White House spurns Mad As Hell Docs, invites friendly docs

[Joanne98]

Dear Friends,

I have a disappointing story to share with you. It is a call to action.


As you may know, the current health reform being written in Congress, particularly that being put together in the Senate Finance Committee (which is literally being written by the former Vice President of Wellpoint—a large insurer), will not be universal and will not control health costs. It will not stop medical bankruptcies and foreclosures due to medical debt. It will not end the suffering and preventable deaths. It will not produce a health care system that uses our health care dollars wisely.

We have a simple solution that will end the suffering and save lives: expanded and improved Medicare for all. But this solution is being excluded.

In a brash move, the White House is again demonstrating the exclusion of those who advocate for real health reform. I will tell you how.

At the end of August, in response to the heated Town Halls and the opposition to health reform, Physicians for a National Health Program and the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care sent letters to President Obama requesting a meeting with him. As the legislation that Congress was putting together was falling apart, we asked to work with the President for real health reform that is simple to understand: Medicare for All. It would be a win for the people in America and a win for the President. He refused to meet with us.



Mad as Hell Doctors image

In early September, a group of physicians known as the Mad As Hell Doctors also wrote to the President. (See also The Mad As Hell Doctors and Mad as Hell Doctors stop in Seattle.) On September 8th they left Oregon to drive across the country, stopping in towns along the way to speak out for Single Payer. Their message was simple: They were angry about the current health care situation in America and wanted to channel that energy for change. They asked for a meeting with the President upon their arrival in Washgington, DC. The President refused. Thousands of people sent letters to the White House asking the President to meet with the Mad As Hell Docs, but still he refused. The only response they received was a request to stop sending so many emails.

On September 30th, the Mad As Hell Docs arrived in Washington, D.C., and held a rally in Lafayette Park in front of the White House. Doctors from across the country attended. They told the crowd why they believed, based on their years of practicing medicine and the stories they heard during their tour about the unimaginable suffering and deaths, that single payer is the solution. Their voices were not heard in the White House, or were they?

This afternoon we received the following media alert:


THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2009

DOCTORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO JOIN PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Doctors Offer Their Help and Support to the President in Push for Health Insurance Reform

WASHINGTON—On Monday, October 5, President Obama will welcome doctors from across the United States to the White House. The doctors from all over the country will join the President in pushing for health insurance reform this year and have offered their help and support. As the Senate Finance Committee wraps up their work on health reform legislation, these doctors will come to the White House to share their unique perspective on the struggles that American families face every day when it comes to health care. The President and the doctors agree that inaction is no longer an option as so many people from all across America face rising costs and growing insecurity with their health insurance.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5th, 11:10 AM EDT
Rose Garden
Open Press (Pre-set 10:10 AM – Final Gather 10:40 AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)


The sham debate is continuing. The White House is inviting doctors from all around the country (sound familiar?) to meet with the President. We can only surmise that these doctors were hand picked to be those who support the President's agenda and to make it appear as though the President has broad support for the legislation in Congress. This is very disappointing. But it is clearly a call to action.


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http://www.opednews.com/articles/Whtie-House-spurns-Mad-As-by-Don-Smith-091004-296.html

GRRRRRRRRRRR!

[joeycola]

1. This is shameful for a President who claims to be open to all voices!!

[bvar22]

2. Chump Change.

Anyone ready for another round of 3-Card Monty?

If we only had 70 seats in the Senate....THEN you would see some change.
Send in your donation TODAY!

[truedelphi]

54. Biden speaks of how we need to remember the importance of the 2010 elections

Because obviously, no Democratic majority in Congress, nor control of the White House, will allow for any real effect until we have had two such elections in a row.

Or maybe it will take THREE!

But we can't really expect Obama to do more than be concillatory with the Repugs this first time around. Otherwise they could go off and form little TeaBaggers groups and occupy Town Hall meetings and scream at the top of their lungs.

And we cannot have that!

[JohnWxy]

3. Good post. Recommended. Anybody, if this bothers you let him know at WH contacts page.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Democracy is NOT a spectator sport. (just ask the thousands of lobbyists in DC right now lobbying against HC reform).

[Metta]

4. Insurance deformers - talking loud, saying nothing. Happy karma to them.

SNL is right.

[DJ13]

5. But....... Obama is (shhhh!) secretly a strong supporter of a public option

Its so secret (shhhh!) his advisers havent told him yet.

[saracat]

12. Shhhh. You aren't allowed to say such things!

[ChiciB1]

51. Now Sara... YOU Know What They Do To People Like Us??? However,

I'm GLAD to see that you're still hanging around here, even though you've been treated "shamelessly" many, many times!

I'm STILL with ya!!

[ChiciB1]

60. I Think I Should Have Said SHAMEFULLY... Anyway... You Bin Dun Wrong!!! n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

49. are you saying he's in the health care closet ? uh oh, I'm gonna call Perez Hilton

[bkkyosemite]

6. Sent the President an email.

[Mojorabbit]

10. So did I. nt

[Enthusiast]

14. It's been done to death.

We have begged the President to be more vocal in his support of the public option.

[Lorien]

39. Yep, me too, but who listens to peasants?

we can't offer millions in campaign contributions.

[Lifelong Protester]

7. Anyone remember the group "Not One DIme" that

advocating not spending money on a certain day to send a message? To the DNC, the DSCC, etc.... NOT ONE DIME until there is REAL DEBATE ON REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM.

[slipslidingaway]

8. knr n/t

[MNmom]

9. Our Billionaires for Wealthcare gave $1 million to Sen. Klobuchar

for her refusal to support the public option. The insurance companies will make megabucks if healthcare reform goes through without the public option. Check out the action: http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/node/27093

[Joanne98]

15. grrrrrrrr

[TacticalPeek]

11. Sellouts.

:mad:

[Enthusiast]

13. "This is very disappointing."

Disappointing ain't even the word for it. This is making me sick.

[dhpgetsit]

16. I stand with the Mad as Hell Doctors.

We will support the current reform effort if it includes a strong public option but what we really want is Single Payer. And we won't stop until we get it.

[Better Believe It]

17. The White House says "health insurance reform"??? What happened to health care reform?

[orbitalman]

18. Obama will reap what he sows.

Unless he somehow pulls off a medical coup, he will be toast with me.

[Lorien]

21. I honestly don't believe that he intends to run for a second term

he's even been evasive on that issue so far.

[katkat]

27. second term

He may realize he's way in over his head, or perhaps he never gave a damn about actually working as President. Some nice photo ops with the family and dog, future books sell well and earn millions, why should he care if he gets reelected.

Do we have anybody decent to run in 2012? I mean anybody with a chance to get elected now that he and Congress have trashed the idea of the Democrats meaning change and betterment?

[Paper Roses]

19. Just sent my e-mail to the White House. I can hope that it

does some good but I wonder.

[eagertolearn]

20. I have friends on this trip and they were part of the group in our area

of Oregon who really fought for Obama. What amazes me is that many of these Mad as Hell Doctors (and Social Workers) are already retired and don't really have to worry for themselves and they are fighting for what is right. I am so dissapointed about what is happening about health care reform. What will be passed will be a huge failure and we won't have a chance again for a long time. Even those who think they are protected under government jobs are finding their benefits are getting cut. We need to get insurance companies (major profit) out and use that money to take care of our people. Thank-You Mad as Hell Doctors for your hard work and now we have to all keep up the work. What happened to the Democratic party? I'm all for working with the other side but come on their not even offering one hand!

[ProSense]

22. "The 'public option' is doomed."

I see the single-payer advocates are having a hard time dealing with reality.

[dhpgetsit]

23. Sweeeeeet!

A MAHD member (Dr. Paul Hochfeld) was allowed into the White House grounds to join the Rose Garden Meeting!

Listening to Carl Wolfson on KPOJ as it happens!

[bertman]

24. This reminds me of the "public" hearings in the Senate on healthcare reform where no one

from any group advocating single payer was even allowed to present an opinion. After the barrage of emails, calls, etc. to the White House, they gave them ONE seat at the table. How magnanimous.

I've already written the White House and told them they will not be getting a dime from me for the President's re-election bid until they win me back.

This crap is tiresome.

[dhpgetsit]

25. Nobody ever said the struggle for Single-Payer was going to be easy.

So instead of throwing in the towel I suggest we keep pressing our representatives year after year for as long as it takes.

[liberation]

43. This has nothing to do with this reform not being an "easy"

It has all to do with the fact that our supposed "allies" on this fight threw us under the bus long ago.

But hey, if blaming the victims makes it easier to deal with this nonsense, by all means...

[bertman]

53. Thank you, liberation. No, it wasn't going to be easy, but it would have been easiER if

we had started from a strong negotiating position like Single Payer, then compromised down to the Public Option. But, nooooo. We got screwed from the git-go.

[liberation]

57. Indeedy...

... one needs to ask for the stars in order to get the moon. You most definitively don't start by asking to your second cousin if it is A-OK to borrow their telescope next Wednesday, and if they can't then that is cool too.

I was once told that the only way to tell if a successful negotiation had taken place is if all parties involved leave the table pissed off. So far, I have only seen the single payer/universal option proponents being sent to jail. Heck, the other side can even bring their guns if so they feel like it.

Obama may be a great guy, a good speech giver, and a competent academic. But as a negotiator, color me unimpressed thus far. And for a lawyer I would expect him not to be as naive as he is proven himself to be in these matters.

[liberation]

42. Did they even get a single seat on that table?

Last I heard people were being detained for having the "gall" to request the single payer folk be seated on said table.

Ch-ch-ch-changesssss.

[change_notfinetuning]

26. not change, not even fine tuning . . . BUSINESS AS USUAL! What happened to

listening to all voices? Did I miss it when he said all voices but those of the progressives? That's what happens when you surround yourself with amoral, unethical scum like Rahm Emanuel. Enough of this administration's tutu two-step.

The five words I'd most like to hear (others are not far behind) are:

Rahm, the tribe has spoken!

[MasonJar]

28. I e-mailed him for all the good it will do. Still he needs to know we

are too mad as hell.

[colsohlibgal]

29. Sham Reform

Just another terribly disappointing action/decision by Obama. I think eventually there will be some kind of public option in this bill, but it will be no real option for the vast majority of people. Obama and the rest keep saying that nobody will be forced to use the public option, what they don't say is that most people will be precluded from using it.

Obama just doesn't get it, or gets it and doesn't care, either way it's not good at all. Change we can believe in not so much.

[ChiciB1]

50. Count ME In Your Corner "Sham Reform"... I Just Don't Get IT Anymore AND

I'm truly sad and upset!! I heard Dylan Radigan calling the Big Corporation, etc., and EVEN the administration some very uncomfortable names!

I KNOW he called the Corps, etc Communistic Opportunist or something like that, but not exactly what he called this Administration! Regardless, he wasn't AT ALL happy about what is NOW happening in this country!!

I keep MSNBC on now so I can follow news updates, like the one happening right now about an hour away from me in Tampa, FL, but for the most part I can't stand hearing what I'm hearing these days!

I've come to "like" Radigan more and more! I used to watch Matthews, Schultz, Olbermann & Maddow and DO like how they "try" to talk back to the HACKS in D.C., but I've stopped doing so because I see NO CHANGE, therefore NO HOPE!!

But, at least "some" of MSM is still speaking out, but MSM IS MSM and they need to start digging deeper and throwing it back to the "controllers" of D.C. and OUR LIVES!!

I watch BBC, Democracy Now, and C-Span... other than that... it's NCIS and things of that sort!

[dpbrown]

30. Shameful!

Single-payer universal health care for all!!!

[swilton]

31. It is a SHAM

and SHAMEFUL!

I've already e-mailed the White House.

[Vidar]

32. Damn. He chose the wrong side again.

[Skittles]

67. Holy shit! What were the chances of that happening?

:rofl:

[debbierlus]

33. Kick - I will call the White House and let them know I want Obama to meet with MAHD

[ooglymoogly]

34. This dangerous giveaway to the insurance industry

is nothing more than a bigger and better way to rob the taxpayer while appearing to help; Stealing 500 bullion from our hard pressed seniors (something the pugs have been trying for decades to do) to hand over to the obscenely rich insurance thugs. Like Clinton before him, he is paying his dues into the club of the most powerful men in the world. He cares not a fig for the folks who put him in power. It is not 10 dimensional chess but flim flam and 3 card monty. We are taken for suckers. A fool and his country are soon parted. Talk the talk and walk a crooked walk and rob us all while pretending to make our lives better.

[MissDeeds]

35. K&R

I thought this sort of thing went out with Bush. Guess not.

[slipslidingaway]

36. Doctors for America ??? Baucus announces new group back in May...

PNHP which advocates for a not for profit HC system has more members than Doctors for America...how many were invited to the WH?

:puke:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/Doctors_for_America_launches.html?showall

May 04, 2009
Categories: White House

'Doctors for America' launches

"This may not wind up being decisive in the health care fight, but the organizing gap between the two sides continues to widen.

Sen. Max Baucus and the Center for American Progress Action Fund are announcing a new group on a conference call later this morning: Doctors for America, which is a reincarnation of Doctors for Obama, an arm of the Obama campaign that boasted more than 10,000 members.

The question of patients' relationships with their doctors is always a flashpoint in debating changes to the health care system, so doctors are often particularly credible messengers.

Today they'll "release new reports detailing the depth and breadth of America's health care crisis and announce a new effort to amplify physicians' voices in support of health care reform," according to the advisory."


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/05/obama-hold-doctors-summit-effort-promote-health-care-overhaul-agenda/

"...But the doctors in the Rose Garden were all supporters of health care reform -- and the invitation-only guest list drew heavily from Doctors for America, a grassroots organization that backs a government-run insurance option.

Roughly 98 percent of the group's 15,000 members support a public insurance option, Doctors for America spokeswoman Megan Smith told FOXNews.com. She said roughly 40 of the 150 doctors who attended the meeting were from the organization...."

[HowHasItComeToThis]

37. TAKE MY CONGRESSPERSONS IN FORMATION POLL

http://woolsey.house.gov/default.asp

[mascarax]

65. Thanks - did

& selected this one:
Ensuring a robust public option like Medicare:
51%

(next up: Reducing expenses at 30%)

[GMA]

38. how can you say that

with the debate still going strong?

[joeycola]

40. So why won't the Pres debate with the MadasHell docs?

[liberation]

44. ... something to do with not enough time has passed in this 3D-chess game or some such...

[joeycola]

48. oh I forgot the chess game. silly me.

:hi:

[change_notfinetuning]

62. new strategy - only take pawns. Hasn't worked for my 6 year old yet. n/t

[bvar22]

64. The "Debate" has been limited to two options:

1)BAD

or

2)Worse

Any REAL reform has been taken off the table.

ALL of the remaining options WILL be a bonanza of BILLIONS to the For Profit Health Insurance Industry.

NONE of the Public Options in ANY of the BILLS is Government Run Health Insurance "like Medicare".

The most liberal plan (HR 3200) creates a Private Corporation, "The Exchange", that will administer something they call a "Public Option" that will be limited to those who have been discarded by the For Profits, or are too poor to have already bought Health Insurance.

We are fighting over The Crumbs,
but it is important to keep fighting.
But don't buy into the delusion that we are fighting for Health Care like what is available in 36 of the 37 civilized nations.
THAT has been taken OFF the TABLE.

[Skittles]

66. the debate between Obama and his corporate fans

[newtothegame]

41. I don't really feel sorry for them. Why would a group of adults looking to be taken seriously...

and meet with the President, no less, name themselves something so immature? I'm sure they thought it was cute and that they'd get to read about themselves in newspapers and magazines, but there's a difference between that, and actually trying to get something done.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

45. Yeah, it's just their name

If they were named Deadly Serious Medical Professionals Who Show No Emotion Whatsoever When Discussing Life and Death Issues, Obama would be delighted to meet them. :sarcasm:

[joeycola]

52. He liked the photo op today and all the WHITE UNIFORMS surrounding

him today!!

[liberation]

46. You are part of the reason why this country is circling the drain...

... congratulations, and thank for your "concern."

[newtothegame]

47. Congratulations to you; hope your desperate search for trolls is fruitful. n/t

[liberation]

59. Thanks, so far it has been fruitful indeed.

[newtothegame]

61. To each his own I guess. The rest of us will be over here discussing the issues.

Sorry people pick on you. Hugs and kisses.

[druidity33]

55. it's not immature...

it's threatening. It implies, "we're not going to take it anymore!".

"Mad as Hell" as a phrase has been around for hundreds of years... it's an iconic and universal saying. What's so cute about that?

:shrug:

[valerief]

56. Uh, where's our Democratic President? nt

[slipslidingaway]

58. Doctors for Obama, now called Doctors for America, were well represented at the WH today. nt

[travelingtypist]

63. One of the Mad as Hell Docs got in.

He was talking about it on the Ed Schultz radio show. He was talking to the docs outside waiting to go in and the WH invited him in.

He said it wasn't a meeting. It was a photo op.

ETA: It was Dr. Hochfeld.