You guys have been great with your reports back from these townhall events. I'm glad that you went and showed up, but these townhall events are still happening, and let's not slack off right now! Also, please don't stop asking questions like these below, especially on the public option.
- You've been an outspoken supporter of the public option. 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 co-ops since studies have shown that they're ineffective, wouldn't help cut monthly premium costs of private insurers, and would 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 keep private insurers 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 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-ops when you return back?
This morning, I received an excellent video of Richard Trumka, the new head of the AFL-CIO, who praised Democrats for holding the line on real health care reform, and he warned the so-called "moderate" Democrats who are looking to block health care reform after the August recess.
In watching this video, we've got to prevent the so-called moderates such as the Blue Dog Democrats from weakening the public option when they come back from recess. The only way to do is to get these progressives below to take the Pledge not to vote for any bill that doesn't have a strong, robust public option in it.
Representative
| PVI | Day | Date | Time | Location | Information |
Peter DeFazio | D+2 | Thursday | August 13 | 10am-11am | Brookings, OR | Details & Signup |
Peter DeFazio | D+2 | Thursday | August 13 | 2pm-3pm | Port Orford, OR | Details & Signup |
Arlen Specter | NA | Thursday | August 13 | 3:30pm-4:30pm | Kittanning, PA | Details & Signup |
David Wu | D+8 | Thursday | August 13 | 4pm-5pm | Seaside, OR | Details & Signup |
Peter DeFazio | D+2 | Thursday | August 13 | 5:15pm-6:15pm | North Bend, OR | Details & Signup |
Steve Rothman | D+9 | Thursday | August 13 | 7pm-9pm | Hackensack, NJ | Details & Signup |
Mike Ross | R+7 | Friday | August 14 | 2pm-3pm | Arkadelphia, AR | Details & Signup |
Pete Stark | D+22 | Saturday | August 15 | 9am-12pm | Fremont, CA | Details & Signup |
Danny Davis | D+35 | Saturday | August 15 | 10am-1pm | Chicago, IL | Details & Signup |
Pete Stark | D+22 | Saturday | August 15 | 12pm-1pm | Alameda, CA | Details & Signup |
Here are the steps for you to follow with these townhall events:
- Use the FDL Recess Event Tracker Tool to find townhall events near you. And if you know of a townhall event that's not listed on the FDL Recess Event Tracker, please enter in that information!
- Report back to us at FDL about what happened at the event, and upload any videos or photos from that event.
- 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.
Once again, the public option is the LINE in the sand for me! The only way to prevent that line from being crossed over is to urge our progressives in Congress to take a clear stand on this issue. So, don't stop on going to these townhall events!
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 events and stand up strong for the public option!
Also, nyceve is going to townhalls to directly face some of these hateful protesters. It'll be a great, powerful account of just how deluded these right-wing protesters are!