New ad targets Senator Mary Landrieu, who has had taxpayer financed health insurance for most of her adult life, on the public option

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about Senator Mary Landrieu's history of health insurance. From what I could piece together, the Senator from Louisiana has spent a good part of her life receiving taxpayer financed health care. You know she doesn't spend a lot of time haggling with insurance companies. No, but from all the money Landrieu gets from the health insurance lobby, it's pretty clear she does spend a lot of time talking to insurance company lobbyists at fundraisers.

Landrieu is opposed to including a public option in health care reform legislation. She's siding with her pals in the insurance industry. How would she know what it's like not to have health insurance? Taxpayers have taken care of that for her.

MoveOn is running ads in Louisiana on this very issue with a very compelling constituent of Landrieu doing the talking:


The bill introduced in the Senate HELP Committee by Senators Kennedy and Dodd includes the public option. In a statement applauding that bill, Obama explained why that's important:

Among the choices that would be available in the exchange would be a public health insurance option. The public option would make health care affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices and keeping the insurance companies honest.

More affordable and more choices for consumers. More accountability from insurance companies. And, Mary Landrieu is opposed to the public option.

Just hope Landrieu is listening to her constituents at least as much as she listens to the titans of the insurance companies. Senator Landrieu needs to hear from more of her constituents. In DC, her number is 202-224-5824. But, if you're from Louisiana, call her local offices, too. The numbers are here. Let her know you want the public option in the health care reform package.