Lend a hand to VoteKids.org

[EarlG]

I received this email today from VoteKids.org (emphasis mine):

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Hi Earl--

I'm hoping that you can help raise some money and awareness around a critical campaign issue.

Vote Kids http://www.votekids.org, a progressive organization that I am working with, has a mission that makes children's needs a political priority. This past week, Vote Kids introduced several leading pediatricians in a Washington DC press conference to make a joint statement about children's health care in America and where the candidates for President stand. Prominent pediatricians from across the country, including T. Berry Brazelton and six past presidents of the American Academy of Pediatrics, support John Kerry's effort to provide every child in America with affordable health care coverage.

More: http://votekids.org/pediatricians

HHS Secretary Thompson responded to this week's activity by calling America's leading pediatricians "demagogues" and said: "It is absurd and despicable that doctors are playing politics with children's lives". As you probably know, 8 million children and youth don't have health insurance. We think that the present administration does not have a plan to provide health coverage to America's children, and that their current tax and budget priorities are eroding hard won health care gains for children.

As part of the pediatricians effort, Vote Kids is working hard to put this important statement by America's leading pediatricians in front of parents, community leaders, and voters in several important states. Unfortunately, free speech is anything but free and to get-the-word out is remarkably expensive. Our goal is to reach 200,000 individual voters and to purchase ads in 9 influential newspapers, reaching small and mid-sized cities in 4 states... full-page ads in even the smallest of these papers costs in excess of $5,000.

We're asking leading bloggers to help us get the word out. Can you lend a hand by letting Democratic Underground readers know about the Vote Kids Pediatricians Campaign? It would be great if we can raise enough money to buy even one newspaper ad! A special page has been set up for supporters to donate and spread the word:

http://www.votekids.org/Act

Anything that you can do to help is appreciated!

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I checked out their site and found this very interesting graphic:

The following Senators are up for re-election. The number by their name represents the score from the nonpartisan Children's Defense Fund Action Council Scorecard from 1995-2003.



So much for "leave no child behind!" This graphic basically says "Republicans hate children."

[Francine Frensky]

1. Is there any way we could spread this in pedicatrician's offices?

What I'm suggesting is a grassroots campaign to put flyers up in pediatrician's waiting areas.

I've got three kids and I'm at the pediatrician's office pretty regularly. This sounds like something moms should know about, and we've all waited endlessly in dull waiting rooms.