Nebraska And Huckabee Respond To Ben “Benedict” Nelson’s Christmas Senate Sellout

Monday, December 21, 2009, 4:40
National, TEApublican, Top Story
1,282 views
21 comments

America Lost Midnight manipulations, closed door deals, criminal-like compromise and senate sellouts… Is this the type of Christmas tradition Obama is preparing for America on his first ever Christmas eve in the White House?

If Obama is the Scrooge then the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas” in a story too scary for kids is Iowa’s own Nebraska neighbor and Branstad buddy, Ben “Benedict” Nelson, who according to Mike Huckabee gave Nebraskans a lump of coal for Christmas.

Over 1800 disgruntled Nebraskans filled the Omaha Civic Center Sunday afternoon dropping family festivities with a half day notice in response to a sellout move by their character swerving senator Ben Nelson. His “unprecedented and historic” decisive cloture vote for President Obama’s health care plan could end up being political suicide according to a Tarrance poll released Sunday. The poll indicated 17% of Nebraskans would be somewhat less likely to reelect Nelson while 44% would strongly be less likely to vote again for Ben.

The same poll results released by American Future Fund (AFF) showed health care reform is the #1 issue among Nebraska voters. The poll, taken over the past two days while the Senate debated health care reform legislation comes as a huge blow to proponents of President Obama’s plan.

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt

67% of Nebraska voters oppose health care plan. Regardless of this data it was no problem for Obama’s midnight massacre administration to wave a taxpayer weary wand to pull off the magic of convincing Ben “Benedict” Nelson to side with the minority 33% of Nelson’s constituency. AFF spokesman Nick Ryan said, “The people of Nebraska are clear in their disdain for this bill. Senator Nelson needs to listen to his constituents and vote against this detrimental bill.”

Ryan continued, “The polling also indicates that the people of Nebraska won’t let Sen. Nelson have it both ways by voting for cloture and against the bill overall. They clearly want Sen. Nelson to do what’s right – vote no on cloture – and vote no on any bill.” Unfortunately the Grinch did strike late last night as the Senate indeed made the 60-40 hari kari health bill start its internal bleeding.

I suppose Nelson’s new job could be some kind of Czar for Obama when his Senate seat is rocket propelled ejected out from underneath from him in mayday fashion next election judgment day. Hey, Obama got Hillary to shush it to a degree with a power position trade. Perhaps Nelson will be “Czar of Compromise” with his now famous resume of broken promises in what will no doubt be celebrity villain recognition.

What I do know firsthand is that it was probably good for his personal bill of health that Nelson was not in attendance at the Omaha Civic center Sunday. A good old fashioned tar and feathering would have been a gesture of merciful hospitality for a crowd of betrayed, bewildered and broken hearted Nebraskans. I’ve been to tea party type events all year and yet this was different in the one specific aspect. Everyone there was emotionally fired up about Ben Nelson.

Several statements were read firsthand from Republicans and Democrats alike well entrenched in Nebraskan politics that denounced Benedict Nelson’s switcheroo. Then Mike Huckabee took the stage and eloquently acknowledged the deceitful duplicity of Ben Nelson and the impact it will have on our beloved country.

With 300 million dollars in kickbacks for Nebraska I wonder what residual payback may trickle back personally to such a man. When Huckabee spoke of the $300 deal he joked that Arkansas got nothing, then he referenced another famous betrayal that did not work out so well that went down for a mere 30 pieces of silver in history past. Then Jenny Beth Martin of TeaPartyPatriots.org ended the speaker line up with a “never give up” mantra speech.

After the event I spoke with Perre Neilan, the executive director of Nebraska’s Republican Party, who was holding a brand new GiveBenTheBoot.com sign. The state GOP launched a new Web site to collect funds to oust the Democrat in the 2012 election. He said the slogan was conceived of the night before and the printer made the signs Sunday morning in hopes to coral the angst to the end Ben’s political career in Nebraska.

So now here is my blog-esque-Doogie-Howser-what-I-personally-learned-today-summary… No longer will I give Obama liberals and their supporters the benefit of the doubt. Nebraska voters have made this TEApublican wiser. I believe Iowa elections are super duper important for Iowa as well as America. Look north to Minnesota and think about how close the whole Al Franken senate scenario was. Let’s wake up Iowa. Our neighbors have taught us a valuable lesson.

In short, in my opinion Mike Huckabee was right about everything he said Sunday. He was in the zone, but for content sake I wish he wasn’t because he spoke of a painful truth about America. After covering over 20 campaign and related events, this was by far the best speech I ever heard him give live in person.

Bob Vander Plaats was right too. Vander Plaats, an Iowa gubernatorial candidate called out fellow candidate Terry Branstad in an TIR article last week due to Branstad’s support of getting Ben Nelson elected to the senate in the first place.

Like, loathe or love it, Huckabee and Vander Plaats were right this week, but being right this week has no glory, no gloating or no gratitude because this week is Christmas and the Nelson Grinch stole Christmas. And I haven’t even addressed the abortion aspect and the liberty restraining repercussions of Ben Nelson and his liberal friends. We are now inheriting detrimental debt of serious consequence to our children that will make taxpayers sicker than ever in all of history.

Now a miracle is needed to change that liberal Grinch heart from ruining our country, lessening our liberty and shaking up our constitution like a snow globe.

Tags: Barack Obama, Ben Nelson, Democratic, Health Care, Mike Huckabee, Nebraska, Republican, Senate, United States

About the Author

TEApublican has written 66 stories on this site.

An artjournalism storyteller with 1/3 smart alec tea party angst, 2/3's creative artist republican, Dave Davidson is a TIR photographer and author of 2 dozen books including "Huckisms". His latest book, "You May Be A TEApublican" is available at TEApublican.com as a free ebook. In full disclosure: Dave is a Huckabee fan, Vander Plaats supporter, social media expert and a die hard Cub fan.

21 Comments on “Nebraska And Huckabee Respond To Ben “Benedict” Nelson’s Christmas Senate Sellout”

Deace voted for Obama wrote on 21 December, 2009, 7:22
The focus of our ire and disdain should be on the bribery and acceptance of the bribe by Democrats. Important legislation in our country is for sale. Nelson is a Benedict Arnold and the modern-day Democrat party is the party of corruption. They no longer even try to hide it.

Now, because of Harkin, and the other Democrats in the Senate, all the other states get to pay for the increased Medicaid of Nebraskans.

To make matters worse, Harkin took to the floor of the Senate and scolded Republicans that they tried to stop Social Security and Medicare and now they’re trying to deny people free health care.

Social Security and Medicare are going bankrupt and now the Democrats (who believe in Santa Claus) are going to put people’s health care on the same sinking ship.

TEApublican goes on to say: “Bob Vander Plaats was right too. Vander Plaats, an Iowa gubernatorial candidate called out fellow candidate Terry Branstad in an TIR article last week due to Branstad’s support of getting Ben Nelson elected to the senate in the first place.”

TEApublican is correct about this but at the same time, conveniently overlooks Bob Benedict Arnold Vander Plaats’ same traitorous behavior in publicly endorsing a third party candidate in a House race so important it can change the balance of power in Iowa.

Then TEApublican says that Iowans should… “Look north to Minnesota and think about how close the whole Al Franken senate scenario was. Let’s wake up Iowa. Our neighbors have taught us a valuable lesson.”

Yea, TEApublican the lesson learned from Minnesota is that 3000 stupid “third party” voters and the fraudulent votes by Democrats are the ones who are responsible for this nightmare we are going through right now.

You need to make up your mind, are you for third party candidates, or aren’t you. You are confused.

This is the pot calling the kettle black and especially
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 21 December, 2009, 7:24
Oops, sorry for the incomplete sentence at the end.
Mr. Quagmire wrote on 21 December, 2009, 7:53
Remember when Huckabee used to be taken seriously? Wait a minute, There’s a felon at my door with a gun. Be right back.
red247 wrote on 21 December, 2009, 10:14
Blaming the Nelson vote on Branstad is the equivalent of blaming the deaths of 4 Washington cops & at least one Missouri woman on Vander Plaats.

Does he really want to play the guilt by association game? Does he want the families of dead cops campaigning against him?
HawkCR1 wrote on 21 December, 2009, 10:40
Nelson has been ranked MORE conservative than even some Republicans. National Journal ranked him as more conservative than Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, Lincoln Chafee, Arlen Specter and Susan Collins in 2006. In 2007, he was ranked as to the right of the five plus Mike DeWIne, Norm Coleman, and Dick Lugar.

In the past Nelson has gotten the endorsement of the NRA, Nebraska Right to Life, US Chamber of Commerce, NFIB, the VFW, and the Omaha Police Union–not exactly liberal organizations.

If BVP wants to criticize Branstad for supporting someone like Nelson in the past…he might want to think that strategy over again..considering Nelson SUPPORTED the Federal Marriage Amendment and voted FOR cloture on it in 2006 to bring it to a vote. BVP should be happy that Branstad publicly was supporting someone that’s on the same side of the issue that he is “centering his entire campaign around”.

Now that being said…Nelson’s actions this weekend quite frankly..have cooked his Christmas goose in Nebraska. People there are mad as hell over selling out the way he did…its up to the Nebraska GOP to recruit a candidate who’s able to win. Their candidate in 2006 was a Chuck Hagel disciple..and people thus found Nelson to be more conservative than the GOP candidate was. That’s why 43% of Republicans actually voted FOR Nelson in Nebraska in 2006.
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 21 December, 2009, 12:07
The moral of this story is to NEVER trust a Democrat–even those who claim to be “conservative”. There is no such thing. You can NEVER trust them and Nelson’s actions are not surprising.

Nelson even caved on his so-called “pro-life” positions.

That lying, stinking, whore Nelson also just sold out the unborn. If this monstrosity of a bill becomes law, the unborn will be in even greater peril than they are now and those of us with a conscience will be forced to pay for this killing.

This must not stand. It is bad enough that abortion is legal in this country but now to force those who are opposed to this slaughter, to pay for it is an abomination.

In this disastrous bill, there is a provision for states to opt out of paying for abortions in our own state but we will still be forced to pay for abortions in those states that want their plans to pay for abortions.

This bill is a disaster.
Timmy wrote on 21 December, 2009, 13:48
Click your heels 3 times and keep repeating: There’s no place quite like Nebraska, there’s no place quite like Nebraska, there’s no place quite like Nebraska…..
Michael Ryan wrote on 21 December, 2009, 20:38
DVFO,
Just a correction, the candidate that BVP endorsed (Tom Shaw) is not a third party candidate he has no party affiliation.
But that being said anytime a liberals and conservative hate a bill that warrants a look to see how bad it may be. Even more to add to your argument about the states being able to opt out, all it would take is some federal branch or Judicial branch to force them to accept it wether or not they like it because someone might sue who wants the power to murder their unborn baby, or some group will want to reap financially by advising distraught woman to have something done they will probably regret their whole life. Sad part today is that most laws that change a society morals are decided by unelected judges who rule by a court order, instead of the change being brought through the proper means to make law, the legislature.
red247 wrote on 21 December, 2009, 20:55
I thought the Tea Party movement was all about smaller government and low taxes. Why would a tea partier support the Huckster, the biggest nanny-state, tax raising Republican of them all?
There’s a good reason why the Cato Institute graded Huckabee with a D while was governor.

The Huckster & the Tea Party do not mix.
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 22 December, 2009, 7:40
Ryan: There is absolutely no difference in the potential outcome if Shaw is running as a “third party” or “no party”.

As a matter of fact, it may almost be worse that Shaw has chosen to run as a “no party”. After all the caterwauling about not remaining true to the platform, a “no party” has no platform.

Shaw’s actions, along with the endorsements by you and Vander Plaats is an insult to all Republicans who are working very hard to achieve the very results you claim you want.

Shaw is saying he is too good to run as a Republican so he will run as a “no party”.

It’s also saying that none of you really care about the outcome. You do not care if a liberal Democrat attains that very important seat.

It is not a foregone conclusion that Mertz will run again. At least she voted with Republicans to stop the Democrats from turning over control of the state to the labor unions. That vote is ultra important. This is the way you use to throw your little hissy fits. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time but you did not stop to think of long term ramifications, or if you did think about it, you don’t care.
DrPhillips wrote on 22 December, 2009, 9:51
MOTHER TERESA, HARRY REID AND ROD BLAGOJEVICH, NY Times
This is a most unlikely trio, a bit of hyperbole, but definitely germane to this pathetic moment in American history.
Mother Teresa was a giver, to the less fortunate, the unrepresented among the world’s poorest people. She gave without expecting anything in return. Unselfish to the point of not residing in the finest hotels or buildings while doing her noble work. She was a doulos, in the Greek language that means servant. she was not a deal maker, only an advocate who gave her life in service for the poorest among us, she will forever be fondly remembered. Rod Blagojevich, an Illinois Governor, discredited for making deals to supposedly help his family and friends. In fact he is charged that he used his chance to fill the seat vacated by Barack Obama as one more money making plan–NY Times April 2, 2009. It seems his primary purpose was to execute and preserve power…for the financial and political benefit of his close friends. Definitely a deal maker often seeking to exchange his assets for others resources. Yet, in comparison to Harry Reid’s exchanges and deals, a small player. Probably pending legal matters against him should be dismissed, unless charges are forthcoming against Mr. Reid and the administration for corrupt deal making.
Harry Reid, the Senate Democratic leader, supposedly a religious man, was shown in this Senate healthcare matter–to be only a deal maker. For example in the article by David Espo, AP Senate correspondent appearing in Breitbart December 21st entitled, Health care Clears Senate Test, one has only to read the quote on Senator Ben Nelson, “Senator Ben Nelson’s announcement Saturday that he had decided to support the bill-in exchange for a variety of concessions”. Whether Louisiana’s receipt in the bill of a coming 300,000,000 concession or other Democratic perks and exchanges, Harry Reid is one of the greatest secretive dealmakers of all time. He has betrayed the trust of his nation, and the expressed disapproval of this bill by a majority of Americans, He made a simple decision for his self interest, to do the administration’s bidding. He and his colleagues have failed the nation by not representing the people. We must look, in future elections, to new candidates who are committed to being servants of the people, rather than corrupt deal makers. Those, like Reid who can’t distinguish between genuine compromise desired by the people and back room deal making, should not be re elected.
John Kennedy, in writing Profiles in Courage, highlighted those Senators and historical figures who had made a difference, by representing Americans first and themselves last. Mother Teresa will be remembered fondly by the world’s citizens, even Rod Blagojevich might be forgiven and granted some slack, but Harry Reid, will be remembered in American history as a corrupt deal maker who failed to represent a majority of the American People. He is a failure in principle, ethics, integrity and the basic principle of right and wrong.

Dr. Phillips,
Bloomington, IL
Michael Ryan wrote on 22 December, 2009, 18:19
Vanita (DVFO),
I personally as a person support Tom Shaw, but if you have read carefully the committee thanked him for his service as a worker. But the committee has not officially endorsed Tom Shaw. And Tom has requested we don’t due to the drama it might cause with RPI even though our County Constitution allows it (yes it is in line with RNC Rules and the RPI constitution. If you think this is a hissy fit because personally I support Tom then I might suggest you are mistaken.
As for BVP endorsing Tom, I found out after the fact. It was done at a Huck Pack party for BVP. He told Tom that he regretted not endorsing him when BVP made a surprise appearance at our county meeting when Chairman Strawn was a guest. Sounds like issues you have with BVP you should personally deal with him, but blogging is so much easier to do at times,right.
You keep bringing this up, wouldn’t the proper channels be to actually email Tom your concerns. It is nice to be able to blog our concerns, but I believe it takes real character to personally talk to someone with whom you have issues. I don’t know may be I am unique in that way.
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 22 December, 2009, 18:50
Frankly, I don’t care what Shaw thinks. I think he is wrong. I think you are wrong and I think VP is wrong. I stand by what I say that all of you are playing with fire and you don’t care about the outcome.

I wouldn’t be bragging about a Huck PAC party as being good publicity for VP or Shaw. They would be wise to distance themselves from Huck, too.

What are you going to do if a real Republican decides to run in that district?
Michael Ryan wrote on 22 December, 2009, 19:03
There is a Republican running now, since I personally support Tom, I made the promise to my 4th district SCC reps that I would remain nuetral, which means I will not give money to either candidate or door knock for either personally. The committee will decided who they want to support in this case as is what the county constitution call for.
We have Dr. Richards (the announced candidate) coming in February and I am having a SCC moderate that portion of the meeting out of fairness to him. And then the committee will decide what they do after the primary.
For the record, Tom just laughs at your posts, and encourages me to leave people alone who seem to like posting under monikers.
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 22 December, 2009, 19:10
A Dr. Richards is the announced candidate for the House district seat? I do agree with your handling of that part BUT do you realize the problem that has been created?

This can be a disaster. Shaw should run as a Republican so that there will be a primary and only one conservative will be on the ballot in Nov.

Do you care what happens to that seat? This is a potential disaster in the making.

As far as monikers are concerned, how do I know your name is really Mike Ryan? Anyone can make up any name they want.

Please rethink this strategy. If this stands, the Democrat is going to be elected. Shame on you.
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 22 December, 2009, 19:11
I can’t believe that anyone who wants to be the REPUBLICAN
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 22 December, 2009, 19:14
So sorry that went. I don’t know what happend but this is a potential disaster and BVP has put his stamp of approval on this strategy.

I would advise anyone who was considering a vote for BVP for governor to look at what he has helped to create in this very important House district seat.

Because of the actions of BVP, Shaw and Ryan, this seat will be held by the Democrats. Let’s at least hope that Mertz runs for reelection. That is not ideal but it is better than having someone worse than Mertz win this seat.
Michael Ryan wrote on 22 December, 2009, 19:26
If you want to check on my name, just go to the RPI website and click on the contact us and click on Pocahontas County and you will find my name if you choose to verify it.

I have tried to see if Tom would run as a Republican in the race, but he politely said no. As for conservative Tom is the only conservative running. When the announced guy ran in 2008, he got an F from the NRA, refused to answer clearly his views on the second amendment and abortion. I hardly call that conservative. But the county committee will get to vet him with a SCC member present in case they feel he is being hit with unfair questions.
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 22 December, 2009, 19:57
It would be to Shaw’s advantage to run as a Republican. If Richards is as you say, Shaw will win the primary and be the only conservative on the ballot in Nov.

This way, there will be a three way election and the Democrat will be elected. This is the worst case scenario.
Deace voted for Obama wrote on 22 December, 2009, 20:00
If Shaw would run as a Republican, everyone would be off the hook and Shaw would have a decent chance of being elected. If he insists to run as a no party, the Democrat will be elected. Shaw will be the last place vote getter, and rightfully so.
robpo wrote on 23 December, 2009, 9:37
Wow, who knew Nebraskans were such morons? I mean, I expect such stupidity from Missouri…

Republicans did the same crap for the last 8 years during Bush’s reign, I don’t see how or why any of us can bitch about Democrats buying votes in their caucus and pulling every dirty trick they can to pass a bill, when we did the exact same thing not that long ago. How many times did Cheney invade the floor of Congress to twist arms and kick arse while a vote was held open to change the outcome?

The public option is gone, why are we being such crybabies STILL about HCR? Just last night I watched Hannity’s guest host, Dana Perino and another English douchebag scream and whine about how government health care will destroy the universe – its not even in the bill anymore! Its one thing to be an opposition party and slow the other side and get our candy when we can, but I don’t know what the hell the Republican party has become these days. Its so disappointing. Is this what happens when dirty stinking conservatives get influence? Really, we are nothing more than apes when we stop using our head and just roll with emotion on our sleeves. Its disgusting.