A roundup of Thursday night quotes and reactions, from blogs and traditional media. First a newsreel:
Highlights from online commentary:
Andrew Sullivan: "This passage brings the bipartisan peroration to a real close: 'That large-heartedness – that concern and regard for the plight of others – is not a partisan feeling. It is not a Republican or a Democratic feeling. It, too, is part of the American character. Our ability to stand in other people’s shoes. A recognition that we are all in this together; that when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a helping hand. A belief that in this country, hard work and responsibility should be rewarded by some measure of security and fair play; and an acknowledgement that sometimes government has to step in to help deliver on that promise.' This is a liberalism most centrists can live with."
Open Left: "[H]e hit the jackpot tonight. I have been listening closely to Presidential speeches for about 35 years now, have watched quite a few oldies but goodies from the past, have even contributed ideas to a fair share of speeches in the Clinton years, and I am sitting here thinking that was one of the very best Presidential speeches I have ever heard. JFK's inaugural and a couple of FDR's best are the only ones I can think of that moved me so much. More importantly, though, he did everything he needed to do: Lay out clearly what he strongly believes in; make a powerful argument for why we need to get this done; answer the phony scare tactics; [and] fire up the people around the country who want to get this done to keep working to make it happen."
Washington Monthly: "Obama went big, sold the plan, and actually explained how this would work. It was as strong as I've seen him on health care — which means he came through with the right speech at the right time … And if someone at the DNC and/or White House political operation can just take the last five minutes or so of that speech, and keep airing it in a constant loop, I'd appreciate it. Brilliant stuff."
What are you seeing? Share your links in the comments.
UPDATED: Here's another round of reactions from today:
We rolled into the Triangle region of North Carolina at the height of rush hour Thursday, as the last holiday weekend of the summer got underway. We expected, however, anything but empty streets — and when we arrived in the city center, we saw a plaza full of people standing together to demonstrate how much they expect health insurance reform.
More than 1,600 people crowded into the Progress Energy Performing Arts Center Plaza, standing on risers and ringing a reflecting pool and fountain in order to see the stage. They heard from a huge collection of local activists and officials — including U.S. Rep. David Price, who laid out the basic fact that drives the need to pass reform now:
“For goodness sakes, health care expenses are eating us alive and we still have 45 million uninsured!”
When you get past the cheers, the spectacle of the arriving bus and the rally signs, it's facts like that that compel us to keep working so hard. It's the millions of uninsured, living one illness or hospitalization from losing a home. It's the countless insured who, whether due to a layoff, a lifetime cap or loss of their policy, could end up bankrupt, uncovered when they need coverage the most — or both. It's the crushing burden of rising premiums on businesses large and small, and the expenses that soar with no end in sight.
That's why we need reform, and need it now. And while the bus may have been off the road for a few days — it returns this Wednesday — the work continues until we get it done.
After a long night hauling the bus over the Appalachians from western Pennsylvania, the Health Insurance Reform Now: Let’s Get It Done tour arrived in Charlotte early Thursday morning. We got a warm Southern welcome — but the folks who met us here are just as urgent about the need for reform as those we’ve encountered all over the country.
About 600 people gathered behind a Charlotte union hall at 10 on a perfect morning, standing together for health insurance reform. They saw thousands of declarations of support for the President’s health insurance reform principles handed over for delivery to Congress. They also heard heart-rending stories that drove home home the need to get reform done now.
Kay Zwan, a North Carolinian, brought the human cost of the status quo home when told the crowd how struggles with illness and a broken insurance system had burdened her family. Later she shared the story of how a client’s attempts to seek treatment for cervical cancer without insurance had left her undertreated until the point of no return — leaving her three children without their mother.
That’s why we have to get this done. The cost of waiting is just too high — families such as Kay’s, and countless others like hers, can’t wait a single day longer.
We’re readying for an evening rally in Raleigh now. If you live in the Triangle, come meet us; get more information here.
It’s been a packed 24 hours for the bus crew. We’re still catching our breath and trying to find words to sum up the range of experiences we’ve had as we’ve listened to people across Ohio and western Pennsylvania. We can start with a fact, though: the people of Columbus, Ohio, rocked the walls and rafters of the Lausche Building at the State Fairgrounds Monday night. They made a racket you could likely hear all the way to the halls of Congress.
It was a joyful racket, yet a serious one: the noise of people set on making sure we get health insurance reform now, and not a second later. The crowd of 2,500 filled the hall to sweltering capacity. The sweaty conditions, though, did nothing to dampen the spirits of the Ohioans calling for reform.
On the dais was a high-powered lineup of Ohio leaders: Senator Sherrod Brown, U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, community and labor leaders, and local residents talking first hand about why our broken health insurance system needs immediate reform.
Mayor Coleman emceed the event, leading off with an invocation from Pastor Mark Diemer of Redeemer Lutheran Church, who defined the health insurance debate as a “moral issue.” That was a thread running throughout the night: the moral imperative of enacting reform and to help Americans who have no coverage — and those who unexpectedly find themselves without it. As Ohio AFL-CIO president Joe Rugola told the crowd, “we cannot rest until … all Americans can access affordable health care.”
Senator Brown, as he frequently does, told stories. He told a story of a town hall he held in the conservative suburbs of Cincinnati early that day. Over 1,400 people showed up to talk with Senator Brown about health insurance reform. About 1,100 of those supported reform; a small minority were vocal supporters of the status quo. As Senator Brown said, “I’m not going to run from them, and you’re not going to run from them.”
That is the story of August: a minority trying to disrupt an event full of supporters. The story of September — if Columbus is any sign — will be written by you.
So we rolled into Indianapolis on Wednesday afternoon, just past the new football stadium. We drew a big crowd just down the road at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis — not as many people as pay to watch Peyton Manning throw a football, but spirits were high and the commitment to reforming our broken health insurance status quo was overwhelming.
On a gorgeous Indiana evening, 800 people came out to hear first hand accounts of how our system hurts everyday Americans — families, small businessmen, and people who never thought they had a reason to fear going without insurance. But Indianans also stood together for the change that needs to happen: guaranteed coverage for all, including the choice of a public option, with consumer protections to ensure that coverage is never taken from the sick or denied to those who need it most.
They heard one other thing: that we have to keep knocking on doors, making phone calls, taking action and letting members of Congress know that we need health insurance reform — now.
U.S. Rep. André Carson was there to hear the message loud and clear, and gave an emphatic speech explaining the importance of people making it known that change needs to happen. He was joined by an array of local leaders and organizers, among them an Indianapolis labor council official who summed up where we stood as August drew to a close: “It’s time. It’s past time.”
Absolutely right.
The local Fox affiliate has a story up about the event. We’re off to Columbus, Ohio, for a Tuesday evening rally at the state fairgrounds. If you live in the area, RSVP now; we’ll see you there.
OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird wrote this update from the bus en route to Indianapolis …
More than 2,000 people came out last night on a cold August night in St. Louis to demonstrate their support for President Obama's reform principles and deliver the tens of thousands of declarations they collected this summer to Rep. Russ Carnahan. The crowd was another beautiful example of our movement: young and old, black, white, Latino, wealthy and poor. "Yes We Can" and "Health Care Now" chants rang throughout the St. Louis night.
Rep. Carnahan talked about the thousands of Missourians he has talked with this summer — not just in town halls but in grocery stores, gas stations and community events. The congressman told our St. Louis crowd that he has overwhelmingly heard one message this summer: it's time to get it done and pass health insurance reform in 2009.
St. Louis county executive Charlie Dooley, board of aldermen president Lewis Reed, and Bob Soutier, president of the St. Louis Labor Council, also joined the program.
Lisa Hill, a Missouri OFA volunteer, shared her personal story — a story defined by crushing health care costs that are all too common across this country. Lisa's son has leukemia, and her latest health care bill topped $3,300 — even though she has insurance. For Lisa, this fight is not about numbers. It's not about ideology; it's about fighting for her child, for her family, for a better America.
Liz Pund, one of Missouri's fantastic volunteer summer organizers, addressed the crowd about a particular encounter she had this summer. While canvassing a South St. Louis neighborhood, she met an elderly woman who had heard a lot of health care myths and distortions. Liz had an engaging, truthful and personal conversation with the woman — and a half-block after she left, the woman called her back over and signed a declaration of support for the President's health insurance principles.
Pictured above: Missouri organizer Liz Pund
Person-to-person, real conversations — that's how volunteers like Liz and Lisa elected a president. And it's how we are going to win this health reform fight.
Last night's rally was particularly personal for me. I was born in a hospital less than two miles from the rally. I watched my grandparents battle cancer at that same hospital, thankful every day that they had health insurance. I grew up in a trailer park about 30 minutes from the rally and remember our family struggling with crippling health care costs.
Last night was a great culmination of weeks of hard work across the Show Me State. Thousands of volunteers have knocked on doors, made phone calls, turned out in record numbers to town halls outnumbering opponents, and hosted small events focused on real, honest, meaningful conversations about reform. And last night was not the end — our work in Missouri and across the nation continues.
Take action for Lisa and with Liz today.
We’re stretching our legs in Iowa this afternoon after a long night’s drive from Colorado — where the people of Denver gave the Organizing for America bus an outstanding sendoff.
Over 1,500 people joined us Friday evening to show that Coloradans want health insurance reform now. With the city skyline as the backdrop, advocates for reform — including U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter and state Sen. Betty Boyd — shared stories with the crowd that make clear why reform can’t wait.
The Denver Post has this writeup:
"This is easily the biggest crowd we've seen," group organizer Mitch Stewart said as he stepped off the touring bus at the third of 10 stops across the country. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., had already warmed up the crowd."My daughter has epilepsy, and she's being discriminated against because of her prior condition," he told the cheering crowd. "We're not going to let her get pushed aside.
"This is easily the biggest crowd we've seen," group organizer Mitch Stewart said as he stepped off the touring bus at the third of 10 stops across the country.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., had already warmed up the crowd.
"My daughter has epilepsy, and she's being discriminated against because of her prior condition," he told the cheering crowd. "We're not going to let her get pushed aside.
We picked up thousands of declarations of support for the President’s health insurance reform principles at the event. Today we pick up even more from Iowans — if you're in Des Moines, come join us at 6 p.m. at the State Capitol.
The world knows by now about the passing of Ted Kennedy — the patriarch of a storied family and a man who touched millions of lives. The news adds an undertone of seriousness to preparations for the Organizing for America bus tour that kicks off in Arizona tonight, and a note of sadness to everyone's work.
Photo by Mary Ellen Broderick
