E-mail From John Kerry Today They won't put kids first, but we will!

[PennyMan]

Dear ****,

This is personal. As I traveled across the country last year, I learned a lot about the dreams, hopes, fears and frustrations of the American people. Nothing touched me more than the parents I met who feared that illness would strike a child who is uninsured.

A sick child is always a worry. A sick child that you can't get help for is a parent's worst nightmare. Helping the 11 million children who have no health coverage isn't even on the radar screen of the Bush administration and the Republican leaders in Congress. But, we're going to put it there.

It is totally unacceptable that, in the greatest country in the world, millions of children are not getting the health care they need. That's why this week I introduced the Kids Come First Act. Help me push through the Republicans' political roadblocks and take care of the 11 million children without health insurance.

Please co-sponsor my Kids Come First Act by clicking here:

http://www.johnkerry.com/KidsFirst

The Republican leadership will try to prevent this essential legislation from ever seeing the light of day. Help me gather one million co-signers for the Kids Come First Act, and we'll force them to act or to admit that they just don't care enough to act. Here's why it's so important to do something now:

1/4 of children are not fully up to date on their basic immunizations.
1/3 with chronic asthma do not get a prescription for medications they need.
1/2 of uninsured children have not had a well child visit in the past year.
1 in 6 has delayed or unmet medical needs.
1 in 5 has trouble accessing health care.
1 in 4 does not see a dentist annually.
1 in 3 had no health insurance during 2002 and 2003.
In the Senate, I am working hard to convince my colleagues to co-sponsor this vitally important bill. But, the most important co-sponsors - the ones who can help push this legislation through a Republican Congress and the Bush White House - are the hundreds of thousands of grassroots activists in the johnkerry.com community. If you haven't done so already, please sign our Kids Come First petition and forward it to your family, friends, and neighbors:

http://www.johnkerry.com/KidsFirst

To date, nearly 300,000 Americans have signed our Kids Come First petition. Our goal is to top 500,000 before President Bush makes his State of the Union Address on February 2nd. We'll build from there until we stand one million strong. We've got to put getting our children the health care they need at the top of our national agenda. It won't be easy, but we will never relent until we find a way to make sure Kids Come First.

The Bush administration wants to ignore the fact that children without health care translates into needless pain and suffering for millions of American families. But you and I won't let those children be ignored any longer.

Making sure that Kids Come First is the right thing to do. What's more, it makes no economic sense to leave millions of American children uninsured. Immunizations, annual visits to a pediatrician, dental care, and screening for vision, hearing, and developmental problems are all long-term money savers for the health care system as a whole.

And investing now in the health of our children is truly what is key to saving our Social Security system and the long-term financial solvency issues facing Medicare. The health and productivity of the next generation's workforce is what will contribute most to saving these systems, not whether or not we privatize accounts or means test the benefits.

I hope you will take a moment to review this essential proposal -- and I hope you will act to encourage everyone you know to sign our Kids Come First petition now.

As you read this, President Bush is on a health care swing through Ohio. In the midst of photo ops and canned speeches, he is offering no genuine solution to the fact that 11 million American children have no health insurance. You and I must work to provide the ideas and leadership that are missing from the White House and the Republican leaders of Congress. And we have to work day in and day out to mobilize America to cover every child.

Thanks for standing with me in this essential undertaking.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

P.S. You can read a summary of the Kids Come First Act here:
http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/billsummary.php

[flordehinojos]

1. KERRY WAS PULLED OUT OF THE RACE BY THE BUSH UNDERTOW ...

HE DIDN'T EVEN TRO TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE BY PUTTING UP A DECENT RECOUNT FIGHT... now, Kerry is waving a forget me not flag from wherever the undertow took him ... too late!

[Corey_Baker08]

3. I Dont Agree with That

Ur letting your Political depression take ahold of whats really important. Whats really important is what we were fighting for in this last Election was important issues like Chrild care. Coming from a 15 year old with no healthcare I would like to tell you like him or not, we need to support John Kerry on this issue so teens like myself and others younger and older alike both need healthcare.

[sepia_steel]

5. Sorry you feel that way, flordehinojos

but the rest of us are ready to get back to work on what's important.

[Laurab]

9. Thanks

it took me 5 paragraphs to say the same thing!

[Laurab]

7. How many times does it have to be said?

A recount fight, with no LEGAL reason to challenge the vote would not have been effective. In fact, it would have backfired, making Kerry, as well as the entire party, look like sore losers, as well as fools. There is no doubt in my mind that had there been EVIDENCE supporting the need for a recount, one would have been done. John Kerry is an extremely intelligent man, as well as a former prosecutor. If it could have been done, without negative ramifications, it would have been done.

I really don't know why I bother to post this anymore. Some people either just plain like to bash Kerry, or think it's somehow effective to continue bashing him, some never liked him to begin with, and some, I think just can't see how foolish it would have made the entire party look. We do NOT own the media - the rethugs do. We did NOT have the evidence.

I will support Kerry, Boxer, and any other senator who is attempting to fight this administration. I saw 11 more today, and a whole bunch who seem to be getting to that point. I like what I'm seeing and I think we'll be seeing a whole lot more of it.

Even if you don't like what Kerry did as far as the recount/lack of recount, what possible good is the continuous bashing going to do?

I still say you're fighting the wrong guy.

[mousie]

29. well said, Laurab!!! n/t

[New Earth]

8. so make the children suffer?

real nice of you.

[mousie]

28. yes, how about the CAUSE here

instead of directing frustration and blame toward Kerry? That helps no one.

[i miss america]

23. I'm with you. Kerry might be a nice guy, but he'll never get my vote again

I'm liking Boxer more and more every day.

[KatieB]

26. Do you realize Kerry and Boxer both voted No on Condi- Gonzalez

vote is next...

[LittleClarkie]

32. Who said anything about voting for Kerry

This is an action to be taken, not a vote to be cast. Why not support positive action, regardless of who you plan to vote for later.

As for Boxer, you mean you'll like her until she votes the wrong way again. She did vote for Patriot, didn't she. Since we're living and dying vote by vote around here, it won't take long until she's in the dog house again, like Feingold is right now.

[LittleClarkie]

34. No, he's being a Senator

Would you rather he sank to the bottom and didn't do his job.

(time to try out the new meme) So, what have you got against healthy children, anyway? Why are you a hater? You must have no heart.

On a scale of one to ten, if you were a Republican, how do you think you'd be feeling right now:

1 = Feel? For that I would need a soul, you silly creature.

10 = I feel like an asshat.

Your answer =

[pacalo]

2. KERRY! KERRY! KERRY!

[floridadem30]

11. Thanks for the pics.

[kerrygoddess]

15. Wonderful Photos!

The photo of JK with his face on the window shows the kid in him!

[Miami Liberal]

16. I love those photos

and I signed the petition. :)

[sepia_steel]

4. signed!

[AtLiberty]

6. Health care reform is a top priority of mine...

...right behind meaningful election reform. Anything else we do will be a waste without voter verified paper ballots!

[DearAbby]

10. GO JOHN

I have your back! Signed and waiting for more that I can do. It's that plain. :kick:

[FreepFryer]

12. Signed, sealed, forwarded... now, who wants to donate some $ to the DNC?

Democratic National Committee Contributions
https://www.democrats.org/support/index.html

"Money talks, pukes walk... id'n'it?" -- Ali G.

[Democrat Dragon]

13. Kerry is trying to make the ideological penduluem swing far enough

But it is good that he is trying to make sure that * dosen't kill too many people while the pendeulum is swinging. Earlier I bashed Kerry yet again for letting * kill more people in the U.S.

Now convincing Congress to pass this act is another challenge, a chalenge that would be hard even if Kerry were officially the president.

[kerrygoddess]

14. List of Senators already sponsoring

Kerry is working hard in the Senate to garner support for this Bill (S 114). The Bill was introduced on Monday, January 24th. Currently five Senators are Co-Sponsoring this bill: Senator Maria Cantwell (WA), Senator Jon Corzine (NJ), Senator Edward Kennedy (MA), Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ), and Senator Patty Murray (WA). Please contact your local Senators and ask them to Co-Sponsor this Bill.

From The Daou Report: Kerry to make major speech on children's health care Thursday - will play hardball with Republicans who obstruct.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=276

[Zan_of_Texas]

17. Will you please explain what this has to do with election reform?

A brief sentence will do.

If your answer is, this forum is where the people are, that is not an adequate answer.

[Der Blaue Engel]

18. What it has to do with 2004 Election Results and Discussion

in my opinion, and mine only, is that John Kerry is considered by most of us to be the true winner of that election, but since he has been denied the office through fraud, he is now acting as Shadow President through his actions in the Senate.

As someone who's interested in the ongoing drama of the 2004 election, the fraud that is still being uncovered, continuing legal recourse, and setting the stage for reform through strengthening the Democratic presence in Congress, I feel that it's relevant.

I don't claim to be "right," just offering my perspective.

[Zan_of_Texas]

19. So.

Anything John Kerry does for the next four years goes in this thread?

No. I disagree.

[New Earth]

20. then don't read the posts you don't find important.

it's simple.

[Sydnie]

22. I agree 107% Faye!

The title made it clear what the subject matter was ... don't like the title, skip the post. So simple even blivet** could figure it out. Oh wait, he doesn't read anything anyway.

[Zan_of_Texas]

24. So, you won't mind if I start threads about my dog in here, will ya?

Or, can someone please tell me what that noise is in my carburetor?

Or, does anyone have a good recipe for chili?

Apparently Skinner won't kick ANY threads off of this forum due to lack of relevance, is that correct?

I'm just pointing out, things that Kerry does, unless directly involving election flaws or fraud, would be nice to find in another thread.

[Der Blaue Engel]

21. That's not what I said.

:shrug:

[KatieB]

25. I signed (co-sponsored).

[mousie]

27. Happy to do it! DONE!!! (Thank you, John Kerry) :) n/t

[Carolab]

30. Sorry, but this is the wrong answer.

"And investing now in the health of our children is truly what is key to saving our Social Security system and the long-term financial solvency issues facing Medicare. The health and productivity of the next generation's workforce is what will contribute most to saving these systems, not whether or not we privatize accounts or means test the benefits."

The answer is RESCINDING THOSE TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH--or implementing a 3% surcharge on everyone earning over $200K per year. That is what the Center for American Progress is recommending. We need this now to protect the surplus that was built up over the years by excess FICA taxes paid in by boomers like myself. The system is solvent through 2042. Yes, we need to protect future earners and the revenue they generate. But right now, there are kids and elderly on the "dole" and tens of millions of boomers who have not had the chance to build up an "alternative" plan for retirement and who are depending on that surplus they paid in to over all these years.

[kerrygoddess]

31. Read the damn plan!

Obviously you are spouting with out reading first!
http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/billsummary.php

And oh... excuse me but "on the "dole"... what kind of democrat are you?

Evidently you are not a parent and have not got a clue what it is like to worry everyday about what will happen if your kid gets sick and you have no insurance! Well I could tell you a few things about that since I live it everyday!

Again... read the plan... watch the speech from today... don't spout about what you are not informed about!

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=284

[LittleClarkie]

33. The elderly are on the dole. Really. Do tell.

That would be news to them, I would wager, considering how much they've paid into the system themselves.

Meanwhile...

What Kerry is saying is that a healthy kid becomes a healthy adult who works and pays into the Medicare and Social Security system. That's all he's saying regarding how the two are connected.

What you're speaking about as an answer probably would work, but there's no way in hell a Republican majority is voting for it. They can vote against this bill too, but they're going to look like asshats doing it. This is a step. It may not be perfect, or far reaching enough for some people, or go about the problem in the exact way that some might want, but it's a step. A doable step.