So far we're at 20 signatories to "The Letter":
Light blue states have one signature so far; dark blue have two.
Tuesday kicked us off with 4 signatures, Wednesday added 7 more, on Thursday we added another 7. On Friday former Republican Arlen Specter signed on. On Saturday the head of the DSCC Robert Menendez signed on to the Bennet letter too.
Public option fever is spreading, folks -- we can do this!
"The Letter" is a phenomenon on Facebook
Sens. Baucus, Conrad, and Rockefeller don't have Facebook pages, but if you click on the "Fans Only" page of just about any other Democratic senator who's still holding out, you'll find a flood of feedback from constituents supporting the Bennet letter. Like these:
Joanne tells Sen. Daniel Akaka HI:
Please sign the Bennett letter for the public option today! I am a supporter who lives in Naalehu, Hi. Mahalo nui loa!
On Sen. Evan Bayh's latest wall post about supporting a spending freeze with McCain one commenter calls him an asshole, but Ermilo says:
Please sign the Bennet letter for the public option today.
Peter tells Sen. Mark Begich AK:
We need a strong health bill that insures all americans. Too many people like my mother, a real alaskan pioneer, who lost everything she'd worked hard for because she was uninsured. Please sign the Bennet letter for the public option. thanks
On Sen. Jeff Bingaman's latest post about the budget, Amar says:
Sen. Bingaman, Tell your colleagues Sens. Jim Webb, Kay Hagan, Mark Warner, and Jon Tester to get on board the public option train!! We need the moderate Democrats to show that they are still REAL Democrats and want to get reelected in the Fall!
Theresa tells Sen. Robert Byrd WV:
Reconciliation, if necessary.
(Whereas most folks have dozens or even a hundred comments about the Bennet letter, Byrd so far has NONE! This comment is from November. Maybe not the biggest Facebooker.)
Lars tells Sen. Maria Cantwell WA:
We are waiting anxiously for you and Patty to sign-on with the other Dem. Senators willing to go to reconciliation to pass the public option, along with other critical elements of the Health Reform. Please do not let us down, we have long memories. - Keep up the fight.
(Lars also says he likes his own comment; Mary is getting particularly swamped with messages like this one.)
Donna tells Sen. Thomas Carper DE:
we need strong Senators to start calling for the public option passed under the "BudgetReconciliation". Please co-sign Sen. Bennet's letter to Sen. Reidasking to pass the public option through reconciliation PASS THE PUBLIC OPTION NOW....RENAME IT "THE PEOPLE'S PLAN".
Steven tells Sen. Bob Casey PA:
Mr. Casey...I can longer afford MY HEALTH INSURURANCE...@ 500 dollars a month. This is unfair and no longer doable...HELP...a public option is needed for many of us.
On Sen. Christopher Dodd's latest post about being on the Colbert Report, John says:
Excellent. Also sign the Bennett letter for a public option!
Sen. Byron Dorgan ND only has 1,064 followers on Facebook. No one is commenting about the public option yet, but Coolhann Luke thought this was worth posting:
Bill clinton had 163 americans killed on american soil. Terrorist! T-PARTY! PASS IT ON!
Chris tells Sen. Richard Durbin IL:
We need your influence behind the public option.
Pat and John each tell Sen. Russell Feingold WI:
We need real health care reform. Please sign the Bennet letter, Russ. And thanks for the good work you do.
I'm so tired of getting stabbed in the back. Sign the letter, unless you have some overwhelming reason for not doing so.
Patricia tells Sen. Kay Hagan NC:
Tried to call your D.C. office several times this afternoon. 4 to be exact. Phone just kept ringing. Am calling to ask you to support reconciliation for healthcare reform.
Kenneth repeats a quote to Sen. Tom Harkin IA:
"There are 52 solid Democrats for a public option and only about five Democrats really kind of opposed to it," Harkin added. "One has to ask if the 52 should give into the five or if the five should come on board with the vast majority. I think the answer is clear." - Tom Harkin on October 16, 2009. Where are these 52 ......Democrats now? They should all have signed the Bennet letter by now.
Joyce tells Sen. Daniel Inouye HI:
I support the use of reconciliation for the PUBLIC OPTION! It is tine to step up to the plate and not allow the party of NO to stop you from doing what is right for US!
Jim tells Sen. Tim Johnson SD:
Senator Johnson, please sigon on the Bennet Letter supporting the public option today.
--a constituent who always votes
Richard tells Sen. Ted Kaufman DE:
Could you please sign the Bennet letter for the public option
Anne, Lynette, and Brooke each tell Sen. Herb Kohl WI:
Please sign the Bennet letter for the public option
today.
belated Happy birthday herb
Sign the Bennet Letter! PLEASE!
Barry tells Sen. Mary Landrieu LA:
Please sign the Bennett letter and support the public option. We desperately need healthcare insurance reform.
...which opens up a comment stream like this:
Brian: "I'm not open to a public option.... Public option is not something that I support. I don't think it's the right way to go." --Mary Landrieu. Reported by the Huffington Post, 6/9/09.
Paul: Barry, last time she talked about it on the Senate floor, she couldn't even bring herself to say the word "option". She called it "a public......delivery....system". Totally incorrect. More than half the American public may still support it, but Landrieu definitely doesn't. Keep fighting the good fight, though.
Barry: She represents a very conservative district. I like her, but I won't vote for her if she does not sign the letter.
Paul: Do you see the political tightrope she has to walk as an avowed "moderate"? If she votes for a public option, the right wants to bury her (not that they ever supported her to begin with). If she doesn't, the left will desert her. It just doesn't pay to attempt to occupy the political middle any longer.
Barry: I agree, Paul. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes right now.
Claire trys to turn the screws on Sen. Carl Levin MI, and Joe rallies Carl's other fans to the cause:
Senator Levin, I expect you to support the vote for a Public Option in the Senate. Otherwise, none of my friends and I will be able to support you in your next election. I am shocked that you have not already become a co-sponsor of the bill.
We need to tell Sens. Levin and Stabenow that voters want Congress to finish health care reform now. And since the public option is incredibly popular among voters, and has strong support in Congress, it deserves a fair up or down vote in the Senate. I’m counting on you to fight for strong health care reform this year. What is the Bennet letter for the public option today? Thanks for all you do
On Sen. Blanche Lincoln's recent post about something called a "twitterview", Julie says:
That's nice. Now, why not go ahead and sign the letter to pass the public option through reconciliation?
Rick tells Sen. Claire McCaskill MO:
Senator McCaskill, will you stand with other Democratic Senators in favor of passing the public option through reconciliation? http://bit.ly/...
I understand you have an MO after your name, but you also have a D. Let's act like it!
On Sen. Patty Murray's latest wall post about a rally with Joe Biden, Hope says:
It's disgusting to read what that tea bagger said about you, but most of us love you!! Please try to push through Universal healthcare or at least a VERY strong public option using reconcilliation.
Laura tells Sen. Bill Nelson FL:
18 signatures so far to the Bennett letter for the public option. Please sign this letter and help your constituents who are desperate! Thank you. Please be that voice for all Floridians you pledge.
Sen. Ben Nelson NE is getting equal parts negativity and support. Like Daniel who is against and Margaret who is for it:
Bennett Letter = 100% chance of not getting reelected. Sign away and don't listen to the VAST MAJORITY of Americans who are against it.
Senator Nelson: Please support health care reform, especially the Bennett letter for the public option.
Barry tells Sen. Mark Pryor AR:
Please sign the Bennet letter. Many insurance companies had record profits last year and yet all have announced that they will be raising premiums, some by double digits. Without reform and increased competition, this process will only continue.
Sen. Harry Reid NV is not getting called to sign the letter addressed to him on his Facebook page ... yet.
Sheldon tells Sen. Debbie Stabenow MI:
Dear Sen Stabenow, Please sign on with Sen. Reid's letter to include the public option in the final bill. I know how importnat this issue is to you. Thank you.
In response to a health care story, Jessie tells Sen. Jon Tester MT:
come on tester! this story in NOT unique--we need a public option!
Aaron tries some reverse psychology on Sen. Mark Udall CO:
Mark Udall stands with republicans on the public-option.
Jennifer tells Sen. Mark Warner VA:
Dear Senator Warner, I live in the 5th district and I volunteered for you during your campaign. I am 44 years old and have no health insurance and haven't since September 1990. I had Cobra back then. My son was born and I tried to get Health insurance after he was born, none of the insurance companies would cover me be...cau...se and I quote, "I weighed to much", I had gestational diabetes. I haven't been able to get or afford insurance since then. I don't qualify for medicaid or medicare. I now have pre-existing condition that I need coverage for. The free clinic won't cover them because they are pre-exisiting conditions. Tell me what am I supposed to do? I NEED YOU TO Support and SIGN Bennett's letter. Will you?
Leslie tells Sen. James Webb VA:
Senator Webb I'm counting on you to do the right thing--sign on to the Bennet letter and support the public option throug reconciliation. It's timeto stand up and lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.
And finally, Erik tells Sen. Ron Wyden OR:
I'm genuinely curious... is Senator Wyden going to stand with Merkley and sign Bennet's letter in support of a public option?
And on and on and on ....
Check the Whip Congress page for the latest count and keep up the pressure!