Republicans and paid thugs plan Town Hall takeovers

by: mariochampion

Wed Aug 05, 2009 at 15:42:25 PM CDT

Its getting ugly, but we can't give up. Remember the "Brooks Brother Riots" which shut down the Florida recount and helped hand the presidency to W?

That cannothappen again.

The Democratic Party

There's been a lot of media coverage about organized mobs intimidating lawmakers, disrupting town halls, and silencing real discussion about the need for real health insurance reform.

The truth is, it's a sham. These "grassroots protests" are being organized and largely paid for by Washington special interests and insurance companies who are desperate to block reform. They're trying to use lies and fear to break the President and his agenda for change.

Health insurance reform is about our lives, our jobs, and our families -- we can't let distortions and intimidation get in the way. We need to expose these outrageous tactics, and we're counting on you to help. Can you read these "5 facts about the anti-reform mobs," then pass them along to your friends and family?

     5 facts about the anti-reform mobs

     1. These disruptions are being funded and organized by out-of-district special-interest groups and insurance companies who fear that health insurance reform could help Americans, but hurt their bottom line. A group run by the same folks who made the "Swiftboat" ads against John Kerry is compiling a list of congressional events in August to disrupt. An insurance company coalition has stationed employees in 30 states to track where local lawmakers hold town-hall meetings.

     2. People are scared because they are being fed frightening lies. These crowds are being riled up by anti-reform lies being spread by industry front groups that invent smears to tarnish the President's plan and scare voters. But as the President has repeatedly said, health insurance reform will create more health care choices for the American people, not reduce them. If you like your insurance or your doctor, you can keep them, and there is no "government takeover" in any part of any plan supported by the President or Congress.

     3. Their actions are getting more extreme. Texas protesters brought signs displaying a tombstone for Rep. Lloyd Doggett and using the "SS" symbol to compare President Obama's policies to Nazism. Maryland Rep. Frank Kratovil was hanged in effigy outside his district office. Rep. Tim Bishop of New York had to be escorted to his car by police after an angry few disrupted his town hall meeting -- and more examples like this come in every day. And they have gone beyond just trying to derail the President's health insurance reform plans, they are trying to "break" the President himself and ruin his Presidency.

     4. Their goal is to disrupt and shut down legitimate conversation. Protesters have routinely shouted down representatives trying to engage in constructive dialogue with voters, and done everything they can to intimidate and silence regular people who just want more information. One attack group has even published a manual instructing protesters to "stand up and shout" and try to "rattle" lawmakers to prevent them from talking peacefully with their constituents.

     5. Republican leadership is irresponsibly cheering on the thuggish crowds. Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner issued a statement applauding and promoting a video of the disruptions and looking forward to "a long, hot August for Democrats in Congress."

It's time to expose this charade, before it gets more dangerous. Please send these facts to everyone you know. You can also post them on your website, blog, or Facebook page.

Now, more than ever, we need to stand strong together and defend the truth.

Thanks,

Jen

Jen O'Malley Dillon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

Issues/Policy Meet-Up, EVERY MONDAY! 6:00pm-8:00pm, Travis County Dem Party HQ

by: CleanAir

Sun Jun 22, 2008 at 14:14:59 PM CDT

What:  We'll network and present the issues and policies important to Travis County, important to TX, including Barack Obama's policy.  We'll share, learn, frame the issues, and market them.  1st hour is Health Care, 2nd hour is "Democratic Citizen Communication" where you present your issues important to you as a Democrat!

When:  Mon., July 7th, 6:00pm-8:00pm

Where:  Travis County Democratic Party Headquarters, 1107 N. I 35 (next door to CVS, in old Safeway Building at 12th and I-35)

Who:  Anyone interested in networking with fun, cool, energizing, like-minded people, and learning about the policies and issues important to our city, our state, and our nation heading into the November TX elections. 2nd hour is a "Democratic Town Hall Meeting".

Cost: FREE

You're welcome to bring food/drinks to share and bring your laptop (Laptop not mandatory).

Best,
David Kobierowski
Travis County Democratic Party Issues Committee Chair
512-413-0286
Cleanair999@yahoo.com

New York Times: Clinton's attacks are unfair

by: News

Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 12:07:38 PM CST

Clinton Attack on Obama Overlooks Some Realities
New York Times:

But while Mrs. Clinton is right that Mr. Obama's plan would leave out millions, she is being misleading in implying that her own plan covers everyone. Mandates rarely achieve 100 percent compliance. In addition, they are almost impossible to enforce.

Because of those difficulties, Mrs. Clinton's own plan would probably leave out millions.

Mandates have not worked with auto insurance. While all drivers are required to have it, 15 percent of the nation's drivers have none, according to the Insurance Research Council.

Mr. Obama's health plan could actually have a better compliance rate. The 15 million who would supposedly be left out equal about 5 percent of the population - a smaller portion than are going without auto insurance, said Joseph Antos, a health policy expert at the American Enterprise Institute, a nonpartisan group.

"If Obama's plan were to leave 15 million people without insurance, I think Senator Clinton's plan would certainly do the same, not because of a mandate but because of the fundamental problems of getting people to recognize that they should buy insurance and making them buy it," Mr. Antos said.

Desperation

by: News

Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 11:54:25 AM CST

She's now attacking Obama on health care, even though their plans have a lot in common.  These desperate attacks will backfire with voters.

Remember that health care was the very issue that she screwed up in the 1990's. If it weren't for her mismanagement, we'd have health care right now.  She simply lacks credibility on this issue, and it's time we elected a leader who can actually get results.  Obama has the ability to bring people together and persuade independents and Republicans to support progressive health care reform.  Quite the opposite, Hillary was so divisive that her failed health care efforts led directly to Newt Gingrich and the Republicans' take-over of Congress.

As Hillary's poll numbers continue to drop, expect more desperate attacks in these final weeks before the Iowa caucuses.

On Health Care, Dems More Alike Than Apart

CBS News:

There are significant similarities between the Democratic hopefuls' plans: All three would create public insurance plans (separate from, but similar to, Medicare) that would compete with private plans. All three would be financed, according to the candidates, in part by rolling the Bush tax cut on people with incomes over $250,000.

Broadly, the health care plans of all three candidates are less different than the candidates might want voters to believe. Obama seeks to create a national health care "exchange" of private insurers, for example, while Edwards wants similar, regional "health markets." And even though Obama, unlike Clinton and Edwards, would not try to force everyone in America to purchase health insurance, it remains unclear how close to truly "universal" any plan could get without harsh enforcement levels that could result in backlash.

Ease up, Dr. Krugman

TPM Cafe

The debate about health care mandates importantly divides Obama from Clinton and Edwards. Paul Krugman blasted Obama on this, which alarms even Obama's supporters. But perhaps Homer has nodded just this once and Obama is on the more solid ground.

Here's the key point, in my view: either Americans should get insurance from their employers or, if they lack an employer, they should have ways to enroll very easily in a comprehensive health insurance plan through a variety of different techniques. But this approach is quite a bit different than a mandate.

Mandates alone, without more of a systemic approach to the failures in the health insurance market, can produce a windfall for insurance salesmen and bad deals for individuals.

In Massachusetts, the only state to have a health care mandate, waivers have been granted to 20 percent of state residents who cannot afford coverage. Hundreds of thousands more have refused to purchase coverage despite the mandate. The very idea of government mandates directed to individuals evokes a command-and-control model that disturbs citizens who want to enjoy certain freedoms in choosing health care.

Can anyone imagine a President Clinton or Edwards - even if they are taking the advice of Paul Krugman, who I'm second to none in praising on other topics than mandates - using employers or the IRS to enforce a mandate by fines or other sanctions? Could an employer fire an employee for not adhering to a mandate? Could the police arrest those who fail by accident, confusion, or even negligence not to sign up? Could a hospital decline to treat those who did not comply with a mandate?

Obama touts health care expansion plan

by: News

Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 14:47:45 PM CST

Associated Pres:

Democrat Barack Obama, seeking to distance from his leading rivals, touted his health care expansion package as doing more to cut costs and deal with root problems facing consumers "than any other proposal in this race."

"Cost is the number one reason that 47 million Americans do not have health insurance and thousands more are edging toward bankruptcy every day," Obama told a town hall-style meeting of about 350 people at a Council Bluffs high school. "That is wrong, and it's why my plan does more to cut the cost of health insurance than any other proposal in this race."

The Illinois senator drew a distinction with Clinton on how he would go about pushing a universal health care plan. He routinely gives the New York senator credit for trying to overhaul health care as first lady, but says it failed largely because she was too secretive.

"What I am convinced of is if we actually hope to pass universal health care this time around we have to bring Republicans and Democrats together," said Obama. "We have to have an open and transparent process so that the American people participate in the debate and see exactly what we're doing."

Obama Vows Open Health Reform Process

by: News

Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 09:48:57 AM CDT

Associated Press:

Democrat Barack Obama promised Wednesday an open process to enact universal health care, saying he has learned from the mistakes of rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's failed health care reform effort of 1993.

Obama said Clinton's effort as first lady failed largely because most of the planning was done in secret and there was little effort to build political support. That left the final product vulnerable to an assault from drug and insurance companies that eventually doomed the effort.

"We will convene an open process which the American people will be watching," Obama told about 50 people at an informal coffee. "What the president can do is shine a spotlight on the process and (involve) the American people and keep the pressure on and that is something that didn't happen. In many ways it didn't happen in '93."