Denise Dennis, a seventh-generation Pennsylvanian, is the author of three books. She is also a journalist whose articles have appeared in numerous publications including the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Unesco Courier, the publication of the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization based in Paris, where she lived for a number years.

Blog Entries by Denise Dennis

Americans Abroad Debate Healthcare Reform

2 Comments | Posted September 22, 2009 | 08:59 AM (EST)



PARIS -- September 22 -- The heated debate over healthcare reform continued last week in an unlikely place, the cobblestone courtyard of an apartment building in Paris. It was there that I encountered an American couple close to retirement age, but not yet retired, from Washington State and...

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Health Care Opponents Outnumbered at Philadelpha Town Meeting

59 Comments | Posted August 13, 2009 | 04:58 PM (EST)


August 12 -- On a humid evening, in a non-air-conditioned church sanctuary, beneath mobiles of origami birds on which prayers are written, Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA) held a town meeting, answering questions on health care reform with few interruptions. More than 500 people gathered in the sanctuary and overflow room...

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To Promote the General Welfare: Health Care Legislation

10 Comments | Posted August 7, 2009 | 12:24 PM (EST)


To those who believe the Constitution does not include health care reform, I suggest that they re-read the preamble to the Constitution, which says that in order to form a more perfect union we must, "...insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense," and "promote the general welfare..."

Access...

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Right Wingers Wreak Havoc on Philadelphia Town Meeting

2579 Comments | Posted August 3, 2009 | 10:09 AM (EST)


Philadelphia, PA -- August 2: This afternoon, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, I saw the face of ignorance and hate--and it wasn't pretty.

When Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius and Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) came to the National Constitution Center to answer questions about health...

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A Teachable Moment: Pride and Prejudice

15 Comments | Posted July 27, 2009 | 04:52 PM (EST)


There are two separate but related, aspects to the confrontation between Harvard professor, Henry Louis "Skip" Gates and Cambridge police officer, James "Jim" Crowley last week. On one hand, there is the very real -- and vile -- issue of police profiling, which far too many African-American and Latino men...

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Blue Dog Dems: Are You Listening?

9 Comments | Posted July 27, 2009 | 10:52 AM (EST)


Members of the Democrat-controlled Congress have a real opportunity to make history this year, by passing legislation to reform our costly and unwieldy health care system.

Speaking on the Charlie Rose program last week, Denis Cortese, President and CEO of the Mayo Clinic said, "We have no health care...

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Universal Health Coverage and Victims of the US System

5 Comments | Posted July 16, 2009 | 12:56 PM (EST)


Opponents of health care reform have spread a few erroneous myths about the French health care system, describing it as "socialized medicine" that restricts the patients' right to choose their own doctors. This myth, among others, is not true.

Although the French government is working to reform their system,...

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Health Care Reform: Why We Need a Public Option

13 Comments | Posted July 13, 2009 | 10:01 AM (EST)


Whenever I hear Congressional opponents of health care reform attempt to scare the public by warning of "socialized medicine," I want to laugh. Aren't these the same fear-mongers who, as they deceived us into the Iraq War, warned us of "weapons of mass destruction?" They try to scare us with...

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The Success of One Day in June

3 Comments | Posted June 8, 2009 | 10:46 AM (EST)


"Long before our time on earth has passed, one word will still bring forth the pride and awe of men and women who will never met the heroes who sit before us: D-Day." --President Barack Obama, June 6, 2009

COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, NORMANDY -- For days, the hype in the French...

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Air France Debris Found, Black Box Recorder Missing

8 Comments | Posted June 3, 2009 | 08:42 AM (EST)


PARIS -- June 3, 11:00 am -- Paul-Louis Arslanian, director of France's Bureau of Investigation and Analysis spoke with the media today about the ongoing investigation of the tragic Air France flight 447, which went down over the Atlantic Ocean with 228 passengers, from more than 30 countries, on board....

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Repub-obstructionists

Posted February 6, 2009 | 01:24 PM (EST)



REPUB-OBSTRUCTIONISTS

President Obama's Recovery Bill will:
Create or save three million jobs within the next two years
Provide funding to repair our crumbling infrastructure
Prevent thousands of teachers from losing their jobs
Double funding for the Department of Education
Create 500,000 green jobs...

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Confidence in Caroline

Posted December 19, 2008 | 05:34 PM (EST)



If selected by Governor Paterson, Caroline Kennedy would make an excellent United States senator from the great state of New York. She has lived in New York since she was six years old, has contributed to public service for years, is the author of books on the Bill...

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Obama and Nations' Governors Convene at Independence Hall

Posted December 3, 2008 | 01:54 PM (EST)


December 2, 2008, Philadelphia - The historic significance of Independence Hall was not lost on the forty-eight governors who gathered here today with President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden, for an unprecedented meeting about the economy. In 1776, when the Founding Fathers gathered at what was the Pennsylvania...

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France To Host Dialogue On Afghanistan Amidst Renewed Franco-American Relations

Posted December 3, 2008 | 12:52 PM (EST)


Throughout the long presidential campaign, on the campaign trail and in the debates, President-elect Obama reiterated his commitment to a multilateral approach to foreign relations that entails diplomatic dialogue and building global alliances. He, also, voiced grave concerns that the war in Iraq has distracted the United States from the...

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PA Gov. Rendell Goes On Offensive For Obama Against McCain-Palin Attacks

Posted November 2, 2008 | 06:29 PM (EST)


PHILADELPHIA - "John McCain promised a decent and honest campaign," said Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell at a press conference in Philadelphia this morning, "but his campaign has been anything but honest; it is desperate and dishonorable." Rendell called the press conference, held at the Obama campaign headquarters in Center City...

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Pa. Gov. Rendell Holds Press Conference To Fight McCain-Palin Smears

Posted November 1, 2008 | 03:57 PM (EST)


PHILADELPHIA -- "John McCain promised a decent and honest campaign," said Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell at a press conference in Philadelphia this morning, "but his campaign has been anything but honest; it is desperate and dishonorable."

Rendell called the press conference, held at the Obama campaign headquarters in Center...

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Artist Creates Field-Sized Replica of Obama Poster In Pennsylvania

Posted October 31, 2008 | 02:41 PM (EST)


Anyone who has viewed Pennsylvania from the sky has been struck by the plush, beautiful, undulating hillsides of northeastern Pennsylvania's Pocono and Endless Mountains. This is never truer than it is in autumn when the vibrant palette of autumn colors--red, gold and orange--transforms the mountaintops into a magnificent natural canvas....

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Pennsylvanians On Guard Against GOP Voter Suppression

Posted October 30, 2008 | 12:41 PM (EST)



In 2000, it was Florida. In 2004, it was Ohio. This year, the war over vote counts and GOP suppression efforts seem to be shifting. Some analysts have called Colorado "the new Florida." But others are keeping their eyes trained on Pennsylvania.

Why else, given the poll...

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Philadelphia Dems and Union Leaders Won't Let Up In Getting Out The Vote

Posted October 27, 2008 | 02:16 PM (EST)



PHILADELPHIA -- Brandon Lucas, 54, of Philadelphia has been a member of the Iron Workers Union for twenty years. His father, a Democratic committee man in the City of Brotherly Love, has been a member of the same union for more than thirty years. Father and son are...

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Philly Community Organizers Rally Voters for Obama, Taking Nothing for Granted in Blue Pa.

Posted October 23, 2008 | 01:12 PM (EST)


In the final weeks of the presidential campaign, John McCain has baffled analysts by choosing Pennsylvania as one of the states in which he wants to concentrate resources and time. The candidate seems to believe he can win here, even though the state has gone Democratic in every presidential election...

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