Progressive Groups Petition Obama to Demand Public Option in Health Care Speech

[Better Believe It]

Progressive Groups Petition Obama to Demand Public Option in Health Care Speech
by Brian Beutler
September 3, 2009

Many liberals may be readying themselves for the worst. But MoveOn and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee are filling the political space between now and President Obama's big Wednesday health care speech by pressuring him to support or demand a public option.

Both groups have blasted out petitions to their hundreds of thousands of members in the hope that a major public showing in support of the public option will convince Obama that there will be a political price to pay for abandoning it.

The MoveON petition reads: "President Obama, we're counting on you to fight for bold change on health care--including a strong public health insurance option. It's the key to breaking the stranglehold that private insurers have over our health care system."

While PCCC's is a bit bolder. "We worked so hard for real change. President Obama, please demand a strong public health insurance option in your speech to Congress. Letting the insurance companies win would not be change we can believe in."

You can read each group's letter to its members at the following link:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/progressive-groups-petition-obama-to-demand-public-option-in-health-care-speech.php

[ProSense]

1. Good. PCCC sent 150,000 signatures. n/t

[fascisthunter]

2. kick and rec (nt)