Public Option Rides Again-- $100,000 In 24 Hours

[t0dd]

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

[Hugin]

1. Yep, there's incentive to side with the little guys.

Great work!

[NYC_SKP]

2. I got four emails yesterday, Kaine, Plouffe, Dean, and my Rep....

So I donated.

I'm impressed by the emergence of a cohesive plan.

I don't care if it was chess or catch-up.

I just want to see a bill pass with a robust public option.

:patriot:

[still_one]

3. If there is a public option it will be because of the grass roots, not the politicians /nt

[CrownPrinceBandar]

6. +1............

We have enormous power at our disposal, we just need to wield it.

[MarjorieG]

4. I've been reading about the Byrd rule and anything 50 votes subject to budget impact difficult to

pass without GOP shooting it down. This is not what happened during earlier Medicare fight. Bernie Sanders wanted to get 60 Dem votes agreement to avoid further filibustering, regardless of voting for actual bill, but I wonder if that's the same as Byrd Rule 50. They say what we could get is swiss cheese and picked apart.

If we could get separate lowering of Medicare age, difficult for Dems and some GOP to vote against, considering popularity of known program. Seniors would have a different idea about reform, but concerned about reforming Medicare if we expand it.

[Demeter]

5. How Much for Single Payer, Universal Health Care?

Just asking....

[Fearless]

7. And how much donated to those delightful little scamps the Blue Dogs...

:rofl:

Oh right... subway tokens and a half eaten slice of pie.

[jberryhill]

8. Let's Make A Huge Pile Of Money And Burn It In Sacrifice To The Gods

Every political issue should be settled by who can burn the biggest pile of dollar bills.

[Walk away]

10. Or better yet. Let's lay down and let the insurance companies roll..

right over us because they can afford to buy our leaders and the people who actually represent us won't be able to afford to get re elected.

Until we get real election reform money talks. Do you think an administration that won't even stand up for a P.O. is going to get that for us?

Better get your credit card out if you want to see any kind of reform.

[Walk away]

9. I am completely broke and swimming in medical debt. I just sent..

10. It's the best I an do.

[mmonk]

11. I contributed.

We need to fight tooth and nail to earn the right to complain and know we did all we could.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. that group of 65

are my voice in the Congress. Thank you to all of them, specially to DeFazio, my current Rep, and to Maxine Waters my former Rep. for being what we hired them to be!

[truedelphi]

16. De Faxio is wonderful.

He Woolsey and Maxine are all I could wish for.

If we could just get another two hundred or so people like that to serve us in Congress.

[CrispyQ]

13. k&r

I sent a few bucks.

[DKRC]

14. K & R!

And donated what I could.

[DFW]

15. 2% of that was me

I gave something to every single one of them and a little more to the ones from Texas.
I admire little things like courage and principle.

So I won't be buying a new set of furniture for the living room this year. I'll live.

[Kingofalldems]

17. Republicans posing as blue dog Democrats are in a state of shock

[Doctor_J]

18. That's about what Big Pharma puts into the fight every 15 minutes

:cry:

[mmonk]

19. But this is voter money.

[NightWatcher]

20. so it's OUR BRIBES vs corporate america's BRIBES? fuck no. I've given my last nickle

I refuse to play OUT BRIBE the politicians against Big Pharma, Big Insurance, Hell Big Everything.