President Obama calls on supporters to help with health care overhaul

http://www.koamtv.com/global/story.asp?s=10440049

President Barack Obama is calling on his supporters to help in his effort to revamp the health care system.

Obama is asking volunteers in his political organization to launch a door-to-door and phone canvass pushing for health care legislation by the end of the year.

Obama says if there isn't a bill on his desk before the year is out, the opportunity will be lost. During a phone call onboard Air Force One, Obama said "the status quo is unacceptable."

A top Obama aide says it'll get done "if the country stands with the president and if the country is demanding health care reform."

and find an Obama "Listening Tour" and go to it too.

http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=240

Obama needs to start listening.

....is there NO UNIVERSAL, SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BEING DISCUSSED by the cretins "up there" who are OWNED by the insurance companies (who of course want to KEEP the status quo).

SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP HERE.


Not passing the smell test, Mr. President.

Sorry.

so they're not exactly gonna roll out the red carpet for Universal Health care.

THAT'S WHY.

exactly? No single-payer - just private for-profit insurance is all I see being discussed. The President himself has also not even mentioned single-payer or universal health care.

IMO a sneaky way to eventually GET to single payer. Put simply, those who do not have health insurance get the same plan members of congress give themselves, paid for by Uncle Sam.

up with ways while maintaining profits for shareholders and CEO's.

:(

congress and the Wh SO CALLED 'REFORM"

President O intends to use the same grassroots campaigning techniques he used to get elected. I think it's a brilliant idea.

standing for and how it will be financed.

That being said P. Obama once promised to bring all the groups together to discuss the best option for HC, that is not what is being done.

and people can not be bothered to try and get involved in educating the populace about the health care issue, so they can in turn pressure their representatives. There is a meeting this weekend in my area, and I'm certain that it is there, that our strategy will be planned, not by the President. I don't think that I have to advocate single-payer, or public option, in order to talk to people about the unlikelihood that this Congress will pass anything beneficial without our involvement.

why can't you advocate for what you want? It's just talking to people. If you can get people in your state to lobby for single-payer, why not?

There are a lot of hurdles to overcome. And right now, Congress isn't even allowing SP advocates to voice their opinions.

And then there's the question of overcoming the megaphone of the RW media. They'll go into full screaming "anti-socialist" mode if they know SP is on the table. And of course, wherever the media go, there go the usual Repub actors in Congress.

And even if a bill is drafted, there will be howls of outrage at the necessary expenditures and protests of the fate of insurance workers.

This will take a while. And it can't be rushed in 7 months.

that if the deadline is not met, there is no healthcare reform and he gets to blame it on us?

If you could even call it health care reform - maybe it's not even worth fighting for anyway since anything less than single payer will be full of loopholes benefiting the health insurance corporations.

So I feel that either way we lose.

what people are doing in your area. You could educate them, and explain the need for single-payer, and the unlikelihood of anything like that passing without the people in your state pressuring their elected officials..those people who write the legislation. Or not.

movement on this, but it's also obvious that many others feel that the President is pulling a fast one by leaving it up to his supporters to "make this happen".

The President hasn't even used his bully pulpit to TRY to budge Congress off their campaign-dough-stuffed asses. On an issue so important to all Americans, his inaction is beyond disappointing. If he had done nothing else, President Obama could have at least demanded that Senator Baucus allow representatives who advocate for Single Payer or the Public Option to be at the table for these critical discussions. Instead, he is acting as if he is totally in the thrall of Big Medicine and Big Pharma.

I worked hard to elect President Obama but I am feeling that this is a bullshit way to drum up cover for the President on an issue he doesn't want to waste his "political capital" on.

I'm not sure that's how I feel....

Actually, I'm more inclined to feel the, "make me do it" meme.

If this is, in fact, what US citizens want, then we need to rise up in large numbers and demand it.

I think it's our job to organize that uprising.

in Washington, this is a very weak effort.

Why should the people who elected President Obama not be able to expect him to advocate for THEM instead of Big Medicine and Big Pharma?

I'm all for making him do the right thing, but he's got to show some spine when it comes to giving the NON-corporatists a voice in government.

What IS his idea of health care reform?? After all of these hearings and closed door meetings, I'd like to know what our President thinks reform is. I don't think that's asking too much before I go charging in saying that I support his "reforms".

happens when the deadline is not met.

I am not encouraged by Obama's attitude though. He talked a good game when he was campaigning. He certainly did not give the impression of needing to be pressured into anything then.

Advocates for single payer who take it to Congress are ARRESTED and charged as CRIMINALS. I don't see Obama speaking out for them.

So why would I believe that he would respond to any kind of pressure? Quite frankly, I don't. I feel the only concerns he takes into consideration are those of the big insurance companies.

...people like you and me that helped President Obama get elected. Instead of complaining, get out there and help get health care reform passed instead of making excuses. If you have issue you think need airing, then be at a meeting to air them.

Like may other OP's posted here - there are more complainers than there are people willing to get involved. Get off your dead butts and do something - let your voices be heard instead of sitting at your computer and continually complain, complain, and complain some more.

rep and Senator. I also write to the ones who are our supposed leaders but who only read email from "their constituents"--Nancy and Harry.

The President has not even gone on record AS PRESIDENT saying WHAT he supports in the way of health care reform. How am I supposed to read his mind? All I have to go on so far is his failure to be an advocate for significant health care reform.

if those that write the laws and and represent the people, actually heard from those people, and it surely would be nice if the populace got educated about the health care/industry issues. I don't think people are actually interested in doing things for themselves, but rather expect everything to work out the way they want, without participating. You would think that because of an election we are in a different country, with a different power structure. I think I should bow out from all this nonsense, and stick to my own little corner of the world. It really is a waste of my time, but I just can't seem to stay away.

to the public, and force him to allow single-payer advocates in.

Then I'll listen to you, Obama.

Hawkeye-X

..health care reform is not going to come about by people who want others to do their work for them. We, the people, have to stand up and be counted. I believe President Obama when he say it is "now ot never." And the only way that is going to happen is if we support him, stand by him, and make our voices heard. I did not think that was a concept that was so difficult to understand.

single payer universal coverage. It is becoming clearer everyday that is the people's mandate.

.... and ask them to rally in support of certain policy issues unprecedented? Anyone else aware of another political machine that has done this in recent memory?

would lead our parade for the fight for single-payer health insurance for all.

:thumbsup:

:kick:

What is Obama's plan? Is it still the offer of a public option that will compete with the private options? -- It's obviously not Single Payer -- But what about the rumors that the public option is being shitcanned too? I'm sure as shit not gonna go door to door trying to... come to think of it, what's the point of going door to door again? I'm supposed to go door to door to get everyone to call our congressperson?
What If my plan is different than that of the guy who's also going door to door and is 3 doors over?

Hmm... just took a second to do a google search. My congresswoman supports single payer. Looks like she might've been arrested also, had she tried to attend that conference.

THANKS SLIPSLIDING.........

I am doing it--for single payer.

Forum Name General Discussion: Presidential
Topic subject A couple of links...
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8438263#8438563
8438563, A couple of links...
Posted by slipslidingaway on Fri May-29-09 12:52 AM

I do not think they are all grouped together, so you might try searching by your zip code and then scrolling through the events.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hckickoff


http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/healthcareorganizingkickoff/gpcpxk

"Health Care Organizing Meeting (Health Care Organizing Kickoff)

A meeting of neighbors of the 4300 block of Boone Street in Philadelphia to discuss our support of single payer health care. Bring a lawn chair."

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/healthcareorganizingkickoff/gpcqgd


SINGLE-PAYER (Health Care Organizing Kickoff)

"The mission of Teens for Healthcare Reform is to educate teenagers about the debate concerning healthcare reform in this country, and to enlist their voices in creating a movement for single-payer national health insurance through an internet website with links to bloggers on this issue, a series of public debates in high schools, and meetings conducted in conjunction with other healthcare organizations."

that he makes insurance co. account for why in Norway, and other countries one does not have to have a monthly payment similiar to a mortgage to just see a doc. Why other countries can provide health treatment for just a hundred dollars instead of a couple thousand dollars?