Every once in a while something comes along in our bizarre political world that can't help but make you smile. Someone gets something just right. They tell you exactly what you feel in a way that you can't help but connect with. Watch the video and follow me after the break to find out why you need to about Dr. David Gill.
Just a few hours ago, it became official that Tim Johnson, incumbent representative of Illinois' 13th district would retire. One quote in particular stood out to me...
Another source said Johnson felt comfortable stepping down after David Gill, a Democrat from Bloomington, won the Democratic primary last month. Gill had run and lost against Johnson three times previously.
So who is David Gill?
First, David Gill defeated an opponent in his primary that was backed by the DCCC and the Democratic establishment. They had no problem settling on a safe pick instead of someone who will dare to stand up and tell the truth. His opponent in the primary outspent him 5-1. Gill won by 143 votes.
David Gill won because he has the audacity to tell the truth about the issues that have been distorted, disassembled and twisted to being totally unrecognizable. We DESPERATELY need a Democrat who will help shift the conversation in this country away from the center-right to far right rut that we are in. A place where extending insurance to 23 and 26 year olds, people with pre-existing conditions and the working poor is decried by self-proclaimed defenders of liberty and is in danger of being taken away altogether. We need someone who will stand on the floor of Congress and say with authority that
My health care plan for “Improved Medicare For All” would be a way for people to have better health care, while also hanging on to more of their money by stopping the flow of 40 percent of our health care dollars into a black pit known as the private health insurance industry. And so, I don’t consider that an extremely progressive position. I consider it a people-oriented position.
Dr. Gill doesn't just have something to say about healthcare. He is a
strong supporter of credit unions, infrastructure, reforming corporate welfare and green energy - all planks of his jobs plan.
He was against the wars of choice in Iraq and Afghanistan and supports an extensive revamping of the all-volunteer, oft-neglected United States Military.
But, his entire campaign is built around healthcare and the fact that he is a doctor, from the logo to the slogan.
So, when I see him say things like this to Howie Klein at Blue America, I think he might be someone you have to know about and tell other people about.
The suffering and death caused by the lack of a single-payer healthcare system is really quite overwhelming, and as those awful stories receive much more exposure through a Congressman like me, I believe that the public can easily be educated about the situation. The public can readily be educated regarding the realities of healthcare financing here in America, as well as the mythology propagated by the health insurance and pharmaceutical companies. And once the public fully understands the situation, I think you'll see some very dramatic anger and pressure brought to bear upon the members of Congress who oppose single-payer. Once people understand how much wealthier AND how much healthier they would be with single-payer, there will be a stiff price to pay at the ballot box for those who stand in the way of its implementation.
Republicans are
scrambling to get a candidate to run for the seat now that Tim Johnson has announced he is stepping aside. That candidate will have no choice but to accept a massive influx of cash from out of state and to run a reprehensible campaign against Dr. Gill. If we act now, we can help David Gill become a voice for progressives across the country.
Visit his website and learn more.
One final note - If you watch all the way to the end of that first video up top, the copyright is attributed to "Friends of David Gill". Most of the times you see that it's a bunch of millionaires who have gotten together to ask their millionaire buddies to get their handpicked candidate into Congress. I just don't think that's the case for Dr. Gill. I think he really has a group of friends who are helping him, pounding the pavement and convincing people in Illinois' 13th district that Dr. Gill is someone who will speak for them.
"People I talk to at diners and county fairs nod in approval when I tell them that they may not all ways agree with me, but they’ll always know where I stand." - Dr. David Gill
Way Too Late Edit: I am in no way affiliated with the campaign, just saw the news and wanted to get the word out