Public Option Rides Again-- $100,000 In 24 Hours [View All]

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Source: Huffington Post

Yesterday we launched a campaign to thank the 65 Democrats who are standing up for working families-- standing up despite Big Insurance's big bucks, standing up despite a campaign of Republican lies and thuggery, standing up even despite corporate shills in their own party, from Blues Dogs to DLC corruptionists like Ben Nelson, Max Baucus and Blanche Lincoln... and perhaps even standing up despite the hard-to-get-a-handle-on maneuverings from the White House. In the 24 hours since we launched the campaign an incredible 1500 donors contributed close to over $100,000 to these 65 courageous Democrats. (http://www.actblue.com/page/theytookthepledge)

Last night Rachel Maddow dedicated the intro to her show to "Democrats drawing a line in the sand" and featured Jane Hamsher (see video below). This came right on the heels of a dial-in weekly Democratic House caucus meeting that reiterated that the House Democrats were stronger than ever behind health care reform with a public option-- regardless of what time of the day it is and where Obama happens to say he stands at the moment.

Not a single member spoke up on behalf of co-ops, according to both people on the call and people briefed on it... In the face of White House backsliding Monday, Pelosi reiterated that a public option is essential to reform. Pelosi gave the caucus a "pep talk," one attendee said, pushing the party to keep pressing the message. She assured an ultimate victory.

"Everyone has said on the record that they would support . But there is a concern that the conference report would give them an out," said an aide briefed on the call by his boss. "Some people spoke up and said, 'We can't give in on the conference report.'"

...

Leaving the obstructionists out of the equation, Democrats have the opportunity to come up with a bill that serves the needs of ordinary American families instead of the special interests the Republican Party is in bed with. It remains to be seen if instinctively cautious Democrats-- who, after all, are in bed with many of the same sleazy interests-- have the guts, foresight and will to seize that opportunity. The stand by progressives in the House who will not budge on the public option-- the actual compromise position-- gives real reform another breath of life and a chance to hang on and fight another day. Let's keep up the good work today and show Rahm Emanuel and the Blue Dogs that Democrats don't have to crawl to Insurance Industry CEOs to finance election campaigns. Even if you give just one dollar-- which is what many people did give yesterday, please help us get to $200,000 this week.

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Z5XO-I0oo

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howie-klein/public-option-rides-again_b_262883.html