Arkansas: Sen. Blanche Lincoln

The pharmacy lobby ads that have overrun the airways hating on Rep. Vic Snyder and Sen. Blanche Lincoln have, I admit, made me consider buying a can of whupass to spray on the grating whine of those cranky old coots saying they won't forget our congresspeople's votes for better health care for our fellow Americans. A Blog reader of long association offers the following telling commentary on the 60 Plus (pill pusher lobby) ads:

The Jim Elliott in the TV ads against President O's health plan is a retired State Police captain.  What does he know about how poor elderly folks are suffering?  IF...that's IF...he kept his State Police med plan when he retired, he has one of the best health plans in Arkansas!  So, what's his beef?

Jim, you out there? Got affordable health coverage courtesy of a gubmint-provided insurance plan? You're welcome, very much.

Another columnist, Joe Conason, finds some misinformation issuing forth from U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln on health legislation. But he faults her mostly for drivel. Is she really the penny-pincher she portrays herself to be on health care? How does that square with needelss wars? Or, ouch, big agriculture subsidies?

And here's another writer who sees a little disconnect in Farmer Blanche moaning about handouts to poor, sick people. Writes Alan Roebke:

Those angry old men who've been pounding U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder for endorsing health reform legislation are coming back in a $2 million ad campaign from the 60 Plus Association against U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln and other senators who deigned to allow debate on health legislation. It'll promote the falsehood that Medicare coverage is jeopardized by health reform.

Just so you'll know: The 60 Plus Association is a front group for the pharmaceutical industry, has ties to a right-wing direct mail out fit, finances Republican candidates and is otherwise a steaming sack of sleaze.

Nate Silver offers some statistical evidence to back up my thinking that Sen. Blanche Lincoln didn't help herself by ultimately positioning herself as THE decisive vote on health and the focus of national reporting and interest groups. He looks to Montana, where two leading Democratic politicians have supported health care, but the one who's been quiet about it has fared better in polling. Sen. Max Baucus, out front on the issue, has stumbled.

Baucus, indeed, is not alone in this department: virtually everyone who has tried to play a dealmaker role in health care has seen their approval ratings decline, from Chuck Grassley to Olympia Snowe to Harry Reid to President Obama.

If I were Blanche's Lincoln's Chief of Staff, my advice to her would be as follows:

1. Vote for cloture.
2. Vote against the bill itself.
3. Articulate this position clearly.
4. And then Shut The Hell Up.