Okay gang, put up or shut up time.
Today we learn that HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is ready to throw the public option under the bus.
Kent Conrad keeps flapping those lips. He reiterated again there aren't the votes in the Senate for the public option.
From AP: White House Appears Ready to Drop Public Option.
Jane Hamsher has been screaming from the rooftops that without massive grass roots pressure on our progressives, we won't even be able to count on them to hold firm on the public option. This is why the Whip Count project so so damn important.
PLEASE, PLEASE WHIP THE PROGRESSIVES!
Before I go any further, let me tell you a quick story about this miserable hypocrite Kent Conrad. The man has been preaching for God knows how long, that there just aren't the votes in the Senate for a public option.
When I was in Washington, Jane Hamsher and I managed to snag a quick chat with him, which you can listen to here.
But before we got him on tape, he told us in a very somber tone that he knows the importance of reform because his wife's sister is being treated at NIH (government health care, Kent) for ovarian cancer. So Mr. Conrad avails his family of superb government health care, but is pleased and happy to do exactly nothing to give the public option a chance. Fuck Enough on Kent Conrad.
Tomorrow, I start my tour of Town Halls. I plan on asking Congressman Crowley to take the pledge. Crowley is the chairman of what are called "New Democrats", I've been studying their positions on healthccare reform, there's not a whole hell of a lot in their position paper on the public option. So I have no doubt that this won't be easy, but I'm sure going to try.
It's about 100 degrees in New York and we expect more of the same sultry weather tomorrow. The Crowley event is in an outdoor square, and it's going to be hotter than hell but I'll be there with Jonathan Tasini who is running for the Senate in New York. We're drawing a line in the sand and putting our butts on the NYC Subway. We'll be there to support Congresssman Crowley and demand that in return, he support the American people, not the lobbyists and special interests, and take the whip count pledge. Stay tuned.
Here's a list of the New Democrats, they are not our natural allies, but you should make every effort to attend their town halls and support them, if you live in the district where one is being held. Once there, you need to remind them that support is a two way street. AS Howard Dean said, these representatives owe their constituents a choice. The way we get from here to there, the way we give the American people a choice, is by fighting for a robust public option, that will be available to all Americans on day one.
This is it. Put their God damn feet to the fire. Bring your video cameras and let them know that we'll see them at the polls in 2010.
Here again, in case you missed my diary from Friday, is where I plan to go over the next week or so. Anyone who wants to join me, I'd love the company.
Congressman Frank Pallone Town Halls:
August 24, 2009
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Piscataway Municipal Building
455 Hoes Lane, Piscataway
August 25, 2009
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Red Bank Municipal Building
90 Monmouth Street
Congressman Joe Crowley
Monday, August 17
"Congress on Your Corner"
6-8PM
Metroplitan Oval - Public Square in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. Easily accessible by NYC Subway. You take the 6 train to East 177th Street in Parkchester - Parkchester Station. Train ride is about a half hour from 59th Street/Lexington station. Then it's about a three block walk down (or up) Metroplitan Avenue to Metropolitan Oval.
I may also do Rush Holt on Wednesday, August 26th
Rush Holt, Middletown, NJ
Wednesday, August 26 7:00 PM
Middletown Arts Center (Middletown, NJ)
And my last would be Jim Himes on Wednesday, September 2 in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Jim Himes, Norwalk, CT
Wednesday, September 2 6:30 PM
Norwalk Hospital Auditorium (Norwalk, CT)
PLEASE SIGN UP IF YOU WILL ATTEND ANY OF THESE EVENTS. ADDITIONAL SIGN UP SHEETS ARE COMING:
THIS IS THE JOSEPH CROWLEY SIGN UP SHEET
THIS IS THE RUSH HOLT SIGN UP SHEET
THIS IS THE FRANK PALLONE AUGUST 25TH SIGN UP SHEET
Look, I'm sorry to be stern, but there is no excuse for not making your voice heard at at least one or two town halls.
Here from FDL Action, is everything you need to find a town hall near where you live. And by the way, don't go alone, bring friends and neighbors and ask them to bring friends and neighbors.
PLEASE USE THE FDL RECESS TRACKER WITH ITS ZIP CODE SEARCH TO FIND TOWN HALL EVENTS NEAR YOU.
HERE IS AN FDL ACTION GUIDE TO RUNNING AN EVENT, ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
USE THIS TOOL TO ADD NEW TOWN HALL EVENTS. WE'RE CONSTANTLY UPDATING.
AND AFTER A TOWN HALL EVENT, YOU CAN TELL US WHAT HAPPENED AND UPLOAD VIDEOS WITH THIS TOOL.
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK IN AT CAMPAIGN SILO FOR ALL HEALTHCARE RELATED INFORMATION
AND, AS ALWAYS, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR WORK
PLEASE DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN:
THERE ARE 22,OOO LOBBYISTS IN WASHINGTON DC.
Please help us continue this fight for the American people and against the FAKE PROTESTORS, THE MOB VIOLENCE, the insurance industry lobby and its August campaign of fear.
Lobbyists and wealthy Republican donors are spending $1.4 million a day to insure that healthcare reform dies. We rely on your generosity.
And this is me, with one lobbyist, there are 21,999 more, all fighting to maintain the status quo.
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