Help us decide our next Blue America action!
By John Amato Thursday Jul 09, 2009 3:00pm
We had great news yesterday as our Blue America ads against Senator Blanche Lincoln pushed her to shift positions and begin to talk about actually supporting a vibrant public option for health-care reform. She was a little fuzzy, but still stated a fundamentally different position than she had before the action.
Greg Sargent broke the story, and TPM weighed in as follows: Amid Pressure From Party Leaders And Reformers, Blanche Lincoln Now Open To A Public Option
The ads are running as we speak, so congratulations to all of you for helping make that possible. We're not done with Blanche, but we are having discussions to plot out our next move. I've been focused on the people involved in crafting the health-care reform legislation and the name Max Baucus comes to mind for me, but that doesn't mean we can't focus on somebody like Evan Bayh.
So where does that leave the Blue America community? Our first batch of TV spots started running all over Arkansas today. We're talking about putting the second wave on hold now that Lincoln (and Pryor) seem to be moving in the right direction. We'll re-assess in a week. Meanwhile, we're trying to decide what state our next target should be. Pennsylvania, where Republican-Democrat hybrid freak Arlen Specter take even more outrageous bribes from the Medical-Industrial Complex and Big Insurance than Lincoln and who is playing a devious behind the scenes role in trying to water down the effectiveness of a public option at the behest of his patrons?
Or how about Iowa, the home of Chuck Grassley, the Republican tasked by the Insurance Industry with being on the front line of offense against the entire concept of "robustness"in a public option. As ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee-- something he held onto rather than take on that position on the Judiciary Committee for the specific purpose of working with his pal Max Baucus to weaken any reform to the point of making it ineffective-- Grassley makes an excellent target of opportunity. He also has to face a politically well-educated voting base in a blue-trending state in 2010. Or maybe you have another suggestion? Let us know-- and, please, continue donating to the Campaign for Health Care Choice. We can make this work, one crooked senator at a time!
Anyway, we'd love to hear what you have to say. Maybe one of you can come up with an excellent action that we can take. We are all ears.
And don't forget to keep the funds rolling into Blue America's Campaign for Heath Care Choice. We're close to raising 25K and we'll need to reload to continue on.
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that's it.
Grassley is not gonna bend - he's old and doesn't give a shit. Baucus may be a better choice. Wasn't Ron Wyden (surprisingly) a holdout? If so, then ads in Oregon would definitely have an impact on him.
Wellmark BC and BS alone constitutes 71 percent of the health insurance market share in Iowa, with the top two insurance providers accounting for 80 percent. These companies are huge donors to Grassley. Plus Grassley is one of the most stubborn a-holes in the entire senate. You can bet Grassley will have a nice golden seat waiting for him in the insurance industry if he wants it.
Either through Campaign for Health Care Choice or Physicians for A National Health Program etc. create a campaign at the grass roots level where all we need to do is put our zip codes in a designated "website" and we will be directed to the "lead organizer" in our particular Congressional District. There we would see the date, time and place of the next Town Hall meeting on health care. These meetings will be announced in the local newspapers for FREE and the Congressperson will get wind of the fact that steam is building within their district.
Preferably about ten doctors/nurses will be chosen from the groups to get gussied up and (lab coats, stethoscopes would be useful), the local media will be alerted that these individuals will be attending a meeting with Rep. So and So or Sen. So and So.
These 535 (435 House, 100 Senate) meetings MUST take place PRIOR to any votes. I believe that Obama has put this on a FAST TRACK and he wants the final votes to take place PRIOR to the August 8th recess. And these meetings should take place, ideally, on the SAME DAY.
DVD's of "Sicko" should be given to each Congressperson. Those who are firmly in support of H.R. 676 or of Sen. Sanders Senate Bill should be graciously thanked. Those who are entrenched with the for-profit insurance corporations and who want to cover their ears and yell, "La,la,la,la,la,la,la" when we say SINGLE PAYER will be told in no uncertain terms that someone who DOES support SINGLE PAYER will be running against him/her in the next election cycle.
(Here's the latest update from Sen. Sanders):
http://sanders.senate.gov/files/TheHealthCare...
With a good publicist on board, each district can bring the issue of health care to the front page of every home town newspaper and radio station with simple press releases and follow-up phone calls. Editors love these stories/actions. Congresspersons do NOT.
This CITIZENS LOBBY FOR SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE is easily achievable with just a little old fashioned organizing and NO MONEY.
All these Congresspersons deserve better than calls and emails (which can be easily ignored). They deserve COORDINATED VISITS AT THEIR LOCAL OFFICES.
We need to start fighting for what we REALLY want/need, not pleading for what we do NOT want...a watered down, corporately controlled "Public Option".
I will repeat: The corporate "for-profit" health insurance companies should be torn into a thousand pieces and scattered to the wind."
Abbybwood, R.N.
If Jim DeMint is right and Obama's America is exactly like Germany before WWII, then our next action must be an invasion of Poland.
For such a nazi scholar, Jim completelly missed any parallels between 9/11 the Reichstag Fire, the invasion of Iraq, and the fact that Bush's grandfather was a nazi sympathiser.
Because let's face it, nothing screams "nazi" like a black man as president. duh.
A campaign that would demonize the bribery that runs our government and ultimately our lives.
I think it is sometimes called lobbying.
No better time than NOW. Americans are seeing first hand how Repugs and Demos alike are more beholden to their contributors than to the people.
Money in politics is ruining this country more than anything else.
Politicians should be able to use the (OUR) airwaves for free to run for office. What they hell more do they need money for anyway? (Yes, I know...)
There is no single other issue that is screwing up this world more; the economy, the environment, etc, etc....
like that Seattle clinic is doing suits me. And no politics involved.
http://www.comicartville.com/foxbluebeetle12.jpg
The public option, I call it flim flam but
YOU can call it
vibrant
You can call it
robust
You can call it
WONDERFUL - BUT…
SINGLE PAYER is the only way
I much prefer disrobust
Thank you very much.
so should we do nothing?
But I find this tactic an old one, and as an old person, I find this ploy of pretending to give us what we are asking for and need -- loudly -- in great numbers, to be expensive and wearing.
We don't have money in this country to waste on this public option thing. As long as there are health insurers that are private, they'll always whine how it's unfair, and the people who have no probs with their medical coverage will decide we need to pay more to make it fair. I've seen it happen over and over again.
It's like you asked for a Testarossa, and someone gives you a red Ford Escort, and tells you it's the same or can be tinkered with to get there, or even its better than that nasty old Ferrari you need because of your new job as race car driver.
In the US we get a Pinto for the price of a Testarossa, whereas in the rest of the industrialized world they get a brand new Ford... for the price of a brand new Ford.
Under a purely capitalistic POV, our system is not a good value proposition, at all.
So any campaign for health care reform should just make that simple point.
Repeat single payer until BLUE in the face, then they will know that you are really BLUE.
If the public option, what EVER that actually is, comes along, the opposition which is VEHEMENT, at least can save face by saying it was a COMPROMISE.
They will do their level best to sabotage it whatever it is.
Chuck Schumer has now promised that the 'public option' in 'some form' will happen, but that sounds very sinister to me.
The deal is already done, it is done in the back room. The stuff in the light of day is just for show for we the peons.
When you chant public option, public option, where is the compromise going to be?
about not even having 'The Public Option' a month ago...I mean this is Newspeak, a term they JUST made up for those of us wanting Single Payer. "Hey we'll give you a [fake] choice!" I think they will force people to buy insurance. And we'll be worse off.
I personally will not settle for the public option, nor will I work for a half measure. That would imply I approve. And I won't. It's too important.
Congresspersons are called "PUBLIC SERVANTS" for a reason.
They are supposed to do what The PEOPLE tell them to do.
Right now corporate America happens to be bank-rolling them so they are kow-towing to their corporate "masters".
WE are their masters! They apparently need to be reminded of it in FACE TO FACE MEETINGS!!!
I feel that if we want legislation that represents the CLOSEST thing we can get to Single Payer then we MUST organize and go to all their offices and tell them what we really want.
If Single Payer has been purposely left off the table and America's doctors and nurses had to get ARRESTED during Congressional hearings to ask that it be put ON THE TABLE, then the public MUST let our Congresspersons know how we feel about this.
For God's sake John, Obama's own personal physician (prior to being POTUS) supports Single Payer:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/18/obama-doctor...
We have bills for Single Payer NOW in the House and the Senate!! They have co-sponsors! They need MORE co-sponsors!
And as you well know, even Obama supported Single Payer in 2003 and declared that as soon as there was a Democrat in The White House, and a Democratically controlled House and Senate that we would be able to go for the gold:
http://buelahman.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/oba...
Many folks on this website have echoed the fact that when you start negotiations on ANYTHING, each side MUST begin with what they REALLY want and negotiate from there. Reid, Pelosi and Obama caved before meeting one. Why? Because they were TOLD to do so by corporate America.
"He who pays the fiddler calls the tune." Well, the last time I checked the Congress' paychecks and "Cadillac" health care benefits were being paid for with our tax dollars!!
We must not quit the fight and cower in the corner. We have the power. It's OUR country, not corporate America's!
If nothing else were to be accomplished from the meetings I have proposed, then at least these SERVANTS will get the message loud and clear that either they support legislation that supports US or they can go packing for a new job come the next election cycle.
I don't know about everybody else, but I HAVE HAD IT!!!!!!!
that in every single country that went for universal health care (in any form public, single payer, etc) the party that implemented the reform was rewarded by voters for decades/generations.
No matter how much money the HMO scumbags throw into the campaign, it is not enough to offset such "brand loyalty" in current and future elections. Period.
Why don't you get together with move-on and organize a protest march to let our representatives know that it is time to listen to the people on the return to rule of law and no to corporate takeover of public policies.
Why the leaders of the progressive movement would not advocate and encourage a protest at this time is unbelievable. Look at the countries all over world standing up to power and demanding they be heard.
At the very least you should organize a boycott of tv to make it harder for the corporate facists to get thier talking points across.
Turning off the tvs will be good for democracy, people may be able to think again shortly.
But your fooling yourselves if you think you got time.
I am disillusioned with the leadership of Moveon.org
I actually hosted an Obama GOTV party at my home in Westampton Beach, New York last November and we were supposed to make signs with one word on them that we hoped Obama would deal with if elected.
There were about a hundred people crammed into my house. I wrote the word "TORTURE" on my sign and the "pre-printed" ("approved") signs by Moveon.org said "health care", "the economy", "the environment", "global warming" etc.
When I held up my sign it was like E.F. Hutton speaking.....silence.
Well, at least the reporter from The Southampton Press liked it. She interviewed me and my quote about torture became "the quote of the day" in the next day's paper (much to the probable consternation of Moveon.org).
I am proposing a "grass roots" movement for this action. Which is why there would be no $$ involved. Nothing to join. Maybe passing the hat at the Town Hall to pay for coffee and cookies or something.
The rest would be simple organizing.
If I had $70,000 I could place a full page ad in The New York Times and be done with this. But I don't.
I too am finding it odd that there is not a national movement to organize.
I contacted "certain individuals" and also the head of Physicians for a National Health Program (as did some other physician friends of mine who are members) and we got the cold shoulder on this AND THEY SUPPORT SINGLE PAYER!
It's one thing for a few people in local groups to go to their Congressperson's office. But there is NO local media reporting on it. And there is no NATIONAL COORDINATION of the meetings.
My dream would be to have the House/Senate Democratic Caucus meeting behind closed doors right before the vote is due and have all of them standing up and wringing their hands over "hundreds of my constituents have been in my office hounding me!!! Badgering me!!!! Begging me!!!!! THREATENING TO UNSEAT ME!!! if I don't co-sponsor Conyers 676!!!/Sanders Single Payer in the Senate!"
I feel like a freakin' cheerleader with no team!!!! Ha!!! (Not funny).
P.S. I rarely turn on the teevee, except to watch a 1940's romantic comedy or something.
and a return to the Rule of Law are definitly my number one priority. Wars of aggression and torture ARE war crimes, no doubt about it. Thanks for standing up for America Abbywood!!
Hmmm.
There, I think that is just a wee bit more accurate.
Look here, even Prince Charles agrees with me.
Time to get to work.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET-Cetera...
Since I nor anyone else it seems can get a straight answer from Claire McCaskill, she might be a good one to target. She is also talking against the Cap and Trade bill and is coming out pretty strong against most anything on it.
So, MO might be a good state to think about.. That would get her and Kit Bond both.. not that you would ever sway Bond.. but you might target her.. I really can't believe she isn't standing with the President and with the public, but she has been very wishy washy lately and like I said will not answer any calls or emails from anyone giving her position on the health care.
Heaven knows Montana must be a really inexpensive media market.
This guy is beyond awful, his carefully crafted image of growing up on the ranch is pathetic. His mother (for whom I did some work and regretted it ever since - snotty bitch) married the heir to the Sieben fortune when Max was about 10 years old. The Sieben ranch stretches pretty much from Helena to Great Falls on both sides of the Missouri River which is about 100 miles. Growing up on the ranch like that ain't exackly scratchin' out a living'. And anyway after two years of practicing law he was elected to congress and has been sucking on the public tit ever since. We have been self employed for years and can't afford to pay insurance premiums for insurance which will not insure us. It is insulting beyond belief that the man tasked with "healthcare reform" is someone who doesn't have the slightest idea of what healthcare is.
We should do everything we can to target this pos because he is doing his best to screw the rest of us.
Pelosi can work her magic in the House but we have a huge road block in the Senate solely because of a handful of Dems who aren't Moderates necessarily -but vote with Wall Street Republicans most often and or are seats needing Progressive leadership:
1. Harry Reid- Please of all the possibilites, this one has to go. Even if we bet the whole farm -Reid is our weakest link.
2. Evan Bayh - Lieberman's best buddie.
3. Milulski of Maryland - the Soccer Mom from hell who consistently denied CAFE standards and supports Wall Street. AAR$P's new best friend.
4. Inouye of Hawaii - Hawaii desperately needs some younger representation.
wackjob who complains about public healthcare, but nobody puts out an ad with poster children for "private" healthcare...Jocelyn Wildenstein, Anna Nicole Smith, Michael Jackson, Rush Limbaugh, Donda West, and so many other victims of free enterprise medicine while the anonymous victims cannot afford necessary care.
they are "closed accounts."
How about putting pressure on congress to audit the CIA and Defense budgets? They are missing billions upon billions.
I'm not convinced "liberal pressure" had anything to do with Lincoln's sudden change of mind. WalMart recently came out in support of a public option, remember?
Stop sycophantically worshiping the Dems and the Public Option screwing you are pushing and actually stand up for what this country needs and is the most efficient and less costly system: Single Payer, Not-for-profit healthcare for EVERY American.
Period.
Use the power of this blog to push for the real solution. Just once.
STOP this insane meeting half way with the very evil bastards that have screwed the system.
Stop your Dem Party worshipping, John.
THAT'S THE PLAN!
nfm
I'm sorry John, but I have to agree with a LOT of the posters here. I'm not donating any money to this Blue American campaign until you switch from supporting the watered down Public Option to supporting Single Payer Medicare For All. It's a half-measure of what the people in this country really want.
I would also like to note that for someone who suggested that people who do have good private health insurance will forget this issue, I have to say you are wrong. I have very good company sponsored health insurance and I make decent money. I still want Medicare For All.
My idea for Blue America??? MARCH ON WASHINGTON!!!! In support of Medicare for All. There are a LOT of orgs working on this issue. Nurses Unions, AARP, MoveOn.org...Start coordinating and organizing. It's time we got off our asses. The only way we are going to let our representatives and senators know exactly how serious we truly are about this issue is a huge fantastic MARCH ON WASHINGTON!!! Labor Day Weekend would be a great time to have it. That is something I would support both with my presence and my money.
let's go after the President. Let's not attack him. But let's scream out our voices that we want single payer, that we want REAL bank reform, that we want to enforce too big to fail. Let's put the pressure on him to do what we want, which is what is right for the country. Let's "make him do it".
Target: Obama
Message: Veto any bill that does not include the public option. The Prez needs to show some leadership here: veto threat. We need to up the pressure on the White House; keep pressure on Congresscritters too, but it's hard to see the public option emerging in this thing without the White House moving mountains.
By the way: I support single payer too but it's not gonna happen this time. There is so much hostility to the public option from the corporate Dems that a victory here on the public option will reverberate beyond this issue and open many other doors; demanding single payer or nothing is counterproductive at this juncture IMHO.
In spite of nothing ever coming out of Texas that isn't embroidered with idiocy, there seems to be a growing interest in moving to the center, at least. Texas has been a breeding ground for some the worst and most controversial politicians over the last several decades. I think the public is finally awakening to the fact, most all of the corruption and political maneuvering and manipulations have come from REPUBLICANS! And it doesn't stop after they leave office, (e.g., Phil Gramm, Tom Delay, Culberson and others I can't think of right now)
The point is, that being from Texas helps to better evaluate consensus and true feelings. Frankly, that has been an enduring feat......Trying to figure out Texans. They be a peculiar bunch, generally speaking. It isn't difficult to imagine how Texas is perceived these days.
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