Blue America’s first push at Blanche Lincoln proved very worth while. As Greg Sargent reported, we forced her to write an op-ed in which she shifted positions on the public option. We raised almost 28K and ran our first ad for two weeks in heavy rotation on CNN, MSNBC and all the major cable networks in Arkansas. With Max Baucus delaying the Senate Finance Committee bill for as long as he has, Blanche is now shifting back to her old position. Haven’t you noticed that you never see Lincoln appear on television to express her POV? She’s up for re-election, hence with her keeping a low profile.
Lincoln reacted quickly, making noises that sounded like she might take the side of her state’s working families for a change, instead of the big Insurance companies that buy her fealty. But, alas, they were only noises. Yesterday one of our friends in Hot Springs forwarded us a form letter she got from Lincoln’s office. As though it were written by a real Democrat, it acknowledges that there’s a problem. But the conclusion is very disappointing, some of it coming straight from Insurance Industry Talking Points that are routinely parroted by anti-health care fanatics like Mike Pence (R-IN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Paul Ryan (R-WI):
While I support government programs like Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP, or ARKids First,” as it is known in Arkansas) that provide coverage for specific vulnerable and hard-to-insure populations, I do not support moving America to a nationalized single-payer or “government-run” health care system. Instead, in health care reform I will ensure Arkansans and Americans will have the freedom of choice to keep their current insurance plans and current doctors or choose another plan that better meets their needs.
Well, it’s time to see if we can raise enough money to run a second wave of our ad. The next one will be the ad I have embedded in this post. It was #3 called “Bailout” Please donate here if you can.
She’s also doing some town halls and we can use the good people of Arkansas to go there and represent Blue America and C&L.
Here’s her schedule.
Lincoln will travel the state throughout the annual congressional work period. The following is Lincoln’s schedule of events around the state for August 11-15:
Tuesday, August 11—Little Rock, Malvern
9:10 a.m., Keynote address, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas Seminar, “Connecting Your Business with China.” Lincoln will join the State Chamber/AIA, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas World Trade Center, and business and community leaders to welcome the Chinese Ambassador to the United States. Capital Hotel, 111 W. Markham Street, Little Rock.
12:00 p.m., Speak, Lions Club of Malvern. Western Sizzlin Steak House, 621 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Malvern.
Wednesday, August 12—Little Rock
9:00 a.m., Speak, “Jobs for Arkansas” Business Aviation Forum at Dassault Falcon Jet. Lincoln will join Governor Beebe, Senator Pryor, Dassault Falcon employees, and other community and business leaders to discuss the importance of Arkansas’s aviation industry. Dassault Falcon Jet Company, 3801 East 10th Street, Little Rock.
Thursday, August 13—Springdale, Hot Springs, Benton, Little Rock
9:30 a.m., Speak, Association of Arkansas Counties. Northwest Arkansas Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Salons D & E, 1500 South 48th Street, Springdale.
12:00 p.m., Speak, Mental Health Council of Arkansas Conference. Hot Springs Convention Center, 134 Convention Boulevard, Hot Springs.
2:15 p.m., Saline County Economic Development Meeting. Lincoln will join Senator Shane Broadway; Eddie Black, Chamber of Commerce Director; Representative Dawn Creekmore; Representative Ann Clemmers; Mayor Rick Holland; Former Representative Lamont Cornwell, Benton Economic Director. 205 East Street, Benton.
5:30 p.m., Pulaski County Democratic Women, Democratic Party of Arkansas headquarters, 1300 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock.
Friday, August 14—Little Rock, Pine Bluff
10:15 a.m., Tour, Center for Healing Hearts & Spirits. The Center for Healing Hearts & Spirits is a project of the Women’s Council on African-American Affairs, Inc. Its mission is to promote and nurture individuals in areas of education, economic and community development, healthcare issues, public safety and race relations. The center was created to assist victims of violent crimes and terminal illnesses and their affected families to improve the quality of their economic and social environment, transition back into the workplace and to provide for self-sufficiency. 2416 S. Chester Street, Little Rock.
11:50 a.m., Tour, SEARK College. Lincoln will tour the campus, including the new library and nursing program, and meet with SEARK board members. 1900 S. Hazel Street, Pine Bluff.
1:30 p.m., Reach Out and Read, Flowers Pediatric Clinic. Lincoln has been a champion of the Reach Out and Read (ROR) program, which is a national nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud in pediatric exam rooms across the nation. Arkansas is home to 19 ROR sites. Flowers Pediatric Clinic, 316 W. 5th Avenue, Pine Bluff.
Saturday, August 15—Rogers
4:40 p.m., Featured Speaker, Benton County Democratic Committee Political Rally. 1211 Samaritan House, W. Hudson Road, Rogers.
Ask her why she wants to represent CEO’s and the insurance industry and not American families in the fight for quality health care.
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