The push for true health care reform has reached a critical juncture. The future of real change depends on each of us standing up and making our voices heard. It is important that our neighbors, the media and most of all, our elected representatives, hear from us, hear informed messages about the truth of health care reform, and hear informed calls for real change.
This email will cover the following:
- A note on the lessons learned from the “Honk for Health Care” Held Last Week
- Actions you can take now; get involved, make your voice heard
- Events that may interest you, including a listening tour with Organizing for America, a rally in Times Square, a Town Hall meeting with Tim Bishop and other events.
Lessons Learned from Encounters with the “Tea Baggers”
Last Saturday, we staged an event dubbed “Honk for Health Care,” during which many supporters of health care reform gathered at the intersection of Route 110 and Jericho Turnpike to display signs calling for health care reform, hand out informational flyers, and engage with voters. It turned into a counter demonstration as a large number of “Tea Baggers” also appeared at the same spot. Events got ugly as some of the Tea Baggers took to yelling at people and intimidating our supporters. But not all of them did. Some were concerned citizens, worried about the country’s future. Some were confused and open to hearing more and, when they did, they changed their points of view.
There are many lessons coming from last week’s Honk for Health Care rally. One is to avoid situations that descend into mere shouting. It is important not to demonize the opposition as many are concerned citizens that are doing the right thing to organize. We can expect they will work to make their voices heard and if we want to see real health care reform, we will need to organize and make our voices heard. And it is critically important to understand the much of the fear and concern arises from ignorance.
Here's what each of us can do to help at this critical time:
- Know the facts and refute the rumors
- Call your Senators and Congressional Representative
- Sign the online petition with President Obama’s Organizing for America
- Collect petition signatures supporting health care reform
1) Know the facts and refute the rumors:
There is a tremendous amount of misinformation and ignorance swirling about the health care debate. We heard the fears that arise from ignorance. Don’t get mad, get informed. Learn the truth and talk to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Send an email to people you know and refute any lies that come your way.
The White House has a new healthcare information section that refutes the most egregious lies: www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck. You might also check out that AARP’s “Don't Let the Myths about Healthcare Reform Scare You.” You can find that link here: http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts
2) Call your members of Congress! Urgent!
Because Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand and Rep. Israel, Bishop and McCarthy have all come out in favor of reform and the public option, too many of us who are pro-reform are not calling to register our opinions. That means we are in danger of having the anti-reform contingent win the tally even though the vast majority of voters in our area favor reform. We want our elected officials to be able to say to the media and to the rabble-rousers that the overwhelming majority of calls favor reform. This is a numbers game and we've got the numbers, but only if you call today.
Rep. Timothy Bishop (CD-1)
(631) 259-8450
Rep. Steve Israel (CD-2)
(631) 951-2210
Rep. Peter King (CD-3)
516-541-4225
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (CD-4)
516-739-3008
Sen. Charles Schumer
631-753-0978
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
(631) 249-2825
Better yet, send a letter to their local office. You can find their addresses at the Long Islanders for Change Web Site: www.LI4change.com.
Some of the representatives are hosting Town Hall Meetings (Time Bishop has one scheduled for August 27 – see below). You can call and ask about Town Hall meetings or request one. Steve Israel is taking names for such a meeting and has been inviting people to a private session on August 24. Call his office to find out more (631) 951-2210.
3) Sign the online petition with President Obama’s Organizing for America. You can go hear to sign this online petition: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/health-care-action-center/. Forward this link to others to sign.
4) Carry or sign a healthcare petition: 12 days, 12 signatures
You're well informed and thoughtful, and we need you to refute the rumors and educate your neighbors and friends about healthcare reform, while pressuring Congress to keep working for meaningful legislation. Help make sure the Tea Partiers and lobbyists don't win!
The best way to do that: Talk to people and get them to sign the attached petition. We're asking you to get 12 signatures in 12 days. If you collect more signatures, bravo!! The more, the better!! Invite friends over to tea, go door to door, hand out flyers and get signatures in front of a busy store, or just ask people to sign during your daily routine. One signature a day is easy!
You can download a petition and flyers at the Organizing for America web site: http://my.barackobama.com/page/votercontact/landing
Events that May Interest You
August 23: Yes! We Can Long Island Picnic in the Park. This event will take place in Picnic Area #1 at Wantagh State Park. The group bills it as “a great opportunity for progressives to come together to share a day of fun, food, and politics.” The contact person for this event is Bob Young, robertstevenyoung@gmail.com; 516-809-6766 x 702
August 25: Geoff Berman from Organizing for America will hold a meeting at the Huntington Public Library (338 Main Street) to outline Organizing for America’s mission, to take feedback and to answer your questions. The meeting will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can click here to learn more and sign up to attend: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpfz7t.
August27: Representative Tim Bishop will hold a Town Hall Meeting. On Thursday, August 27 at 6:30pm, Congressman Tim Bishop will host a Town Hall meeting at Brookhaven Town Hall, located at 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville. The meeting is open to all members of the public. Constituents may ask the Congressman about any issue. It will be important that many supporters of health care reform attend to ensure a representation of all views and a civil discourse.
August 29: Unity Rally and Walk for Health Care in Times Square. On Saturday, August 29, 2009, New Yorkers will walk from all parts of the city for the first ever United We Walk for Reform Rally in support of the historic health reform legislation before Congress. MID-MORNING, ACROSS THE CITY: Grassroots groups will meet in front of hospitals and health clinics across the city to walk to rally at Times Square. Check out mybarackobama.com for meeting locations in the next week (or set up one of your own). 2 - 3:30 PM - UNITY RALLY: Rally for health care at Times Square, 42nd St. and 7th Avenue
September 1: The Huntington League of Women Voters will hold a health care informational meeting at the Haborfields Public Library. The session will start at 7 p.m.
Wrap Up
I hope this information proves useful to you. I will be away until August 24th and will have limited access to email (we’re riding our bicycles up to Cape Cod for some of that time). For more information or for updates, you can check the web site www.LI4Change.com or go to www.barackobama.com.
Mark X. Cronin
Long Islanders for Change
H 631-425-9217
C 516-902-6964
mxcronin@LI4Change.com