And here comes the Cavalry to seal the healthcare deal.
Over the last week or so, we've mobilized an unprecedented coalition of the largest progressive organizations in the nation, including MoveOn, HCAN, DFA, Progressive Congress and SEIU--with others expected to join imminently.
On February 24th, the day before the Presidential Healthcare Summit, we will deliver to Washington DC, a scream they will never, ever forget.
1,000,000 VOICES FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM: A VIRTUAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON
We'll do this via calls, faxes, Tweets, Facebook, emails, telegrams, balloon drops and carrier pigeons. Whatever. It. Takes.
This coalition is committed like nothing this country has ever witnessed, to turning the dream of guaranteed and affordable healthcare into reality.
PLEASE TELL US IF YOU WILL JOIN THE 1,000,000 VOICES FOR HEALTHCARE VIRTUAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON
I now believe, come hell or high water, President Obama will sign a bill, and it might even include a public Option.
Failure is not an option. Don't believe me about the nightmare consequences of failure, but please believe Paul Krugman. So this miraculous day in the Rose Garden or Oval Office must happen, and in large part it will happen due to the hard work all of us will undertake on Wednesday, February 24th.
Repeat after me, please: Wednesday, February 24th, a day Washington will never forget.
How the February 24th 1,000,000 Voices coalition was formed.
So how did all this happen? The back story is quite simple and if you're interested, you can read it here.
But before I describe the events on February 24th, some thanks are in order, people who didn't blink, didn't waver but jumped in, and without whom this huge undertaking would not be happening.
First Charles Chamberlain at Democracy for America and Darcy Burner at Progressive Congress took a leap of faith and said yes, when I asked them to use their powerful organizations to make the 1,000,000 voices campaign a success. These two great Americans gave the idea a heartbeat. And this historic event was born.
Then I got on my knees and I started pleading. Actually I didn't need to do any begging--things fell into place--just like a miracle, a true miracle. I made a great new friend, Kathleen (Kat) Barr at MoveOn, who responded to my emails and then my calls, as if I was her long lost sister. Kat, God bless her, has been working around the clock to make this a phenomenal success, she and MoveOn are continuing to bring in more organizations.
slinkerwink has been as busy as any human being I've ever known, preparing things behind the scenes. Nobody knows how to create documents and perform esoteric computer marvels like beautiful slinkerwink (Noelle).
And dear Jason Rosenbaum at HCAN, who never stopped being his sweet self, even as I placed my tenth call of the day to demand an answer about when HCAN would be officially on board. He kept me calm, talked me down, and told me not to worry as my calls became increasingly frantic. But hell, I've always said for healthcare, I'll take a bullet or do unnatural things. So America thanks you too, Jason, Levana, Richard, and HCAN.
Procedures and what can you expect on February 24th.
We need All Hands on February 24th. Can we all put aside our differences and join together in one common purpose, because our lives depend on it, to make healthcare a reality?
The 1,000,000 Voices campaign will be rolled out to the media starting on Monday. We'll keep you advised of all developments as they happen.
On the morning of Wednesday, February 24th, either slinkerwink or I will post a diary, which we will ask you to please keep alive and on the rec list all day and into the evening.
We'll ask you to sign in on Daily Kos, once you do that, you'll be seamlessly directed to MoveOn.
On the MoveOn 1,000,000 Voices Virtual March on Washington web site, which will go live early in the morning of February 24th, you'll be able to use their incredible tools to contact Congress and the Senate and to take the action of your choice--call, email, fax or write. We ask you to sign in on Daily Kos so that we'll know and give you frequent tallies throughout the day and night of the number of Kossacks who are participating in the Virtual March.
Some of you have asked about what message to deliver.
The overall message is very, very simple. PASS HEALTHCARE REFORM.
Each organization will ask it's members to call, email, fax, or write a letter. If you decide to call, you'll be offered talking points. You're free to use them or not, whatever moves you. Just take an action--call, email, fax, letter--it's all about 1,000,000 contacts on February 24th.
Since the Public Option may be gaining life again, if this is something you support, then please demand a public option. If you would prefer not to make that demand, that's also fine.
These are the talking points which resonate with us. You're free to use them or not, it's your choice.
The call-in effort will be to ask for these items below in the reconciliation fix, and directing these calls at the House and the Senate.
* Inclusion of the public option
* The Medicare buy-in
* Fixing the excise tax
* Getting rid of the Nebraska Cornhusker Kickback deal
* National exchange
* Drug re-importation
* Drug price negotiation in Medicare Part D
* Increasing subsidies.
Why are we aiming high?
Because we need to do our best, and always fight to the end in making this Senate bill better.
On the other hand, if you believe the best route to getting a bill passed is for the House to simply vote to pass the Senate Bill, you are free to make that your "ask". And we thank you too, for participating.
All we ask, is that you take an action.
And if you want to help us continue this fight:
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