Strange Bedfellows

Sen. Ben Nelson and Holograms

Max Fisher 179 Views May 20, 2010

Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, has caused some trouble in the past for his occasional opposition to big pieces of legislation. But his opposition to a recent measure, which would have limited ATM fees to no more then 50 cents, was a bit unusual. His apparently unprompted defense was even odder: "I know about the holograms."

"I've never used an ATM, so I don't know what the fees are," Nelson said, adding that he gets his cash from bank tellers, just not automatic ones. "It's true, I don't know how to use one."
"But I could learn how to do it just like I've ... I swipe to get my own gas, buy groceries. I know about the holograms."
By "holograms," Nelson clarified that he meant the bar codes on products read by automatic scanners in the checkout lanes at stores such as Lowe's and Menard's.

Quips Salon's Alex Pareene, "That's Ben Nelson, U.S. senator and grown-up. He knows about the holograms."

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Topics: Democrats

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