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.
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