White House Threatens Nebraska Senator Over Health Care Vote

LOS ANGELES (YBH) Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson introduced an amendment to the Senate health care bill which would have barred Federal funds to be used for abortions. It was defeated. Endorsed by Nebraska Right To Life during his 2006 election, Nelson has stated he will not vote for a health care bill without such a provision.

Senator Nelson Gets Pressured by White House

Needing 60 votes for passage, and with Joe Lieberman’s vote far from assured, the White House is skipping the carrot and going for the stick when it comes to Nelson. According to the Weekly Standard, “a Senate aide [says] the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base on the [base closure] list if Nelson doesn’t fall into line.” The base employs some 10,000 folks in Southeastern Nebraska.

Threats of this type are often leaked, by either party, more for political theater than anything else. However, Nelson will be in the driver’s seat if Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman signs onto the Senate health care bill. The White House will then need to confront the abortion issue head on.

UPDATE: The White House has denied making the threat.

Laura spent years as a Hollywood story analyst, did a big 180, and is now an entrepreneur focused on web marketing and analytics. She's also a mom of one.

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Post Published: 15 December 2009
Found in section: Politics

AnonymousProlifer
Senator Nelson, keep fighting it — we're right there with you!
mal
yes we are
http://lonnij.wordpress.com Lonni
Politics look more like bribes and threats then any effort to enact legislation that "we the people" voted for or against. To hold the "you'll lose your Air Force Base with it's 10,000 jobs if you don't vote for our bill" over Senator Nelson and Nebraska citizens head in the fight for the abortion issue is just wrong on so many levels. We voted for a President and Members of the Senate and Congress to regulate and insure the best for Americans; not to have them try out for a reality show called "Let's Make A Deal". Shhheeeesssshhhhh!
Dave
This is what you get for getting in bed with the democrats. Nelson, you should have killed this monster weeks ago when you had the chance and you are to blame for this monstrosity getting to the floor. Now Nebraskans are going to pay for it. Thanks a lot Ben, you screwed our country, now you are screwing our state.

bob
dave RIGHT on — Ben has been in Washington long enough to know what he was getting into.. I think he is right where he wants to be, selling his (Nebr) soul to the far left. He and other Dem never wanted an honest debate on how to control health cost.. he Nebraskans need to stand tall and remove old Ben from Office..

Max
As i recall from my ancient history, this is the kind of tactic that lead to the takeover of Germany by one fellow many years ago. He seemed like such a nice guy at the beginning, too. This is not politics this is a coup, plain and simple. Will the people wake up in time? I don't think so because they are too scared to really stop the process. Just look what the present administration has already gotten away with and not one major court battle to test the constitutionality of any of it. Or is the constitution irrelevant now, too. Hummmmmmmmmmmm
releggneh
Isn't this against the law?? To bribe & threaten if you don't vote for what they want instead of what the american people want?? This is the most crookedest admin I have ever seen> I guess it is the chicago way that was brought into our offices?? Way to go for those that voted for this mob of thieves & liars?? Come on 2010 get these arrogant thieves out of our office!!!
http://www.facebook.com/taylorjanvier Tj Pierce
Rahm it through!
Arnold
Stand your Ground! Their are many of us right there with the same view!
Dale
When an administration lies, and rushes things through without time to read a bill, one must assume that it is a rotten bill. Well we have a two thousand pages rotten bill that few understand and not even the leaders of Congress comprehend this monstrosity of a bill such as this health reform bill. We want reform but not one that will break our country economically and one that doesn't mess up what we have now for our health system. We need a bill that we can shop across state lines for lowest prices for insurance companies, no one can drop us for any sickness and one that we can move anywhere in the country and be covered. If we want to keep our innovational spirit, then we must stop this O'Bama care bill.
cheef
Obama is nothing more than a street thug in a suit. He needs to be removed from office and tried as a criminal before he is allowed to do any more harm to the people of this Great Country.
james
I dont know if this is true or not, but there should be no way in hell that you threaten a senator with a closing of a base as important as this one in nebraska. its there for a reason!
Mr Nelson should be made to answer if he caves in and supports this bill which he has said he cant support.
he needs to stop protecting the Democrat party and needs to stop protecting this assclown of a president.
National Security is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than any one president will ever be.
http://intensedebate.com/people/sandyjo53 sandyjo53
This just goes to show you that this never was about peoples health, it's always been about controlling the masses.
If Obama and the communist democratic party is willing to close down a site where over 10 thousand will lose their jobs over this disaster of a health bill that tells us something right there.
What other steps are they willing to take,everything so far is totally against the constitution but that doesn't seem to stop them,Nebraska will cave in, they need those jobs.
We are all living in an episode of the twilight zone right now and for the next 3 years!

White House Threatens Nebraska Senator Over Health Care Vote

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