AdamB has an excellent recommended diary today, and I urge everyone who has not read it to do so (and donate if you can!) right now: YOU DID IT Show Vulnerable Pro-HCR Dems ~ We’ve Got Your Backs
Absolutely!
These men and women stood up and voted on principle last night. They deserve our help.
And our personal thanks.
Listen to this report tonight on NPR here In Swing State Colorado, Voters React to Health Care Bill about the abuse that’s being heaped on brave Democrat Betsy Markey.
Democratic Rep. Betsy Markey of Colorado voted against previous efforts to overhaul health care, but she supported the bill that passed the House on Sunday night. Markey represents a swing district in a swing state. Her constituents weigh in on the vote — and the changes likely coming to the health care system.
NPR.
President Obama made a point of singling out Rep. Markey’s courage ~ and that of Ohio Democrat John Boccieri ~ in his remarkable speech to the Democratic Caucus on Saturday.
But they were not the only Democrats in hard districts who stood up to do what was right. A complete list of them is in AdamB’s diary.
And we should say thank you with donations -- but also with words.
Not words in emails. Words on paper, sent in envelopes with stamps ~ with real stories about real Americans whose lives were made better yesterday because of what they did.
We need to let them know that their votes made a real difference to us, to our family members, to people we love. We need to tell personal stories.
Here is a comment I wrote last night, after the bill was passed:
I picked up my niece, Kate, at the airport tonight. She had been home in California for spring break. She is 19, and was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes 17 years ago.
I got to tell her that the bill was going to pass. I got to tell her that she no longer has to worry about going without health insurance.
I got to hug this precious girl and let her know she would be okay.
Thank you, Daily Kos. Thank you, President Obama. Thank you, Nancy Pelosi.
I am sobbing.
Here.
And here is the story of the beautiful young woman I wrote about: My Heroine Graduated Today.
So, in addition to making a donation today to these brave Democrats, I decided to write letters as well.
This is what I am letting these men and women know:
I am not one of your constituents, but you should know that I will do everything I can to help you with your re-election campaign. I am the Aunt of a beloved 19-year-old niece who was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes 17 long years ago and who was not too far away from aging out of her parents’ insurance plan. Because of your courage, and that of other principled Democrats in vulnerable districts, I was able to go to sleep last night knowing that my wonderful niece does not face a future without health insurance.
On behalf of my family, thank you, so very much.
It took less than an hour to compose my letters, a few minutes to print them out and sign them. I stuck on some stamps.
What they did made a HUGE difference to my family. Let’s tell them how what they did made a difference to so many of us.