Jake Johnson at Common Dreams writes—Following Death of Trumpcare, 'Now It's Time for Medicare for All'
As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) delivered a dejected speech announcing the death of the repeal effort he spearheaded, demonstrators outside the Capitol building expressed excitement and relief that, at least for now, the GOP's efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, defund Planned Parenthood, and gut Medicaid have fallen short.
"If millions of Americans had not raised their voices at town hall meetings, made phone calls to their senators, posted on social media, and resisted in other ways, this bill might already be law," Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org, said in a statement.
But, Galland emphasized, the threat has not been entirely eliminated.
"Republicans in Congress will not give up," she concluded. "Neither can we."
This sentiment was echoed on social media and in speeches at the Capitol in response to Trumpcare's defeat; many concluded that the struggle will continue until healthcare is guaranteed to all Americans as a right.
"To the thousands of citizen leaders who gave their all to this struggle: This is your victory. Thank you," Our Revolution said on Friday. "We fight on for Medicare for All."
In a statement following the Senate's vote, Murshed Zaheed, the political director of CREDO, argued that "the failure of Trumpcare provides the perfect opportunity for Democrats to go on offense by fighting for Medicare for All."
"Medicare already covers 40 million Americans over the age of 65, providing quality care at prices that are much lower than the private market,” he added. "It is time to take decisive steps toward a national healthcare system that puts people over profits."
As Common Dreams has reported, grassroots support for federally funded universal healthcare has peaked during the Trumpcare fight, and organizations throughout the country are mobilizing to pressure lawmakers into siding with popular sentiment.
"Tonight is just a start," said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in a speech outside the Capitol. "We've got a long way to go. And our goal must be to join the rest of the industrialized world and guarantee healthcare to every man, woman, and child in this country." [...]
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“As a first-generation ‘Asian American woman,’ for one thing, I knew there was no such thing as an ‘Asian American woman.’ Within this homogenizing labeling of an exotica, I knew there were entire racial/national/cultural/sexual-preferenced groups, many of whom find each other as alien as mainstream America apparently finds me.”
~Shirley Geok-lin Lim, The Forbidden Stitch: An Asian American Woman’s Anthology (1989)
TGIF TWEET OF THE DAY
BLAST FROM THE PAST
At on this date in 2007—The O’Reilly Checklist:
No, Bill, of course that's not over the top!
In case you're keeping score, here's the Bill O'Reilly " is just like..." checklist.
David Duke — Check.
Al Capone — Check.
- Benito Mussolini — Check.
- Nazis — Check. Double check. Triple Check.
- KKK — Check. Double check. Triple Check.
- Nice list. And it's highly convenient that rather than having to rummage through the cesspool of BillO's officially unmonitored web site, he provides the hate speech straight from his own snarling lips.
- However, the fact that O'Reilly has had to dip into the Nazi well three times, shows that his repertoire of nastiness is sadly limited.
On today’s Kagro in the Morning show, Greg Dworkin makes a special appearance—fresh off a recent trip to Iceland—to round up an eventful night (and early morning) in Zombie Treasoncare. Also, what the f%@k is going on with this new $#*thead running the WH communications office?
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