Following in the footsteps of the indomitable femlaw and the inimitable kath25, I am delighted to bring the community today's installment of our daily Netroots for Healthcare Rally Report.
Here's a description from kath25's post yesterday:
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!
The Netroots for Healthcare Rally Report is designed to make it easy for you to find an event near you -- and to inspire you to join in the surge towards real healthcare reform in 2009!
(Have an event for the Rally Report? E-mail 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.)
Over the past few days, we've highlighted town hall meetings, major rallies sponsored by Health Care for America Now (HCAN) and scores of events big and small planned by people like you and promoted through Organizing for America (OFA).
Well, today, the Rally Report got a whole lot more fun and interesting. Last night we learned from femlaw that OFA is Hitting the Road for Healthcare with a national bus tour. It will launch on Wednesday, August 25.
Here's the really fun part as HuffPo reports:
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, are you in or near Arizona? Do you want to give the bus tour a proper sendoff? You can RSVP and get time and location details for the bon voyage festivities right here.
And that's only the beginning of the push towards victory -- here's what HCAN, OFA and other groups are working together to produce before the end of recess:
Reform supporters are planning to hold more than 500 events between tomorrow and when lawmakers return to Washington September 8, ranging from neighborhood organized phone banks to professionally-staffed rallies with hundreds of people.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and its grassroots arm, Organizing for America (OFA), are helping to organize the effort along with the Health Care for America Now, a group pushing to create a government-run insurance plan.
"In these last few weeks of recess, we want to demonstrate the energy, passion and commitment that the American people have for health insurance reform so that when members return after Labor Day, they know that they can turn their attention to getting this done because they have the backing of the American people," said DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse.
So here are some ideas for upcoming events that you can attend to make it clear to Congress that we want healthcare reform now!
1. Congressional Town Halls
These events have received the most media attention, primarily since they have served as lightning-rods for opponents of health care reform. We outnumber the crazy shriekers, but we need to show up so that the media see that. Bonus points if your Congressperson refers to a crazy lady in the audience as a dining room table or other durable good.
Find a town hall near you, stand up and be counted, and make it clear that there are more of us who desperately need reform than want it to fail. FireDogLake has a fantastic Town Hall Tracker keeping abreast of events. Click here to find a town hall near you!
(Lots of town halls happening today are also listed in the OFA events list in Section III below.)
As flitedocnm diared yesterday, New Mexicans showed up in force at Senator Bingaman's town hall to support healthcare and to support the public option. Here's some great video:
2. Healthcare for America Now (HCAN) Rallies
Whether your Congressperson is a wingnut or a member of the Progressive Caucus, these big rallies give us a chance to show the huge numbers of Americans in support of real healthcare reform. Scheduled to be held over the next two weeks in cities across the country, these events are a really important way to show our support.
For those of you who want to take the fight for health care to the streets, this is your chance!
Rallies Near You:
Sacramento, CA
Health Care Rally
Wednesday, August 26th
6:30 p.m.
Cesar Chavez Park
Nashville, TN
Rally For Health Care Reform Now!
Saturday, August 29th
10:00 a.m.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Orlando, FL
Health Care For America Now
Saturday, August 29th
1:00 p.m.
Orlando Downtown Rec Center
New York, NY
United We Stand Rally For Health Insurance Reform
Saturday, August 29th
2:00 p.m.
42nd and 7th
Hartford, CT
Health Care Can't Wait Rally
Wednesday, September 2nd
4:30 p.m.
CIGNA Headquarters
San Francisco, CA
Congressional Send Off Rally San Francisco
Wednesday, September 2nd
5:00 p.m.
San Francisco City Hall
Denver, CO
Health Care Can't Wait Rally
Wednesday, September 2nd
6:30 p.m.
Confluence Park
Houston, TX
Let's Get It Done: Health Insurance Reform Now Rally!
Thursday, September 3rd
6:30 p.m.
Houston City Hall Reflecting Pool
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Rally For The Public Option
Thursday, September 3rd
12:00 p.m.
Georgia State Capitol
Little Rock, AR
Health Care Can't Wait Rally
Monday, September 7th
11:00 a.m.
Governor's Mansion
If we didn't list your area rally, post it in the comments and I'll add it to the list.
3. Organizing For America (OFA) Events for Tuesday, August 25
Folks in your community are getting involved and hosting events to help advocate for real health care reform.
There are well over 100 events across the country today listed with OFA, and many of them are town hall events or events involving members of Congress. Check out events in your area at my.barackobama.com and also take a look at the FireDogLake Town Hall Tracker.
Here's a few highlights --
Senator McCain will be in Sun City, AZ. Why not stop by and (politely but firmly) make clear that he needs to get on the bus for reform?
(As an aside, on Wednesday, August 26 you can join OFA volunteers who will be delivering health care pledges to Rep. Grijalva in Tuscon.)
There sure is a lot happening this week in AZ!
In other locations --
Senator Susan Collins (R) is holding a forum in Kennebunkport, ME. Let's show up so that Senator Collins can see how many of her constituents want her to vote for real healthcare reform.
Stand up for Insurance Reform with Rep. Moran in Reston, VA.
Stand up for Insurance Reform with Rep. Meeks in Queens, NY.
Stand up for Insurance Reform with Rep. Green in Houston, TX.
Rep. Edwards is holding a Town Hall in Germantown, MD.
In Delmar, NY, come and Stand with up for Healthcare with Rep. Tonko.
Stand Up for Healthcare with Rep. Smith in Lakewood, WA.
For our friends in California, you can also get town hall and other info by checking out the Venice for Change Event Tracker. h/t msblucow.
Finally, if you want to learn how to get involved, 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. If you're waiting for someone else to do the work on this, focus on this:19.5 years. On average, a window of political opportunity on healthcare opens every 19.5 years. If we don't get it done now, that's how long we might have 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.