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The Ben Nelson Test

By W. James Antle, III on 12.8.09 @ 3:06PM

In a recent column, I wrote: "A key procedural vote is coming -- as early as Saturday -- that will nevertheless be a moment of truth for pro-life Democrats like Ben Nelson. Do they stand with Harry Reid or Bart Stupak?" Nelson and the other pro-life Democrats failed that initial test, voting with Harry Reid to begin debate on health care legislation with substantially more liberal abortion language than found in the House bill. But Nelson has since taken the lead in trying to get Stupak-Pitts language inserted in that bill, even though there is no chance it will get the 60 votes needed for a pro-life amendment to the bill. (There are only four pro-life Democrats in the Senate and two of them -- Reid and Arkansas' Mark Pryor -- are only nominally so.)

Here's the next test: Does Nelson follow through wit his pledge to filibuster the Senate health care bill after his amendment is defeated? Or does he use the amendments he supported as cover to vote for the final bill? Nebraskans should pay close attention to their senior senator, and so should conservatives nationwide.

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…Turn tweets into comments for your WordPress blog. Topsy Plugin – WordPress 1 Shortened Links Linking to the spectator.org page http://bit.ly/7Fgzbi info 2 tweet retweet The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : The Ben Nelson Test spectator.org/blog/2009/12/08/the-ben-nelson-test – view page – cached In a recent column, I wrote: "A key procedural vote is coming -- as early as Saturday -- that will…

betty ratliff| 12.8.09 @ 4:14PM

Keep the government out of our health care, we are satisfied with it and we dont want Obama taking advantage of you and giving you extra incentives to vote for this bill. That is so corrupt and crooked, if you vote for this bill me and a whole lot of Nebraskas will make sure you arnt senator any longer, you have out done your usefulness for the Nebr. people, leave us alone and let that corrupt left wing Obama not get his way. Doubt very much if you even read this but had to say my piece anyway. You arnt for the seniors in our Nebr.