We need you guys to keep showing up in force at these Democratic townhalls to ask real questions of our elected Democratic representatives, especially those who signed H.R. 676, and those who are currently on the fence about the public option. You've got to ask real questions that the news media doesn't ask of these Democratic officials about why they say they support the public option, but are ready to jettison it in the final legislation for so-called "bipartisanship," when research and studies have shown that a majority of Americans want the public option, and that the public option is cost-effective.
Here are steps that you can take in being the best advocate for the public option at these Democratic townhall events:
- Read ShadowSD's diary for his excellent defense of the public option, and the rebuttals to the most common conservative talking points. Please bring a copy of his diary with you and your friends when you go to a townhall event.
- REPORT on what happened at the Democratic town hall event. And if you have photos or videos, please upload them in the report tool.
And these are Democratic Representatives in strongly Democratic districts. They shouldn't be worried about takingthe pledge to vote for real health care reform by refusing to support a bill without a strong, robust public option in it. Yet, they are--because the White House would rather twist their arms than the arms of the Blue Dog Democrats.
Representative
| PVI | Day | Date | Time | Location | Information |
Adam Schiff | D+14 | Tuesday | August 11 | 7 pm | Alhambra, CA | Details & Signup |
Steve Rothman | D+9 | Tuesday | August 11 | 7 pm | Palisades Park, NJ | Details & Signup |
Rick Larsen | D+3 | Wednesday | August 12 | 5 pm | Everett, WA | Details & Signup |
Marcia Fudge | D+32 | Wednesday | August 12 | 6 pm | Cleveland, OH | Details & Signup |
Pete Stark | D+22 | Saturday | August 15 | Noon | Alameda, CA | Details & Signup |
Eddie Bernice Johnson | D+30 | Monday | August 17 | 8:30 am | Dallas, TX | Details & Signup |
Robert Wexler | D+15 | Thursday | August 20 | 1 pm | Delray Beach, FL | Details & Signup |
Henry Waxman | D+18 | Friday | August 21 | 10 am | Los Angeles, CA | Details & Signup |
Jackie Speier | D+23 | Sunday | August 23 | 5 pm | San Francisco, CA | Details & Signup |
Jim Moran w/Howard Dean | D+16 | Tuesday | August 25 | 7 pm | Reston, VA | Details & Signup |
Allen Boyd | R+6 | Wednesday | August 26 | 10 am | Port St. Joe, FL | Details & Signup |
Susan Davis | D+14 | Saturday | August 29 | 1 pm | Spring Valley, CA | Details & Signup |
Jan Schakowsky | D+20 | Monday | August 31 | 6:30 pm | Skokie, IL | Details & Signup |
Ed Markey | D+15 | Sunday | Sept 6 | 7:30 pm | Lexington, MA | Details & Signup |
And here's the list of questions that you can ask of our Democratic officials that the media won't even ask:
- You've been an outspoken supporter of the public option, it is becoming increasingly clear that a bill from the Senate will be stripped of almost any kind of recognizable public plan. Don't you think it's time to draw a line in the sand, to make it clear that a bill without a public plan would be unacceptable?
- Would you support regional co-operatives since studies have shown that they're ineffective, wouldn't help cut monthly premium costs of private insurers, and would have the potential to become privatized over time? Remember, Blue Cross Blue Shield was once a co-op, and look where that's gotten us now.
- I support the public option because the President campaigned on it, and I know that it would provide real competition against private insurers by forcing them to keep honest. Would you commit to voting against any bill that doesn't include a strong, robust public option in the final package?
- Would you, as a Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, allow the White House to weaken health care reform for the Blue Dogs by getting rid of the public option for so-called co-operatives when you return back from the August recess?
It's time for us to hold our Democratic officials accountable on the public option! It's the line in the sand for me, and it should be the line in the sand for them as well!
Also, if you live in Arkansas, or knows someone who does, you can even attend Rep. Mike Ross's townhall, which is being held this Friday, and his tele-townhalls as well. We should hold him accountable for blocking real health care reform by watering down the public option. It's time to ask him questions during these tele-townhalls that the media won't even ask, such as how big an effect the money from the private insurance industry has on his positions on health care reform, and whether the money was the reason why he blocked real health care reform in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Can you also please help nyceve, Jane Hamsher, me, and others in this fight for health reform by donating to our fight?
PLEASE RECOMMEND THIS DIARY so others can see the phone numbers and call today!