Senate aide: Military base in Nebraska threatened in WH healthcare fight w/ Nelson

Michael Goldfarb reports on a disturbing threat a Senate aide alleges has been made towards Democrat Senator Ben Nelson by the WH (via Ed Morrissey):

While the Democrats appease Senator Lieberman, they still have to worry about other recalcitrant Democrats including Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Though Lieberman has been out front in the fight against the public option and the Medicare buy-in, Nelson was critical of both. Now that those provisions appear to have been stripped from the bill, Lieberman may get on board, but Nelson’s demand that taxpayer money not be used to fund abortion has still not been met. According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesn’t fall into line.

[…] As our source put it, this is a “naked effort by Rahm Emanuel and the White House to extort Nelson’s vote.” They are “threatening to close a base vital to national security for what?” asked the Senate staffer.

Indeed, Offutt is the headquarters for US Strategic Command, the successor to Strategic Air Command, and not by accident. STRATCOM was located in the middle of the country for strategic reasons. Its closure would be a massive blow to the economy of the state of Nebraska, but it would also be another example of this administration playing politics with our national security

Yes, all so President Obama’s presidency won’t be “destroyed.” And so he can give himself an “A minus” for his first year in office.

Just how much lower they go?

7 Responses to "Senate aide: Military base in Nebraska threatened in WH healthcare fight w/ Nelson"

Great White Rat says:

December 15, 2009 at 9:22 pm

Just how much lower they go?

You need to ask??

Seriously, what do you think matters more to this administration – national security or personal power and prestige? Nothing is more important to the narcissist-in-chief than having his ego stroked. And if it means America is left vulnerable to attacks, well, you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs. Besides, if anything happened, he’d blame it on Bush.

Another thought – how does deliberately weakening national security fit with those pretty words in the Nobel prize speech about defeating evil? Or were those “just words?”

Here’s what should happen: Ben Nelson should immediately declare himself an Independent and announce that he will caucus with the GOP from here on. If the Chicago thugs want to play hardball, well, let’s see how they like having their filibuster-proof majority taken away a year early.
Anthony says:

December 15, 2009 at 9:38 pm

Just how much lower they go?

Do we really want the answer to that question?
Carlos says:

December 15, 2009 at 9:45 pm

Heck, ST, I’m surprised it took the Chicago Machine Thug Gang this long to start with the extortion. Except maybe it didn’t. There’ve been a couple of late flip-flops on some important votes that miraculously some jackass or other flipped at the last moment and surprised everyone. And since donks have no consciences, we all know it’s not an attack of ethics that got them going.

And GWR, it seems to me this isn’t a turnabout to Duh-1 – he’s been headed for weaker national security from the first day of his campaign. I’m really surprised we haven’t had a Chicago Machine Thug Gang version of Krystallnacht yet, especially since it’s getting about to the point where he can’t logically blame Bush under any circumstances now.
Great White Rat says:

December 15, 2009 at 10:12 pm

Carlos, logic and liberalism are not on speaking terms. Logic would caution that you don’t raise taxes during a recession. Logic would gently urge you shouldn’t put the same people who post TSA’s security rules on line in charge of everyone’s health care. Hell, logic would scream that you don’t put an inexperienced nonentity whose only obvious talent is teleprompter reading in the Oval Office.

So I’m not surprised that however illogical it is, they’ll blame Bush right up to the moment they’re dragged kicking and screaming out of the White House on January 20, 2013.
MarkJ says:

December 15, 2009 at 10:20 pm

Q: What’s the difference between the Mafia and the Democratic Party?

A: Well, they’re both organized criminal conspiracies, but when the Mafia forces you into a “protection racket,” they actually provide protection.
Lorica says:

December 16, 2009 at 10:10 am

In all actuality this threat is a non-issue. Since the dumba** 2005 BRAC isn’t complete until the end of FY 2011, it is not likely that the DOD will start another round of closures until this one is finished. By that time there should be a complete change in the make up of our government. Ohhh Lord hear our prayer!!!

Also, there is no way possible to have just one base on a BRAC as you would not get alot of support from Congress, no matter how much payola you promise. I am would be really surprised if Dems don’t start standing up against this sort of thing. It is pretty obvious that this is the “Chicago Way” of politics, and it is not a good thing for anyone. – Lorica
Carlos says:

December 16, 2009 at 2:00 pm

They won’t be dragged kicking and screaming from the WH, GWR – they’ll either start a shooting war protecting “their” turf, or they’ll take a cue from Bubba and Hillarious’ gang (but improve on it immeasurably) and take anything not nailed down or easily disassembled in 10 minutes or less.

It’s the American way, you know, and, gosh darn it, they’re ENTITLED to it.

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