I will never forget watching you give that speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. I turned to my husband and said, "Why isn’t this guy running for President?" Your candidacy and your campaign roused me from cynical political fatalism to positive activism. For the first time since 1971, I participated in a political campaign and I dared to hope that my vote really could make a difference. I have not lost that hope, even though my son’s story is one of the thousands and thousands of stories which detail the injustices and hardships that have been perpetrated upon us by greedy corporate insurance companies.
Adam was born with a congenital heart condition. The private health insurance company that insured employees of my small business attempted to rid themselves of my son by raising our premiums to a level that we could not afford so they wouldn’t have to pay for life- saving surgery when he was old enough and strong enough to survive it. Just as we were about to give up, my husband got a job with a federal government agency which provided affordable insurance and had no pre-existing condition exclusion. It cost less than a third of what our previous health insurance cost. Unfortunately, our worries over health insurance have not ended. By 2013 Adam will be too old to be covered under our insurance as a dependent. Who will provide him affordable health insurance unless there is a public option?
You have often mentioned how hard it was to have your own mother worry about paying for medical expenses when she was dying of cancer. You have often mentioned your father-in-law’s battle with MS. I know firsthand how hard it is to watch a loved one suffer and worry about paying for the care they need. It is a horrific thing. Most of the members of Congress who oppose universal health care or a public option have never had to worry about insurance coverage. Many of them have benefited from government sponsored health insurance most of their lives. They don’t understand. They have never been in our position. You have. I trust you because you know. You are one of us.
President Obama, seize the day! Don’t let concerns that you might offend Republicans, corporate welfare beneficiaries on Wall Street, or even Blue Dog Democrats mute your message. Some of them will never support you. We need you to do battle against them for us tonight as only you can do it. Seize the day Mr. President! Explain why we need a public option in health care reform because, frankly, insurance companies have profited from our misery long enough. As our son’s story demonstrates, requiring insurers to cover pre-existing, chronic, or serious health conditions does not ensure that the premiums will be affordable and it does not require health insurance companies to cover expensive but life saving treatments our loved ones need. I expect that the big insurance companies have plenty of lawyers already figuring out how they can get around potential regulations. The only way to make sure we have coverage is by including a public option in any health care reform package.
Seize the Day Mr. President! When the party of NO! is booing you, we will be cheering you. Seize the Day Mr. President! When the Blue Dog Democrats are squirming in their seats, we will be standing up in our living rooms and clapping. Seize the Day, Mr. President! For all the sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, spouses and in-laws who have no voice but yours tonight. Seize the Day Mr. President! For all the organizers, volunteers, and voters who elected you. Seize the Day!