Senator 'Cornhusker Kickback' calls Obama Contraceptive Mandate 'Boneheaded'

Well, Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) has now chimed in on the contraceptive mandate controversy and has settled on calling the Obama administration's decision 'boneheaded.' He's also not the only Democrat to come out publicly against the decision.

Via ABC News:

A handful of Senate Democrats have split with President Obama’s controversial birth-control mandate and slammed the administration’s requirement that church-affiliated employers cover contraceptives.

The five Democrats in the Senate expressing concern about some parts of the administration’s policy include, most recently, Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Bill Nelson of Florida, who have spoken publicly about their unhappiness with the mandate.

“This was a bone-headed decision by HHS,” Sen. Ben Nelson said of the new Health and Human Services mandates, according to the Nebraska Radio Network.

Nelson agreed with state Attorney General Job Bruning’s decision to file a legal challenge to the mandate.

Nelson has already announced that he will not run for reelection so these comments can't be about trying to get back voter support after the 'Cornhusker kickback.'

Like former Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Nelson was the guy in his caucus that put Obamacare over the top. Also like Stupak, he paid a price.

Calling the latest HHS rule 'boneheaded' is likely more about bitterness than anything else.

h/t Weasel Zippers

Report: Cornhusker Kickback Senator Ben Nelson to Retire

The Senate's version of Bart Stupak appears to be heading for the exit prior to the 2012 shellacking he apparently sees coming. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), the man who brought us the 'Cornhusker Kickback' which guaranteed passage of Obamacare has announced he is going to retire.

Via USA Today:

Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska has told supporters he will not seek re-election. His decision was first reported by Politico.

In his statement, Nelson said: "Simply put: It is time to move on."

Nelson, 70, was facing a tough fight for a third term. His retirement improves the GOP's chances of picking up the Nebraska Senate seat the Democrat has held since 2000, and it enhances the odds of a Republican takeover of the Senate in 2012.

Yeah, right. Nelson is probably retiring because he disgraced himself during the Obamacare fight and is radioactive.

Ditto for Bart Stupak in Michigan.

Both men went to the wall for Obama and this is where it got them.

h/t Free Republic

NEBRASKA SENATOR BECOMING A PARIAH AT HOME

Democrat Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska was the last vote needed for Obamacare to pass in the Senate before Christmas. He caved not to his constituents but to Obama and Reid (one of the reasons I reject the notion that politicians' first priority is getting elected - obviously not the case with Nelson).

POLITICO is reporting that Nelson is being heckled at home while eating in public.

Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson and his wife were leaving dinner at a new pizza joint near their home in Omaha one night last week when a patron began complaining about Nelson’s decisive vote in favor of the Senate’s health care bill.

Other customers started booing. A woman yelled, “Get him the hell out of here!” And the Nelsons and their dining companions beat a hasty retreat.

“It was definitely a scene in there,” said Tom Lewis, a 41-year-old dentist and registered Republican who witnessed the incident. A second witness confirmed the incident to POLITICO.

Sounds mean, huh? At least they didn't shove Nelson to the ground.

Nelson obviously feared Obama and Reid more than he did those constituents. Maybe he thought the deal he got for Nebraska would appease both sides. If so, he has miscalculated, apparently.

h/t to HA

STATES GO ON OFFENSE AGAINST THE FEDS

Fox News is reporting on the thirteen state Attorneys General who are threatening to file a lawsuit against Obamacare and the bribes that helped to get it passed by the Senate. Ben Nelson's deal isn't the only one but it is the most blatant example and did put this monstrosity over the top.

FOX reported: COLUMBIA, S.C.

(AP) -- Republican attorneys general in 13 states say congressional leaders must remove Nebraska's political deal from the federal health care reform bill or face legal action, according to a letter provided to The Associated Press Wednesday.

"We believe this provision is constitutionally flawed," South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster and the 12 other attorneys general wrote in the letter to be sent Wednesday night to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

And this....

The letter was signed by top prosecutors in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington state. All are Republicans, and McMaster and the attorneys general of Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania are running for governor in their respective states.

As I've written BEFORE on the Nelson deal, there are two very specific portions of the Constitution that speak to this (maybe more).

Article I, Section 9 (Limits of Congress), Part 6:
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

Article IV, Section 2:
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

This one should move to the top of the Supreme Court's Dockett.

13 state Attorneys General winning this lawsuit against Obama, Reid, and this health care monstrosity would be one heck of a smackdown.

h/t to GP

BEN NELSON DEAL ON OBAMACARE BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL

The deals granted to both Ben Nelson and Mary Landrieu smack of criminality, both in the U.S. Legal code and the Constitution. Unfortunately, running roughshod over the Constitution has become a new sport apparently. First off, the Constitution. There are two Articles that have been blatantly violated without consequence.

Article I, Section 9 (Limits of Congress), Part 6:

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

Article IV, Section 2:

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

Keep in mind that taxpayers in 49 states will be subsidizing both Louisiana and Nebraska. LINK to U.S. Constitution.

Now, onto the U.S. legal code. BIG GOVERNMENT has more on this. It is beyond debate in my view that the law has been broken. The issue now becomes who in power is going to enforce it?


Bribery of Public Officials -

VIDEO: DEM SENATOR NELSON CAVES ON OBAMACARE

Again, the notion that politicians place getting / staying elected above all else is disproven. Nelson's state has made it quite clear that voting for this monstrosity will lead to his exit. That means he's placing something else above getting elected. What on earth could that be? Chicago style politics of course.

For those who are disappointed, did you really think you could pin your hopes on a Democrat?

Please



h/t to BREITBART

RAHM EMANUEL, THE CHICAGO WAY, AND NATIONAL SECURITY

The things coming out of the Obama administration are so despicable these days, I am simply now completely unwilling to accept the over-saturation defense when it comes to why a large contingent of the American people are either in denial or apathetic. Unfortunately, this behavior from Rahm Emanuel which is obviously sanctioned by Barack Obama himself is not likely going to raise enough eyebrows. After all, if the undercover ACORN videos or Fistgate didn't do it, why would this?

According to a senate insider, Obama - through Emanuel - is threatening a senator with a military base closure in his state if that senator does not get on board with Obamacare. This is a perverse application of the Chicago Way if there ever was one and it literally prioritizes Obama's socialist agenda ahead of not only the security of the United States but security around the globe. Obama's narcissism causes him to place himself above quite a bit, doesn't it?

In light of Hillary Clinton admitting that eleven months into this administration, Ahmadinejad's plans appear to be moving full speed ahead, we now have Rahm Emanuel threatening Democrat Senator from Nebraska, Ben Nelson with the closure of a military base in his state if he does not tow the line and vote for Obamacare. From the Weekly Standard's BLOG:

According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesn’t fall into line.

Offutt Air Force Base employs some 10,000 military and federal employees in Southeastern Nebraska. As our source put it, this is a “naked effort by Rahm Emanuel and the White House to extort Nelson’s vote.” They are “threatening to close a base vital to national security for what?” asked the Senate staffer.

Indeed, Offutt is the headquarters for US Strategic Command, the successor to Strategic Air Command, and not by accident. STRATCOM was located in the middle of the country for strategic reasons. Its closure would be a massive blow to the economy of the state of Nebraska, but it would also be another example of this administration playing politics with our national security.

Extortion, Blackmail, or Terrorism? Makes no difference as all apply. We're beginning to get a much clearer picture when it comes to why senators and representatives are thumbing their noses at their constituents. They are literally afraid. Congressional and Senate Democrats are kissing the ring.

The courageous and right thing for Ben Nelson to do would be to go public with this and dig in his heels against this kind of tactic. However, he's got two strikes against him.

1.) He's a politician
2.) He's a democrat

By the way, BARC stands for Base Realignment And Closure.

Ah, Van Jones appears to be living vicariously through Rahm Emanuel.

"At a certain point, some of us need to figure out which two or three senators need to have terrible days."
- Van Jones, 2/11/09

h/t to VS