Keith Olbermann Helps Raise $1.2 Million For Free Health Care Clinics

Because of an appeal during his special comment on health care, Keith Olbermann has helped raise $1.2 million for free health care clinics, resulting in new health fairs in Little Rock, Kansas City and New Orleans.

"I propose tonight one act with two purposes," Olbermann said then. "I propose we, all of us, embrace the selfless individuals at the National Association of Free Clinics. You know them, they conducted the mass health care free clinic in Houston that served 1,500 people. I want a mass health care free clinic every week in the principle cities of the states of the six senators key to defeating a filibuster against health care reform in the Senate."

Olbermann said he wanted "Sens. Lincoln and Pryor to see what health care poverty is really like in Little Rock....Sen. Baucus to see it in Butte....Sen. Ben Nelson to see it in Lincoln....Sen. Landrieu to see it in Baton Rouge...Sen. Reid to see it in Las Vegas."

Wednesday night on "Countdown," Olbermann announced that, thanks to the generosity of "Countdown" viewers, a health fair would take place in New Orleans on November 14. This is on top of health fairs already planned for November 21 in Little Rock and December 9-10 in Kansas City.

How did this idea come about?

"We were looking for something to relieve the frustration so many people felt," Olbermann told the Huffington Post. "I thought of an insurance strike, but insurrectionist as that might sound, it would endanger lives. So Rich Stockwell, one of my Senior Producers, suggested that the Free Health Clinics group turns every dollar donated into five in services. Thus if we helped them stage clinics in the key cities, we'd get help to thousands of people, we'd relieve that sense of near-paralysis, and we might even put some pressure on those Democratic Senators who won't even commit to precluding a filibuster. So this one was Rich's."

As for the re-brand of the Public Option as "Medicare for Everyone" — which Rep. Jim Clyburn attributes to the "Countdown" host — Olbermann said, "I'm sure that originated elsewhere but I think I might have been the first to put it out there nationally."

"Get a Blue Dog to support the option and raise a million-two," he added. "I'm pretty happy with that Comment."

Watch as Olbermann discusses the accomplishment with the executive director of the National Association of Free Clinics, Nicole Lamoureaux:

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Comments

[saltysea]

Can you schedule one at the mall in D.C.? Thanks from the bottom of my heart for all y'all do!

[BOin08]

Keith will be the first to tell you he is not a journalist. His colleagues will be the first to confirm that.

[saltysea]

Pretty good for a "non-journalist" to win the Edward R. Murrow award.

[goodpyr]

envy pure envy

[NevadaLib]

Keith Olbermann is a good person. We need more journalists like him.

[goodnews7]

Our Government Run Health Services - Part 3 - Medicaid
Medicaid is a means tested government health program for eligible people with low incomes and resources. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It goes by a different name in some states, such as Medi-Cal in California. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), monitors the state-run programs. It establishes requirements for eligibility and oversees funding, service delivery and quality. In this article we’ll look at its background, strengths and [...]
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[StillAmused]

In response, FOX immediately committed to underwrite and cover five more 'teabagging' events.

As for Hannity's cloying 'fundraising' for military families (always the quickest shortcut to wrapping one's self in the flag), call it consciousness of guilt. Without the enthusiastic enabling and cheerleading of the FOXpuppets, Junior would never have gotten away with placing the military in its present dilemma and leaving its families at risk.

[Pupadup4oBama]

I don't see Rush, Beck, Hannity or O'reily doing anything remotely this good.

[Labsaregreat]

fortunately they do, they just don't promote it

[indothinker]

you mean like when he said he would be waterboarded for charity but never followed thru?

[goodpyr]

Link please

[rextrek]

whle this is excellent news - a majority of these people who live in the poorest of areas..keep voting against thier own interests...cause they're sescared of them thar gays gittin married.

[From the Raft]

Every politician who has taken money from the healthcare lobby should donate that money to the National Association of Free Clinics.

[mergina]

Thank you Keith darling.

[unch]

he does not need it with a pay over 5 million a year

[Sarijj]

It is not for him. It is for the thousands of people who have no health insurance. What he makes a year has nothing to do with what he and his viewers are doing. I applaud all of those who have helped this come about.

[BlackWidowPilot]

Current estimates of uninsured people in America are currently at circa 47 million. Circa 15-45,000 Americans including *chidlren* *die* each year due to lack of access to affordable healthcare.

"unch" worries about KO's salary, which is considerably less I'll wager than an insurance company CEO's salary, who profits from declaring fellow Americans including *children* "...not profitable enough!"

Such as "unch" are to be pitied for their willful ignorance.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

One of the 47 Million Declared "...not profitable enough!"

[swift goat pet for truth]

That comment is so GOPer.

Here is a guideline:

GOPer: Me First.

Progressive: We all do better when we all do better.

[BOin08]

We applaud Keith for raising over $1M for free clinics-that's great, but it's 1/10000 of what's required for a health care revolution. Keith's emotional appeals for the public option -like Ed Schultz - without balanced accounting is typical of those who has never executed public policy (within a budget) or made a payroll in the private sector...let's not make irreverserable decisions -gov't entitlements- based upon teary-eyed appeals.

[goodpyr]

And you have?

[CanUFeel2012]

THE FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD KEITH IS ALWAYS ON THE LOOK OUT.. .. .

[Conejo]

The more I think about this opposition to health care reform the more disgusted I get. It really boils down to morality. It is just plain immoral for the drug companies, Republicans and insurance companies to oppose it. Why is is that of all the advanced countries of the world, only one denies its citizens good health? Why have more rights than just about any other country yet be denied this most basic of all rights? It is wrong. We seem to have acquired liberty and the pursuit of happiness but life is being denied to us. Life is granted to us by the Declaration of Independence that states: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

It is believed that this famous phrase is based on the writings of famous English philosopher John Locke, who said, "no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions."

[BOin08]

Accounting-not morality-is the issue. We all want the same thing- Medicare for everyone - but, at what cost? We need a trial state(or city) w/ a five year study....let's see how close the costs estimates are before we commit to irreversible entitlements nationwide. I think we already have a model- bankrupt California.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Study?

How about studying every other industialized nation in the world?

[elizlucinda]

BO...do they a Public Option system in California?

[sahmaybe]

Yeah, we need to PAY for ANOTHER 5-year study.

[Acleacius]

Excellent work and thanks, Kieth!

[mistlesuede]

Has anyone seen this reported on Fox "News?"
I just wanted to give everyone something to laugh about this morning.

[freedomfighter1]

Not only are they not going to report it, they are not going to do anything like it. The only time they 'support' people is when its AN ti - government. Keith and the other donators/organizers philanthropy will treat people of all political affiliations, religions, etc. THAT is REAL! If the organization of free clinics don't have an award they give to people like Keith, they should create one IMHO.

[From the Raft]

They will pick it up if it ever appears in the National Enquirer.