The Dream Shall Never Die




"This is the cause of my life. It is a key reason that I defied my illness last summer to speak at the Democratic convention in Denver—to support Barack Obama, but also to make sure, as I said, "that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American...will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not just a privilege." For four decades I have carried this cause—from the floor of the United States Senate to every part of this country. It has never been merely a question of policy; it goes to the heart of my belief in a just society. Now the issue has more meaning for me—and more urgency—than ever before. But it's always been deeply personal, because the importance of health care has been a recurrent lesson throughout most of my 77 years." — Ted Kennedy

http://pol.moveon.org/kennedy/

President Obama on Senator Kennedy: "One of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy."

Vice President Biden: "He changed the circumstances of tens of millions of Americans and in a literal sense literally, literally. he changed the circumstances ... not only the physical circumstances, he changed how they looked at themselves and how they looked at one another." Later he added, "The unique thing about Teddy was he was never about him. It was always about you. It was never about him."

Speaker Pelosi: "Ted Kennedy’s dream of quality health care for all Americans will be made real this year because of his leadership and his inspiration."

Majority Leader Reid: "He was a friend, the model of public service and an American icon. As we mourn his loss, we rededicate ourselves to the causes for which he so dutifully dedicated his life. Senator Kennedy's legacy stands with the greatest, the most devoted, the most patriotic men and women to ever serve in these halls."

Governor Dean: "Ted Kennedy was a man with a long career of determination as well as charm.  When President Obama signs a Health Care Reform bill late this year, Ted Kennedy's  may not be standing there next to him, but his presence will be deeply apparent in the Oval Office as the President's pen moves across the page."

SEIU: "In Senator Kennedy's America, every family has access to affordable healthcare, every worker has a paycheck that supports their family and a secure retirement, every child has a right to a quality education, and every immigrant can achieve the American Dream"

MoveOn.org "He was a powerful leader and an inspiration to our 5,000,000 members. We'll keep fighting for his dreams."

AFL-CIO: "The death of Sen. Edward Kennedy today leaves a void in the lives of working families that will be hard to replace, if ever it can be. Kennedy fought throughout his life with one goal in mind: to improve the lives of working people. He championed civil rights for people of color and LGBT people; better education for literally millions of kids; immigration reform; women; workers’ rights; the freedom of workers to choose a union; and, of course, health care reform"

More...

The Accomplishments of Senator Edward M. Kennedy 1962-2009

Nancy Reagan Statement on Senator Kennedy

Senator Orrin Hatch on the Passing of Senator Kennedy

Change to Win Statement

SEIU Statement

HCAN Statement

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: Jim (16298070)
Date: 8/20/2009 9:57:19 PM
Subject: Standing up for the Public Option


The public health insurance option is the heart of health care reform and right now it's under serious attack.

Even some members of the administration are pushing President Obama to give in to conservatives and drop it: one senior White House adviser told The Washington Post, "I don't understand how [the public option] has become the measure of whether what we achieve is health-care reform."1

This unnamed source apparently doesn't understand that the public option is the key to lowering health care costs and expanding coverage.

But there is a group of progressives in Washington who DO understand. Sixty House Democrats have signed a written pledge to not vote for health care reform unless it includes a robust public option.2 That's more than enough to block a bill without the public option.

These representatives​ are already facing pressure to back down, but if we stand strong with them, we'll send a clear signal that the heart of reform can't be compromised away. Can you make a contribution to the progressives in Congress who are standing tall for the public option? Clicking the link below will take you to ActBlue, where you can donate.

http:​/​/​www.​moveon.​org/​r?​r=​51789&​id=​16918-​9073869-​N4DgOLx&​t=​3

Progressive bloggers just launched a campaign to raise money for these progressive heroes and they've already raised $175,000. Let's see if we can double or triple that! It'll send a clear message to Washington that those fighting for the public option have millions of Americans standing with them.

And even though some White House advisers seem to have forgotten, the reason the public option has become central to reform is simple: we're fed up with the insurance companies and we need real accountability for them. They've had decades to fix the problems with our health care system, but they haven't done it. Health care costs are spiraling out of control, millions of people can't get insurance, and even those of us with insurance can face bankruptcy or worse if we get really sick.

A public option will give Americans a real choice when it comes to our health care. It'll end the insurance companies' stranglehold on our health care system. And that's exactly why those companies, and their allies on Capitol Hill, are fighting so hard to kill it.

Right now, the 60 Democrats who've pledged to vote against a bill without a public option are the strongest bloc fighting to win real health care reform, and they need our support. Clicking the link below will take you to ActBlue, where you can make a contribution to help them keep fighting.

http:​/​/​www.​moveon.​org/​r?​r=​51789&​id=​16918-​9073869-​N4DgOLx&​t=​4

Thanks for all you do.

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


Sources:

1. "Debate's Path Caught Obama by Surprise," The Washington Post, August 19, 2009
http:​/​/​www.​moveon.​org/​r?​r=​51791&​id=​16918-​9073869-​N4DgOLx&​t=​5

2. "Sixty House Progressives: We'll Kill Any Health Care Bill Unless It Has A Public Option," Talking Points Memo, August 18, 2009
http:​/​/​www.​moveon.​org/​r?​r=​51792&​id=​16918-​9073869-​N4DgOLx&​t=​6

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

Top five health care reform lies--and how to fight back

Nita Chaudhary, MoveOn.org Political Action ..

Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 11:59 AM

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Dear MoveOn member, The health care fight has turned ugly, fast. Right-wing mobs are crashing congressional town halls,1 lies are spreading via anonymous email chains,2 and Sarah Palin bizarrely said that President Obama was going to set up a "death panel," whatever that is.3  Many of these claims are just incredible—but if we don't fight back with the truth, the right will continue to poison the health care debate. So as part of our Real Voices for Change campaign this August, we're working to set the record straight. Check out the list below: "Top Five Health Care Lies—and How to Fight Back." Can you spread the word by passing this email along to 10 of your friends today? Also, if you're on Facebook, please post the list today by clicking here: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51746. If you're on Twitter, retweet: @MoveOn Check out the Top 5 Health Care Lies—and How to Fight Back. http://bit.ly/Bncs5 Top Five Health Care Reform Lies—and How to Fight Back Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma!!! The truth: These accusations—of "death panels" and forced euthanasia—are, of course, flatly untrue. As an article from the Associated Press puts it: "No 'death panel' in health care bill."4 What's the real deal? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will and other issues facing older Americans.5 Lie #2: Democrats are going to outlaw private insurance and force you into a government plan!!! The truth: With reform, choices will increase, not decrease. Obama's reform plans will create a health insurance exchange, a one-stop shopping marketplace for affordable, high-quality insurance options.6 Included in the exchange is the public health insurance option—a nationwide plan with a broad network of providers—that will operate alongside private insurance companies, injecting competition into the market to drive quality up and costs down.7 If you're happy with your coverage and doctors, you can keep them.8 But the new public plan will expand choices to millions of businesses or individuals who choose to opt into it, including many who simply can't afford health care now. Lie #3: President Obama wants to implement Soviet-style rationing!!! The truth: Health care reform will expand access to high-quality health insurance, and give individuals, families, and businesses more choices for coverage. Right now, big corporations decide whether to give you coverage, what doctors you get to see, and whether a particular procedure or medicine is covered—that is rationed care. And a big part of reform is to stop that. Health care reform will do away with some of the most nefarious aspects of this rationing: discrimination for pre-existing conditions, insurers that cancel coverage when you get sick, gender discrimination, and lifetime and yearly limits on coverage.9 And outside of that, as noted above, reform will increase insurance options, not force anyone into a rationed situation.  Lie #4: Obama is secretly plotting to cut senior citizens' Medicare benefits!!! The truth: Health care reform plans will not reduce Medicare benefits.10 Reform includes savings from Medicare that are unrelated to patient care—in fact, the savings comes from cutting billions of dollars in overpayments to insurance companies and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.11 Lie #5: Obama's health care plan will bankrupt America!!! The truth: We need health care reform now in order to prevent bankruptcy—to control spiraling costs that affect individuals, families, small businesses, and the American economy. Right now, we spend more than $2 trillion dollars a year on health care.12 The average family premium is projected to rise to over $22,000 in the next decade13—and each year, nearly a million people face bankruptcy because of medical expenses.14 Reform, with an affordable, high-quality public option that can spur competition, is necessary to bring down skyrocketing costs. Also, President Obama's reform plans would be fully paid for over 10 years and not add a penny to the deficit.15 We're closer to real health care reform than we've ever been—and the next few weeks will decide whether it happens. We need to make sure the truth about health care reform is spread far and wide to combat right wing lies. Can you forward this email to your friends today? And remember, also post it on Facebook by clicking here: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51746. And on Twitter, by retweeting: @MoveOn Check out the Top 5 Health Care Lies—and How to Fight Back. http://bit.ly/Bncs5 Thanks for all you do. –Nita, Kat, Ilya, Michael and the rest of the team P.S. Want more? Check out this great new White House "Reality Check" website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/ or this excellent piece from Health Care for America Now on some of the most outrageous lies: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51729&id=16778-8604656-FpZ17Xx&t=1 Sources: 1. "More 'Town Halls Gone Wild': Angry Far Right Protesters Disrupt Events With 'Incomprehensible' Yelling," Think Progress, August 4, 2009. 2. "Fight the smears," Health Care for America NOW, accessed August 10, 2009. 3. "Palin Paints Picture of 'Obama Death Panel' Giving Thumbs Down to Trig," ABC News, August 7, 2009. 4. "No 'death panel' in health care bill," The Associated Press, August 10, 2009. 5. "Stop Distorting the Truth about End of Life Care," The Huffington Post, July 24, 2009. 6. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 11, 2009. 7. "Why We Need a Public Health-Care Plan," The Wall Street Journal, June 24, 2009. 8. "Obama: 'If You Like Your Doctor, You Can Keep Your Doctor,'" The Wall Street Journal, 15, 2009. 9. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. 10. "Obama: No reduced Medicare benefits in health care reform," CNN, July 28, 2009. 11. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. 12. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. 13. "Premiums Run Amok," Center for American Progress, July 24, 2009. 14. "Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies," CNN, June 5, 2009. 15. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. Sources for the Five Lies: #1: "A euthanasia mandate," The Washington Times, July 29, 2009. #2: "It's Not An Option," Investor's Business Daily, July 15, 2009. #3: "Rationing Health Care," The Washington Times, April 21, 2009. #4: "60 Plus Ad Is Chock Full Of Misinformation," Media Matters for America, August 8, 2009. #5: "Obama's 'Public' Health Plan Will Bankrupt the Nation," The National Review, May 13, 2009. 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.