As I wrote yesterday, Organizing for America is "doing what it does best" - a massive single-day national action with an audacious goal.
OFA volunteers and allies are out in their communities, generating calls to Congress in support of healthcare reform. And it is already an amazing success - as of 9:15 a.m. PST/12:15 p.m. EST, there are already over 34,000 calls logged - 1/3 of the way toward the 100,000 single day calling goal. You can follow the action on the cool thermometer on the website.
Update: Ha, already out of date - 45,000 52,000 60,000 73,000 82,000 91,000 100,000 115,000 134,000 173,000 190,000 206,000, 222,000 calls! New Goal 150K 200K Keep those calls coming!
Comment from Hill staffer "We're getting completely crushed with calls, jamming our phone lines from the moment we opened." h/t Newsie8200
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So what's this about? Yesterday's diary set the stage:
So Tuesday, we're going all out. There will be opportunities to make calls all over the country. There will be big phonebanks and small house parties. There will be sidewalk phone booths and rallies with phonebanks. . . . Don't forget to bring your charged cell phone with you. . .
If you need any more incentive, the President will be speaking to everyone at these events via a live webcast on Tuesday. Somehow I have a feeling he will be pretty good at firing people up.
One day. 100,000 calls. Trust me, this is going to be a lot of fun.
Want to join in? Click here to find an event near you.
Or click click here to make a call directly to your Senators and Representative. The online tool has phone numbers, a script, and a place to report your call results.
Finally, later today you can watch a live webcast with the President speaking directly to the volunteers making calls today.
So what are we calling in support of?
The calls will be in support of the President's stated plan from his address to Congress. That plan, as detailed on the website, includes new regulations, a health insurance exchange with a public option, subsidies to help folks with affordability, and many other key provisions.
Questions? Here's the four minute video that lays it out:
Now these are your phone calls. And I always tell people when they call that you need to put a phone script in your own voice. Why do you support healthcare reform? What is your story?
As I said yesterday, these calls matter.
Look, if you want a public option in the bill, Congress needs to feel extreme pressure. Congress needs to know the American people are paying attention and that they can't just slide something through. This is one powerful way to send that message, by a huge number of calls supporting all the key elements of a really progressive bill. But if you don't want to participate, call on your own. Or go to an HCAN or other event.
Get your mop, whatever style you prefer. It matters more that you are mopping, even if you don't want to stand next to me and do it. But don't sit on the sidelines and then complain that the place isn't clean enough.
There will be lots of updates on the OFA blog today, with photos of events and phonebanks. I plan to be stopping by my local event and will update with a report. Please use the comments below to report how it is going, post photos or updates or links to other reports on the day.
Fired up!
Update 2: If your members of Congress are supportive, call and THANK them and tell them to stay strong and help us get this over the finish line. If your members of Congress will never vote for this, CALL THEM ANYWAY and make them hear from their constituents. And then call or email folks you know in key states and give them the link so they can make calls.
Calling people who are not your Senators or Members of Congress is usually a waste of your time and energy - constituent calls matter. So spend that energy spreading the word to friends and family.
Update 2: If you are finding DC voicemail boxes full or phone #'s busy, call the District offices - you can find the phone #'s by Googling your Senator or Representative and going to their website.
Update 3: Cleared 100K as of 11:15 a.m. PST/ 2:15 PST!! Time for a new goal I think :-) Because the party is just getting started on the West Coast, and we still have evening phonebanks in the East! Amazing work everyone!
Update 4: Well, we destroyed that goal - nice work everyone - new goal just announced of 150,000!
Update 5 Blew through 150K, new goal 200K - as of 2 p.m. PST/ 5 pm EST we are at 173,000. Keep it up!
Update 6: OK, well it is 3:15 PST/6:15 EST and we just shredded 200K. Keep going folks - we still have evening calls to come and we are just getting rolling at a lot of places out West. This is amazing!
And thanks to all the other folks making calls today from tons of other progressive organizations, including our union friends. If you are from a group working on this give a shout out in the comments.
Update 7: 8 pm EST/ 5 pm PST, over 222,000 calls! Watch the President live webcast now. He is thanking everyone for their hard work live from a NY fundraiser where they just made calls themselves.
Disclaimer: I am a volunteer with Organizing for America in California. When I write here I speak for myself and not for the organization. My diaries, and all the words in them, are my own.