Berating Blue Dogs isn't the answer on healthcare. PRESSURING them IS the answer. More:

[RBInMaine]

I saw the vlogger video on this site as he berated and swore at Rep. Mike Ross of Ark., the Blue Dog leader unhappy with the pricetag of the House healthcare bill so he and some of his guys are not accepting the current House version. The vlogger interupts the other interviewer and berates the guy. Now, I can totally understand that frustration, but that approach sure as hell isn't going to sway these Blue Dogs (which by the way, I'd rather see them calling themselves Dems and voting with us half the time than calling themselves R's and NEVER voting with us - we do have to be a big tent to be national). Here is what WILL sway them, if anything can:

1) If 70% of the nation supports public option, organize "blue dog" CITIZENS in the blue dog districts who support public option and the healthcare fast track to call, email, and visit the blue dog House members RELENTLESSLY. Get these blue dog citizens to appear in ads and identify themselves as "conservatives" who support health reform. ** Even get registered R's to help since 50% of them nationally support public option. You can find plenty of registered R's who have been screwed in the area of healthcare. Why is no one doing this???

2) Call the blue dogs and email them yourself no matter how liberal you are.

3) Organize PRESSURE efforts on congressional leadership to whip the blue dogs hard, threatening them with killing their earmarks if they don't cooperate more.

4) SUPPORT OBAMA'S own stated goal of doing healthcare reform revenue neutral over ten years, and force that point with the blue dogs and all Dems. If their biggest beef is cost, focus on those measures to reduce the costs of the plan and insurance costs in general. THAT can and MUST be done. ie**More needs to be done to lower provider costs, costs of drugs and medical supplies, AND malpractice insurance which all contribute a great deal to the high cost of healthcare. These MUST be part of the mix. These are points of agreement with may blue dogs, and fair points.

5) Join Healthcare For America and other organizations and get involved in going door to door, phonebanking, and donating for this cause so ads can go up on TV, radio, and the web.

***IF AMERICANS WANT HEALTHCARE REFORM, WE NEED TO TURN UP THE HEAT, GET ORGANIZED, AND GET INVOLVED. THE BLUE DOGS WILL RESPOND MOSTLY TO HEAVY LOCAL PUBLIC PRESSURE FROM THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS. WHERE ARE THOSE CONSTITUENTS????***

I have a blue dog congressman, Mike Michaud. He's onboard with public option. Here in Maine the Maine People's Alliance is going door to door for public option, rallying, etc. If 70% of America wants this, they need to do more to personaly make it happen. I have donated money and have called and emailed many members of congress. I plan to do more.

[villager]

1. I've written one Blue Dog senator so far...

We need to inundate these people....

[RBInMaine]

4. Absolutely ! INUNDATE THEM !!

[DJ13]

2. I prefer to both pressure them AND berate them for their stupidity

But thats just me.

[RBInMaine]

3. Pressure, yes. Berating only pisses them off and resolves them, as it would anyone.

[DJ13]

6. So? Let them get pissed off

They arent there to represent themselves, they're there to represent the people who voted for them.

If the poor babies get upset they know where the door is.

[RBInMaine]

11. If you want something from someone, you don't berate. You pressure. Where are Ross's constituents

who want real reform with a robust public option? I don't see them.

[stray cat]

5. The plan definitely requires changes to effective address cost effectiveness

and it needs to address not paying medical providers per test. Maybe coming up with a really good plan would be possible instead of just voting for reform?

[RBInMaine]

13. Good points. We need public option to jolt the insurance co.'s to cut cost. Also, stopping

exclusions for pre-existing conditions, stopping them from throwing people off when they get sick, etc. These ARE reforms. However, Blue Dogs also have some valid points on other ways to bring down costs like preventive medicine, curtailing admin. costs, allowing co-ops in areas that would like them, reducing needless procedures on he provider end, and malpractice tort reform. Sorry, but there is nothing wrong with tort reform. Those malpractice rates are through the roof, and other countries do not have that so can do healthcare much cheaper. We need a good comprehensive plan, and with the right cost savings measures Blue Dogs can be moved.

[Sebastian Doyle]

7. Voting the worthless fucks out in the primary is a good idea too

Reasoning with these idiots probably won't work. Getting them the fuck out of office will.

[customerserviceguy]

8. While that sounds like a really good idea

we have to remember that about ten years ago, Congress was firmly in the hands of the GOP. Where we've won is not in the hardcore Rethug districts and states, but in the "purple" ones. Those Representatives know damn full well that the pendulum could just as easily swing against them in districts where they had to campaign on, "I'm like him, but nicer."

Sometimes it's important just to have the numbers, in order to get committee chairmanships and such, and it's equally to not confuse mere numbers with a real shift towards the progressive side in places that sent us a Democratic Congressperson for the first time in many years.

[RBInMaine]

12. Absolutely ! It's fine for a party to be big-tent. Blue Dogs can get onboard with cost savings.

[backscatter712]

9. Donate to OFA, pay for more ads in their states and districts!

Nothing gets their panties in a bunch faster!

[depakid]

10. Ron Wyden may not be a Blue Dog, but his office has been informed

that if he stands in the way of the public option- or helps to gut it, not only will he not receive my vote (or those of a good many of my colleagues) but that I'll actively support anyone who challenges him. That includes voting for a Republican, something I've never done before.