Yesterday, the legendary action diarist Kath25 put up the first installment of the Netroots for Healthcare Rally Report. I'm part of a team that is planning to diary every day until the end of recess on September 4 about the various key public events where you can stand up for healthcare.
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 know that supporters of healthcare reform outnumber opponents - let's make it impossible for the media to miss that story.
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.
This is a tough battle - other Presidents have failed to overcome the opposition. But is one that we are winning - despite what you hear in the conventional media. (Since when did bloggers uncritically accept what they hear in the conventional media?)
Versions of HR 3200, or America's Affordable Health Choices Act, have passed all three relevant committees in the House and the Senate version has passed one of two relevant committees in the Senate (Senator Kennedy's HELP Committee). As Ezra Klein explains:
Three separate committees -- Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor -- have come together on one bill. This is an incredible achievement. If you read histories of the 1994 health-care reform fight, all of them have a substantial section on the committee crack-up: One passed a version of single-payer, another a variant of Bill Clinton's reform, another went further to the right. There was no unity.
We are closer than we have ever been to success. That means we can't afford to let up.
There are at least five key elements of the bill, present in all four committee-passed versions. (1) the health insurance exchange, (2) the public option as an element of the exchange, (3) subsidies to help individuals afford insurance and tax credits to help small businesses cover their workers, (4) the improvements to federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and (5) the consumer health care bill of rights. If you want to get more details about these elements, you can read my writeup from last Thursday: Let's Go Out and Win This F-ing Thing
So here's how you can stand up:
If you do ONLY ONE THING for health care reform this summer, you need to attend a rally.
There's a lot going on out there, so each morning we'll post a list of events nationwide where you can show your support for health care reform. Look for the diary title "Netroots for Healthcare Rally Report" as we count down the number of days left in the Congressional district work period. We'll also share photos and news reports from some of these rallies. Remember, the numbers and the momentum are on our side! Now, we need to keep showing up to make real reform happen.
1. Congressional Town Halls
These events have been a huge target for those who seek to defeat health care reform. Don't let our side be outnumbered! 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. Find one near you, and show up! Bonus points for making a sign.
And seeing as how their nifty Find-An-Event widget won't embed on DailyKos, Click Here to find a Town Hall near you!
2. Health Care for America Now! Rallies
HCAN is organizing large rallies in cities across America to show our overwhelming support for health care. Their August calendar lists rallies across the country. These are a great way to really show the size of support for health care reform.
These rallies are important. If you live in a Red State or a red district, you still need to get out there and show the literal size of support for health care reform. And for all of you who ask "Why aren't we protesting in the streets for health care?!" Well, this is your chance.
I haven't listed all of the events, so if there's one near you, post it in the comments and I will add it to the list. We'll grow this list throughout the next 14 days to help Netroots activists be as present for health care reform as possible!
Rallies Near You:
Sacramento, CA
Health Care Rally
Wednesday, August 26th
6:30 p.m.
Cesar Chavez Park
Orlando, FL
Health Care For America Now
Saturday, August 29th
1:00 p.m.
Orlando Downtown Rec Center
New York, NY
Health Care Can't Wait Rally
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 (--- Yes, you can rally at the private insurance company that may have denied your very own claim!)
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
3. Organizing for America Events
Your local OFA office is working hard to make these events and others a success, by calling area volunteers, encouraging folks to contact their Congresspeople, and collecting petitions in support of President Obama's plan. Find an event near you and make a real impact in our fight for real health care reform. Search for an event near you!
Here's a video produced by volunteers who showed up at a Henry Waxman event yesterday - according to folks there on the ground, supporters of healthcare (around 400) massively outnumbered opponents (less than 20).
You can find a lot more events as part of the Get It Done Now campaign - search for events near you here:
Let's Get It Done - OFA Healthcare Events
A Sampling of Today's OFA Events -- click the links for details and to RSVP.
Stand Up for Insurance Reform with Rep. Bowell in Des Moines, Iowa
Talk about Healthcare with Jackie Speier in Montara, California
Stand Up with Sen. Sanders in Peacham, Vermont
Aurora, CO Healthcare Walk
Monmouth, NJ Rally at the Beach
Bellevue, WA Walk for Healthcare
Got photos, videos from local events? Send them to rallyreport(at)gmail.com and look for your smiling (or angry) faces in an upcoming edition of Netroots for Healthcare Rally Report!
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