As you probably know, in order to get significant health care reform, we're going to need Democrats AND Republicans, especially in the Senate to vote for it. President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and progressive Democrats in the House and Senate are on our side. It's us vs. the insurance industry in trying to influence three key groups - Moderate Republicans, Conservative (Blue Dog) Democrats, and "New"/DLC/corporate Democrats. These three groups are going to make the difference in what kind of bill we get passed and what kind of reform we get. The insurance industry regularly contributes to these groups and is doing so now in hopes of influencing the outcome of the bill.

That said, you have money too, you have time, and you have a vote. Even moderate and conservative Democrats cave to grassroots/progressive pressure when its in their interest. It's up to you to make it in their interest by putting pressure on them. They like corporate special interest money, but they also need volunteers and they also need votes. If you make them think they're going to lose out on these resources and/or face a primary challenge, they will cave. When we put our money together as small donors, we can compete with corporate special interest. Health Care reform is up to us.

Call Your Senators and Representative in Congress! - Stand With The President - Stand With Dr. Dean - Work With MoveOn.org - Work With DFA

Blue Dog Dems Rebel On Health Care Bill

Email from Charles Chamberlain, Democracy for America ..

Subject: One by one roadblock Democrats will cave

A month ago, Ben Nelson, a conservative Democratic Senator from Nebraska said he would not vote for real healthcare reform. He actually called the choice of a public healthcare option "a deal breaker."

Sen. Nelson's stonewalling didn't last long, because DFA partnered with ChangeCongress-org to push back. With phone calls from DFA members, blog ads, and an aggressive mailer to influential Democrats in Nebraska, we asked if Senator Nelson will sell out Nebraska for $2 million in contributions from the insurance industry. Within two weeks, Sen. Nelson caved, flipping his position and promising he won't support a Republican filibuster.

Thanks to your work, one by one roadblock Democrats are caving. We're getting the message across: either you stand with President Obama and Dr. Dean in favor of a public option or you will stand alone for reelection.

Who's next? Senator Mary Landrieu in Louisiana. She's siding with the insurance interests who've given her $1.6 million instead of with the 76% of Americans in favor of a public option. This time, we're going big with a hard hitting T.V. ad. Help us get the ad on the air this week by contributing $50 right now.

Contribute to get this hard hitting ad on the air this week

WATCH THE AD AND CONTRIBUTE TO GET IT ON THE AIR THIS WEEK

Thanks to DFA members in Louisiana, the campaign calling out Sen. Landrieu has already been making waves. Major news outlets across Louisiana reported on our online ad campaign, putting Landrieu on defense. Last Sunday, the Washington Post prominently quoted our campaign on Page 1, exposing the senator in front of DC political insiders (and sending an important signal to other politicians that they could be next).

Our pressure campaign targeting Landrieu has great momentum, but so far her public position has not moved. So we have a choice: walk away from the fight or escalate the pressure? For us, the choice was easy.

This week, we'll hit the airwaves in Louisiana with our hard hitting 60 second T.V. ad. featuring Karen Gadbois, one of Landrieu's constituents, a DFA member, and a local hero for her work exposing corruption after Katrina. She shares her compelling story about how the public option would impact her life and asks Landrieu not to side with her big contributors. Karen's story is very heartfelt and personal.

We thought Karen's words were so important for Landrieu and others to hear that we shunned the traditional 30-second ad and went with a 60-second ad instead. Watch the ad. It's so good that our friends at MoveOn-org have jumped in to escalate the campaign too. Working together, we'll make sure Sen. Landrieu feels the pressure if everyone in Louisiana sees this ad.

CONTRIBUTE $50 AND TURN UP THE HEAT ON INSURANCE INDUSTRY DEMOCRATS

We're gaining ground. We're closer than we have ever been to enacting real healthcare reform and guarantee affordable health coverage for everyone. It's all because of you and the actions we take together.

Thank you for working to guarantee healthcare for all.

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America

Democracy for America relies on you and the people-power of more than one million members to fund the grassroots organizing and training that delivers progressive change on the issues that matter. Please Contribute Today and support our mission.

Paid for by Democracy for America, http://democracyforamerica...com/ and not authorized by any candidate. Contributions to Democracy for America are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

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Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Public Option Now! Health Care Rally (MoveOn.org)
Category: News and Politics

Public Option Now! Health Care Rally

The fight over health care reform is reaching a critical moment. The heart of President Obama's plan — a strong public health insurance option — is under attack. MoveOn members are organizing Public Option Now! Health Care rallies on July 9th to send a strong message to the Senate: Health care reform must include a strong public health insurance option.

Host your own Public Option Now! Health Care Rally or sign up for an event near you.

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=180

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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Video Roundup: California, Sanford, Health Care, & More...
Category: News and Politics

HAARM.org - Message Strategy Session

Who's behind the anti-health care reform rhetoric? Meet HAARM: Health Americans Against Reforming Medicine. Find out more: http://www.haarm.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzDwXr9szxw

"Shared" (SEIU-CA)

SEIU CA budget ad; California's budget deficit can only be solved with a balanced approach. Oil and tobacco companies have to share the pain, too, not just students, seniors, and working families.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23dcxGD8gyQ

HAARM.org - Fire Care

What if we ran the fire department like we run the health care system? At HAARM, they do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhpUG4apgrE

HAARM.org - Community Outreach

HAARM takes their message of anti-health care reform to the streets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoHCmq2lhe4

Dianne Feinstein-Lead on "Difficult" Challenges

New MoveOn.org ad challenging Senator Dianne Feinstein's remarks around President Obama's Health Care Reform plan. For more information, please visit www.moveon.org. If you want others to see this video, help it climb the YouTube ratings. 5-star it, favorite it, comment, and pass to friends!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVQTu1n0yK0

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford Admits Affair

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says he's been having an affair and will resign as head of the Republican Governor's Association. (June 24)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxKg0jZ45H4

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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Stand with Obama: Support a Public Health Insurance Option (MoveOn.org)
Category: News and Politics

Stand with Obama: Support a Public Health Insurance Option (MoveOn.org)

On Wednesday, President Obama reaffirmed his support for a public health insurance option--the key piece of health care reform that will provide coverage for all Americans and help bring costs down.

But as the fight for real reform heats up, right-wing lobbyists and conservatives in Congress are working hard to kill the public health insurance option.

We need to show Congress just how many Americans support Obama on health care reform. Can you sign the petition to stand with Obama? A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to your Senators and Representative.

http://pol.moveon.org/popetition/

Letter to the Editor: A strong public health insurance option (MoveOn.org) - http://pol.moveon.org/lte/lte_t.html

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Saturday, June 06, 2009

Obama Cairo Speech (VIDEO): Calls For New Beginning, Gets Standing Ovation
Category: News and Politics

Obama Cairo Speech (VIDEO): Calls For New Beginning, Gets Standing Ovation

AP/Huffington Post

Read the full transcript of the speech here, full video below...

CAIRO - Quoting from the Quran for emphasis, President Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" Thursday and said together, they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the timeless search for peace in the Middle East.

"This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," Obama said in a widely anticipated speech in one of the world's largest Muslim countries, an address designed to reframe relations after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

The White House said Obama's speech contained no new policy proposals on the Middle East. He said American ties with Israel are unbreakable, yet issued a firm, evenhanded call to the Jewish state and Palestinians alike to live up to their international obligations.

In a gesture to the Islamic world, Obama conceded at the beginning of his remarks that tension "has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations."

"And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear," said the president, who recalled hearing prayer calls of "azaan" at dawn and dusk while living in Indonesia as a boy.

At the same time, he said the same principle must apply in reverse. "Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire."

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/04/obama-cairo-speech-video_n_211210.html

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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Video Roundup: Obama, Cheney, Sotomayor, Health Care, Credit Cards, & More...
Category: News and Politics

Out of business (MoveOn.org)

Check out our new ad showing the need for Obama's public health care option.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms2b57MLqZs

Americans United For Change - Credit Cards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrM53rS3IeM

Coalition for Constitutional Values - Justice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP3RPdqq4J8

Forward vs Backward

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C1w4j6EGiw

DNC Web Ad: GOP [Hearts] Dick Cheney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcYvyv549Xk

Young Con Anthem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkeZ2P4SiY8

President Obama Announces Supreme Court Nominee

President Barack Obama announces his nominee for the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, in a video message to Organizing for America. (see press conference here)

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

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Friday, May 29, 2009

Ten Things About Judge Sonia Sotomayor (MoveOn.org)
Category: News and Politics

Ten Things About Judge Sonia Sotomayor (MoveOn.org)

Dear MoveOn member,

Today, President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the next U.S. Supreme Court justice. Of course, the Right is already fighting against her confirmation—so we need to get the facts out about her impressive qualifications and background.

Below is a list of 10 key things about Sonia Sotomayor that you might not know. Can you check it out and send it to 10 friends today? If each of us forwards the list, we can start to get the word out about Judge Sotomayor, and help to ensure that she gets a speedy and fair confirmation process.

Ten Things To Know About Judge Sonia Sotomayor

1. Judge Sotomayor would bring more federal judicial experience to the bench than any Supreme Court justice in 100 years. Over her three-decade career, she has served in a wide variety of legal roles, including as a prosecutor, litigator, and judge.

2. Judge Sotomayor is a trailblazer. She was the first Latina to serve on the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and was the youngest member of the court when appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of New York. If confirmed, she will be the first Hispanic to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.

3. While on the bench, Judge Sotomayor has consistently protected the rights of working Americans, ruling in favor of health benefits and fair wages for workers in several cases.

4. Judge Sotomayor has shown strong support for First Amendment rights, including in cases of religious expression and the rights to assembly and free speech.

5. Judge Sotomayor has a strong record on civil rights cases, ruling for plaintiffs who had been discriminated against based on disability, sex and race.

6. Judge Sotomayor embodies the American dream. Born to Puerto Rican parents, she grew up in a South Bronx housing project and was raised from age nine by a single mother, excelling in school and working her way to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton University and to become an editor of the Law Journal at Yale Law School.

7. In 1995, Judge Sotomayor "saved baseball" when she stopped the owners from illegally changing their bargaining agreement with the players, thereby ending the longest professional sports walk-out in history.

8. Judge Sotomayor ruled in favor of the environment in a case of protecting aquatic life in the vicinity of power plants in 2007, a decision that was overturned by the Roberts Supreme Court.

9. In 1992, Judge Sotomayor was confirmed by the Senate without opposition after being appointed to the bench by George H.W. Bush.

10. Judge Sotomayor is a widely respected legal figure, having been described as "...an outstanding colleague with a keen legal mind," "highly qualified for any position in which wisdom, intelligence, collegiality and good character would be assets," and "a role model of aspiration, discipline, commitment, intellectual prowess and integrity."

Judge Sotomayor is an historic, uniquely qualified nominee to the Supreme Court. Let's get the word out and make sure we get a prompt, fair confirmation on her nomination.

Thanks for all you do,

–Nita, Kat, Daniel, Ilyse and the rest of the team

Sources for each of the 10 things:

1. White House Statement, May 26, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51451&id=16226-8604656-7BD.MDx&t=1

2. White House Statement, May 26, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51451&id=16226-8604656-7BD.MDx&t=2

3. Cases: Archie v. Grand Cent. Partnership, 997 F. Supp. 504 (S.D.N.Y. 1998) and Marcella v. Capital Dist. Physicians' Health Plan, Inc., 293 F.3d 42 (2d Cir. 2002).

4. Cases: Flamer v. White Plains, 841 F. Supp. 1365 (S.D.N.Y. 1993), Ford v. McGinnis, 352 F.3d 382 (2d Cir. 2003), and Campos v. Coughlin, 854 F. Supp. 194 (S.D.N.Y. 1994).

5a. "Sotomayor's Notable Court Opinions and Articles," The New York Times, May 26, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51454&id=16226-8604656-7BD.MDx&t=3

5b. Cases: Bartlett v. N.Y. State Board, 970 F. Supp. 1094 (S.D.N.Y. 1997), Greenbaum v. Svenska Hendelsbanken, 67 F.Supp.2d 228 (S.D.N.Y. 1999), Raniola v. Bratton, 243 F.3d 610 (2d Cir. 2001), and Gant v. Wallingford Board of Education, 195 F.3d 134 (2d Cir. 1999).

6. "Sonia Sotomayor: 10 Things You Should Know," The Huffington Post, May 26, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51452&id=16226-8604656-7BD.MDx&t=4

7. "How Sotomayor 'Saved' Baseball," Time, May 26, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51455&id=16226-8604656-7BD.MDx&t=5

8. "Sotomayor's resume, record on notable cases," CNN, May 26, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51453&id=16226-8604656-7BD.MDx&t=6

9. "Sotomayor's resume, record on notable cases," CNN, May 26, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51453&id=16226-8604656-7BD.MDx&t=7

10a. Judge Richard C. Wesley, a George W. Bush appointee to the Second Circuit.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51451&id=16226-8604656-7BD.MDx&t=8

10b. "Sotomayor is Highly Qualified," The Wall Street Journal, May 9, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51456&id=16226-8604656-7BD.MDx&t=9

10c. Honorary Degree Citation, Pace University School of Law, 2003 Commencement.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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Monday, May 25, 2009

Health Care Reform
Category: News and Politics

The Principles

President Obama has announced three bedrock requirements for real health care reform:

Reduce Costs — Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals and families and they must be brought under control

Guarantee Choice — Americans must have the freedom to keep whatever doctor and health care plan they have, or to select a new doctor or health care plan if they choose

Ensure Affordable Care for All — All Americans must have quality and affordable health care

Stand With The President - http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/organizingforhealthcare

Health Care Organizing Kickoff: Host or Attend - http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hckickoff

Don't let them swiftboat health care: Donate today - http://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/dnc08DefendHealthCare

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Sunday, March 01, 2009

10 things to know about Obama's plan (MoveOn.org)
Category: News and Politics

10 things to know about Obama's plan

Hi,

Last week, President Obama unveiled his budget—his blueprint for
America—and it's ambitious, amazing, and unapologetically progressive.
I thought you should see this summary of what the plan would do from
MoveOn.org. Please check it out and pass it on!

10 things you should know about Obama's plan

The plan:

Makes a $634 billion
down payment on fixing health care that will go a long way toward paying for a more efficient, more affordable health care system that
covers every single American.¹
Reduces taxes for
95% of working Americans. And if your family makes less than $250,000, your taxes won't go up one dime.²
Invests more than $100 billion in clean energy technology, creating millions of green jobs that can never be
outsourced.³
Brings our troops
home from Iraq on a firm timetable, finally bringing the war to a close—and freeing up almost ten billion dollars a month for domestic priorities.⁴
Reverses growing
income inequality. The plan lets the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans expire and
focuses on strengthening the middle class.⁵
Closes multi-billion-dollar tax loopholes
for big oil companies. ⁶
Increases grants to
help families pay for college—the largest increase ever.⁷
Halves the deficit
by 2013. President Obama inherited a legacy of huge deficits
and an economy in shambles, but his plan brings the deficit under control as soon as the
economy begins to recover.⁸
Dramatically increases funding for the SEC and the CFTC—the agencies that police Wall Street.⁹
Tells it straight. For
years, budgets have used accounting tricks to hide the real costs of
the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush tax cuts, and too many other
programs. Obama's budget gets rid of the smokescreens and lays out what
America's priorities are, what they cost, and how we're going to pay
for them.¹⁰

Pretty amazing, right? Can you pass this on to your personal network
too, to make sure everyone knows how far-reaching and progressive
Obama's plan is?

Thanks!

P.S. Turns out there are way more than 10 amazing things in
Obama's budget and we couldn't resist sharing just a few more.

Stops unnecessary government subsidies to big banks, health insurance companies and big agribusinesses.^11,12,13
Expands access to early childhood education and improves schools by investing in programs that make sure every child has a qualified, strong teacher.¹⁴
Negotiates for better prescription drug prices using Medicaid's tremendous bargaining power.¹⁵
Expands access to family planning for low-income women.¹⁶
Caps the pollution that causes global warming, and makes polluters pay to support clean energy innovation.¹⁷

Sources:

1. "Obama Offers Broad Plan to Revamp Health Care," The New York Times, February 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-health.html

2. "Obama Expects Fight Over $3.55 Trillion Budget Plan," Bloomberg News, February 28, 2009

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aiLyabbGqJBo&refer=home

3. "Energy Budget Is Sunlight After Eight Years of Darkness," Center for American Progress, February 26, 2009

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/02/energy_sunshine.html

4. "The Economic Cost of War in Iraq and Afghanistan," The New York Times, March 1, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/weekinreview/01glanz.html

5. "Tax Cuts," The New York Times, February 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-tax.html

6. "Energy Budget Is Sunlight After Eight Years of Darkness," Center for American Progress, February 26, 2009

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/02/energy_sunshine.html

7. "Student Loans," The New York Times, February 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-edu.html

8. "Obama unveils budget blueprint," CNN, February 26, 2009

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/26/budget/

9. "Obama budget would boost SEC, CFTC, FBI," Reuters, February 26, 2009

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE51P5RD20090226

10. "Obama's budget," Los Angeles Times, February 27, 2009

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-budget27-2009feb27,0,2535327.story

11. "Student Loans," The New York Times, February 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-edu.html

12. "Health Insurance Stocks Dive on Medicare Advantage Cuts," The Wall Street Journal, February 26, 2009

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/02/26/health-insurance-stocks-dive-on-medicare-advantage-cuts/

13. "Agriculture," The New York Times, February 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-agri.html

14. "Investing Wisely in Our Children," Center for American Progress, February 26, 2009

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/02/education_budget.html

15. "Obama Offers Broad Plan to Revamp Health Care," The New York Times, February 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-health.html

16. "Obama Offers Broad Plan to Revamp Health Care," The New York Times, February 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-health.html

17. "Setting 'Green' Goals," The New York Times, February 26, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-energy.html

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Sunday, January 25, 2009

DFA 2009 Campaign Academy Schedule
Category: News and Politics

2009 Campaign Academy Schedule

* Des Moines, IA - Feb 28-March 1

* Newport News, VA - March 14-15

* Melbourne, FL - March 21-22

* Fresno, CA - March 28-29

* Memphis, TN - April 25-26

* Lafayette, IN - May 16-17

* Charlotte, NC - June 6-7

The DFA Campaign Academy mission is to
focus, network, and train grassroots activists in the skills and
strategies to take back our country, manage successful campaigns or run
for office themselves.

Our Campaign Academy weekends are 16 hours
of interactive workshops that bring hundreds of local activists,
campaign staff and candidates together for 2 days of intensive campaign
training. Experienced campaign professionals lead sessions in voter
contact, fundraising, communications, on-line organizing and much more
to empower progressive activists with the skills to win in November and
beyond. Attendees also meet with dozens of local progressive
candidates and learn about exciting job and volunteer opportunities in
their area. And of course, everyone receives their own copy of DFA's
180-page Campaign Training Manual.

Year after year, the DFA Campaign Academy
is building a grassroots infrastructure of skilled progressive
activists in all 50 states.

more...

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/campaignacademy

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