Sen. Nelson: Obama too ‘aloof’ on health care reform
by Paul Quinlan | February 18th, 2010U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson criticized President Obama on Thursday for being too “aloof” and not fighting hard enough to pass health care legislation before offering his own prescription.
“It’s my hope that the President is going to get engaged,” Nelson, D-Fla., said Thursday. “He’s been aloof. If we’re going to pass health care he’s got to get in there with a bull whip and brass knuckles.”
Nelson was in West Palm Beach to speak at a luncheon hosted by the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches at the Kravis Center. In comments before and during the lunch, he railed against the “excessive partisanship” and “ideological rigidity” that was jamming up Congress and frustrating voters.
Taking questions from the audience, Nelson offered his own solution. He conceded that the so-called public option would not get the necessary 60 votes in the Senate. Instead, he endorsed creating a “nationwide insurance plan,” as outlined in the Senate version of a health care bill to offer coverage to those who aren’t already covered by their employer. The program, he said, would be similar to the plan now offered to federal employees and would be overseen by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The plan would compete against private insurers, offering coverage through a state insurance marketplace
Tags: Bill Nelson, health care reform
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February 18th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Bill Nelson has done a pretty good job until lately. The time has come for Bill to retire. He is losing his hearing just like the rest of the Democrats in Washington. He can’t hear the majority of us who say “Leave the healthcare issue alone, its just fine.” Thanks Bill for a job well done! You will be replaced come next election. Its 15% who wouldn’t take healthcare if they could get it and people like Obama’s friend George Soros who stands to make billions from his healthcare businesses that wants to shove healthcare up the butts of the American people without vaseline.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Senator Nelson has dutifully followed party line, to the detriment of the state of Florida. He sponsored the failed EFCA anti American Union organizing bill, been a sponsor of the failed and unpopular Senate health care bill, and like a mindless lemming, followed his party’s orders like a good soldier.
He needs to retire and quickly before he does any serious damage.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Yes, it’s time for Bill to step down. His lockstep loyalty to a party line rather than to his constituents proves the need for term limits. Writing letters to Senator Nelson is futile. His “answers” are nothing more than press releases obviously sent out to everyone who happened to write that month.
February 18th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Nelson needs to engage with a local Uhaul franchise.
Flip This House.
http://www.southflorida912.org
February 19th, 2010 at 9:23 am
[...] senator said that was “aloof” and needed to get more engaged in the process. As the Palm Beach Post reports: “It’s my hope that the President is going to get engaged,” Nelson, D-Fla., said Thursday. [...]
February 19th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Talk about aloof. A nationwide insurance plan overseen by the same federal government that buys hammers and screws for $200, has 200% cost overruns, can’t stop the billions in medicaid fraud in South Florida.
Give me a damn break. How stupid does he think we are. This is socialized medicine Bill. Dammit I voted for Obama because of Republican incompetence. Looks like I need to vote them out now because of their incompetence.
February 19th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Sen. Nelson has crawled out there on a limb for Pres Obama, and the President is sawing the limb off. Firstly, to get the Senator’s vote they contorted the already flawed Health Reform bill to exempt Florida Seniors from cuts in Medicare Advantage (while the rest of us Floridians and the country gasps), then the President drops the bombshell that he will cut manned Spaceflight out of NASA’s budget, causing a loss of >7,000 jobs at the Cape. Yes, it is time for Senator Nelson to leave. I plan to volunteer to chauffer elderly folks to the polls on election day with the expressed purpose of pursueing Sen Nelson’s retirement.
February 19th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Just another BS weak-link spineless and corrupted congressman on the take and needs to be voted out – ASAP!
Stop Organized Crime – RE-ELECT NO ONE!
March 20th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
If you support bama on this health care joke, kiss your future goodbye and those you support, ie L Edwards!!
We need leaders, not stupid sheep!