I was just contacted by a representative of Michael Moore

[DS1]

After they put out the call for stories of Health Insurance problems in America for the new "Sicko" film, I'd emailed him about Andy Stephenson and all the fiasco around him and Johns Hopkins and all that payment upfront. They want to know more.

It'll be an interesting weekend.

Paste your informational links here please.

[SOteric]

1. Kicked and recommended.

People need to see this.

[AuntiBush]

39. They Sure Do.

:kick:

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Wow

Great news

k & r

[libnnc]

3. kick-a-roonie

:kick:

[Fenris]

4. Kick

That's awesome man.

[hopeisaplace]

5. whoa, I'll kick this

kick kick.

[meganmonkey]

6. Links to the Seattle weekly articles:

Cancerous Campaign
Voter activist Andy Stephenson fights charges he faked his illness—from his hospital bed.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0527/050706_news_andy.php

A Fight to the End
Voting-rights activist Andy Stephenson, 43, dies.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0528/050713_news_andy.php

[DS1]

7. THANK you!

[meganmonkey]

8. No problem

Thanks for doing this. I will keep an eye on the thread and try to think of other resources...That is all I had bookmarked.

I don't know if Ben Burch's site for Andy is still up, but I think it had some links too...

[CatWoman]

13. I DU mailed Ben this thread for his attention

[DS1]

29. Benburch?

[CatWoman]

31. yes

[EFerrari]

32. Without Ben's support, I would have lost it altogether.

And merh and goodboy and a bunch of DUers. DU really stepped up for Andy. I still can't take in how amazing that was. :hug:

[DS1]

43. I was looking through my paypal donations today

and saw two to him, they weren't much, but I was making peanuts and it was what I could do.

If I was making now what I was making then, I'd have sent 10 times as much over, but I wasn't, and was scraping by as it was.

[EFerrari]

46. Lots of us were only scraping by. And you know what,

the average donation was about $40. That's how massively DU got behind this. :)

[DS1]

47. It was huge

Like nothing I'd seen on DU, ever. I think everyone looked into their souls, figured out what they could not spend money on, and gave it up.

[EFerrari]

57. It was HUGH! Both weekends all I did was write down entries

on drawing pads until I couldn't see any more, sleep a coupla hours and, do it again. I've never seen anything like it and I probably never will again.

You were there.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

68. Yeah, that was amazing...

You worked so hard. I only saw it from my on-line vantage point, but in the face of a lot of really ugly crap from the Freepers, you (and several other DUers) put all of your energies into helping Andy.

I never knew him, but I fell in love with his sweet smile and my heart went out to him.

You are a hero for what you did... :)

[EFerrari]

71. No, I was just the notetaker for DU. And that was quite an honor.

:)

[merh]

88. It was the ripple effect

we all did what we could, gave what we could.

:hug: :loveya:



http://journals.democraticunderground.com/merh/1

[EFerrari]

98. That's right. A ripple here, a diva there. Things pile up.

:hi: :hug:

[merh]

100. ..

:hug:

[Marnieworld]

121. Thanks

Because of his work caring for Andy as you did with the effort you put in, was like caring for us all. We all do what we can in our own way but you put a lot into the fundraising so thanks again. It's beautiful what was accomplished for so many reasons. And I am so glad that Michael Moore has learned about it. It's a story that says so much perhaps more will learn too. :hug:

[EFerrari]

126. There were SO MANY DUers that put heart and soul into that effort.

It was very beautiful.

:hug:

[ThatsMyBarack]

44. Vaseline in a basket picture

What's that supposed to mean?

[troubleinwinter]

55. Hahahaha!

I wondered for a coupla days about it, too, but have finally figured it out! I aint gonna answer it, tho... he has to answer it. Very strange.

[Canuckistanian]

61. I got it right away

And I really have to change these pants.

[Marnieworld]

122. My guess was

And I may be wrong but "It puts the lotion in the basket." It's a line from... well I won't give that away. ;-)

[Canuckistanian]

60. Thanks for those links

I never knew the whole story before.

Now I understand the reverance some people have for him here...

[Katherine Brengle]

105. Wow...

I never knew that... (I wasn't here when Andy was still here... I have heard about him many times on DU, just never this story...)

How terribly sad :(.

[Toots]

107. "I want to live—I don't want to die—but if not, I've left a legacy."

That he did.... That was an excellent article by the way. Very thorough and especially about DU and it's fund raising abilities. :thumbsup:

[KAT119]

9. Thank You - K&R! !

[Ian David]

10. K&R! n/t

[meganmonkey]

11. Another article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002382738_danny15.html

[meganmonkey]

15. The Stalking of Andy Stevenson

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_elizabet_050714_the_stalking_of_andy.htm

I know most of these are about the fundraising fraud accusations but they may have some good info you could share.

I recommend PMing sfexpat, although she;ll probably see this thread.

[wicket]

12. K & R

:kick:

[CatWoman]

14. er, Martin

you WILL behave yourself, won't you?

:hi:

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. Here are my saved threads on the subject. of Andy....

his illness, and the Bev Harris garbage. Thanks for doing this. I talked with his partner a couple months ago about telling his story, and sadly he doesn't want to do it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3629008

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3165720

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3724871

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3727112

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3434919

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3246549

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=192238

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=192757

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=193769

On edit: Thanks for taking the initiative.

[Greyskye]

17. K&R!

:kick:

[proud patriot]

18. lived 7 years without insurance

my husband and I own jointly a small
business . No employees just my husband
is the tech . Luckily California Healthy
families was there for the working poor
who fall thru the medi cal cracks .

I have just recently gone back to work as a
para-professional with a school district .
It's my dream job , union and benny's . :hi:

[EFerrari]

62. It's so good to read this, proud patriot!.

Having your dream job is a great gift!

:thumbsup:

[greatauntoftriplets]

19. Google is my friend....

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001544.htm

Hate to do this one, but....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1434439/posts

This one is better.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/8/211417/6127

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Stephenson

http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0529/050720_news_mossback.php

Happily, this piece of shit looks idle for the last six months. :evilfrown:

http://scamdy.com/forum/html/index.php

http://www.democrats.com/node/5312

http://washblog.typepad.com/main/2005/07/election_hero_a.html

Benburch's site seems to be inactive now.

[EFerrari]

25. I have contact information for the reporter up in Seattle.

He was great. :)

[kimpossible]

20. "The Best of Us" at truthout.org

Here's Will Pitt's tribute to Andy:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105Y.shtml

[Canuckistanian]

63. Thanks for that...

I don't believe I ever got to share posts with the man, but that's my loss.

Cheers, Andy, wherever you are...

[Vidar]

21. Thank you.

[Catherine Vincent]

22. Good for you!

The reps with MM would never believe it!

[EFerrari]

23. That's WONDERFUL. After everything he went through and was

put through, justice.

:toast:

[DS1]

27. Let's hope so

:-) There's no guarantee they'll use the story, but I'm putting things into place where more informed people can talk to them.

[EFerrari]

28. There is no guarantee. But we know a few more people know

the story today. That's already cool. If they want my info, they can go to Scamdy.com. It was posted there for months, lol.

Hey -- you did great. I wrote to them about it too and crickets.

:)

[DS1]

30. Yeah, I guess they've got a hell of a backlog

She mentioned the fact that it was a year ago

Ghandi was all about that patience stuff, I'm not so thrilled about it, but hey, if it works...

[SeattleGirl]

24. Wow! Excellent, DS1!!!

That would be so great to have Andy's story told in Michael Moore's film.

[Raksha]

26. Kicking for Andy!

May his memory be a blessing and an inspiration forever.
:kick:

[helderheid]

33. Damn that is GREAT!!

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

34. His is a great story to tell. Kick & Rec. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

35. ttt!

tell MM I said hi!

[troubleinwinter]

36. Andy specifically asked

In his last days, when he was very sick, Andy specifically asked us to carry on the fight for public healthcare. He knew he would not be here to help, but insisted on our promise to keep fighting for it. I think he would be most pleased to do his part for MM's project.

[EFerrari]

38. Yes, he did. He wanted to take on the healthcare system.

:)

[AuntiBush]

37. This Should be Noted

Its disgusting, and comes-up in a google search as one of the top 5 first links. Can't believe its still out here!

http://www.scamdy.com/FBI/

[DS1]

40. Awesome, keep em coming everyone

[EFerrari]

41. Compassionate conservatism at its finest.

They can't hurt him any more, thank God. Let it sit there for the world to see their true colors.

They are their own worst enemies.

/comma abuse

[DS1]

42. save it to your hard drive

[EFerrari]

45. I can put you in touch with a lot of things and all the amazing DUers

who went to the mattresses on this one. There was a group that set up a support circle off of DU to keep things quiet here. We have everything. :)

[troubleinwinter]

49. I was there this evening

(at the small Andy support site) crying sad tears, and happy tears and tears of laughter. I think of him every day. 'Course, my sig says it.

[EFerrari]

54. I know, trouble.

I have those times, too. I miss Andy and it still hurts pretty much.

:hug:

[fooj]

64. Glad that you let me know.

:hug: Not a day goes by...

[EFerrari]

67. Not a day.

:hug:

[merh]

89. Not a day.

:hug:

[merh]

91. Not a day

:hug:

:loveya:

[troubleinwinter]

51. It has all been saved a long time ago, believe me.

[Raksha]

48. Well, it would be poetic justice if Michael Moore reads that site!

Karma's a bitch, isn't it freepers?

[meganmonkey]

56. Good lord, and they're still posting on it

well, one person is. I couldn't look any further.

How sick :(

[EFerrari]

59. That is sick. I haven't looked since last summer I think. n/t

[Pastiche423]

50. Would you please let us know what happens?

TIA

[Rich Hunt]

52. oh you would not believe the crap I put up with

The fake 'bills' I've gotten, only a month after I came to an agreement about a payment plan with the hospital. Some phony is still threatening me about my balance etc., even though the hospital deducted the agreed-upon fifty bucks this month!

It often sounds like one hand doesn't know what the other is doing, or maybe it's just sabotage.

Then there were the people at my workplace who wanted our blood and called it a 'health screening' but who contracted a third party who provided no credentials whatsoever and who asked for our social security numbers and home addresses. I have seen more crap in the past year....I mean, I got a harassing phone call just before I was to leave on vacation, asking me where I was and saying I had to forward the payment that day.

[Fleshdancer]

53. Andy would LOVE this!

With his dedication to activism, I can only assume he would feel honored to have this story told. Good work DS1! I hope you're able to get all the information you need and I hope they discuss Andy's situation. :) Could you imagine seeing his picture on the movie screen? I would cry like a baby.

on edit: grammer issues. ;)

[EFerrari]

58. He would love it.

:evilgrin:

And major kudos to DS1.

[Ladyhawk]

110. I'd cry like a baby, too.

I didn't know Andy as well as some of you, but his death (and the disgusting things the freepers did) affected me very strongly. I couldn't stop crying for days. Even weeks after he died, I'd find myself tearing up. If I think about it now, my eyes water.

Michael Moore, if you're reading this thread (you never know, folks :shrug:), please tell Andy's story. He'd approve. He wanted us to fight for two things: Voter Verified Paper Ballots and Health Care for Everyone. He kept repeating those two points. He didn't want us to forget. His story in your documentary would go a long way toward furthering his legacy.

[Kire]

65. This is important.

It should be a major part of the movie. I look forward to it.

kicked & recommended

[nicknameless]

66. Another vote for Andy

Thank you for doing this, DS1

:)

[bleever]

69. K&R for Andy, who only wanted things to be fair and American.

:hi: buddy, hope you're feeling the love you left in your wake.

[EFerrari]

70. kick

[fooj]

72. And his love surrounds us...

everyday.:grouphug:

[troubleinwinter]

73. Oh, man, you sure said it perfectly...

Andy did leave love in his wake!

I have some dear friends today, just because Andy caused that kind of love!

[EFerrari]

74. LOL! I've never seen that one. That smile was a candle.

Lol!

[troubleinwinter]

76. It was taken early 2005, I believe

He was somewhere away from home (teaching elctions issues, as usual! I think). It was taken at what looked like an outdoor cafe with some other activists/DUers (Faye??). I had cropped out the background, because his pic was so cute. I don't think I have the original uncropped anymore. Maybe someone around here will recognise it and remember.

[EFerrari]

77. The last seminar he did. It was so great that he went

and did something normal in the middle of all that upheaval.

Thank you!

[troubleinwinter]

78. No, it was earlier than the last one.

May have been about the time he first became ill.

[EFerrari]

79. January? The thing is, all of us were feeling tired after the election.

And, then, there was the recount. No time off. I bet Andy didn't even have time to assess how he felt until when? Late January? February? I don't have the dates in hand. I remember him posting about evidence he was finding in Ohio.

[troubleinwinter]

80. Jan/Feb seems about right to me

I THINK I remember that Faye was there????

[EFerrari]

81. I don't know. All that data I dumped when the other came in. But,

the Election Forum will know. I remember several DUers were there.

[merh]

90. Or was it when he was lobbying in DC with DUers?

That is a great photo.

It's good to see ya, troubleinwinter :hug:

[troubleinwinter]

119. I think you have it right, merh.... DC lobbying.

Good to see you, 'sister'! I'm settling into my new digs!

[DS1]

75. I like that picture

:hi: Andy!

[coffeenap]

103. Just found this post and pic--tears are running again. thanks.

:hug:

[Mojorabbit]

82. I recently found an email from him

in my inbox. It was from when he thought he only needed gall bladder surgery and he thought he'd escaped hepatitis and cancer. It is a sweet email. Sigh.

[EFerrari]

83. Andy was one of the most amazing people I've ever met.

Even though he was mortally ill, right up to the last couple of weeks of his life, he'd call me and tell me stories or jokes or sing to me.

He had a sense of humor that was just global. I mean, it should have been taxed as real estate.

:toast:

[peekaloo]

99. I still have his reply from a donation that was sent to him.

He was steadfast and optimistic that he would fight and win his battle.

I admired him.

[Rainscents]

84. K & R !!!

I only knew Andy short time and donated towards his operation. I remembered, there were so many Andy treads and I also remembered, Andy replyed to my post few times amd that made me feel good. God bless you, Andy.

[Land Shark]

85. Right before Andy got really sick, someone posted he needed a job

I offered andy a job at my law firm 25 miles away or so.

Andy was very appreciative.

Then it only got better when i explained that his job was to scan in results slips for Sequioa AVC Edge touch screen voting machines down at the local Auditor's office.

Andy had some history with Auditor "Sideshow" Bob Terwilliger (yes, the real name but not the real nickname). He handled that with aplomb and did good work.

Andy was not able to make it into work the next day, or any time thereafter, though I'm sure he loved the work.

Being a small one lawyer firm, we don't have health insurance even for ourselves. Otherwise, I'm sure Andy could have done election consulting from his hospital bed, if necessary.

I wrote this tribute to Andy, referring to the health insurance and the circumstances of his persecution, especially the part that continued even after he passed away.
http://washblog.typepad.com/main/2005/07/election_hero_a.html

THere are a few comments at the end of this piece. A certain freeper finds his way to the washblog to read and contest my piece. Though still filled with vitriol, you can see he's at least partially disarmed by what he read there. But a local washblogger had enough and took him to task.

[midnight]

86. I came late to DU

I'm not familiar with the medical trama caused be the poweres that be. I will look for it in Micahel Moore's Sicko film.

[nonconformist]

87. Kick for Andy. nt

[IndyOp]

92. Be sure to contact William Pitt and let him know about this...

There were posts here at DU after Andy died about possible legal action against the people who harrassed Andy -- I know that Will was in on some of that (as was sfexpat).

Thank you for sharing Andy's story with MM... :hug:

[symbolman]

93. Here's the Flash Film I created to honor Andy

http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/staticpages/index.php?page=20050710095608538

It was mentioned in one of the articles in the Seattle paper http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002382738_danny15.html I clicked on the link at the Paper and it took me to the fund raising of my film "Rove's War" at Takebackthemedia.com, so I dug into the site to get just the actual link to The Memorial Flash for Andy.

Hope this helps, say hi to Michael Moore from the guy who did the ARMY OF ONE 30 second film for the MoveOn "Bush In 30 Seconds" contest, he actually announced my name at the event as one of the 14 finalists in NYC and I got to stand up under some spotlights, the coolest feeling in the world, he might remember me, we did talk a few times (Not trying to horn in here with Michael, just bringing it up in case he wants to know who did the Memorial should they be interested in using it at all, didn't want to send folks to the wrong link when it's about Andy and Honoring Him..)

Andy loved my "VoteRevolution" Flash work so much that he kept it up on his site for the rest of his days, it made me very proud to be part of the program, HIS work, not "she who shall not be mentioned" :)

Hope Moore CRUSHES those creeps who attacked Andy, that would be HUGELY JUST.

Good Job!

[merh]

94. That is a wonderful tribute, symbolman

:hug:

[Ladyhawk]

112. Cool, symbolman. I'm not sure I can watch your tribute to Andy.

My emotions are still raw over that whole horrible scenario.

I do want to say (once again) how much I appreciate your Flash animations. You are exceedingly talented, but I'm sure you already know that. :) Your site was instrumental in my search for truth about the * administration. I'll never forget that. Thank you.

[EFerrari]

125. It is quite beautiful, Ladyhawk. I watch it often.

:hug:

[RandomKoolzip]

95. That's sweet!

I hope there will finally be justice for what Andy had to go through. Good Going, DS1. :thumbsup:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

104. I picture him hitting the rightos from beyond the grave

If his story helps make a strong poing in Moore's movie, that's exactly what it will be. :thumbsup:

[peekaloo]

96. Ups to you DS1!

:kick:

[Mr_Spock]

97. Would really stick in the craw of the evil Freepers too,

I hope he includes Andy's story in the movie...

[coffeenap]

101. This is WONDERFUL news! Andy was SO pissed! He wanted to

live! He told me so! He would want every single detail out there in their faces! GO! GO! GO! All in love for Andy (and for sfexpat2000, flyarm, merh, greatauntoftriplets, troubleinwinter, fooj, benburch, goodboy and all of you who made the miracle happen!) I still cry at the loss of such a wonderful person.:grouphug:

[merh]

113. So do I

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

102. Excellent! So glad they are checking it out. *blowing a kiss to Andy*

[garybeck]

106. what exactly do you mean by "Johns Hopkins"?

referring to avi ruben?

I would suggest highly you tell them to talk to Ion Sancho.

[Alizaryn]

108. Make sure they speak with Will Pitt !

[Synnical]

109. K&R for Andy n/t

[ultraist]

111. Moore might feature Andy in his Healthcare movie?

Wow, that would be so awesome.

Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to support this.

Should we email MM and recommend Andy's story?

Just thinking, the more recomendations for Andy, the better. Ya think?

[Maddy McCall]

115. No. Let DS1 handle it.

He's already been contacted, and he is a saavy guy who can get the story to Moore.

Don't flood Moore with recs for this story--it speaks for itself without any additional props.

[SoCalDem]

123. Andy would LOVE that...

I hope MM finds space in his movie for Andy's story.. His story would make a move all on its own:)

[Maddy McCall]

114. DS1, good luck.

:thumbsup:

[Maddy McCall]

116. Hey, everyone. Don't flood MM with emails. Let DS1 handle this. Send him

the links he needs for info, and let him compose the submission to Moore.

The best way to help is to get DS1 the info he needs, instead of everyone flooding Moore with rhetoric and disparate parcels of info.

[ultraist]

117. Sounds good.

That makes a lot of sense, Maddy, that's why I asked first.

I hope it goes forward.

BTW, I wasn't really asking about sending info, just a recommendation to show our support.

[MuseRider]

118. Wonderful DS1!

I am so pleased that you did this. I wish I had actually known Andy. The few conversations I had with him were so wonderful. I hope they do use this. The story of a true life activist with the kindest heart of all.

Good for you. Andy is smiling.

[Senator]

120. I sent you a PM (kick)

[Blue_Tires]

124. back ttt where you belong!