TX-32: What Part of Support for Healthcare Reform Doesn't "Taliban Pete" Understand?

When I saw this poll, I was reminded of the fallacy my area's Taliban congressman, Pete Sessions (R-TX-32), and others in his party continue to peddle-- that healthcare reform is not popular with the American people.
Not only is Sessions wrong when he claims that healthcare reform has been "rejected" by the American people, this latest poll, along with a recent CBS News/New York Times survey, show support for reform with a robust public option continues to be strong.
To review, here's what Sessions said in response to President Obama's address on healthcare reform:

“Tonight, President Obama launched another prime time sales pitch for a government-run health care product that the American people have already undeniably rejected."

Actually, contrary to Sessions' claim, healthcare reform support has INCREASED since the summer of screaming, lies, and distortions coming from the Republican party and its allies in the media (most notably right-wing talk radio and the fraud of a "news" channel called Fox), according to a Huffington Post article.
Here's part of what the Huffington Post reported:

The anti-reform town hall anger that dominated the health care reform debate appears to have ebbed. Support for health care reform increased in September after falling over the summer, according to a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Fifty-seven percent of Americans now believe that tackling health care reform is more important than ever -- up from 53 percent in August. The proportion of Americans who think their families would be better off if health reform passes is up six percentage points (42% versus 36% in August), and the percentage who think that the country would be better off is up eight points (to 53% from 45% in August).

So what part of this don't anti-reform politicians like Sessions understand? Have these guys become so blinded by their own lies that they can't even acknowledge that they have been proven to be wrong?
Yes, Democratic politicians like Max Baucus, Blanche Lincoln, and Kent Conrad must be held accountable for their demonstrated preference for protecting insurance company profits and discretion at the expense of the public interest, but the same must be said for others who have made a living of fanning the lies of insurance company opponents of real healthcare reform.
That list, sadly, includes my area's Taliban congressman, Pete Sessions, and the sooner this nutjob is retired from his current position by voters, the better we all will be.
I hope folks in my district will see a strong opponent rise up to confront Sessions with his "public be damned" attitude when it comes to healthcare reform and a host of other issues.

Arkansas U.S. Senator Takes $$$ From Healthcare Foes, Flip-Flops On Public Option

I've only been to Arkansas one time (some years ago when my wife and I visited the city where she was born [hint: the same one where Bill Clinton was born]), but since that time, I've learned at least one thing about one of its senators-- she sure is a friend of healthcare opponents.
It's bad enough that Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln has flip-flopped on the public option, but what is even more revealing is how much a recipient she has become of money from the very ones fighting the reforms.
Here's part of what Roll Call reported about her flip-flop:

“For some in my caucus, when they talk about a public option, they’re talking about another entitlement program, and we can’t afford that right now as a nation,” Lincoln said in a speech to the Elder Law Task Force at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “I’m not going to vote for a bill that’s not deficit-neutral, and I’m not going to vote for a bill that doesn’t do something about curbing the cost in the out years, because it would be pointless. ... I would not support a solely government-funded public option. We can’t afford that.”
But in an opinion piece she wrote for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in July, Lincoln said the public insurance option should be included in health care reform legislation. A public insurance option would compete with private insurers to offer health care coverage.
“Health care reform must build upon what works and improve inefficiencies. Individuals should be able to choose from a range of quality health insurance plans. Options should include private plans as well as a quality, affordable public plan or non-profit plan that can accomplish the same goals as those of a public plan,” she wrote.

But who DOES have Lincoln's ear? Check this out from the Huffington Post:

BLANCHE LINCOLN IS THE QUEEN OF CASH FROM THE HEALTH INDUSTRY The Sunlight Foundation's Paul Blumenthal reports that Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) has taken more money in campaign contributions from the health industry than all but one of her Democratic peers in 2009. According to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, Lincoln benefited from $325,350 in contributions from the health industry in the first half of 2009.
"The large amount in contributions underlies a constantly shifting position by the senator on health care reform," notes Blumenthal. Lincoln sits on the Senate Finance Committee, the lone panel that has so far failed to get its act together on health care reform legislation.

Here's a list of the top 20 Lincoln contributors since 2005 (healthcare interests in bold):

(name of company)--total--individuals-- PACs

1 Nix, Patterson & Roach $60,200 $60,200 $0
2 Home Depot $47,500 $12,500 $35,000
3 Weyerhaeuser Co $44,150 $20,150 $24,000
4 Wal-Mart Stores $43,300 $13,300 $30,000
5 Stephens Group $38,800 $28,800 $10,000
6 Esop Assn $36,250 $250 $36,000
7 American College of Radiology $35,000 $0 $35,000
8 Entergy Corp $34,100 $7,600 $26,500
9 FedEx Corp $33,400 $3,400 $30,000
10 Koch Industries $32,500 $2,500 $30,000
11 National Thoroughbred Racing Assn $32,000 $2,000 $30,000
12 American Physical Therapy Assn $30,000 $0 $30,000
12 AT&T Inc $30,000 $500 $29,500
14 Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp $29,900 $2,400 $27,500
15 Tyson Foods $29,600 $7,600 $22,000
16 Blue Cross/Blue Shield $29,500 $11,000 $18,500
17 DaVita Inc $29,150 $19,150 $10,000
18 College of American Pathologists $28,000 $0 $28,000
19 National Assn of Broadcasters $25,750 $8,250 $17,500
20 American Assn of Nurse Anesthetists $25,500 $0 $25,500

This sure makes me wonder whether Lincoln really concerned about average folks in her state or is she far more concerned about the moneybags who fund her campaigns from healthcare interests who oppose any reform?
If I were living in Arkansas, I'd be sending lots of letters to Lincoln and my other Congress critters demanding passage for healthcare reform. Short of that, I sure hope this woman gets the strongest possible primary opponent since she won't stand up for average folks by supporting the public option.

Unions Fight Back Against Healthcare Reform Foes

I'm so glad to see a lot of fightback now against the GOP's lying efforts to defeat healthcare reform.
I'm glad these phony Democrats are being spotlighted in the ads in no flattering terms. Here's part of the Daily Kos diary reporting on the ads:

The ads focus on Senators Chuck Grassley (IA), Max Baucus (MT), Kent Conrad (ND), and Blanche Lincoln (AR). The Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) and a coalition of Unions representing almost 2 million workers are planning to run these ads through the end of Congress's August recess.
The SMWIA is diverting the political funds it would regularly use for donations to purchase time for these ads, rather than to padding the campaign coffers of the Democrats targeted in them. The Union suspended all financial and intangible campaign donations to political candidates to focus on efforts to pass real health care and labor law reform. Other Unions are considering similar action.
These ads are part of an effort to cut through the noise and highlight the truth about the broken healthcare system the insurance industry, Republicans in Congress and some Democrats are fighting to protect.

The only thing I can say is "Yea!" Let the real fight begin.