MoveOn Members Strongly Back Reform

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/022814.php

MOVEON MEMBERS STRONGLY BACK REFORM.... As health care reform enters the home stretch, proponents are going to need all the help they can get. There's been some question, though, about whether progressive groups are prepared to step up.

We learned yesterday that several powerhouses on the left -- Americans United for Change, AFSCME, SEIU -- are gearing up for one last push. And what of MoveOn.org? The grassroots organization has polled its membership, asking whether to back the Democratic package. With MoveOn's membership on board, the group was prepared to launch an "aggressive grassroots campaign," which would include media advertising.

The result of the MoveOn membership poll was not a foregone conclusion. There are still some prominent progressives -- Dennis Kucinich, much of the FireDogLake team -- that oppose the Democratic effort. Would MoveOn members agree? Apparently not. Greg Sargent got an early peek at the results from a MoveOn official.

Should MoveOn support or oppose the final health care bill if it looks like the plan recently proposed by President Obama?

Support 83
Oppose 17

As Greg noted, it seems pretty clear that "the kill-the-bill camp overwhelmingly lost the argument" among liberals. When the results are more than four-to-one in favor, it's hard to draw any other conclusion.

In terms of practical implications, MoveOn will have to act quickly. Not only is time running out, but the Chamber of Commerce, the insurance industry, and their allies are launching a campaign that will invest $10 million (on top of the millions already spent) to kill reform and make hand-wringing Dems that much more nervous.

The sooner MoveOn can help with the pushback, the better.

—Steve Benen

[Spazito]

1. Oh dear...

Prepare for incoming from Ms. Hamsher demanding MoveOn resign...oh...wait...sending a letter signed by her, Norquist and Schlafly demanding MoveON renounce it's members and join the "kill the bill" bowel movement or else....

:rofl:

Good on you MoveON members!

[DFab420]

2. damn beat me to it haha

inb4 obvious - "MoveOn.org is nothing but a corporate shill! Bought and paid for by the evil insurance companies in their effort to have the manchurian President Obama brainwash us all into believing he's actually trying to help!!!1!"

:rofl:

[Change Happens]

12. I voted in this, and I am happy to see myself among the majority sane people...

Jane and Kuch can kiss my ass!

[Spazito]

17. Well done!

A wise vote!

[Hello_Kitty]

3. I respect their democratic process.

If that's what the members say, that's what they should do.

[4lbs]

4. Let me see... Howard Dean, Ed Schultz, DailyKos, MoveOn, Alan Grayson, Bernie Sanders, and

Wendell Potter all say that they should pass the bill. Take the deal and improve on it later.

[HughMoran]

5. So how does that jibe with a similar DU poll

DU poll asked to vote yes or no on passing Senate Bill with Obama's fixes - essentially the same as the MoveOn poll:




Is there any argument now that DU doesn't even represent the 'hard-core' left as MoveOn has been described?

[babylonsister]

8. No argument from me, at all. nt

[HughMoran]

10. I've posted the comparison twice, the noise from the field of crickets is deafening

That's OK, I'm going to do up a nice Excel chart and post an O/P about this in due time :evilgrin:

[Change Happens]

13. Need to put up a new one of these, ask if DU supports the President's latest proposal?

[HughMoran]

15. "including President Obama's proposed changes"

:shrug:

[Cali_Democrat]

6. The Obama haters on the left want to destroy the bill and prevent 30+ million from having coverage

In other words, they want the 30 million to eat cake for the sake of purity. That's bullshit.

Pass the reform now and improve on it later.

[denimgirly]

9. Mandated Coverage of 30+M w/no real cost control is a giveaway to Insurers: Wall$treet loves it

I want to see 30 mill covered but mandating it with weak cost control is just plain stupid. I pray to god it does get revisted within 10 years but i am guessing it wont for a very long time. Why not just do what the public wants and give them the Public Option -- 80%+ of the people want it. The current bill is flawed and EVERYONE admits it and we already know precisely what the fix is...add the PO (at the very least) and that should be the foundation that will be revisted in the future for fixing.

Until then this bill although has a few good things might be disastrous in the long run. I want the coverage but not at premiums prices that can be hiked every day and forced to buy.

[Change Happens]

14. The President proposed price controls similar to utilities, right?

And 80-85% of they take in MUST be spent on benefits, another form of price control, right?

[girl gone mad]

11. Plus they want to kill puppiez!!1!!

And they tooks away my birfday!!!!!!1!1 Oh noes!!!!!!1!!!!!!

[Cali_Democrat]

18. Resident Obama hater #23274 chimes in....

spouting absolute bullshit.

[denimgirly]

7. Liberals love to buckle but if that is what is wanted then i will shut up now...

Ah well...i just hope we do come back to fix it because its not very good and i hope liberals arent doing to themselves what has caused problems in the past: "Compromise too easily again, and again". I respect that liberals are reasonable and willing to compromise but some times you have to be more like republicans and resist compromise because when you do it becomes an unmoveable object and other sides see it as a power that has to be accomodated. Liberals are not respected in Congress because they tend to not to stick to their beliefs adamantly and so the WH dont see any reason to have to cater to such a group since it is clear they will buckle when called on.

I respect liberals ideals but some times you got to stand firm and never compromise because at times compromises lead to nothing.

Here's hoping liberals made the right choice this time. Maybe in my life time we will see some form of Public Option or ideally Medicare for All. It may not be today, nor 10 years from now, but one day.

Thank you Anthony Weiner, Alan Grayson, Bernie Sanders, and Dennis Kucinich for trying your heart out...At least i respect only you as true democrats. **tears of sorrow**

I'm done. Pass the damn thing

[marlakay]

16. Like said many times we are damned if we do or don't

so might as well do and change it is my opinion.

[Cha]

19. "The sooner MoveOn can help with the pushback, the better."

Steve Benen!

[Clio the Leo]

20. The train is about to leave the station....

.... and the folks still standing at the depot are going to be very lonely.