Jeremy Bird at BarackObama.com wrote me a lovely letter the other day.
He titled it "Let's get it Done!". The heading on the e-mail was from Organizing for America.
It began,:
"On Thursday, an astounding 280,000 Organizing for America supporters gathered online to huddle with the President at our National Health Care Forum."
So far so good.
"He reminded us of how far we've come and what we can accomplish together."
Ah, reminds me of the good old days of "yes we can".
The highlights from Jeremy's letter:
Remember one thing: Nothing is more powerful than millions of voices calling for change.
Now it's up to us to take the next step. This week, we need to make sure every member of Congress heads back to Washington hearing overwhelming support for change.
Wherever you live, you can find a powerful way to show Congress, the media, and our neighbors that the American people have one clear message about health reform: Let's get it done.
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Dear Jeremy,
I have been an avid Obama supporter and have always responded to your call to participate in Obama events. Your recent "Let's get it done" e-mail is not going to fire me up, however.
Here's my problem. I don't hear that one clear message from Obama.
In your letter you say:
And he (Obama) made plain his stance on the public option: "So let me just be clear: I continue to support a public option, I think it is important, and I think it will help drive down costs and give consumers choices."
But I have also heard Obama say:
The public option, whether we have it or we don't have it, is not the entirety of health-care reform ... This is just one sliver of it.
Jeremy, until we hear Obama with a consistent,"crystal clear" and highlighted support of the public option that is not buried at the bottom of your letter as an afterthought, I am skeptical of these vague and changing calls for change.
..................This is the letter that BarackObama.com needs to be writing...................
Remember one thing: Nothing is more powerful than millions of voices calling for the public option.
Now it's up to us to take the next step. This week, we need to make sure every member of Congress heads back to Washington hearing overwhelming support for the public option.
Wherever you live, you can find a powerful way to show Congress, the media, and our neighbors that the American people have one clear message about the public option: Let's get it done.
.........................................................................
We must not pass a watered down industry friendly bill. Stand firm on the public option and if it's not possible now, and let's come back later with the real reform that America is demanding.
I am hopeful that Obama will eventually lead us to that change we can believe in...
but first he should be crystal clear about what that change will be.
Sincerely,
Crystal Eyes