I had the opportunity to attend the President's town hall for healthcare this morning in Raleigh, NC. In listening to his comments, I have a few thoughts to share:
1. The President was very clear when he said that he will NEVER support a reform bill that takes away a person's right to keep their current coverage or select their own doctor.
2. Unlike the 1993 plan worked on by Hillary Clinton in private, the President has held true to his campaign pledge of having all interests at the table to plan reform. Obama laid out his framework, but has tactfully left the details to congress where the constitution gives them the authority to draft legislation. Unfortunately, the devil is in the details, and we are beginning to see where too many people in Washington care more about their friends writing campaign checks than they do about the people back home who they pledged to serve.
3. A full frontal assault is needed. I suggest a 5 million peron march on Washington this Fall. We have to let these men and women know how people are hurting out here in real America, they've been "talking" about healthcare reform for 41 years, and the time for REAL CHANGE is NOW! Let them know that WE are the ones who work the phone banks, canvass neighborhoods, and work the polls, not the fatcats at the insurance companies.
In closing I encourage everyone to study all the proposals currently working through Congress. We can't counter the republican pundits with ignorance.

Mike
SEIU Local 2008