Bayh, Bayh, Bayh

by digby

Evan Bayh is being a typically insufferable DLC jackass and is making noises about joining the Republican filibuster. He’s saying that he has to be consistent and can’t vote to cut the filibuster if he plans to vote against the bill, which is balderdash. Maybe he thinks he’ll be rewarded with the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Contrarian Crank award, but his constituents wouldn’t like it much: the PCCC and Research 2000 conducted a poll:

PUBLIC OPTION: Indiana voters favor a public option 52% to 42%. Independents favor it 59% to 33%.

2010 GENERAL ELECTION: If Bayh joined Republicans in filibustering a public option, 35% of Independents would be less likely to vote for him, 13% more likely. (Nearly 3 to 1). Among Democrats, 51% to 7% (Over 7 to 1).

2010 PRIMARY: If Evan Bayh voted to filibuster a public option, 54% of Democratic voters would be less likely to vote for him in a primary. Only 6% would be more likely. (9 to 1)

INSURANCE COMPANIES: Indiana voters don’t trust insurance companies. 77% believe they put profit above the health of patients – only 11% believe they put patients’ health first. (7 to 1). 52% of voters think Bayh’s $1.5 million in campaign contributions from health and insurance interests hurt his judgment on health care – 29% say they don’t hurt his judgment.

BONUS: New research about Bayh’s history of voting for cloture and against the underlying bill.

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