Blue America wants to thank all the Progressives and Democrats for standing up for the “public option.” We’ve already raised over 30K. They need to be made aware that we also appreciate the good things that they do too.
Darcy Burner made this point at Netroots Nation on a great panel discussion about what we’ve been doing on the health care front regarding our organizing efforts (and in her keynote speech as well). I heard from several members of Congress at NN how hard it’s been in their freaked out town halls, but they believe in the “public option” and will not buckle from misinformation and people intent on killing health care reform. Progressives in Congress fired back at the White House and the Senate standing up and saying it’s the public option, baby!
Please thank progressives for holding the line and donate to Standing Up for the Public Option.
The Netroots has been stepping up and pushing back hard against the ConservaDems plan to support the health care industry over American families. It’s a sad choice they are making, but looking at the campaign donations they receive from the Health Care Industrial Complex, it’s not surprising. It should be and the media has finally started to highlight all the money the Baucus Dogs have been taking from them.
I was on a panel at Netroots Nation with Congressman Eric Massa. He was adamant about the public plan. There was no need to cajole him into supporting it, he had been there all along. He is also in a very tough swing district and his town halls have been horrific. It didn’t move him, he stood and fought with his own constituents and came out even more committed because he realized just how important it was going to be to the very people who were so sadly misinformed.
That’s called leadership and it deserves our support and thanks. So, Blue America thought it would be a good idea to do a little positive reinforcement and thank those who have gone out on a limb on this and are standing fast. 65 members of congress have pledged that they will not vote for a bill that does not contain a public plan and we would like to reward them.
If you have a couple of bucks to spare to thank the Progressive Caucus members who have drawn this line in the sand, please click here and give them your support.
Howie Klein put together the Act Blue page and writes:
You may remember that a few days ago I included all the names and phone numbers in a post and I want to encourage all DWT readers to call up congressmembers on the list and thank them. Thereisnospoon at Daily Kos explained the thinking behind whole campaign this morning. And Blue America is hosting an ActBlue page for people who would like to give any of the congressmembers who are standing up for the public option a dollar or two.
Is your congressmember on the list? Is your favorite member of Congress? Take a look — and make your voice heard — with a dollar.
Washington is paying attention. The top story at Politico today is headlined “Liberals Revolt Over Public Option”:
The battle is not won, not by a long shot. Howie Klein and the Blue America team put together an Act Blue donation page that includes the 60 members who signed the letter, plus five more that our whip count effort have secured promises from that they will not vote for any bill that does not have a robust public plan. Thereisnospoon and Hekebolos over at Daily Kos are also on board.
Democracy for America is letting these members know that they have the support of their constituents, and Howard Dean — well, he’s been on fire. Eat it, Rahm.
Meanwhile, HCAN is going to spend $650,000 — attacking Republicans. If grassroots efforts weren’t under way to fight the real battle here, and we had to rely on the big moneyed interests, the public plan would have been lost a long time ago.
As everyone knows, we’ve been pretty upset at the Obama administration and some members of Congress over the health insurance reform debate. On Sunday, it looked like the Obama administration was going to drop the public option — a provision that Obama has repeatedly told us is critical to reining in the insurance industry. That’s proven to be unacceptable to many members of Congress. Since Sunday, a number of progressive members of Congress have stood up and basically said, ENOUGH!
Those members need to hear a big thank you from the progressive community. We need to strengthen their resolve. And, while we’re quick to call out bad actions, we need to reward good behavior.
Piggybacking and expanding on that idea is an ActBlue page created by Howie Klein called Take the Pledge to financially reward those 64 representatives who are doing the right thing…read on
Comments