N. Dakota Blue Cross Blue Shield: "No member elected to have abortion riders"

By GottaLaff

Boyoboy, if we're not careful, and health care reform passes, there will be a mad rush-- no, a stampede-- to abortion providers. EVERYone will get one. You will, I will, men will, cats will, because we can.

Here, look, this exactly what I mean:

In North Dakota, where insurers can cover abortions if customers pay a separate premium, the state's largest provider says it sells no abortion policies because no one has asked to buy one.

Oh.

Kidding.

Amid a high-stakes debate over abortion that could determine the fate of President Obama's health-care initiative, North Dakota's law offers a test because it is much like the language favored by antiabortion lawmakers on Capitol Hill, notably Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.).

"There's not a lot to tell. We have no member who elected to have abortion riders," said Denise Kolpack, vice president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, which covers about 80 percent of the North Dakota market. "We would be legally bound to provide an offering, but we have no groups that have requested it."

So much for all those abortion parties I had planned. Guess it's time to return the streamers.

Dear Sen. Conrad: We Back a Public Health Plan. Love, N. Dakota Dems

By GottaLaff

(click on image to enlarge)

Dear stubborn Congresspeople who don't have America's best interest at heart and who are owned by Big Insurance/Pharma:

In a move that seems designed to push Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) on health care reform, the North Dakota Democratic Party voted two weeks ago to make the public option for insurance coverage a stated objective of its platform.

At a little-noticed policy committee meeting on September 19, state Democratic officials passed a resolution affirming their commitment to "universal single payer health care legislation."

You know why it was a little-noticed policy meeting? Because the corporate media didn't report on it. That's how important things like this stay little and unnoticed.

As a fallback option, the resolution read, the officials supported the creation of a government-run plan for insurance.

And that's how President Obama should have presented his health care reform push. Start with single payer and fall back on the public option.

Oh well. Too late now.

In an effort to apply the pressure to their representatives in Congress, the party also sent letters to the offices of Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, as well as Rep. Earl Porneroy, alerting them to the passed resolution. [...]

"I don't understand the votes that have gone on," said [Chad Nodland, who sits on the executive committee for the state party], in reference to the debate in the Senate Finance Committee. "What I'm saying is, I can't put together what I've watched with what has been explained to me. I'm frustrated. I wish that what we were seeing were different [from Conrad] than what we've been seeing."

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/06/north-dakota-dems-pass-re_n_311584.html

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/06/north-dakota-dems-pass-re_n_311584.html

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/06/north-dakota-dems-pass-re_n_311584.html

We all do. But thanks for trying to make a difference.

Love,

Most of America

The letter is above.

Obama Expands Ad Buy to New States

Let 'em whine, Barack has this covered. BFCE!!! Via Taegan.

Two interesting items from a conference call with Obama campaign manager David Plouffe:

1. The Obama campaign will add Georgia, North Dakota and Arizona to it's final ad buy of the election, suggesting those traditionally Republican states are now competitive.

2. The races in Florida, North Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, and New Mexico are already nearly half over since so many people have voted early.

Forum Poll: Obama Leads in North Dakota

North Dakota? Am I still sleeping? Wow.

Sen. Barack Obama has taken the lead over Sen. John McCain in North Dakota, 45% to 43%, according to a new Forum poll.

"The poll indicates McCain's once-comfortable lead in North Dakota has melted away as Obama is the widely favored choice among voters who consider the economy the most pressing issue."

Obama staff leaves North Dakota

Sucks since they just opened more offices there, but I guess you have to be realistic. The BFCE is still working the state harder than the McCain campaign! Hopefully they'll have enough volunteer staff to still make a difference.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Barack Obama, who has deployed more than 50 staffers in North Dakota in an attempt to become the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1964, is pulling out.

An Obama spokeswoman, Amy Brundage, confirmed Sunday that the campaign's North Dakota staffers were being sent to Minnesota and Wisconsin, where recent polls have shown a tight race between Obama and Republican John McCain.

She declined to say how many campaign workers were being shifted, but other Democratic activists put the number at more than 50. Obama has opened 11 North Dakota campaign offices and run television advertising in the state, which is unusual for a Democratic presidential candidate.

McCain's campaign has no paid staff or offices in North Dakota.

Obama opens more North Dakota offices

BFCE. It's all about the ground game baby.

The campaign for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama announced Friday it is opening two more North Dakota offices, located in Rugbyand Valley City.

That brings the grand total for Obama campaign offices in North Dakota to 11.

GOP candidate John McCain has not opened a campaign office in North Dakota, a state President Bush easily took in 2004.

Poll-itics: Mississippi and North Dakota both competitive

By GottaLaff

First North Dakota, a battleground state:

A new Research 2000 poll in North Dakota shows that Sen. John McCain barely edges Sen. Barack Obama, 45% to 42%.

With a four point margin of error, the race is a statistical dead heat.

A Rasmussen survey two weeks ago also had the race tied at 43%.

Next, Mississippi, where J Sid leads by just 9 points:

A new Research 2000 poll in Mississippi shows Sen. John McCain's lead over Sen. Barack Obama is in single digits, 51% to 42%.

Key finding: Obama receives 19% of the white vote. In theory, a large turnout of African American voters could help make this state competitive.