This September: March On Washington For Universal Coverage AND Obama
I don't think the administration is using the troops in the field.
Obama did not just win an election. He created a force of millions who were dedicated to his election and now to the success of his Presidency.
Maybe it is time to show the Congress that we are still here.
We organize a massive march for the Obama plan (and that means public option). We pick a fine fall day. We make sure that the blue dogs and other lily livered types have plenty of constituents marching and visiting their offices.
We let them know that millions of us are not going to permit them to destroy this Presidency. As one who worked on the Hill for 20 years, I can assure you that there is nothing Congressmen and Senators fear more than the idea of mass action on their turf.
Obama was elected by a movement. It's time to bring it back. It's time to scare the hell out of the hacks, the lobbyists and the legislators who believe that the purpose of being ion Congress is not to serve America but to score another term.
To the streets. for the Obama agenda.
MJ:
Is it really wise for progressives to use a title ("Million Man March") that was created by Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam?
Is this a wise way to show support for Obama?
Despite your sadness that health care reform is not proving as easy as the optimists had predicted, you need to think more carefully about strategy.
July 29, 2009 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, I'll change that. Thanks
July 29, 2009 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're very welcome.
July 29, 2009 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's a wonderful idea. It will need to be related to the legislative calendar, of course, and that is probably do-able.
July 29, 2009 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! You have got to be kidding. Have you seen the polls lately? The plurality, if not the majority, are against the "Obama agenda"; against ObamaCare, against Cap and Tax, and against the "stimulus". Keep living in your echo chamber, MJ.
July 29, 2009 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
You aren't fair. In your homeland you have universal coverage, why shouldn't Americans have it too?
July 29, 2009 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
My homeland has the best healthcare in the world. I live in the Northeast United States.
July 29, 2009 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Most expensive health care you mean. I heard today that Obama was born in Communist North Korea. Sound right? It's got as much validity as your "polls."
Smart to be against the stimulus BTW, good job. Let the market decide in which order the world economy collapses.
July 29, 2009 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, those notoriously right-wing NPR and Gallup polls.
And I am all for reducing costs. But when has a government-run anything reduced costs???
How about tort reform to lower the malpractice insurance premiums doctors pay?
How about letting health insurance companies offer coverage across state lines?
Those two things would reduce costs instantly and significantly without affecting service.
July 29, 2009 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Polls will be made obsolete once a clear plan emerges from Congress for Obama to sell.
As to when-did-gov't-ever-do-efficient healthcare, the VA healthcare is *much* less expensive than "market" alternatives and is a model for whole word.
July 29, 2009 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't support Obama anymore, he has stabbed me in the back on all of his campaign promises.
I would go to Washington to end the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations, to bust up monopolies, to prosecute the torture regime, to end free trade, to support single payer, to fund schools properly, to re-regulate banks.
However, Obama is on the other side of this class war.
July 29, 2009 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's against regulating banks?
July 29, 2009 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, I am really struggling with this idea. I'd love to BUT......
Gotta pay for my healthcare insurance and that money comes before travel expenses to DC to attend a massive march for universal healthcare.
See how "they" have constructed this?
How about many local protests on the same day? That I have the time, passion, and funds for.
Where do we start? I'm not kidding. I'm in for local protests, linked by video and large enough to get national MSM coverage.
And if it takes more time to set up? How about we plan on a national holiday so folks don't have to lose a days pay AND get to voice their frustration?
July 29, 2009 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Back in my youth, the antiwar movement had millions of people take to the streets in their own community on Oct. 15, 1969.
It was huge and drove the Nixon team crazy.
Of course, it was followed a month later with a million people in DC for the Mobe.
I'm just outting this out to discuss and come up with something.
July 29, 2009 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where's the evidence that "the Obama Plan" means public option?
The biggest reason we won't see a strong public option is because Obama has avoided demanding it, and educating people about why it is so very important.
Obama's vagueness about specifics is why so many people are being convinced by health industry commercials and news segments that reform is a bad idea.
People are saying, "if Obama's reform is such a good idea, why can't he talk about the specifics?"
Obama wants to claim credit for supporting strong reform, while ultimately blaming its failure on Congress.
Then we have Rahm talking about triggers, and supporting his blue dog foot soldiers in their obstruction. Not to mention Rahm's brother:
Deadly Doctors:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07242009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/deadly_doctors_180941.htm
Principles before personality, M.J.
Show us the evidence that the public option is Obama's plan, or get off his lap.
July 29, 2009 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dem. Congressperson: "Rahm to blame for obstructionist Blue Dogs."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/28/maxine-waters-rahm-to-bla_n_246325.html
July 29, 2009 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
MJ,
Why should people fight for the Obama plan when he won't fight for it or for us?
There was no "movement" for Obama it was simply an army of volunteers and the movement schtick was always just a rhetorical ploy. They have used the alleged movement as nothing but a fundraising tool ever since. If Obama really believed he was leading a "movement" why doesn't he call for a mass rally or even call for phone calls to members of Congress? Because that was never the point of amassing all those lists. It was always and solely about raising money as it continues to be. If you get one of those Obama e-mails from his organization haven't you noticed that you can't sign on to anything or "do" anything they are requesting you to do online without giving money? Why do you think that is?
No, MJ, until Obama starts standing up for us, it seems almost pathetic to stand up for his "agenda" which differs little from that of the great malefactos of wealth whose parasitical practices are ruining a once great country and turning us all into peasants. Peasants without a national health care plan I might add.
July 29, 2009 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
if obama was out there pushing hard for single payer, i'd be out in the streets backing him up.
but obama isn't even really sticking his neck out for even the public option.
i'll be staying home.
you all have fun marching in favor of half measures.
July 30, 2009 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
MJ Rosenberg spends to much time in Washington DC.
August 2, 2009 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
When I heard and saw that 10,000 anti health reform marchers hit Washington , I thought the same thing. Let's have a Million Man March.
Addressing other comments I have read. The public option is important to cover those without healthcare and the president must keep the lines of communication open. Not participating in the core of what you support is wrong because it seems that he is not supporting the option but that is not what he said..
With a million marching this will give us easily the public option and squelch the 10,000 who marched against reform.
September 14, 2009 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
n the Hill for 20 years, I can assure you that there is nothing Congressmen and Senators fear more than the idea of mass action on their turf.
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