Sestak’s city health care event draws a crowd ... of pro-reformers.

[jefferson_dem]

Sestak’s city health care event draws a crowd
By Michael Vitez and John Sullivan

INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

A standing-room-only crowd greeted U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak tonight at a Center City church where the Delaware County congressman was holding a Town Hall forum on health care reform.

Hundreds of people, mostly supporters of President Obama's health plan, chanted "Health Care for America Now!" before queueing into the Broad Street Ministries church on South Broad Street.

Katy Weeks, 28, of South Philadelphia, said 500 people had been expected for the 6:30 p.m. event.

But by 6:20, the church was already at capacity and a line still stretched from the church for more than a block, wrapping onto Pine Street.

Organizers for Health Care for America Now sent a blast email to its members telling them to assemble at 4 p.m. at the church on South Broad Street, Weeks said.

"The strategy today was to get people here early to try to counteract the booing and hissing that Sen. Specter received in Lebanon," Weeks said.

The church was forced to open an adjoining room on the ground floor where the overflow crowd could listen to the proceedings.

"We just haven't been getting our story told," said Antoinette Kraus, an organizer with the Philadelphia Unemployment Project. "The supporters of health care have been missing from the debate and now is the time for us to be heard," she said.

<SNIP>

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20090812_By_Michael_VitezChanting__quot_Health_care_for_America_NO_HEAD_SPECIFIED.html?cmpid=41144277

[Barack_America]

1. Republicans are apparently terrified of the "Avenue of the Arts"...

Because it is supposedly a nest of black power activity.

:rofl:

WTG, Philly. I couldn't make it tonight, but am glad to hear it was well attended.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Actually, it's still going on and LIVE here

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream2&iref=lb100

Very smooth, cogent delivery. Worlds apart from Arlen.

[phillysuse]

3. Just got back from hearing Joe Sestak speak

Congressman Sestak is a class act and he disarmed the few disruptive tea baggers that were there.

He completely explained and debunked the whole "death panel" issue, spoke of his daughter's cancer and how he did not want it held as a pre-existing condition when she became an adult.
When asked if he would take the public option (which he supports) he pointed out that he would
take an insurance plan only if his daugter's cancer doctor was in that plan.
He discussed the costs to small businesses of insurance and how they pay 18% more than large businesses and how the health reform bill was friendly to small business.
He does not support single payer but supports a vibrant public option to compete in markets like Philly where two insurance companies monopolize 70% of the health insurance markets.
He was good and articulate and sincere and knowledgable.
I heard Specter and Sebelius two weeks ago and neither of them sounded like they knew what they were talking about. But Representative soon to be Senator I hope Sestak did.

[IndianaGreen]

4. PWW: Congressman Sestak: ‘I won’t budge on public option’

Congressman Sestak: ‘I won’t budge on public option’

Author: Ben Sears
People's Weekly World Newspaper, 08/13/09 17:44

PHILADELPHIA — In a packed meeting August 12 at a south Philadelphia church Congressman Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) brought the crowd of over 600 to its feet when he said he “would not budge” on the need for a public health plan option. The “town hall” session was held at the Broad Street Ministry, an institution known for its programs that benefit poor and vulnerable Philadelphians.

As the congressman noted in his introductory remarks, he had visited the church before, drawn by its record of ministering to the needs of veterans. He let the crowd know that his experience in the military had influenced his outlook on the importance of healthcare — one of the reasons he originally ran for Congress. Sestak, a retired Navy admiral, said that his health insurance had enabled his four year old daughter to survive a rare form of brain cancer.

The meeting saw lively questioning and heard passionate remarks from those in attendance, and was marked by its basically civil and respectful atmosphere. The church’s pastor, Rev. Bill Golderer, set the tone by giving a brief explanation of the Ministry’s mission at the outset; he told the crowd that the church saw the need for access to health care as an urgent issue for the most vulnerable members of the community. Sestak emphasized that he saw the public option as a way to guarantee that all Americans have access to health care and a fair choice of plans. When questioned about the cost, he noted that restoring the pre-Bush tax rates on upper income Americans and emphasizing preventive care would go far toward paying for health care reform and making us a healthier nation.

Many of those in attendance had arrived early and waited in line outside. Many held signs calling for “Health Care Now” and “Health Care Justice”. Health reform advocates and union members seemed determined not to let this meeting be taken off track by disrupters intent on raising false issues and irrational fears. The congressman noted in his remarks that he understood that economic conditions were causing intense anxiety in Pennsylvania and across the country and that he felt it was important for the government to get health care right this time.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/16733/