry, not trying to be snarky, but that frame beign displayed in your embedded video SEEMS TO PROVE A NEED FOR A PUBLIC OPTION!

    WOW – is there a Dr. in the house?!?!?!?!?!?!?!


  4. Another Joe says:

    Obama needs us to step up pressure and not accept anything less than a public option.

    And we really need to be demanding single payer.

    The dems are playing into repug’s hands if they do not deliver on this one. There have been too many compromises on every other issue that waters down “yes we can.”

    Regardless of how much compromise/capitulation the dems do, the repugs are going after them with big guns in 2010 and 2012.

    The public overwhelmingly wants healthcare reform. If Obama’s message was “YES WE CAN” he will be a failure to a huge block of his voters if this doesn’t happen. The mainstream media will hammer him mercilessly.

    Obama needs your support now.


  5. ralph the wonder locust says:

    Count me as one of those who loves his Congressperson (Lois Capps).
    Thanks, Rep. Ellison for pushing this message.

    I wonder if john McCain will still rely on the wise counsel of Rep. John Lewis, as he said he would during the presidential campaign?


  6. Zimzone says:

    Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)

    Rep. Michelle Bachman (Retarded-MN)

    Which would you vote for?


  7. Another Joe says:

    I wonder if john McCain will still rely on the wise counsel of Rep. John Lewis, as he said he would during the presidential campaign?

    Perhaps if he needs to find a restroom in a hurry. Those depends can only hold so much pee.


  8. evangenital says:

    A failure of the chance at a public option would mean the increasing destruction of the American way of life.

    A sick, unhealthy population, with no access to health care is a prescription for the irreversible decline of this nation worldwide.

    Do the repiggies really wish to kill this nation?

    They and their corporate buddies have already purchased their getaways in Europe and in the Caribbean. They seem to have given up on this nation, and are grabbing everything they can for themselves.


  9. Zimzone says:

    Congresscritters are doing the same damn thing with health care that they did with the AIG, etc. bailouts.

    They pretend to listen & agree with public opinion.

    Next come backdoor meetings where lobbyists influence votes.

    Suddenly, press releases or ’spokesman’ tell us the bill is in trouble.

    When asked what the issue is, we’ll hear, ‘I don’t believe we have the votes’.

    Finally, something resembling lukewarm dishwater becomes law.

    I look forward to the day when electronic nation-wide real time voting decides law. Congresscritters have outlived their usefulness, cannot be trusted and are way too expensive to support on a daily basis.

    May they quietly go the way of the Dodo bird…


  10. Rodeskawler says:

    60% of banruptcies are caused by medical bills in 75% of those that had scams of for-profit health insurance. At a minimum, a public option should not even be debatable. If our representatives really want to save our economy, they will go way beyond that weak attempt.


  11. Another Joe says:

    Rodeskawler failure to do so plays into repug hands and sets obama up for failure.


  12. Another Joe says:

    Need to nail these bastards and publically expose them – they are going directly against the will of the majority of Americans and their constituents. Here is their demand letter.

    Blue Dogs: We Can’t Support Health Care Reform Without Significant Changes

    Many will write off “yes we can” if we are again shown that “no we can’t”. Obama needs your support.


  13. ralph the wonder locust says:

    A little OT but not much:

    From C&L, Dennis Kucinich rips a new one for right-wing doctor on Canada’s health care:

    http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/dennis-kucinich-pummels-doctor


  14. Another Joe says:

    ralph – john over there still blog endlessly about 9/11 truth and the fact that it was an inside job?

    He has always done such a great job carrying that important message.


  15. katy says:

    ralph – john over there still blog endlessly about 9/11 truth and the fact that it was an inside job?

    you must be confused, joe…


  16. hormiga brava chavez says:

    It’s good to see Rep. Ellis and others in Congress care about a public plan. I wish the other Congressmen who are slowing down the process would get the heck out of the way!


  17. Another Joe says:

    no – if you’ve been reading that site for more than a few years, you will know what I am refering to ;)


  18. dbadass says:

    Again I ask… What is truth?


  19. barfly says:

    dbadass Says:

    Again I ask… What is truth?

    And who is John Galt?

    Heh,


  20. pags2 says:

    I find it odd that with the public opinion in favor of the public option that there are people in Congress, House and Senate, that are fence sitting on the issue. This makes me wonder whether they are listening to their constituents or the lobbyists. I hope the people in their states and districts bring public opinion to bear on these fence sitters. There is no reason why they can’t agree in principle on the public option. I believe the fence sitters are watching to see which way the wind blows with public opinion when the legislation gets closer to a vote. They don’t get the idea that the Republicans are trying to slow the legislative process so that the lobbyists can get a chance to torpedo the public option. The Republicans have drawn the line in the sand that they will not support the public option. If the fence sitters and the rest of the Dems can iron out the legislation, they can force the Republicans into a public vote which could be fatal to some people who are up for reelection. Health care legislation is the key for Dems to be elected or reelected in 2010.


  21. AlphaLiberal says:

    How did a public option become the number one issue for progressives, instead of single payer?


  22. BrianFL says:

    I hope everyone takes the time to contact the Blue Dog (Traitor) Coalition to tell them what you think of their selling out to the insurance lobby.

    http://www.house.gov/melancon/BlueDogs/index.html

    http://www.house.gov/melancon/BlueDogs/Contact%20Page.html


  23. Republican Love Facts says:

    Hello to all. Let me introduce myself. I am a gay republican who hates myself, so want to go around and spread my misery to one and all. All I know how to do is start controversy – but I can tell that my pea-brain is no match for the intelligent reality based thinkers that make-up the share of the people on this site.

    I have read all you have to say – and I agree, the conservatives are a bunch of kCock-suckers who can’t make it in a reality based world …so we had to create a world of illusion and confusion. I guess the reason I’m such a moron is because I was gang raped by a bunch of preachers from my church.

    This is #1 in a series of Republican Love Facts

    ..It seems my charade worked. The other Hijacker has fled. If he comes back, I’ll be right behind him.




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