Biden asks for letters thanking Senate for Health Care Reform Bill

[yurbud]

Two weeks after it was signed into law, health insurance reform is still the talk of the town.

It's for a good reason: This was a historic accomplishment. But it wasn't easy. I remember what it's like to be a senator and take a tough stand on an issue -- confident that it's the best thing for your constituents, but equally sure that special interests will pour buckets of money into attacking you for it.

Your senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, did just that when they supported health reform. Now, we need to provide a line of defense money can't buy: the voices of real constituents speaking out and showing their support.

That's where you come in. Do you have three minutes to jot down a quick letter to your local newspaper? If you need ideas on what to say, you can watch a quick video Organizing for America put together about how reform will benefit California.

http://my.barackobama.com/SenateThank4?state=CA">Click here to get started.

My letter:

Democrats passed Health Care Reform without Democracy


Democrats managed to do the impossible on health care reform: they squandered their chance to a strong bill with a public option or medicare buy in by putting the drafting of the bill in the hands of the most corrupt members of the Senate, who ran out the clock until the Democrats lost their supermajority in the Senate.

Then when progressives brought the bill back to life with a push to pass a public option through reconciliation, the Democrats passed a bill without a public option, which polls consistently showed over 60% of Americans wanted, and included a mandate to buy private insurance, which polls showed over 60% of Americans opposed.

There are good things in the bill, but Democrats thwarted democracy by putting their backroom deals with insurance companies and pharma, and their future jobs as lobbyists and CEO's ahead of the will of the people and even the most cost effective policy.

If the Democrats hope to hold onto one or both chambers in the fall election, they need to hold the corporate crooks in at least SOME area accountable for the damage they have done to our economy instead of figuring out new ways to protect them from risk with government subsidies or bailouts. If the Democrats fail in the fall, it will be because they failed to stand up for their ideals and chose corruption instead.

[dflprincess]

1. "special interests will pour buckets of money into"

campaigns and that will be thanks enough for "our" senators.

Who was Biden speaking to - the association of health insurance CEOs?

BTW- loved your letter

[yurbud]

3. thanks!

[gateley]

2. I always try to remember to thank my reps and Sens when they do the right thing -

too many times I'm just threatening them :evilgrin:, so I appreciate the reminder from Biden. And I'm one of the ones who is glad that this was passed (even though it's pretty bad), so I'll be sending my thanks.

I sure understand where you guys are coming from, though. :hi:

[yurbud]

4. we shouldn't thank them for throwing us crumbs while giving the loaf to the rich.

[gateley]

6. I understand your point -- I really do. I've been back and forth on this

for months, I just landed on the side of (paraphrasing) don't lose what little we may gain by waiting for the perfect solution we all really want. The argument is over for me. I'm looking ahead to working to get Grayson's Medicare Buy-In in place. He said he had hope it would pass in the next couple of years. I think that's WAY more than we hoped for (if it comes to pass) and I think by then, all those who were terrified of "Obama Care" will find it didn't fuck up their lives, and they may be more willing to give Grayson a chance. :shrug:

Just use Biden's e-mail as a reminder to thank your reps when they DO do something you're in agreement with. If you're like me, I'm all over them telling them when I disagree, but really shamefully lax on expressing my gratitude.

[yurbud]

7. it's best to do both.

[gateley]

8. Agree. nt

[amborin]

5. K&R yep, they deserve thanks for "thwarting democracy" [with] "backroom deals"

[emilyg]

9. No -

[yurbud]

10. this reminds me of Bush hitting a golf ball in FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and asking

''Can somebody say 'Good shot'?''