Thursday, January 21, 2010

Emergency campaign

Obama and some Democrats in Congress are considering scaling back health care in the wake of Tuesday's election. So we're launching an emergency campaign—starting with a national newspaper ad—to save reform. Will you add your name to our ad urging Democrats to deliver real health care reform with a public option? 

Add your name to the ad

Dear MoveOn member,

Tuesday's election was a shock. But the aftermath was even worse: President Obama and some Democrats in Congress are now considering scaling back health care reform.1

That would be a huge mistake. We saw on Tuesday that voters don't feel like Washington is delivering on the change they voted for in 2008.Caving on health care reform will only make that worse.

So we're launching an emergency campaign to save real health care reform. The first step is running full-page ads in national newspapers with thousands of names of folks calling on Democrats to step up and pass strong health care reform. Will you add your name to the ad today? Just click the link below.

http://pol.moveon.org/bold/?id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=2

We're still writing the ad, but it'll say something like: We want the change we voted for in 2008, but Democrats aren't delivering. It's time to stand up to corporate interests and fight for us—starting with passing a strong health care reform bill, not scaling back.

It's clear voters still want real change—but are disappointed with Washington's failure to deliver. A poll of Massachusetts voters shows just that:3

  • 82% of Obama supporters who voted for Brown support the public option, as do 86% of Obama voters who stayed home.

  • 57% of Obama voters who stayed home on Tuesday support the Senate health care bill or think it doesn't go far enough.

  • And of Obama voters who cast a ballot for Brown, nearly half (49%) support the Senate bill or think it does not go far enough. Just 11% think it goes too far. 

Democrats could take the election's message to heart and redouble their efforts for real change. Instead, too many, including the president, are shrinking back.

But even with one less Democrat in the Senate, they've got more than enough votes to finish reform. Through a process called "budget reconciliation," they only need 51 votes to pass a bill, not 60. 

As our ad will point out, this could be their chance to pass an even stronger bill, including the popular public option. With reconciliation, Democrats would no longer be beholden to conservatives like Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson.

But with some Democrats learning exactly the wrong lesson from Tuesday, we need to speak up to save real health care reform. 

Will you add your name to the ad urging Democrats to fight for real reform with a strong public option?

http://pol.moveon.org/bold/?id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=3

Thank you for all you do.

–Kat, Laura, Eli, Carrie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Obama Weighs Paring Goals for Health Bill," The New York Times, January 20, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86094&id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=4

"Democrats begin discussing smaller health care overhaul after losing Massachusetts Senate seat," The Associated Press, January 21, 2010
http://www.startribune.com/politics/82149892.html

"Obama, Dems regroup to cut back health plan," The Detroit Free Press, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86093&id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=5

"In the aftermath, Dems debate path of party," The Hill, January 20, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86095&id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=6

2. Poll conducted by Research 2000 January 19, 2010, commissioned by MoveOn.org, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and Democracy for America 
http://pol.moveon.org/brownpoll/?id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=7

3. Ibid.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on January 21, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

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