Now this is good:
At the same time and less than a mile away from former presidential candidate John McCain's upcoming health care town hall meeting, Organizing for America (President Barack Obama's field team) will be launching its "Let's Get It Done" National Reform Health Care Bus Tour.
So as recess winds down, and Congress comes back to DC, we can show up at these events and send them one simple message -- from all of us: Let's get it done.
Update: h/t to Kath25 for this image:
Marshall Ganz, the former Farm Workers' organizer and Harvard Professor, explains how effective campaigns have a cycle:
Organizers conduct campaigns—rhythms of activity targeted on specific outcomes that are based on a foundation, begin with a "kickoff," gather momentum, and culminate in a peak moment of mobilization when the campaign is won or lost.
You don't want to peak too early.
You want to build momentum moving into the decisive phase.
When Congress left for recess without sending a bill to the floor, it seemed like a huge letdown. It felt like the campaign might have stalled. But they came back to their Districts and found out this wasn't going to be a vacation for them.
We have seen Americans rising up in unprecedented numbers to tell them they haven't finished the peoples' business. In just a few weeks, 60,000 Americans have actually visited their member of Congress in their home District offices. We are showing up to be counted at townhalls, events, canvasses, and phonebanks.
And now, as the closing days of recess tick away, events across the country will let us literally stand up for healthcare. For the public option. For covering 47 million uninsured people. For banning insurance companies from dropping you when you get sick. For making insurance affordable for families and small businesses. For putting an end to a system that isn't fair, costs too much, and is full of loopholes, exclusions and limitations.
We have no choice - we have to win. This is too important.
That's why some of us who diary here started a daily Rally Report diary series. Here's a description from Kath25's post this morning:
With only twelve days left in the Congressional district work period, we all need to stand up and be counted in favor of real health care reform!
Every day until September 4, when our Congresspeople wrap up their work in the district and head back to DC, a group of activisty Kossacks are counting down to the deadline and telling you how to go out there and get involved!
If you do ONLY ONE THING for health care reform this summer, you need to attend a rally.
There are town halls, HCAN rallies, OFA events and more.
(Have an event for the Rally Report? Email us (with the link, please) at RallyReport(at)gmail.com. You can also send us links to photos or video or your local blog reports about events for us to highlight.)
We want to make sure everyone here knows about the important events in communities across the country. Lots of big events have already been announced, and Mindoca will be out tomorrow morning with another installment. Momentum is building, and you will see more and more Americans publicly standing up as recess ends.
So this seems perfectly timed:
The bus tour is slated to travel across the country over the next couple of weeks combating the myths surrounding the current health care reform package. It is the latest in a series of hard-hitting public relations campaigns from Organizing for America (OFA), the president's former campaign arm.
The stated mission of the National Reform Health Care Bus Tour is to support the President's three goals for health care reform:
1. Reducing rising health care costs
2. Guaranteeing patients the right to choose their health care plan and their doctors
3. Ensuring quality, affordable health care is available for all Americans
You can RSVP and get time and location details right here.
I'm looking forward to seeing how many people can turn out for this kickoff. I know some of those organizers in Arizona and they are hard core - even if it is 105 degrees they will turn out. Join them!
And join us - the new Netroots for Healthcare campaign. Netroots for Healthcare is a chance for us to stand up for the domestic policy "holy grail" - passing a healthcare reform bill that finally addresses the critical failings of the current system. 19.5 years. On average, a window of political opportunity on healthcare opens every 19.5 years. That's how long we might wait for the chance to fix healthcare to come around again.
My fellow N4HC diarists and I are going to focus on the what, the how and the why -- what is in the legislation, how you can help get it passed, and why it matters. We are following the lead of Healthcare for America Now (HCAN), a broad-based Democratic coalition that supports legislation consistent with ten key principles. One of these is a public option. But the rest are critically important too, and we want to make sure that we get the whole package across the finish line.
Yes we can win this. Together.
Want to learn more about the Netroots for Healthcare campaign or write a Rally Report diary? Follow us on Twitter: @Netroots4HC or email Netroots4Healthcare(at)gmail.com.
Disclaimer: I am a volunteer with Organizing for America in California. Writing here I speak for myself and not the organization. This diary, and all the words in it, are my own.