Liberal Groups Take Shots At Democrat In Health-Care TV Spot

Apparently, certain liberal groups have taken aim at Senator Max Baucus through some targeted health-care ads, which have appeared on television. The focus of progressives is to get a more liberal health care bill the attention they feel it deserves.

Two groups, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) and Democracy for America (DFA), launched the ad initially in Montana, Baucus’ home state as well as Washington D.C.

Baucus is questioned in the ad about “whose side he is on.”

The television spot was created to promote the public option, the government-sponsored health insurance plan that has received such broad support from progressive elements. The intention was to rally support during the time that the Senate Finance Committee was considered an amendment to Baucus’ health care bill to incorporate a public option.

Based on recent estimates, the Montana Senator has obtained more than $1.7 million in political contributions from the health sector for the 2010 election cycle. Add to this the fact that his plan currently has no public option. Despite these two facts, Baucus has been quoted as saying that he personally supports a public option.

The PCCC and DFA have begun targeting other moderates in the Democratic Party, including Ben Nelson. Still other groups aim at moderate Democrats.

Such instances serve to highlight some of the factions that are causing breaks in the Democratic Party over the issue of health care reform. There are still many questions and issues that have not been addressed to the satisfaction of progressives or moderates. As it stands, coming to a compromise will continue to be a challenge when it comes to the public option.

The public option has become one of the serious “hot-button” issues surrounding health care reform legislation. By using television spots and other advertisements, progressives are signally to the moderate Democratic base that they will not be silenced.