| As you know, there have been many calls to action over the past two weeks directed at getting folks to call, email and sign a petition that will be delivered to Senator Landrieu with respect to the public health care option in any health care reform bill.
So it struck me as curious that Senator Landrieu's new spokesman, Aaron Saunders, would email the Bayou Buzz this statement:
In a separate statement, Saunders wrote to Bayoubuzz the following in connection with the criticisms: "In addition, since these ads were first launched, the majority of Louisianians who have called our office have encouraged Sen. Landrieu to oppose, not support, a public option."
So I called the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lake Charles and Shreveport offices today. The staffers who answered were very pleasant, and I asked them if they kept a running tally of pro and anti calls regarding various issues. They said yes, and I asked if they were tracking calls on the public option. They said yes. I then asked if they could tell me what the tallies were for their office. Here are the responses:
New Orleans: We've gotten calls for both.
Baton Rouge:Generally, they've been more pro-public option.
Lake Charles: We've gotten calls for both, but more opposed.
Shreveport:The staffer said they couldn't speak for everyone in the office, but they personally received more against a public option.
After all those calls, I emailed Mr. Saunders for comment on the tallies he spoke of to Bayou Buzz. His reply: (emphasis added)
In the last couple weeks, more than half the Louisiana callers who have contacted our office have opposed a public option.
Our office has a long-standing policy not to make call/letter tallies public. So we have no comment beyond the above statement.
Now, I can't speak for the calls into D.C., but I find it curious that there would be more calls opposing a public option when there hasn't been a coordinated effort to deluge Senator Landrieu with calls opposing a public health insurance option.
In addition, with a seemingly super majority of voters supporting a national health care plan, this tells me either:
1. Louisiana is outside of the mainstream of American political thought; OR
2. The Senator's staff is protecting the Senator.
So, which is it? Is Louisiana really that far out the mainstream of American public opinion when it comes to desiring a public health plan as part of any health care reform package? Or is the Senator's staff protecting her?
The only way we'll know for sure is for the Senator to release her tallies ... broken down daily, if possible. |
