The Tolbert Report

Sen. Lincoln’s just announced that she will vote for cloture and her potential Republicans opponents were quick to react.

“The people of Arkansas now know that Blanche Lincoln is more beholden to the Washington establishment than to the people who elected her to office,” said State Sen. Gilbert Baker. “A vote for cloture is a vote for government-run health care. Lincoln is selling out to the Obama-Reid, government-run health care plan. I will never be a ‘yes’ vote for a health care plan that would hurt families, small businesses and our seniors. I do want health care reform, but this budget- busting plan is not the answer.”

“This is a disappointing moment not only for all Arkansans, but all Americans as Sen. Lincoln has chosen her career in Washington over the values of people who actually live in the state she purportedly ‘represents,’” Conrad Reynolds said in his responce. “Sen. Lincoln has declared our voice and values irrelevant to her goal of remaining in the Senate with her vote to proceed on a health care bill which threatens Arkansans with fines and jail if they choose not to purchase health insurance, makes it easier for taxpayer dollars to fund abortions and raises taxes on individuals. She has pushed the rock over the cliff which will lead to an avalanche of government intervention in our lives. Arkansans must remember this day when they go to the polls next year to select an opponent who will fight for our values and restore our voice, not just defend or recover them.”

“Today Senator Lincoln pledged to vote to cripple Arkansas’s budget and saddle taxpayers with a $2.6 trillion takeover of our health care system,” Rick Gorka, RNC Regional Press Secretary. ”This reckless power grab will raise taxes, increase premiums and put a DC bureaucrat in between Arkansans and their doctor. The Obama-Reid health care experiment will add billions in new unfunded Medicaid mandates and hurt small businesses with new, job killing payroll taxes. Lincoln is more concerned with supporting her liberal friends in Washington than protecting the long term financial stability of all Arkansans.”

UPDATE - A couple more responces to Sen. Lincoln’s vote rolled out on Monday.

“Arkansans are much more politically savvy than Sen. Lincoln seems to give them credit. They understand that her dramatic vote on Saturday evening was much more than a procedural vote. It was the vote for the federal bureaucracy’s takeover of our everyday personal and private medical decisions, an incalculable further erosion of the basic liberties and freedoms of the American people. The fact is when Sen. Lincoln voted for the motion to proceed, she created an eventual scenario where only 51 votes will be required to pass legislation for the government’s takeover of our personal healthcare decisions. When only 51 votes are needed, Sen. Lincoln can ‘safely’ vote against the bill when her vote won’t be needed to guarantee passage,” Curtis Coleman warned.

“Tragically, Sen. Lincoln’s vote was a clear and unmitigated betrayal of Arkansans – reflecting her disturbing disconnection from and her distressing disrespect for her employers. A recent poll by a reputable firm showed that almost 70% of Arkansans opposed the healthcare bill for which Sen. Lincoln voted. Reportedly, calls coming into her office late last week were 15-1 against her voting as she did,” Coleman stressed.

“Senator Lincoln had an opportunity to be a goodwill guardian for the people of our state. In siding with the national Democratic team, she failed to protect the best interests of the people who entrusted her with the office. I am deeply disappointed that, when all is said and done, Sen. Lincoln decided to vote for the Senate Democratic leadership over the interests of the hard-working people of Arkansas,” Coleman said.

“It has become once again very clear just how out of touch Sen. Lincoln is with the majority of Arkansans,” said Fred Ramey. ”As I have traveled around this state, I have found that people are not just worried, they are scared! We as a nation are headed down a very dangerous road, and Blanche Lincoln is helping to steer us there. While I agree that something needs to be done about the rising cost of health care, this plan is simply not the answer. As Sen. Lincoln stated, ‘I’ve searched my soul and thought about what Arkansans would want,’ most Arkansas taxpayers are searching their pocketbooks, wondering how a nearly broke government is going to pay for this. ”

“Senator Lincoln, it’s called courage, and it is coming back in style. You might want to find some, and learn to stand up to your party.”