In one day, Grayson piles up another 40 (Total = 50) co-sponsors for Medicare buy-in bill

[kpete]

Source: Open Left

In one day, Grayson piles up another 40 co-sponsors for Medicare buy-in bill
by: Chris Bowers
Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 15:47


In just two days, Alan Grayson has piled up 50 co-sponsors to his Medicare buy-in bill, which is designed as a stand-alone bill rather than as an amendment to the health reform bill. Here is the complete list of 50 co-sponsors:

50 CURRENT COSPONSORS : Bob Filner, Jan Schakowsky, Barney Frank, Dennis Kucinich, Donna Edwards, Jared Polis, Chellie Pingree, Sheila Jackson Lee, Carol Shea-Porter, Diane Watson, John Lewis, Anthony Weiner, Jerrold Nadler, Nydia Velazquez, Keith Ellison, Loretta Sanchez, Hank Johnson, Maxine Waters, Luis Gutierrez, Lynn Woolsey, Marcy Kaptur, Charles Rangel, Patrick Kennedy, Raul Grijalva, Donna Christian-Christensen, John Olver, Corrine Brown, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Marcia L. Fudge, Danny K. Davis, Pedro Pierluisi, Grace Napolitano, Alcee Hastings, John Hall, Shelley Berkley, John Conyers, Jim McGovern, Phil Hare, Betty Sutton, Jim McDermott, Gregorio Sablan, Maurice Hinchey, Carolyn Maloney, Barbara Lee, Elijah Cummings, Gregory Meeks, Edolphus Towns, Al Green, David Wu, and Rush Holt.

Every indication has always been that there is overwhelming support for a Medicare buy-in among Congressional Democrats. This could very well pass as a stand alone bill, especially in 2011 once filibuster reform has taken place. This is definitely one of the ways that progressives can viably continue the fight for real health reform no matter what happens to the current bill.

Read more: http://www.openleft.com/diary/17786/in-one-day-grayson-piles-up-another-40-cosponsors-for-medicare-buyin-bill

[polichick]

1. k&r - we need more Graysons! nt

[TheEuclideanOne]

23. Nah

He's doesn't do things the Democrat way.

[tavalon]

74. You'll get blasted for that usage

It's the Democratic way. We are Democrats. Using Democrat way is using the Republican smear. Not well liked here at DU.

[truthisfreedom]

80. It's the DEMOCRATIC way.

Get it right.

[nashville_brook]

85. yeah -- we need more Stupaks!

:rofl:


nice Glenn Beckian language there, btw.

[TheEuclideanOne]

88. Not sure, maybe you got my sense of humor there. Can't quite tell.

My jokes are not always that clear unless I use an emoticon to aid the unsuspecting reader. Either that or they are just funny to me (more likely). The reality is that I love Grayson. I was really trying to say that he is so awesome that he seems like a fish out of water compared to (most of) these other democrats that are supposed to be representing us.

[activa8tr]

101. Many of us got your humor, as for those that did NOT, I can only

hope they catch on as time goes on.

I chuckled!

[No Elephants]

116. The suggestion is that you are insulting Democrats, not that you are insulting Grayson.

Democrat way = a Republican/Rovian way of insulting DemocRATS.

Democratic way = correct usage. (It's the Democratic Party, not the DemocRAT Party.)

So, no, an emote would not change anything.

[TheEuclideanOne]

118. yawn

[No Elephants]

121. LOL. I was only interpreting what the other posters were telling you and you were missing.

You may as well get pissed at a translator, who simply tells you what someone else is trying to tell you.

[TheEuclideanOne]

124. Okay, Okay I get it

Democrat bad, Democratic good. 50 lashes for me!


Boy, you guys just sucked all of the fun out of my joke :)

[DirkGently]

105. It's not the "Democrat" way

to be thin-skinned, now, is it?

:mad: /:rofl:

Go, go, Grayson.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

66. any way to get this up to 1,000 recommends?

we've still got time, right?

[snot]

68. Msg your buddies to check it out.

[mikelgb]

2. Kucinich!? I thought he was a Stupak-Bohner type who votes against the public option?

[neuvocat]

31. Give it time.

The bill hasn't come up for a vote yet.

[Vidar]

47. He voted against a bad bill and he's supporting a good one.

[earcandle]

54. Exactly!

[Ohio Metal]

92. Ditto! n/t

[NorthCarolina]

96. Of course you are 100% correct, but that reality doesn't fit the image the DLC New Dems here on DU

want to portray of DK and Liberalism in general. Their frequent attempts to ridicule Kucinich here on DU by posting baseless and completely immature DLC talking points such as "he votes with the Republicans" or "what has he done", are so completely transparent to most thinking folks that it borders on the comical. I can imagine that they are fear driven by the realization that their demonization of Liberal/Progressive has begun to ring hollow in public perception, and the belief in the fallacy of a center-right nation now resides only with the conservative talking heads in the MSM who feebly attempt to convince us that it is so. I for one will be glad when the DLC New Dem pox upon the Democratic Party is just a bad memory.

[Eric J in MN]

60. Dennis Kucinich voted against the House HCR bill because...

...after his amendment to protect the right of states to go single-payer cleared the committee, Nancy Pelosi took it out anyway at the urging of the White House.

And because it has a weak public option (not based on Medicare rates) instead of a strong public option.

[kmac3]

125. K & R . . . You go Dennis . . . .

...after his amendment to protect the right of states to go single-payer cleared the committee, Nancy Pelosi took it out anyway at the urging of the White House.
***********

Kucinich is totally for the people and is doing the right thing in my opinion .... without public option I do not consider success in health care reform from this president. Grayson's plan is the next best option.
:yourock:

[nashville_brook]

86. wow -- you really think that?

guess that explains a lot.

Kuch is voting against the Senate version of the bill exactly b/c it doesn't carry any protections such as a public option.

[Webster Green]

106. Yeah, sure you did..

But having a thought might require actual thinking.

Fail!

[lark]

128. Is this a joke?

Equating Stupak and Kucinich sounds like a joke to me.

[fascisthunter]

3. excellent (nt)

[pleah]

4. K&R

[OKNancy]

5. A buy in is a JOBS bill too

I think a Medicare buy in, or lowering the Medicare age would be a boon to the job market.

1. Older folks might retire a little earlier and open jobs up for the younger people who are really suffering in this economy.
A business might want to hire a younger person at a lower salary too... both would be happy!
2. It would also increase entrepreneurship. Some people would really like to start their own businesses and employ people, but they can't afford to leave their jobs and pay the exorbitant private insurance rates. Entrepreneurs also would not have to worry about part-time employees because if the buy-in is reasonable, all their workers could have insurance.

[Lucky Luciano]

7. Yeah makes no sense that other business people outside of the

Insurance industry are opposed. Instead of paying insurers, they pay taxes and get better care for the employees. No brainer. Perhaps they fear that their industry will be attacked in some way next??!

:shrug:

[Jackpine Radical]

29. Wrong-it makes sense for BIG bus. to oppose single-payer.

Being big, they get better deals on private ins. than startups ever will. This prevents competition from the little guys. The dinosaurs have found a way to kill off the mammals before they get a foothold.

[saracat]

6. OMG. I wonder if this could pass the Senate too?

And of course the WH , as per usual, has no comment.

[Andy823]

25. I doubt it!

The senate isn't going to pass anything the will help the people of this country, at least it seems that way!

[earcandle]

55. So then let us replace this asshats asap!

If they can't do their job, which is providing us with
services, then we cannot have them on our PR! 

[Andy823]

103. I agree.

The big problem is getting someone to run against them. Some of these members of congress have been there for ages, and they get voted back in time after time with nobody taking them on back home in the primaries. Seems like the "good old boys" club keeps the good old boys coming back year after year, and year after year, they get money from the corporations that have bought and paid for their votes! This is why we need real change, and term limits is one of those changes. As long as the big money can pay for votes, and as long as the leadership in the party backs the same people every year, and gives them money to fight any challengers that may pop up, we are going to have problem getting rid of them! We need real campaign finance reform to keep all the corporate money out of the picture, but the problem is the same asshats that need to go are the same ones who "WON'T" vote for reform!

[No Elephants]

119. I am beginning to be ok with that, as long as they vote, with ayes and nays. Enough of letting

these insect turds hide under the rocks of voice vote, or no vote at all.

[tavalon]

75. The White House has far too much quiet time

I'm not okay with President Obama keeping quiet. This was supposedly his baby.

[Zambero]

8. Grayson for Majority Whip!

We could use a few more like Grayson. He has what it takes to be in a leadership role. It's high time for some new blood!

[avaistheone1]

110. Great idea.

Grayson would be very effective as whip.

:kick:

[SoapBox]

9. GO HERE to send out a message to your reps...

Just fill in the zip and it will find your Representative.

http://salsa.mydccc.org/o/30019/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=18

[Ohio Metal]

93. Thanks for the link

Steve Driehaus needs his name on the list.

[diane in sf]

107. thanks, here's my customized message to Nancy Pelosi

I strongly encourage you to cosponsor and vote for Alan Grayson's HR 4789, The Public Option Act. This simple, 4 page bill lets anyone buy into Medicare.

Many of my friends are in their 50s, underemployed, with existing health conditions and can't afford to pay for insurance. In a civilized country like France, England or Cuba, this wouldn't be an issue.

I want them to be able to buy into Medicare. You can make that happen by cosponsoring HR 4789.

Regards,

[HillbillyBob]

130. Done!

To Brad Miller D/rep/ dist 13 NC

[No Elephants]

10. Mike Capuano is not on that list. He is liberal, but also is an ally of Pelosi.

He voted against the Iraq War and War on Terra resolutions and all versions of the Patriot Act. He is also a member of the Progressive Caucus.

I hope he joins.

[Jefferson23]

11. K&R for hope, for we the people. n/t

[Change Happens]

12. Including me!!! I sign his petition...............nt

[BumRushDaShow]

13. K&R

:kick:

[DeSwiss]

14. K&R

:yourock: Alan Grayson for President in 2012!!!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. Have to give Hoyer a call...

...not that he'll listen.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. Yeah!

[MagnusLiberal]

17. Go Grayson!

Can we clone this guy so he can run for office in multiple districts? He polls well with both Democrats and reproblicans!

[Iowa]

18. Grayson 2012.

[swilton]

19. It Makes One Wonder

What the rest of the f---ing representatives are doing on Capital Hill.

[Amonester]

45. Attending cocktails with lobbyist$.

(Paid-for by the corp$ the lobbyi$t$ work for.)

(Probably.)

[colsohlibgal]

20. Early Warning Barack!

Turn left, stop trying to play centrist/republican lite, get things done for the middle class - don't do this at your own peril because we have a couple of new champions, Mr. Grayson and Mr. Weiner.

[grahamhgreen]

21. I love my rep (John Lewis)! AND Grayson! And all the rest!

[mbperrin]

22. Yep, too bad nobody wants single payer.

Dump the industry written crap being pushed by the admin and pass this - it's the smallest version of a single payer bill available.

[SergeStorms]

77. I think many want single payer..........

many Americans, that is. The people that don't want it are our elected "public servants" in Congress. You know, the ones being plied with all sorts if health industry lucre to kill any meaningful health care reform.
Given a choice, the American people would flock to a Medicare buy-in like flies to doo-doo. Given a choice. :eyes: Like that will happen. We'll get what the insurance industry wants us to have and we'll LIKE IT! :puke:

[mbperrin]

108. I fear that you are right. The people themselves will do what is right.

The vampires behind their "representatives" are in charge.

I can dream, can't I?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. Yay Keith Ellison!

:yourock:

[harun]

34. He's awesome.

[midnight]

26. Impressive.

[valerief]

27. Wonderful reps acting like wonderful reps! How wonderful!!!!

:applause:

[Little Star]

28. k&r

[CONN]

44. kick

[defendandprotect]

30. Grayson 2012 -- Thank you!!!

[twitomy]

32. These 50 Dems should VOTE NO! on the HCR bill

killing it so that Grayson's bill can take precedent.

[harun]

33. What they should do, and they may very well be planning this, is tell them vote this

through if you want the other bill passed. If they say no, then these 50 can simply refuse to sign off on the Senate bill.

With the timing of it I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is going on. The House knows it is screwed if it simply rubber stamps the Senate version. Senate won't do sh*t to fix it. If they put this through first, then they can get leverage.

[Vidar]

48. Good thinking. I hope you're right.

[twitomy]

79. Then that would mean the HCR would be become law.

Dont want that happening!

[harun]

90. House should vote on Grayson's bill, pass it. Tell the Senate to pass it

and once they pass it, the House will pass the Senate HIR (Health Insurance Reform) bill.

If not I don't blame the House for not wanting to pass the Senate version. The Senate can vote on the House version and make that law too, but everyone knows they won't. So they are pressuring the House.

[Festivito]

40. Not if it means needing 60 for cloture! No. No way.

You ain'ts gots no 60. You's gots 50. 50's less than 60.

[twitomy]

81. This is the House we are talking about

unless I am mistaken.

I want to see the current HCR DEAD. Its an abomination. This is a much better alternative. Kill the HCR and promote this bill.

[No Elephants]

117. No reason why they can't do a Medicare option in reconciliation and drop the POS entirely.

[earcandle]

59. Oh YES! Here is a love song for all of you!

Haystack

Its fun. Especially for us older folks who like being together.

And it works for Democrats who stick together as well.
A little thrill at the endpoint.

[cliffordu]

35. GRAYSON IN '16!!!!!!!

[Bolo Boffin]

36. Eddie Bernice Johnson, my rep, is in there!

I called her office today to ask her to "pass the damn bill" but I'm glad to see that she's on this list as well.

[SlingBlade]

37. Go Greyson, Go. Send these corporate SOBs masqerading as

democrats home to their mommies so they can get their panties changed.

[The Green Manalishi]

38. Lynn Woolsey is on there

She's my rep. I shall email her tonight to thank her.

Thanks

[Jim Sagle]

39. If only we had a Democratic president, then it would be SURE to pass. Oh, wait...

[Sherman A1]

72. Agreed

[BrklynLiberal]

41. Every day, in every way, Rep Grayson is more and more my hero

[AzNick]

42. And he polls high among the Republicans - Blanche Lincoln, you paying attention? nt

[DisgustedInMN]

43. K & R

[2Design]

46. Go Alan Grayson !!!!!!

[NuttyFluffers]

49. there's my Barbara Lee, again doing right by me!

:loveya:

[Cetacea]

50. K&R

[Vidar]

51. Grayson fights, which even the Republicans respect. Obama should pay attention.

[Ed76638]

61. That nub Obama can learn a lot from him.

[madrchsod]

52. medicare will cost me 80 a month plus drug coverage...

a

[gateley]

56. How did you figure that out? nt

[madrchsod]

95. it`s in the social security/medicare site

[gateley]

102. Thanks -- I'll go see what I can figure out for myself. nt

[SnoopDog]

53. All the usual Patriotic American Congresspersons...

Thanks. Real Americans appreciate the efforts of these Congresspersons.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

57. We need to get NC Congressmen on here

surely David Price at least.

[donco6]

58. This is called "being aggressive"

Why is it so foreign to our party?

[tango-tee]

62. Truly good news!

KnR

[tmyers09]

63. I sent a message to my Rep. Mike Rogers (8th District Republican)

But it likely will not do any good. Still, at least he got a message about it. If he or his staffers actually read these, they may be surprised they got it. Many liberals may have given up on even contacting him. For what it's worth, I also added a more personal message:

I strongly encourage you to cosponsor and vote for Alan Grayson's HR 4789, The Public Option Act. This simple, 4 page bill lets anyone buy into Medicare.

I want to people to be able to buy into Medicare if they so choose. You can make that happen by cosponsoring HR 4789.

Please Congressman Rogers. This could do so much good for the district, both in terms of stable health insurance, and the opportunities for job growth. How many possible entrepreneurs gave up on their dream of opening a business because they were worried about having low purchasing power in the private market? How many employers have held off of hiring new employees because they couldn't afford to provide health insurance for the workers they already had?

They have talked about a "jobs bill", but this is the bill that could create jobs now, which is what this district, state, and country need the most. I know it wouldn't be so popular with the Republican establishment, but it would help the people of the eighth district immensely.

Regards,

(me)

P.S. -
You may remember my dad, (name removed). He used to be a police officer for Pinckney/Unadilla in the 1990's, and he told me that you guys would have lunch together when you were just starting out.

[SlingBlade]

64. Let's not forget the response from the White House to Greysons Bill

Obama to jittery Health Industry Lobbyist

Tell 'em your watching, waiting, and expecting them to do the right thing
Greysons Bill or Bust

Contact the White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Call the White House
[phone]

Call, Write, Fax and E-mail your Representatives, House and Senate
http://www.contactingthecongress.org /

[DesertDiamond]

65. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[girl_interrupted]

67. K&R Love Grayson!

I don't understand how all Democrats can't get behind his bill!

[LatteLibertine]

69. My favorite aggressive Progressive :)

It's a good idea.

[liquid diamond]

70. Take notes Kucinich.

This is how progressives take action instead of bitching and moaning.

[wroberts189]

76. Kucinich did take action and added amendments to the house bill..

That would allow states to do their own single payer ..it was stripped out.

And he has signed on to this...

He has taken plenty of actions in this fiasco.

[bvar22]

112. You would hve more credibility....

...if you enabled your profile,
took the cotton out of your ears,
and put it in your mouth for a while.

Otherwise, some might suspect that....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-scahill/rahm-emanuels-think-tanke_b_185203.html

[naaman fletcher]

71. Fantastic!!! nt

[tavalon]

73. Most congresscritters are useless

Alan Grayson is a shining exception.

[ShortnFiery]

78. It means NOTHING if it doesn't pass the Senate. eom

[vaberella]

83. First post you've made I agree with.

It doesn't matter what the President wants or House, if it even manages the 218 or 220 it needs. In the end, if it doesn't get past the Senate...ie Baucus, Lincoln (who's even against funding for higher education), and other fuckheads---it goes no where and ends up like Kucinich's efforts. Unfortunately a waste of time. However to give Grayson, who, I'm a diehard fanatic of some credit, he has more momentum and force than Kucinich can only wish for.

[ShortnFiery]

91. It won't happen. All this is just "smoke and mirrors" to placate the masses.

No real change will occur unless the SENATE passes it. As it stands now, our SENATE is OWNED by Corporate Interest Groups.

There's no need to get giddy because NOTHING will change until we kick out the corporate legislators in the Senate.

[gleaner]

82. This is great!

A last minute hope for single payer instead of the bird cage liner this administration is calling "health care reform." Amazing isn't it how fast Grayson was able to do it without the authority of the presidency and without the large mandate that the president had when he decided to kick us all to the curb in favor of his buddies the Republicans.

I guess this answers all the comments about how Obama has "only" had a year or so during which time he did nothing meaningful. Grayson not only got this bill he lined up names of people to support it. In two days. So, what does it take for Obama to accomplish something? How many years? How many decades? What? All he would have had to have done was what Grayson did. Only Obama lied, and dissembled and created the health insurance giveaway that I hope costs him a second term. Any chance of Grayson running in 2012? I would vote for him in a minute.

[SKKY]

84. Is it me, or is this guy...

...just opening cans of whoop-ass all over the place?

[Vinca]

87. This is not only the popular thing to do, it's the smart thing to do.

It would also save Medicare by adding younger, healthier, cash-paying people to the mix.

[Jakes Progress]

89. Shhhh. Don't you know that there is no support for this?

There are whole press-office release threads on DU:P that assure DU that there is no support for real health care reform, that the only thing we can do is give into the republicans and insurance industry.

Whole rants about the stupid DU'ers who want to have this kind of vote, DU'ers who just aren't cool enough to be one of the president's special, special BFFs so they can't now that your OP and its reality don't exist. Trust them. They don't need to count votes. Just bend over and let the insurance companies have what they want.

[donco6]

99. You know that scene where Gandalf slaps Wormtongue around?

"But s-s-s-s-sire, there's-s-s-s-s no need to help thos-s-s-se Gondorians-s-s-s-s, you haven't the s-s-s-trength . . . "

Oh yeah? Taste THIS . . .

(Sorry, it's the sci-fi geek in me . . . )

[xiamiam]

94. hope? better than disappointment..love grayson..at least he manages to really keep hope alive..

my rep, sam farr, isn't on there yet but I'm sure he will be..

[myrna minx]

97. K&R n/t

[Javaman]

98. I need something answered about this bill...

Will this or won't this covered the uninsured? or is it just for those who can already afford insurance?

[Blue Owl]

100. Attention All Democrats

THIS is what REAL party leadership looks like!


:woohoo:

[and-justice-for-all]

104. I would buy into Medicare TOMORROW!!!! nt

[bvar22]

114. So would the vast MAJORITY of Americans:

* Would you favor or oppose the national government offering everyone the choice of a government administered health insurance plan — something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get — that would compete with private health insurance plans?

Favor 82%

Oppose 14%

Not Sure 4%
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010010320/poll-shouts-message-massachusetts-voters-were-sending

So,
who do Obama & The "Centrist" Democrats really work for?

a) The vast majority of Americans?

OR

b) The Health Insurance Industry?


LESS than 35% of ALL Americans support Mandates without a Public Option.
Good luck selling THAT piece of shit in 2010/2012.

[KansDem]

109. Go Grayson!!!

I'm tired of being victimized by corporations! It is clear now they have no interest in the well-being of Americans! They do not have the best interests of Americans at heart!

They're nothing but parasites!

[shireen]

111. don't forget to contact your members of Congress

ask them to co-sponsor Grayson's bill.

[avaistheone1]

113. I am calling my congress critter right now

to cosponsor this bill.

Thank you for the update.

k&r

[Faryn Balyncd]

115. K&R.........We should defeat the bad bill & PASS THIS ONE.

:hi:



:kick:

[defendandprotect]

120. Kick . . . "overwhelming support for a Medicare buy-in" . . . but the

problem we continue to face is the hidden toll that corporatism keeps taking

on this issue!!

[No Elephants]

122. The corporations are getting plenty of help.

"On Wednesday, Ben Smith at Politico reported on the latest development in this White House-coordinated campaign to use these think-tankers to whip up support for its agenda. It is a newly formed coalition, the Common Purpose Project, which blogger Jane Hamsher describes as "one of the many groups Rahm Emanuel has set up to coordinate messaging among liberal interest groups." This one includes the direct participation of White House officials, according to Smith:

The Common Purpose meeting every Tuesday afternoon at the Capitol Hilton brings together the top officials from a range of left-leaning organizations, from labor groups like Change to Win to activists like MoveOn.org, all in support of the White House's agenda. The group has an overlapping membership with a daily 8:45 a.m. call run by the Center for American Progress' and Media Matters' political arms; with the new field-oriented coalition Unity '09; and with the groups that allied to back the budget as the Campaign to Rebuild and Renew America Now.

Unlike those other groups, however, the Common Purpose meeting has involved a White House official, communications director Ellen Moran, two sources familiar with the meeting said. It's aimed, said one, at "providing a way for the White House to manage its relationships with some of these independent groups."


Common Purpose was founded by Erik Smith, a former aide to Dick Gephardt. The group's political director is former Obama aide, Miti Sathe. "Common Purpose is formed as a 501(c)(4), which leaves it focused on policy, rather than electoral, work," notes Smith. "Part of the group's role is to enforce a kind of message discipline." He tells the story of how last month "some of the more liberal members of the coalition" were launching a campaign against conservative Democrats under the banner "Dog the Blue Dogs." The White House, Smith alleged, "was in the midst of discussions with members of the congressional Blue Dog caucus, and objected to the slogan, which was promptly changed, and the page describing the drive is gone from CAF 's website."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-scahill/rahm-emanuels-think-tanke_b_185203.html

[defendandprotect]

132. Love Jane Hamsher . . . and didn't know a lot of this re WH and Rahm . .. !!!

As they say, you can only really be betrayed by those closest to you!!!

I doubt very many here know about this?????

Hated Dick Gephardt --

Though I knew how destructive Rahm is -- but had no clue re this info!!!

Keep posting it so everyone knows --

I'll post it in my journal so that I can pick up the info if I can fit it in anywhere else!



"On Wednesday, Ben Smith at Politico reported on the latest development in this White House-coordinated campaign to use these think-tankers to whip up support for its agenda. It is a newly formed coalition, the Common Purpose Project, which blogger Jane Hamsher describes as "one of the many groups Rahm Emanuel has set up to coordinate messaging among liberal interest groups." This one includes the direct participation of White House officials, according to Smith:

The Common Purpose meeting every Tuesday afternoon at the Capitol Hilton brings together the top officials from a range of left-leaning organizations, from labor groups like Change to Win to activists like MoveOn.org, all in support of the White House's agenda. The group has an overlapping membership with a daily 8:45 a.m. call run by the Center for American Progress' and Media Matters' political arms; with the new field-oriented coalition Unity '09; and with the groups that allied to back the budget as the Campaign to Rebuild and Renew America Now.

Unlike those other groups, however, the Common Purpose meeting has involved a White House official, communications director Ellen Moran, two sources familiar with the meeting said. It's aimed, said one, at "providing a way for the White House to manage its relationships with some of these independent groups."


Common Purpose was founded by Erik Smith, a former aide to Dick Gephardt. The group's political director is former Obama aide, Miti Sathe. "Common Purpose is formed as a 501(c)(4), which leaves it focused on policy, rather than electoral, work," notes Smith. "Part of the group's role is to enforce a kind of message discipline." He tells the story of how last month "some of the more liberal members of the coalition" were launching a campaign against conservative Democrats under the banner "Dog the Blue Dogs." The White House, Smith alleged, "was in the midst of discussions with members of the congressional Blue Dog caucus, and objected to the slogan, which was promptly changed, and the page describing the drive is gone from CAF 's website."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-scahill/rahm-emanu...

[truedelphi]

137. Very good info in your post. Whenever I see the name

"MoveOn," I always do.

They would not at all support anyone back in 2004 who was working hard on the election machinery issue. MoveOn is very top down - notice if you subscribe to their email messaging, you get this friendly email from someone with a real name and all, but you can never directly email that person back. And the two original founders are totally impossible to connect with.

Sometimes I meet someone I end up liking who is involved with one or two MoveOn activities.

But it surprises me not at all that MoveOn is involved with Rahm's efforts to sell this to us poor progressive activists - whom I guess MoveOn sees as being so hopelessly lost that we will sign on for anything they tell us to (and of course they expect us to send money while following their orders.)

[defendandprotect]

139. Agree . . . all info has to be a TWO-WAY street . . .

I hightly object to those emails which come in with no way to reply but going to

the website.

I cancelled MoveOn! a long, long time ago --

By the way, that info in my post came from NO ELEPHANTS . . . see the post above mine --

and I hadn't heard about it. We should try to move that info along so everyone here

sees it.

:)

[truedelphi]

140. No Elephants - what a great post.

Can you make it an OP?

It really deserves larger attention. (And please PM me if you do so i can K & R it)

[Faryn Balyncd]

123. Are some co-sponsors simply seeking POLITICAL COVER for voting for the no-public-option Mandate?

Am I just getting too cynical after the big Bait & Switch?

With 40 Senators now stating they would vote for a Public Option in reconciliation why are House Democrats not demanding that a Medicare Buy-In be a condition for passing the Senate bill?

Especially since the only reason the Medicare Buy-In was dropped was because without Joe Liebermann who threatened to back a filibuster unless it was dropped the Senate bill would only have had 59 votes?






:kick:

[Shining Jack]

126. K&R

Still waiting to see before buying it.

[yurbud]

127. I told my rep, Waxman's office, that this is far superior to the shameful Senate bill

[JohnWxy]

129. recommended!!!!

[Uncle Joe]

131. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[David Zephyr]

133. K&R. I love this guy.

K&R!

[wordpix]

134. HOORAY for one stand up Dem!

[Jefferson23]

135. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[benld74]

136. MAn, if Grayson EVER ran for Potus, GOP LOOK OIT,,,

[Doctor_J]

138. Doesn't matter. His "leader" already took the weak-assed PO off the table

by next week "health care reform" :puke: will have already passed.