Tag Archives: Barack Obama

This is health reform


Organizing for America

After a century of struggle and a year of debate, health insurance reform became law six months ago today — and this week, key provisions of the Affordable Care Act take effect.

This is possible only because you — and millions of Organizing for America supporters and volunteers — stood up and said, enough. Even when the fight seemed all but lost, we continued to organize, call Congress, knock on doors, and do everything we could to keep reform alive.

But behind these historic changes are real people and real families. Their stories are important reminders that health reform couldn’t wait — and we can’t give up on moving this country forward. Too much is at stake.

Meet Patrick, Kay, and Kristin:

Patrick (Enable images to view the full content of this email) Patrick is a single dad in Rockport, Maine. When he lost his job as a boat builder, he lost his health coverage, and paid out of pocket when his 14-year-old daughter required surgery for scoliosis. Pat has since found a new job, and because insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children on the basis of pre-existing conditions, his daughter Katie is now insured. “If it wasn’t for proper medical insurance, we never would have had the doctors she had. I feel like President Obama did it just for us.” Now, Pat can take Katie to the doctor without worrying about falling deeper into debt. “It’s about time someone, anyone, stood up for the things that mattered.”
Kay (Enable images to view the full content of this email) Kay is a small business owner in Evansville, Indiana. Every year she sees premiums soar and searches for more affordable options. “Even with us paying half the premiums, we have employees who cannot afford the health insurance and go without. They feel like they are constantly living on the edge — hoping that neither they nor their children will face an illness or injury that will bankrupt them.” The small business tax credit in the Affordable Care Act will help Kay continue to ensure her employees can get the coverage they need.
Kristin (Enable images to view the full content of this email) Kristin is a recent grad living in Scottsdale, Arizona. Last year, she was told that the cost of staying on her parents’ plan after graduating would skyrocket to $500 a month. “Staying on my mother’s plan would have been a great option now! But that was in the spring of last year, before any health reform had passed.” Now, young people like Kristin will be able to remain on their parents’ insurance at the same rate until finding work or turning 26 — eliminating what can be a costly gap in coverage.

Today, we also celebrate an end to some of the worst insurance company abuses, like rescinding coverage when someone needs it most. Those previously considered uninsurable because of a pre-existing condition — 400,000 Americans — now have access to insurance through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. And all new health plans must now provide free preventive care, like mammograms, colonoscopies, immunizations, and pre-natal care.

Millions will see expanded benefits — and more control over the care they receive.

This is real change. And there are stories like these all over America. Check out a few more — including a video of one woman’s surprise call from the President — at the White House‘s site:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform

Thanks for all you do,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

toxic Thursday &some News


Today the President is in NYC at the UN and will address the General Assembly.

The Political Party of No… Republicans decided to roll out their Pledge to America as well today. The so-called Pledge to America has nothing substantial; only a lot of promises to repeal replace and eliminate social services we have all come to depend on because we pay into it.

The  great News today is that HCR begins for millions of Americans. Though it seems most are skeptical about what exactly will reform do for them the difference will be immediate for those with kids in college who already have insurance. They can now safely cover them while away at college. It makes you feel calm to know that if god forbid something happens to your child they will be covered and they have the ability to get medical help without the high costs. The fact that we only have a few more weeks left until the up coming mid-term elections it is with hope and faith that those people who have been watching listening will Vote for the Democratic Party instead the other side of the aisle. The choice i admit is clear for me; as a woman, mom of a young male person of colour the things that the right have in mind for the Protected Classes seem less than civilized. Anything Republicans say or plan will not be good for families …they take aim at freedom of religion, they are against a woman’s right to choose, don’t believe that gays should have the right to marry adopt or be in the military openly. The list of we don’t approve of by Republicans is long, that is why we the people need to be aware of what we the people will lose.

The rise of  the tea party movement…the implications and the people who are responsible for their actions makes me fear for my safety as well as other people of colour, well come to think about it the fear might be for all those considered a Protected Class. If allowed to gain control the Republican Tea Party will strip away the things we all have held dear up until this moment in our lives and the change I voted for in 2008. Again,  the November elections have a direct impact on our 2012 elections and those who say they want to sit this 2010 out to protest are stupid at best reckless and unaware of what they will be dragging the rest of us into when we have to decide who will be President in 2012. The choice for me is obvious because the work I voted for in 2008 has yet to get done. I knew that the effort would be hard but no one had any idea that Republicans would go to such an effort to ruin the fair election that 53% voted President Obama into office and expected him to govern but Republicans have put up road blocks not only to the change we need but for the Political Party voted to govern for four years.

So, when you vote in November remember how that vote will impact Congress and the legislation needed for All Americans and the work that still needs to get done with President Obama. The choice is obvious. I cannot believe how anyone could promote or vote for a person to be the President of the free world who clearly  feels they could only represent a select few, a specific people. My only conclusion is:  that it could be and would be truly an un-American thing to do… We the People should always be aware of that when voting for the President of the USA , because they represent all Americans not a few, some or a select group. The fact is that a person who believes and practices exclusion, discrimination, sexism, racism …. should never be allowed or considered to be the leader of the free world

When I  hear or try to understand the people in the Republican Tea Party movement; all I get is anger, fear mongering and hate. I have not heard anyone from the movement be specific about what big government means to them or why they hate it and when they try to explain the only information they seem to throw out at us… that government is too big but no one has yet to say what would they do to change our situation, they only give promises but without true explanations with implications they probably will eliminate any and all social service programs that most folks actually pay into all their lives.

I watched marches with nasty words about the President, signs with nasty pictures of the President, as well as people dressed in costumes that represented a time when both women and minorities were not treated well, i saw mostly white faces angry about the country being taken over by a Black man who quite possibly could be a socialist. These ideas were implied, promoted and provoked by Sarah Palin several times during the 2008 campaign for President. The right and or extreme right are definitely upset they are not in charge, they also feel a personal threat over the fact that our population in the United States is growing in numbers for minorities.  The notion that Republicans want to bring in more people into their base definitely is not an invitation to minorities, even with Michael steele as RNC chair it is obvious his party, who gives purity tests is a party of exclusion, only accepts a select few and if you pay attention to the words of Republicans they do not believe in compassion for others. We could really use a little social-ism right about now.

I still do not understand what Republicans stand for, they scare me personally, how can a group of people promote exclusion when it’s obvious we have the elite, the middle  and lower class, who are of varying people, they want the government out of their lives but feel they have a right to tell women what they can do with their bodies, no one is perfect but the C’street group should not have members that are serving in Public Office, if for nothing else than for the Separation of Church and State, which, obviously they are not adhering to. Just ask the people of Uganda, maybe in other countries as well. I would call for an investigation into just what are Public Servants doing in Uganda promoting religious exclusion and or something even more sinister.

Most conservative and or tea party members want to get rid of Medicare, Medicare, Social Security, which are all entitlements; my question is:  how would most of their parents or grandparents live if not for these programs? I just don’t understand.  i believe my first encounter of a movement, which, had no party name that i knew of were the words that came out of the mouth of Sarah Palin at her VP speeches, she mocked then Senator Obama, chastised people for believing in change that would come from a man that pals around with terrorists, which was a outright lie, implied that he was not born in America, that he was a socialist. My first thought was she and others running for Public Service should not be so reckless because she was only talking to a certain group,  relaying her message to only a select few and calling on them to vote for her, then i realized that this was her purpose. I was offended, i still am.

Now, the voices of or from tea party members are said to be from a wide range of people. I have to be honest, the tent of democrats is a lot larger and when people say there are extremes on the left as well? What kind of extreme are they talking about? Socialism? for me the last ten or so years of the bush White house has been life on the sidelines, working and not getting wage increases, that was during the Bush years, even then corporations were flexing their muscles, no increases but you can keep your health care…if you don’t have this that or the other.  I don’t think tea party folks truly understand what they want, if it’s what Republicans stand for then, at least for me, we are in great trouble.

The Bush administrations gave 2tax cuts to the wealthy and did not pay for it, he committed to 2 wars and these were not paid for. The spending this man did drain the government surplus, which was left to him by a democratic President, not perfect himself, but he did leave a surplus. Bush had 2terms and i still cannot think of anything positive this man did, I’m not in the top 2% so i definitely didn’t enjoy the wealth, the wars did not make sense to me ,9/11 still makes no sense to me, my personal opinion is that this event was used to go into war; there had been some negative interaction with bush1 and saddam; it’s just my own feelings but the embarrassment was not forgotten, an incident with Iraq and bush2 with or without the twin tower incident and 3000 dead would have happened one way or another, again, it’s my opinion, no facts. Today, we have a President who has changed the way the world sees us, he has extended a hand of peace, a willingness to talk. Not my way or no way as our previous one did; this is a good thing but that would be eliminated if republicans and or their fringe element called tea baggers get into office.

A man named Tancredo, who comes from a family of immigrants made comments about our President that were without a doubt offensive, first thought was these words of hate are lethal, words hurt, they are offensive when used in such a way as Tancredo did; but what really scared me was that he received applause from the crowd of what? Other racists?, people who want exclusion? If the following people are teabag supporters, like  Thom Tancredo, Sarah palin, scott brown, roger ailes,glenn beck, dick armey  it’s obvious we all need to watch out, the American people should be speaking up and out.

Other News …

The President meets/speech at the UN General Assembly

Recall on Similac Baby Formula

5million upgrade awarded to 5 Seattle neighborhoods

State Workers in Seattle Ferry workers-drinking brown water

Requests for unemployment benefits have increased by about 12thousand a week


CSPAN …

Senate Banking Cmte. Hearing on SEC Performance Senate Banking Cmte. Hearing on SEC Performance

Pres. Obama Remarks at U.N. Pres. Obama Remarks at U.N.
House Energy Cmte. Hearing on Salmonella in Eggs House Energy Cmte. Hearing on Salmonella in Eggs
House Financial Services Hearing with Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner House Financial Services Hearing with Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner
Sen. Homeland Security Cmte. Hearing on Ongoing Terrorist Threat Sen. Homeland Security Cmte. Hearing on Ongoing Terrorist Threat
Pres. Obama Back Yard Town Hall on Patient's Bill of Rights Pres. Obama Back Yard Town Hall on Patient’s Bill of Rights

A message from President Obama …


In the coming weeks, Americans will make a critical choice. Do we continue moving our country forward? Or do we bring back the very same ideas that devastated the middle class and resulted in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression?

There is no doubt that Democrats can retain our Majority in the House of Representatives in the same way that we won in 2008 — by going block by block, house by house, voter by voter.

September 30th marks the final FEC quarterly fundraising deadline of this election, making this the most important deadline we have ever faced. Your support by Midnight on September 30th will decide how strong our voter contact team is, how far they can extend their reach, and how many Democratic voters they can get to the polls.

Contribute before the crucial Midnight September 30th FEC deadline to fund our get-out-the-vote effort and ensure that I keep my great Democratic Partners in the House. Your gift today will be matched by a group of generous Democrats.

Keep the House Blue

The challenges we face as a nation are too great to go back to the same old Republican ideas that got us into this mess in the first place. We simply cannot give the keys to the car back to the very same folks whose ideas led to the worst economy since the 1930s.

Since taking office, I have been fortunate to have extraordinary partners in the House like Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues who have fought to move our country in a New Direction. They have put our recovery on track, fought Republican attempts to privatize Social Security, and heroically taken on the powerful special interests. Now they need your help.

Contribute before the crucial Midnight September 30th FEC deadline to fund our get-out-the-vote effort and ensure that I keep my great Democratic Partners in the House. Your gift today will be matched by a group of generous Democrats.

When my own campaign for this office began, we weren’t given much of a chance by the pollsters or the pundits. You proved them wrong through your belief that 2008 had to be different. Now I need you to do it again for my great Democratic allies in the House.

We simply cannot afford to spend the next two years wishing we had done more in this final push to keep the House in Democratic hands.

This is our moment to retain a Democratic House so we can continue working to create millions of jobs, strengthen our middle class, and make this economy work for every American.

Thank you.

Barack Obama

P.S. Every dollar you give will help decide how strong our voter contact team is, how far they can extend their reach, and how many Democratic voters they can get to the polls. Contribute today and your gift will be matched by a group of generous Democrats.

wild Wednesday &some News


Today, we have a full moon, it’s the last day of summer and a whole lot of sunshine is still expected in the 206. The people of Seattle are excited that President Obama not only called the Seattle Storm to congratulate them for their 2nd WNBA title but they have been invited to the White House. In other news; some new rules from the work the Democratic Party did to reform health care will start today. The President will be announcing how our new health care laws will help you out if you have children in college explain how your insurance can no longer drop you based on your illness and more. Which by the way starts 9.23.2010

We Democrats are in the fight for our lives …we not only have to beat back the Media but comments coming from folks on the floor of Congress like McCain,Mitchell and others have the guts to lie and wait for someone to challenge them… McCain says S.3454 was a ploy Mitchell says they “Dems” are trying to sedate their base the special interest groups.

I would like to respond to the nasty man McConnell & McCains comment about S.3454 beingin a political ploy …. God i hope so because it’s clear Republicans don’t give a shit about Americans in general to have voted no on every piece of legislation that would have gotten us closer to the improvement folks are now complaining about… To be sure the problem standing in the way of progress ? Republicans!!! Ask your Republican member of Congress if they voted yes to any legislation that would have helped get the middle class back on track.

In my need to constantly express how important it is that our Democratic Party get energy needed to throw down with votes in November. The difference between the two Political Parties is evident but we have major obstacles when it comes to getting our message into the airwaves. The media has made a decision to go with controversy instead of what used to be called fair and balanced News information making it quite likely that folks do not get or care to listen to the facts about why we are all still suffering. This election year is important because we need more true Democrats on the floor of Congress to get that change 53% voted for in 2008. We need to help not make it hard on our party; we are the change we have all been looking for and though folks may be down about the crap being done or lack there of; sitting this election year out is totally unacceptable and will only hurt our case and our future. The November elections are only six weeks away and people who are not registered to vote should; you are obligated to.  I am not going to ask that you vote my way, that usually is on the agenda of anyone asking for people to register to vote… my guess is that we all see what is going on, have some sense of right and wrong, watched what happened on 9/11, Katrina, Africa, the BP mess, the constant rhetoric that seems not only racists but folks are not just right of center those who seemed moderate are now going hard right with an ideology that seems to speak out against those of us in Protected Classes. If so, We need to Unite and vote this creeps out of office in November because unless and until we do the talk will move into action and that needless to say will be against families in this 21st Century, against progress of and for All Americans not just a select few Newt, Limbaugh beck and the others are talking about. I have been a democrat forever and feel that ultimately the things going on are all non-partisan realities, that the 2 party thing needs to end because we are all in this together and can all be taken out as well.  It goes without saying we are all affected by bad air, bad roads, health care, heart attacks, low wages, bad education, wars. It seems like the 2party system is not working for anyone and when the majority has trouble passing legislation it begs the question maybe something needs to change. I know it is not just me feeling that the filibuster and the 60vote rule need to go or at least be changed to majority rules. I use to think maybe we should end our 2 party system and just vote on the person who seems to be the most qualified to do the job. Then our economy collapsed and the good bad and really ugly side of people became worse as our Public Servants decided to throw Americans under the bus with an agenda to regain control of Congress. It is not lost on me but maybe it is on Republican constituents that folks on the right do not even seem to care if their own followers have jobs, have unemployment, keep Teachers in place or that the streets will continue to be monitored because … People your Republican Representatives voted no to HR1586 some even called it a bailout …If anyone had sense who is currently calling themselves a Republican would without a blink vote for the Democratic party but instead crazy people are being voted into possible positions of power some are by default and all this madness we see on tv has gotten me scared as a mom, person of colour and as female who believe in the right to choose believes that women should get equal pay for equal work and the rhetoric should have more people outraged and ready for November because it is a pivotal moment.

I know that Republicans cannot be counted on to solve discrimination,  reform immigration laws that are silly, stop the poor from getting poorer, stop tax breaks that benefit the rich, oil drilling that threaten to damage our environment, reform education that seems to be compromised, government officials that are crooks, big companies allowed to rip the American worker of all it was working for, laws that can tell people what they do behind closed doors makes them unacceptable and unable to have equality, women who do the same or similar job as men but get paid .77 on the dollar, colleges, offices, businesses that  by- pass racial balance, police that participate in racial profiling, we live in a system that has different laws for different states, maybe  future laws will at least be updated, those that are ridiculous omitted and the balance of the rule of law will be placed on the same level in each and every state. Republicans are the problem in my opinion.

We the people seem too quiet- too complacent.

just saying


Other News …

**Seattle Storm wins 2nd title;President Obama calls and they will visit the WH

**Seattle will have to pay 20extra on tabs to pay for the Sea Wall replacement

**

CSPAN …

White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
Tuesday
Senate Armed Services Cmte. Hearing on Marine Corps Commandant Nomination Senate Armed Services Cmte. Hearing on Marine Corps Commandant Nomination
Tuesday
Department of Transportation 2010 Distracted Driver Summit Department of Transportation 2010 Distracted Driver Summit
Tuesday
Pres. Obama Presents Medal of Honor Pres. Obama Presents Medal of Honor
Tuesday

Fight for the DREAM Act


Organizing for America
The Senate is about to vote on the DREAM Act — the legislation that offers undocumented children, who are American in every way but their papers, a fair chance at a future.

Young people who are willing to work for a college degree or serve in our armed forces would be able to contribute their talents to this country and earn the rights that come with being an American.

President Obama has supported this bipartisan bill for years — he even sponsored it when he was in the Senate — and he’s ready to go all in with us to see the DREAM Act passed.

But a group of Republican lawmakers is threatening to block this legislation. They’re led by people like Sen. Jon Kyl, who has called the proposal “a mistake,” and Rep. Lamar Smith, who has said, “The DREAM Act is a nightmare for the American people.”

Mitch McConnell — the GOP leader in the Senate — has the ability to ensure that the DREAM Act gets a vote. Will you ask Mitch McConnell to support the DREAM Act?

Call his office now: (202) 224-2541.

We know the immigration debate can be contentious, but this a point on which the American people agree: It’s time to stop punishing innocent young people for the actions of their parents. Those who are willing to work hard for an education or serve their country deserve a shot at earning American citizenship.

The DREAM Act has incredible support: I’ve seen research that shows 70 percent of the voters in this country would like to see it become law — and both parties have backed it in the past.

We can’t let a group of Republicans hijack this process now, and together, we can ensure they won’t.

Tell Sen. McConnell to support the DREAM Act: (202) 224-2541.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America