June 26th, 2009
02:52 PM ET
10 years ago

MoveOn ad campaign targets Hagan over 'public option'

A new MoveOn.org ad campaign is targeting North Carolina Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan.


(CNN) - North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan told reporters Friday a public health insurance option remains "on the table," as MoveOn.org announced an ad campaign targeting her over her reported lack of support for a public plan.

"Given recent comments showing that Senator Hagan is not supporting the public health insurance option, MoveOn.org will be making clear that our 115,000 members in North Carolina - many of whom volunteered for or donated to her campaign last year - believe the public option is the heart of true health care reform," the group said in a statement. "We'll run ads in North Carolina and D.C. asking that she advocate for the public option and support the President in truly solving the nation's health care crisis."

Earlier this week, Hagan told the Greensboro News & Record that a government plan could pose a major threat to private insurance companies.

The Democratic senator, who serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, has said she supports a "backstop option" for uninsured Americans that did not necessarily involve a government-run program - and her lack of support could prove a major obstacle for proponents of the idea, as Congress continues to weigh a plan to overhaul the nation's health care system.

On Friday, as MoveOn was announcing its campaign, Hagan told North Carolina reporters to "stay tuned" to the health care debate.

"We haven't taken a 'public option' off the table," she said, according to the Raleigh News & Observer - and those unhappy with her position "need to stay tuned."

"People are so centered on the word 'public,'" she said, according to the paper. "And it really depends on what's (involved) in that."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is also facing a targeted ad campaign from MoveOn over remarks that President Obama's health care agenda might not have enough congressional support to pass this year, and her skepticism over enacting a public option.

Filed under: Kay Hagan • MoveOn
soundoff (92 Responses)
  1. Rob in Detroit Mi.

    I hope hagen and the rest of the dems get the message if you dont vote for the public option then you will be voted out of office.

  2. annie against biased news

    What a democrat that is not brainwashed? What an amazing creature! I think she should be considered an endangered species!
    Especially when pewlosi, redd and obama get hold of her.

    June 26, 2009 06:23 pm at 6:23 pm |
  3. Lori, Houston Texas

    When Kay Hagen is willing to give up her taxpayer funded health insurance to find and buy her own, I'll consider her side of this argument.

    In the meantime, I'd like her to explain why it's OK for a insurance company cubicle dweller to come between me and my doctor, but not a "government bureaucrat". I mean, what's the effin' difference? Refusal to cover doctor prescribed care is already a huge part of the problem with the Profits Before People thugs we're dealing with now.

    Health care should NOT be a profitable business like retail sales.

  4. Fair is Fair

    Wil in Chicago asked "72% of the American Public Support a Public Option…what are the 28% of you scared of?"

    Well, speaking for one of the people in the 28%, the thing that worries me the most is that there have been NO details whatsoever of what this "public option" looks like. Well, that, and the fact that 72% of the population "wants" it, but has no idea what "it" is.

    If ANYONE thinks it's going to look remotely like what congress gets, you're sadly mistaken and terribly misled.

  5. AndrewCPA

    @Denna – Congress and rest of the Feds (Civs) do not have government health care. They have regular insurance that most others have... blue cross blue shield etc...

    The only thing is they pay 1/3 of the cost and what they have covered is by far better then what the rest of us have.

    I do not think we should be adding to our debt. As the CBO has pointed out no one is reporting on it is that if Congress does not address spending, the debt will grow to 600% of GDP by 2050.

    Since our President has promised change, he should work to force a balanced budget like most states have and cut all the "pork" and pay that debt down.

    We need to hold the 535 memebers of Congress accountable for this and the Pres.

    Now post this CNN since you never post any of my comments.

    Have a great weekend all.

    June 26, 2009 06:35 pm at 6:35 pm |
  6. Moe NY

    Moveon.org is right on this one! Health care for ALL AMERICANS...it is the right thing to do!

  7. Tate

    Why dont all you losers move to canada and get free health care. We want have to support you and I cant short menthals on the market.

  8. Jane

    Be careful the "machine" is taking over. If you don't support the "machine" you will pay the wrath. Now I know how the Soviets feel when big brother is watching and controlling all. It's a scary feeling to know that alot of people are being brainwashed by a cult leadership taking over America. Just wait till you get the tax bills for all of this and are keeping about 40% of every dollar you make after all the taxes. Then you will wonder what mack truck hit you.

    June 26, 2009 06:49 pm at 6:49 pm |
  9. Clark

    1. the public option will offer everybody some healthcare .... just not enough and certainly not in an efficient and timely manner .... and only the healthcare that the civil servant employee in the new federal beaurocracy decides the patient can have ... and not what the patient's physician or the patient feel is best.

    2. the public option will incrementally undermine all other insurance companies until it is the only option left ... which means eventually it won't be an option .... it will be the only source of healthcare you and I can get.

    3. even Europe is moving away from the far left socialist policies ... and is wondering why the U.S. is so blind .....

    June 26, 2009 07:01 pm at 7:01 pm |
  10. North Carolinian

    I am sorry i really dont give a fig on what this woman says. I am from north carolina and I heard her speak multiple times. She is ridiculous and shes the 1 person i didnt want for my senator. I am a democrat and coundnt even vote for her becuase she is just horrible.

    June 26, 2009 07:04 pm at 7:04 pm |
  11. No Obama = No Hillary

    Senators are our betters. They deserve nothing but the best. Us people, we don't need health insurance. We're just props for them. Understand. Public healthcare shouldn't be an option 'cos where will they get their campaign contributions. Things are just great as it is. Let's not change anything.

  12. No Obama = No Hillary

    All those 72% of Americans who favour a public option healthcare are communists and should be deported to either Russia or Cuba.

    June 26, 2009 07:07 pm at 7:07 pm |
  13. annie s

    We MUST have a public option in order for there to be any real reform. I have already let my elected officials know that if they do not vote for one, they will never have my vote again. And I will work to help replace those legislators that vote against a public health option,. I don't want anyone representing me who would rather give in to the insurance lobbyists than to do what is right for the American people.

    June 26, 2009 07:28 pm at 7:28 pm |
  14. candideinnc

    Hagan owes it to her constituents to support a reform plan that will fix the execrable insurance industry in this country. I live in North Carolina, and because I have a pre-existing condition, I am a captive to Blue Cross, which has a monopoly on health insurance here. All of you that whine and cry about socialism have never been the victim of Robber Baron monopolies in the health care industry. You had better pray you never get sick and have to deal with their unfettered ability to raise your premiums and decrease your benefits year after year! We MUST have a viable public option now.

    June 26, 2009 07:38 pm at 7:38 pm |
  15. roscoe

    Sherrol in Canada

    You don't have a clue. I am from Canada and am now an American citizen. I left Canada twenty years ago. A disaster in the making. Do you realize that there are more people living in California than live in all of Canada.

  16. a health economist

    @ J.P. who said "The government has done such a good job with Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Amtrak, the postal system, Hurricane Katrina response, and the local DMV… gee, I just can't fathom why ANYONE wouldn't want to hand over their healthcare to the government."

    The fact that medicare and medicaid are going bankrupt has more to do with the fact that the ratio of people paying into it versus those receiving money has been steadily decreasing for years than it has to do with the government managing it. It would be more appropriate to blame the Baby Boomers on that.

  17. Hugo

    Democrat no mas, you hit it on the head! Just what Americans need to do work harder and make less to pay for the people that do not. Does any American citizen want to have their tax dollars spent on providing a new program for 8,000,000 illegal immigrants and their families? I keep wondering why Obama will not bring in tort law reform as part of the Bill? Just think, who are the trial lawyers going to litigate against if it is all provided for by the government?

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