Wednesday August 19, 2009, 2:33 am
Robert Reich, the former Labor secretary, scholar and commentator, called Tuesday for a “march on Washington” on Sept. 13 —“Grandparents Day” — in support of a health care bill that offers a public option.

While he said organizing was not his strength, he would be prepared to assist. “If enough people feel that’s the best way for their voices to be heard, and can’t be heard in any other way, then we march,” Reich said in a reader question-and-answer session in POLITICO’s Arena.

A group of conservatives have already announced a “tea party” movement march on Washington for Sept. 12. An opposing march the next day, if one were to materialize, could make for an interesting weekend.

Reich’s suggested march is the latest manifestation of liberal anger about signs that the Obama administration may be willing to live without a public option if it means a health care bill can become law. “Very few things happen in Washington that are in the public's interest when corporations have huge financial stakes in the game, as they obviously do with health care — unless the public is actively involved, engaged and organized,” Reich wrote. “We won't get a public option, or anything close to it, unless people who feel strongly about it make a racket.”

The “first step is to be very loud and very vocal: Write, phone, e-mail, your congressional delegation and the White House. Second step: Get others to do the same. Third step: Get voters in Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, and other states where Blue Dog Dems and wavering Senate Dems live, and have them make a hell of a fuss. Fourth step: March on Washington.”

He suggested the morning of Sept. 13 because “that's a Sunday, and it's also Grandparents Day. I've just become a grandparent, and I'm worried as hell about the kind of world my little granddaughter is inheriting.“

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 2:59 am
I'm equally terrified!

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 3:20 am
Thank you Tom!

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 5:03 am
thanks Tom

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 5:29 am
Howard Dean and Gibbs both say there will be a public option. As Blue Bunting said in another thread, this is all hype to scare us. But the march will be good and reinforce the plan. Thanks Tom.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 5:36 am
TY Tom

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 6:04 am
This is so important to me, I wish I could go to Washington to take part in the March, but my health and money will not allow it currently. The Public Option is so necessary,

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 6:14 am
I also heard last night on Larry King they would raise the financial qualifications for people to go on medicaid if they had to. thanks tom.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 9:35 am
Economic Eugenics denying quality health care to the working poor, ensuring a lower quality of life and an early demise. Insurence companies did not give politicians 81,528,794 dollars in campain contributions for some politician to come along and give everyone the opertunity to buy quality care at a huge group rate.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 9:40 am
Anima antibotics Meb Md, Ecureme, and online illegal importation of precription drugs for Self Diagnosis. That is the health care choice for the woking poor.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 9:50 am
Oh fer cryin' out loud ... weren't ANY OF YOU listening to our President when he told you (paraphrasing) this is not about me, this is about YOU and health care for ALL OF YOU"

President Obama knew the Congre$$ would blast his plan to give everyone health care and HE TOLD YOU THAT YOU MUST FIGHT FOR IT ... so until every single American DEMANDS HEALTH CARE, the Congress will do everything they can to our President "to break him" and to break the backs of every American taxpayer once again.

Former Labor Secretary Calls For "March On Washington" For Public Option

What next?http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_08/019535.php

Ezra noted today, "It's a fairly safe bet that the House bill will include a public option and the Senate bill will have a weak public option or some version of a co-op plan. Then the two will meet. What happens then?"

A conference committee, where the president apparently intends to shape the bill the way he wants it.


What next?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_08/019535.php
Ezra noted today, "It's a fairly safe bet that the House bill will include a public option and the Senate bill will have a weak public option or some version of a co-op plan. Then the two will meet. What happens then?"

A conference committee, where the president apparently intends to shape the bill the way he wants it.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 10:03 am
I heard that Obama has not changed his stance on public option at all! That people have made to much out of it.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 10:10 am
Thank you, Blue. You're on top of this. I'm reading on the same page. Baucus is catching hell behind closed doors. The decision has been made to approve the bill...they're just fine-tuning the details. The media needs to stir up the natives and make O appear naive, stupid and weak by showing his (contrived) polls as dropping.

Au contrare...O is playing possum and cool as he did during the campaign, allowing his naysayers and opponents look foolish and do their war dances for the public. The more ruckus you hear and read about HCR means O has the upper hand on this. We're not going to hear about the backdoor arm twisting...Chicago style. He didn't put Rahm Emanuel on his team for nothing...

O is on a mission and he WILL get his public option. So stay calm and stay tuned for the final bill...

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 10:12 am
Thanks Tom

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 11:17 am
Anything worth having is worth fighting for - call your reps and senators - write those letters - let's let 'em know we mean business!

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 2:48 pm
BE THERE ... 9/12/2009 in D.C.


The place to organize for the March on DC
(93)
August 15, 2009 • Category: Blog, Featured
I just wanted to remind everyone that you can connect with other people in your state by joining our ning social networking site. JOIN NOW and find a bus to ride in on, or a caravan of cars coming from your area. Connect with others in your state and work together to spread the word!
The [...]

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Wednesday August 19, 2009, 4:14 pm
The day is coming,when YOU have to stand up..and say we want fair healthcare,we want our voices to matter,above those of corporate fascism.If you don't then you have rolled over and allowed your country to be lost.
Answer The Call Progressive and Centrist America Stand Up and Fight..Or the last bit of freedom will die.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 4:58 pm
I'm in. Plus it's been a while since I've seen our capital. Great city. Kudos to Secretary Reich. If Dems cave on the Public Option, they lose my vote.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 5:55 pm
thanks Tom!

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 8:20 pm
Noted, thanks Tom. I'm going to try to make the trip if I can get help with transportation. Anyone driving to D.C. by way of Columbus, Ohio?

Thursday August 20, 2009, 3:06 am
We all need to have our voices and opinions heard.. it is what makes a nation succesful if we can all meet each other in the middle..

Thursday August 20, 2009, 10:06 am
Several of our groups will be there. It is going to be awesome.

Thursday August 20, 2009, 11:39 am
I thought you all might like to add your 2 cents to a news story and take a poll on the public planover in Philly. One of the blue-dog democrat senators 'represents' that state.

Blue, as you are perhaps aware, the organizing link you are posting is for the 'tea party' crowd. While sharing transportation may strengthen our democracy and provide endless opportunity for conversation, it would be nice if we could find a similar page for the advocates of health reform. Sure would be nice if we had their funding. I'll see if I can find anything.

Thursday August 20, 2009, 5:45 pm
I found lots of places talking about the march on the 13th, including Republicans for Obama (they plan to participate =), but nothing by way of 'central organization'. I did come across a petition I had yet to sign,

Friday August 21, 2009, 6:09 am
That Petition
I think the link keeps breaking my comment. This one is really worth signing.

Saturday August 22, 2009, 10:55 am

"Many promoters of health-care reform believe that people have an intrinsic ethical right to health care—to equal access to doctors, medicines and hospitals. While all of us empathize with those who are sick, how can we say that all people have more of an intrinsic right to health care than they have to food or shelter? Health care is a service that we all need, but just like food and shelter it is best provided through voluntary and mutually beneficial market exchanges. A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That's because there isn't any. This "right" has never existed in America."

Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey in arecent Wall Street Journal op-ed on health care.

Whole Foods Backlash & Boycott: Bloggers Outraged Over CEO's Anti-'ObamaCare' Column

Sunday August 23, 2009, 6:15 am
THANKS TOM

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 1:03 am
sorry I missed this, hubby told me about it last night, we are going, room for 2 extras, no smoking in my car!!
ty Tom, looking for more postings on this, sick of being pushed around, the gov is nothing but a big bully.

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 1:26 am
http://912dc.org/2009/08/the-place-to-organize-for-the-march-on-dc/#comment-9866

I am seeing the date for Sept 12, I can't seem to pin it down!

Thursday September 3, 2009, 2:23 am
Dar, ty for the info, I hope someone sees this, the march info can be found here:

http://912dc.org/2009/08/are-you-a-member-of-the-official-912-social-network/

I read last night that 500 buses are being tracked, more being added, this is next week!
I am sending this page out in care2 cards, I can't find another article on this in care2, nothing in myspace, worthless, can't find anything in change.org on the march, has the gov just shut it all down? they have threatened to take away our internet, they are threatening to monitor everything, aren't they already doing that?