This is the email I just sent out to everyone in my address book, especially those I know who know a lot of wingnuts:
I was at that Saturday morning town hall with my representative, David Scott, when this woman stood up and started reading off all this crazy stuff. "PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE BILL!" she screamed, rabid, and then proceeded to try to monopolize the microphone even though there were over a hundred people who had taken a number and were patiently waiting to ask a question. After she had overstayed her welcome by several minutes, large numbers of us healthcare reform supporters in the audience started shouting her down, saying "You can’t tell the difference between an email and a bill!" and "It’s NOT in the bill!" and "Time’s up, lady! Hand over the mike!"
I was really impressed with the way Representative Scott handled it. He was much more respectful than we were of the "differing opinion," especially given how disrespectful to the rest of us the spouter of that opinion was. He took the multi-page printout from the woman and said he would have his staff check it out thoroughly and get back with her about her concerns. We all started screaming "PUT IT ON YOUR WEB SITE!" And he did!
If you’ve gotten that email about "what’s really in the healthcare reform bill," you owe it to yourself to read what Representative Scott’s staff put together to address the fears and concerns. Scott is a conservative Blue Dog Democrat, and he’s also a small business owner who recognizes that businesses in this country need strong healthcare reform and they need it now. Our businesses simply cannot compete in the global market with the way things are now—not unless they outsource all the jobs to people in other countries where businesses do not have to provide their employees healthcare benefits.
Please think, people.
The Answers to Healthcare Myths link on the right side is a PDF where what is claimed in that email is debunked point by point. Some of what is supposedly "in the bill" is outright false. We have to ask ourselves what is the ulterior motive of whoever put the misleading email out there. Please do feel free to pass this information along to anyone you know who has been confused by it.