Last week, your humble diarist scribed "The Hagan Disconnect – A Personal Story", a chance meeting with Senator Hagan at the NC town hall meeting in DC focusing on health care reform legislation. Her appearance at the town hall began with a standing ovation upon her introduction and ended with catcalls of "Do the right thing" after floating the concept of a public option to be administered by 50 separate states. Talk about a lead balloon!
As Chris Kromm of ProgressiveSouth aptly lays out in his posting
" Sen. Hagan remains key barrier to healthcare reform,"] the stakes for health care reform and Senator Hagan’s role could not be higher. Despite an invitation to follow North Carolina Representative Price’s leadership in signing the HCAN core principles (reported by your diarist here), Senator Hagan has confounded her supporters and constituents by not declaring support for a meaningful public option as part of health care reform legislation.
Perhaps you are one of the multitude that have heededSlinkerwink’s call to action with phone calls and letters to Senator Hagan’s office. This is a "must read" diary.
But are phone calls and e-mails and letters enough?
Some purport that Senator Hagan is somehow in the pocket of private insurance companies that are pouring money into her PAC. Or that her thinking is influenced by her personal equity holdings of $180,000 in companies that have an interest in maintaining their health care related strangleholds in the marketplace.
My personal belief is that Senator Hagan’s position is more nuanced and that the rising tide of anger is both justified and reversible.
DiaristMagster makes an insightful observation in the diary titled"Top Hagan contributor betrayed by Hagan." And who is the top Hagan contributor to date? Why it’s 18,673 progressive citizens atAct Blue that have contributed $2,388,649 as of today. How’s that compare to the chump change of $13,300 contributed by Blue Cross Blue Shield? (Not so much)
Before Senator Hagan made her lead balloon proposal at last week’s town hall, she earnestly and honestly confided to the 200+ constituents present "I know why I am here. I am here because of you." (meaning we, her erstwhile supporters).
So what else can we do?
Diarist jalbert suggests we ask for our contributions back from Act Blue.
That strategy is likely to be spotty and burdensome and in the end is not promoting a positive solution.
So here’s an idea to make some lemonade out of this lemon.
We are already planning to unseat North Carolina Senator Burr (R) in 2010 and a fundraising site is already up on Act Blue to raise money for the eventual (hopefully) progressive candidate that wins the democratic campaign primary. A contribution to Act Blue now for the upcoming Senate race can double as a clear message to Senator Hagan.
So here’s the title of the Act Blue fundraising page: "Senator Hagan - Support a Viable, Nationwide Public Option for Healthcare Reform"
The text (currently) reads:
Dear Senator Hagan:
Remember how we supported you and worked for you to get you elected? Now we want you to represent us by supporting a viable, nationwide public option as part of healthcare reform legislation. By contributing to the 2010 Senate campaign of the seat currently held by Richard Burr (R), we are putting you on notice. We intend to replace Sen. Burr in 2010 and we will replace you in 2014 if you let us down at this critical time.
Perhaps you remember President Obama's speech on election night when he said: "This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you." Senator Hagan, we want you and need you to support President Obama's agenda in a robust manner and that includes your service on the Senate HELP Committee.
Our contributions to this fund will be sent to the Democratic nominee upon his or her selection for the 2010 Senate race.
We implore you to heed this message from your constituents and supporters.
If you would like to join this effort, please make a contribution through Act Blue.
Perhaps there is another elected official or two (or ten) that having an additional strategy by means of Act Blue can make a positive difference. If so, please comment.
And comments that can strengthen the message on the fundraising page are welcomed and may be included as an update to this diary.
Additional communications may also be directed to Hagan.ActBlue@gmail.com
Thanks for your support in reading this, sending along to others, and for making a contribution at this critical time. And thanks to Daily Kos and Act Blue for helping to foster this community.