Reid Calls On Americans: "Contact Your Representatives Back Here In Washington And Push Hard"

Harry Reid, in a new Web video posted Thursday, makes the case for a public health insurance option and appeals to voters across the country to contact Washington to "push hard" for its inclusion in the final bill.

"Anyone that cares about it, make sure you contact your representatives back here in Washington and push hard. We want a health care bill that has a public option that keeps the insurance industries honest and creates a level playing field," he says.

Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, finds himself in the unusual position of working with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, rather than taking shots from it. On Thursday, MoveOn.org sent out a message to its members that would've seemed unthinkable just weeks ago: High praise for Harry Reid.

Watch Reid's appeal:

Comments

[Raccoon1]

06:38 PM on 11/04/2009

Whenever anyone brings up the "2000 page 800 BN$ health bill", just remind them of how well the three page, 800 BN$ TARP bill has done.

[sarabono]

01:28 AM on 11/01/2009

This Bill Pelosi released will only raise the cost of health care for most Americans, will not improve access to or quality of care in any way, and will not lower the health care cost curve in the future.

It appears to me that this bill is only one thing, a huge power grab for establishment politicians. That appears to be it's only purpose.

[RightsGuy]

08:38 PM on 10/31/2009

SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE REFORM IS THE ONLY ETHICAL AND FINANCIAL SOLUTION:

1. MEDICARE FOR ALL WOULD SAVE THE UNITED STATES $350 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR

See the study from the New England Journal of Medicine here: http://www.pnhp.org/publications/nejmadmin.pdf

2. Another study shows SINGLE-PAYER WOULD BE MAJOR STIMULUS FOR THE US ECONOMY:

** 2.6 Million New Jobs,
** $317 Billion in Business Revenue,
** $100 Billion in Wages, and
** $44 Billion New Tax Revenues

Here’s the study: http://www.calnurses.org/research/pdfs/ihsp_sp_economic_study_2009.pdf

How to pay for single payer reform: HR676 - public financing and private delivery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxi7DnCH3zk

Congress and the public need to see accurate numbers. The Single Payer plans currently before Congress must be scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Then we'll all know the truth.

[sarabono]

01:21 AM on 11/01/2009

Your pissing against the wind. Single Payer = Zero Passage.

[Oldwave]

04:30 PM on 10/31/2009

I would call my congressman, but he is a worthless Blue Dog DINO.

[Bacygirl]

04:03 PM on 10/31/2009

While I've already written AND called my senators (Jimbo Inhofe, Dr. Fibes Coburn) and representatives (Fallin and Boren). I fear changing the minds of these grousers is hopeless.

On the other hand, I can truthfully say that I do not support an opt-out for states. The nutters in power in Oklahoma would be sure to take it and deny healthcare to thousands of folks in Oklahoma. Maybe that's the plan. Drive all the uninsureds out to states with the national plan. Leave Oklahoma to the injuns, the Klan, the Gaylords, Kerrs and oil & gas industry.

[Kassandra]

01:11 PM on 10/31/2009

The worst thing about this bill IMHO is the burden it will place on small business. It will practically force them out of business or overseas. Much of the decline of small business, which WAS the backbone of this country's economy, was the incredibly un-level playing field they had with other countries which supply healthcare to their citizens...you know, the civilized ones???

Meanwhile giant like Walmart will get out of this by continuing to do what they're doing in "business friendly" states....giving job applicants forms for AFDIC, food stamps and Medicaid to soak up the slim social services which remain.

This is a big business bill from start to finish.

I ain't calling anyone to support this thing and, if ObamaRhama has anything to say about it., it will allow the insurance corporations 4 more years to skyrocket their premiums to make up the difference in the dime or two they might lose. Just like the "credit card reform" Took a year and didn't cap interest. And now it's going thru the roof.
PAH!

[ldmason45]

01:05 PM on 10/31/2009

Thanks Harry for the advice. I and many others in my state have contacted my congressmen and senators telling them to say no to your health care reform as you have presented it. The dems came out yesterday joining the repubs of my state and stated that they would not vote for the Pelosi bill in the house and the Reid bill in the senate. I don't know if they figured out that these bills will actually raise the cost of health care or if it will cost them in their 2010 elections if they vote for them. Either way it's all good. This is not the health care reform we need this is just "lets hurry up and pass something while we have a chance". A mistake that will cost of trillions if allowed to pass.

[Kassandra]

01:16 PM on 10/31/2009

If it was a good bill, that's be another ball of wax, but it's not. We gave the banks and Wall Street trillions for fraud, not just for nothing.
It would be a GOOD thing to give the people of this country something which could actually help fix the economy, keep people in their homes and prevent them from dying in the streets...but this is not it.
We agree, but for different reasons. I hope YOU never get sick once you're out of your parents house!

[Eagleman]

12:23 PM on 10/31/2009

STRONG PUBLIC OPTION?

Why pay for the losers like you who cant work for a living and sit on their fat bum and become one.

Take one fourth of the budgeted money and give it small business and incentive tax cuts if they cover the healthcare for their staff.

People like you want every thing taken care by the government including wiping your back after you done sitting in the can.

What a loser...

[TetonJumper]

11:22 AM on 10/31/2009

I write the White House, my Senators, and Congressman at least once a week. My message....stop the Socialist assault on our healthcare...support the Blue Dogs and anyone else with a voice of sanity...deny the Progressive Left the power grab they so covet.....income redistribution did not work in the USSR or the California communes, it won't work in healthcare or banking or autos.

I would, however, like to help Reid and Pelosi into retirement...NOW

[ldmason45]

01:07 PM on 10/31/2009

I agree with you and fan'd you !!!

[Kassandra]

01:12 PM on 10/31/2009

Oh go listen to Rush!

[Willow712]

09:58 AM on 10/31/2009

I contact my Rep about once a week. But its hopeless. He is Rep. Steve King, Iowa. He is so far to the right that he can't watch Nascar (they turn left, lol). I got a return letter. It said, "Steve King is happy to know that you feel the same about health care as he does. We are against _____ and ______." He is one of the worst.

[KBinIA]

01:42 PM on 10/31/2009

We are also stuck with Senator Chuck Grassley. Hopeless cases, indeed.

[chronic]

02:27 AM on 10/31/2009

We, The People Are The Change

[RightsGuy]

12:32 AM on 10/31/2009

Two main arguments for single-payer healthcare:

THE MORAL ARGUMENT

Health insurance companies make their profit by denying health care to sick people. That is immoral and unethical.

THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT

Our current system of for-profit corporate health insurance has created an unbearable national economic burden. Over 1500 separate insurance companies operate under different rules creating 30 % administrative overhead-- Medicare overhead is only 2%.

By converting to a single payer system, we immediately save 300 billion dollars.

We pay twice what other countries pay for healthcare, yet 50 million Americans have no healthcare coverage and 87 million were without health insurance in the past 2 years. 62% of bankruptcies are due to medical bills.

The US ranks LAST of 19 industrialized nations in preventable deaths, and 29th of 37 in infant mortality. The World Health Organization ranks the US at 72nd for healthcare accessibility and efficiency. We can no longer maintain the status quo.

WHY WE DON'T HAVE SINGLE PAYER OR A STRONG PUBLIC OPTION NOW

These two arguments in favor of a single payer heath insurance system (moral and economic) are so compelling, that one must conclude the only reason we don't have single payer now is because of lack of representative government.

The obvious conclusion is that our government does not serve the people who elected them. Rather, our elected government officials serve the special interests of the health insurance industry and other corporations who make massive campaign contributions.

[politicaljunkie41910]

10:49 PM on 10/30/2009

Whatever passes will be a watered down version of a public option which won't go into effect until after 2012 and have even less chance of succeeding as a viable option to the greedy insurance companies and the rethugs can say, 'We told you so'. At this point, I don't give a rats behind.

The Democratic party is worse than the Rethuglicans because the Democrats pretend to care about the people they go on to screw over. As for me and my five democratic votes, and I do have five, because like most politically active folks, I am responsible for getting myself, my husband and my three adult children to the polls on election day since they are busy with their jobs and wait to the last minute to get to the polls. If I'm indifferent, and don't hound them to make sure they get to the polls, chances are they they don't, particularly in an off year.

Well guess what? In 2010 I am going to indifferent and stay home. And in 2012, I'm going to stay home again. And if the Dem's lose their majority in Congress, I don't care anymore. And I'd advise everyone reading this to do the same and let Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi know why you're doing it. Maybe it's the Dems who need to spend time in excile so they can learn how to govern.

[jukesgrrl]

03:40 AM on 10/31/2009

The Dems need to spend time in exile?? The Dems WERE in exile for 12 years. Granted the current crop isn't doing a great job, but it's an improvement over the years when Republicans were in total and complete charge and NO ONE was served except CORPORATIONS.

[CitizenKelly]

06:27 PM on 10/31/2009

Please stay home if you're for this bill.

In my town of 6000 people. there are only 800 registered voters. Very Sad but TRUE. Only 353 people actually voted in the last election. I'm a voter, that means that my vote counts for 17 people in my community. Ya know what. I'm voting. I"m dragging/driving/bringing people who agree with me to the polls. I've gotten 5 registered voters (who hadn't voted in 10 years) to vote my way in our most recent election.

That means I have a lot of power to influence this election. If you support Pelosi.. please stay home. Becuase me and mine won't. And I"m renting a bus for the next election.

[Eagleman]

10:14 PM on 10/30/2009

Yes I am calling my congressman

I let those morons know that I will not vote for them if they ever vote for this healthcare bill

[MyrtleJune]

06:18 PM on 10/30/2009

You know what, Senator Reid..... I'll tell you what.

I've done that contacting over and over and to NO AVAIL. And for what are we "pushing" them for? For a bill that helps WHO? I'll tell you who..... the INSURANCE COMPANIES that's who. Clearly, Congress and the President are AFRAID of the Insurance AND Banking cartels.

Call our "representatives" for WHAT? No one, not even YOU Senator Reid is doing ONE thing to make this country be governed BY the Government and NOT by the Insurance and Banking industries. Oh, and the Telecom industry because you want us to continue to run up our phone bills.... FOR WHAT? For something YOU and the Congress and the President should be doing anyway! Do you REALLY not know the right thing to do here. Can you NOT see that this country's government is so afraid of what the Insurance Industry and the Banking Industry will do that they are frozen like a deer in the headlights? Well we SEE it, Senator Reid. And we don't like it. Politicians are apparently NOT good at Governing a country!

Stop with the politics and get on with the GOVERNING of this COUNTRY. Get these Industries IN LINE or just bypass them! Remind your colleagues they are NOT used car salesmen, whores, or gamblers.... The ARE to GOVERN this country and stop with ALL the cowering in the face of the previous Industry Imperialism. Take our country's POWER CENTER back!!!!


Take care of it yourself, Senator!

[houseafire]

09:30 PM on 10/30/2009

I agree! I've written both snail mail and email, made phone calls, signed petitions...and not just to my own elected officials here in OR, but Congresspeople and Senators across the US!

There has been poll after poll taken and the results have consistantly said the majority of American people want a strong, viable REAL public option plan.

What I am now believeing, is that we will get nothing but a watered down bill full of peace offerings to the insurance and pharma companies....well, maybe they might have to lower their prices by a nickle (but not until 2050) and they might not be able to cancel a sick individual's policy ( until they jump through the loop holes that will be in place for them) , Oh, and by the way....everyone in America HAS to pay for insurance (corporate America rubbing their little hands together and laughing maniacly heeheehee)...

This and the rest of it is only a show....but I'll tell you what, I don't plan on paying any insurance company a red cent...better hop in your little red wagon and come arrest me, slap me in that over crowded cell that my state can't afford to keep criminals in...Fine me ROFLMAO...how the h e l l are you and your buddies gonna get blood from a turnip?

[Kassandra]

09:54 AM on 10/31/2009

I must say, if they haven't gotten the message by now, what good will a few more phone calls make?
I. and many others, burned up the lines and we got THIS!