Health Reform Supporters Start to Outnumber Critics at Town Halls

Source: Huffington Post

While television cameras have focused on vocal opponents to health care reform, in many cases they have been outnumbered by supporters of the legislation in general and a public option in particular.

In Phoenix, Arizona, "Pro-Obama demonstrators appeared to outnumber the anti-Obama ones, with Phoenix police estimating the crowd at 1,200 to 2,000 at locations around the convention center."

In Boulder, Colorado, "a few hundred residents of one of the nation's more liberal congressional districts turned out Monday night to tell their congressman, Democratic Rep. Jared Polis, to keep that public option, however controversial politically, in the final bill."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/18/reform-supporters-outnumb_n_262425.html

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This is promising. I wish there were town halls taking place around where I live so I could go show my support.

I haven't turned on the news in the past couple days, wonder if this is being covered.

welcome to DU! :hi:

Do you?

I guess we can expect it but we must know they will never do anything to either break the sensationalism of the loud mouths or shine light on a Democratic idea.

And another welcome to DU!:hi:

but it looks like we might be catching on and catching up.

It's time for supporters of health care reform to start dominating the debate instead of complaining that we aren't getting any attention.

Now some need to show up with guns in Open Carry states so they can get interviews on CNN, MSNBC and FOX (well, FOX probably wouldn't cover them).

just curious.

that you were. THere has just been a lot of concern that people were buying into the pressure from the vocal shout downs at the town hall meetings - that these people were getting all the attention.

THe only way to change that game is to show up in even bigger numbers. Glad to see it's happening.


Welcome to DU. :hi:

Mz Pip

and even if the pro public option folks outnumber the anti everything guys.... they'll make it look like it's the other way. this is the storyline they want... people arguing and fighting it out... but i am glad to hear that the supporters are now making it clear that there is support. i wish the 'news' would cover the actual news instead of trying to create it.

It's in right-leaning Springfield, Ore. I know where my rep stands and I don't have a question, I just wanted to tell any disruptors to shush and let people speak one at a time.

Has anyone else noticed that the right haven't shut down a lot of town halls lately? They're rowdy, but not to the point of stopping the event entirely. Whatever proactive steps our side is taking seem to be working -- or maybe the momentum is shifting to our side.

Glad to see your post.

their taxes will go up.

Shows you how much voters count in this country anymore. K Street talks, voters walk.

That's so sick, given that they sell out to K Street for campaign contributions. Why do they need campaign contributions? For ads and other things to persuade voters to vote for them.

Here's an idea. Do the right thing. The voters will follow you for free.

on Thursday. He's not my rep but I will be there to support his constituents who favor public option.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofh9p7XeodY

I love that the progressives are getting onboard with this issue, but I wish they'd done this 3 months ago...

The wackos are still out in force...

The wackos are indeed out in force.

And that whole idea of a silent march of the silent majority is a good one.

in that we're sort of "closing" with a very strong statement. I almost feel like Obama planned it this way.

thanks

"We're dealing with a group of people who, for the last 8 years, have confused stubbornness and ignorance with courage..."

Right on!

we will not expect anything less than public option. We have the power. We can tell them we will sit it out if there is no public option.

And another welcome to DU!

Everyone is so kind here!

but is there some sort of form letter some of you on DU have put together that I could use or tweak so I can send to my rep and Senators?

taken from unionvoice.org. You may not want to include all of it, but it might help you get some ideas of how you want to word yours.

I support real health care reform, and I'm calling on you as my elected representative in Congress to do the same. Genuine health care reform must meet at least the following three conditions:

-- A quality public health insurance option.

-- Requirements to ensure that all employers pay their fair share.

-- No taxation of workers' benefits.

With your support, I'm confident that a bill meeting those conditions can be passed in Congress and signed by President Obama.

I will get busy on my letters as soon as possible.

What is more effective? Emails or old-fashioned snail mail?

There will be a pro-public option protest/media event in front of Blue Cross Blue Shield this Friday (21st) at noon.

Thanks... We can make our voices heard, we must. Public-Option in the Health Care bill is a must.

but I haven't seen it covered on CNN.

suceed, all over Europe, & Canada, but somehow, magickally, it "can't work here". So they are not even going to give it a try, & single payer is a proven winner-both for businesses & governments. It sounds like a dogma.