Obama's Campaign Arm Redoubles Effort To Pass Health Care, Public Plan

Organizing For America, Barack Obama's campaign arm, is making a renewed grassroots push for health care reform, rolling out an online tool set to harness the collective power of its 13 million members and insisting that a public insurance option be part of any final proposal.

Following up on its health care reform meet-ups that occurred over this past weekend, OFA will debut a set of Internet and media functions designed to sustain pressure on members of Congress to pass a comprehensive overhaul.

Among those tools is a health care pledge that demands that, "Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor -- including the choice of a public insurance option."

The language is an affirmation that the president, and the Democratic institutions that he controls, is invested in making a public option for health care coverage a component for any systemic overhaul. Whether Democrats in Congress are able to follow suit -- and the extent to which the White House will compromise on this principle -- remain the most key questions in the upcoming debate.

In addition to the pledge, the new OFA tool set will include, according to an official with knowledge of the plans:

-- a letter to the editor tool to help people advocate reform through outside media -- a call Congress tool to help people advocate to their representatives directly and report the results back to OFA -- a event-organizing tool to help activists mobilize people for reform -- a place where people can share their own health-care stories w/ other OFA activists -- badges and graphics people can use to show their support in social media -- an OFA health-care blog

"Using our simple online tools, you can find the latest info about the health care debate, declare your support for the President's principles, ensure that your representatives know exactly where you stand, and help educate and organize folks in your area," reads an accompanying email announcing the new tools. "We know how fierce the opposition will be -- we've seen it all before. But our opponents are about to face something new: The power of ordinary Americans who know firsthand that if we come together, we can achieve the extraordinary."

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Comments

[unite4change]

Come on people, we must work extra hard to get the public option!

[RJPasadena]

SATURDAY JUNE 27TH - NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DAY. Volunteer for one, two, four hours that day. American's need and deserve universal healthcare. Please volunteer! Communities in all 50 states will come out in force. Don't let the Billionare Insurance companies who are TOO Big to fail reap profits concerning your healthcare.

[myke3000]

HERE IT IS... our "marching orders":

The Great American Sickout

http://healthcare09.org/
Health Care for America Now march on Washington - June 25th, 11:30am

http://www.1payer.net/action-alerts/washington-rally.html
Thursday, June 25, 2009 for The Great American Sickout, a National Rally for Health Care For All Now.

Pass it on...!! It's now or never!

[harriscrl3]

See this is where shows like Rachel Maddow show could jump into the fray and help with this healthcare debate.

But I dont get it except for Ed Shultz they are all SILENT on this issue it boggles the mind.

Carol

[theone718]

She is too busy crying about DADT like health care isn't important.

We must continue to fight EVERYONE PLEASE sign that pledge and let's KEEP CALLING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.

[EmeraldWorld]

Honestly, it really is irritating how the MSM is silent on this issue. I only see new media outlets discussing the health care reform debate. If CNN for instance could stop constantly inviting GOP whiners to scream about the Obama administration and actually focus on some real issues like this, perhaps they could get more viewers AND inform more people about this.

[CherokeeGirl]

Rachel forgot who she works for and instead is using her platform to fight Don't Ask Don't Tell.

[lily of the valley]

Single-Payer Health Care
HR 676
http://www.johnconyers.com/healthcare

On the site above, you can read the full text of the bill, check facts & figures, view the list of endorsements, including 83 Members of Congress.
You can also become a Citizen Co-Sponsor here http://www.johnconyers.com/hr676

This is the plan you really want.

[Coinyer101]

Thank you for that link. I am now a proud Citizen Co-sponsor of HR676.

[Schnides]

One more thing. Make sure the "doctors and hospitals" aren't ripping off the program!!! Some of the expenses for a hospital stay are waaaay too out of control. If someone wants implants to look better.....FINE, charge them what ever you want. But when a person is ill and needs medical attention or surgery, STOP letting them over-charge insurance companies and your new plan what ever it may be. Heck, even 1 dose of over the counter Tylenol pills cost $5.00 per dose! Tax payers are making insurance companies AND hospitals richer than is fair.

[PhilipTaylor]

Out patient surgery for a hernia repair was $38,000!

Something very wrong! Of course, the Insurance Company does not pay that!

TWO SETS OF BOOKS: One for the Insurance Company EL1TES (60 to 80% discounts) and another to BANKRUPT Americans!

It is the EL1TE Way in an Oligarchy where Executives in Corporations Run the Government!

[Crissy Patters]

We need to let our voices be heard and remind our elected official they work for us and not the insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and the AMA.

Here's a challenge for everyone here. For every post, you post here, call and or write your representative, senator, VP Biden and P. Obama

Health Care Reform (HCR)- Save a life choose public option!

Send free faxes to congress and the white house. freefax.com

Contact members of congress who are not on board with the public option.

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
http://www.healthreform.gov/support.html
Tell them your story, why you support HCR.

[judiNJ]

I have emailed and called my two New Jersey Senators to insist they support a public option and support Obama's Health Care Plan. I am on a public plan: Medicare, and am delighted. Boy, what a relief when I lost my job last Sept. Also, There is not one private corporation in the US that is not negotiating prices and setting up preferred vendor lists. Drug prices should be negotiated.

[rxvette]

The story of the patient below illustrates exactly why we need universal care in the U.S. She's not alone as many other patient's are suffering due to the greed of private insurance companies, drug companies, and runaway lawyers driving up costs.

Crohn's disease patient's story - http://rxvette.blogspot.com

[BannedNBoston]

Well said MadASHell
we need that senior drug benefit renegotiated first.

350 BILLION OF TARP MONEY MISSING!
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/639.html

[unite4change]

BannedNBoston, I hope you know the 350 billion you referenced disappeared before Obama was president.

[Coinyer101]

I unsubscribed from all online WH and grassroots bullhoockey a few months ago, when the President took it upon himself to make bad jokes about the 'online crowd', that participated in it. I'm glad, too. I don't want their watered-down health 'dictatorship' bs, either. Making overpriced healthcare coverage mandatory, is like a dictatorship.

single-payer! At least that will be fair for all.

until then, i'll 'self-medicate', and live in the upcoming new 'underground of the 'not' covered', or those who refuse to have health dictated to us by gubment and the healthcare industries..

[PhilipTaylor]

Unique views but I am with you on single-payer since Medicare's overhead is 2.1% and the Insurance Companies charge 30% to line the pockets of executive/employees or beef up the wealth of people like Buffett!

[Coinyer101]

It's not easy to be a liberal-libertarian, and that does make me somewhat 'unique'. But, as a libertarian, I don't want gubment violating my rights to free choice, including the right of 'opting out', to over-priced coverage, whether it comes from insurance co., or the gubment. single-payer is the only fair way to cover everyone.

[Altruth]

WHAT!

[Coinyer101]

that's right. noone is going to 'mandate., 'fine', or 'penalize' me, for not paying for their overpriced 'options', gubment, or otherwise. get the profit out of health-care, and I'll consider it, if the price is fair to all.

[letsbepeaceful]

Ummmm....what will happen when you get pneumonia, or break a leg, or have a gastric ulcer? You haven't a clue as to how fast that can kill your bank account.

[CherokeeGirl]

I'm going where credit scores don't matter and bartering is everything :)

[Coinyer101]

lol

[TJCole]

He is awful late getting around to this, he let the Insurance companies get the jump on this issue...

Without a public option this is nothing other than corporate tyranny, we are a Public Country aren't we...?

The thing is our economy needs Single Payer but our corrupt politicians won't allow it...they are not our representatives they are the corporate pirates representatives...

Let's hope this is more than lip service from Obama this time, and he doesn't in the end sell us out with some flowery rhetoric...

[PhilipTaylor]

Well said TJ!

Time to get on the Campaign Funding Reform Express that takes our government out of the hands of the Corporate EL1TE!

TIME TO REFORM CORRUPTION IN CAMPAIGN FUNDING SYSTEM

Simple Solution to PROTECT OUR Congress Members Votes so votes are NOT sold to Highest Bidders:

1. Setup a Government Contribution Acceptance and Funds Distribution Agency
2. Funnel all Political Contributions through this agency
3. Uses strict formulas for allocating funds to House+Senate Members
4. "Blindly" distribute lump sums twice per year to Politicians - No KNOWN SOURCES of funds!
5. Reserve part of funds for those New Candidates that meet campaign funding criteria
6. Two Term Limits for Senators (possibly three term limits) 18 years is enough!
7. Four Term Limits for House Members (possible five or six term limits) 18 years is enough!

[TJCole]

I appreciate a lot of your posts to here Phil, keep up the good work as well..TJ

[Coinyer101]

good post, again, TJ!

[avalanch112]

Call your Congressperson ans Senators. They need to know that we have their backs on healthcare reform of they vote for single payer or a comprehensive public opt in.

[tippydog11]

Pres Obama is just one man fighting for all of us doing his part, now it is time all Americans start doing theirs. Pres Obama is our voice and he will fight for what you want public or other wise but remember insurance as lined the pockets with their profits from us...to congress...watch the republicans who are not fighting for all Americans but big business....they always have....their fear mongering days should be over and told back to them loud and clear....

[Coinyer101]

Bet he won't fight for single-payer , like the majority wants.

[judiNJ]

All in good time, good sir, all in good time. Why do you think the Republicans are horrified by the public option? They have come right out and said it will (Gasp!) lead to "socialistic single-payer".

[dwright]

it must be awful to be you

[myke3000]

There is a Single Payer Healthcare Hearing going on right now on Capitol Hill - broadcast live on c-span.org... on a break now, but will resume at 12:30pm.

There are nurses and physicians testifying in favor and against it as the House tries to learn more about the Single Payer option. I'm just curious who is funding the nurses and doctors testifying against Single-Payer as an option. Hmmmm... You don't think the Healthcare industry and GOP would allow ANYTHING regarding Single Payer to go unchallenged, would you?

[PhilipTaylor]

Expert witnesses are always paid!

[myke3000]

Live on Cspan3 at cspan.org