Obama Political Group Targets Conservative Dems

Posted by Adele Stan, AlterNet at 2:53 PM on July 28, 2009.

Organizing for America has been targeting conservative Democrats, applying pressure on reluctant lawmakers to vote for the House health-care legislation.  Politico reports that the organization, which was formed out of the lists of the Obama presidential campaign, has been running "pro-reform ads" in the districts of Democrats who have yet to signal their acceptance of a public health insurance plan. 

The public option is part of the bill that was passed by two House panels, and is now hung up by a group of Blue Dog Dems in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

But the group's tactics appeared to get a little rough when Politico obtained an e-mail that stated the place for a pro-public option rally as outside the office of Rep. Betsy Markey of Colorado -- one of those reluctant Democrats.

Here's Politico's Glenn Thrush:

A DNC spokesman e-mailed me back, claiming it was just a big old mix-up — and that the rally was intended for downtown Fort Collins, not Markey’s office.

“She’s cool with it,” the aide said.

Tagged as: health care, colorado, public option, betsy markey, organizing for america

Adele M. Stan is AlterNet's acting Washington bureau chief.