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.
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