Who's Going to DFA Campaign Academy This Weekend?

I'll be back! No really, I will be returning home this Saturday for DFA Campaign Academy. Why?

Well, I want to hear more about how progressives can win next year. I want to know more about the inner workings of campaigns. I want to learn more about how candidates can run for office.

Let's face it. We've seen more than enough disappointments on the national and state levels in the last eight months to realize that something has to change. Teabaggers are running amok in Congress, and they nearly forced Nevada into total calamity (and succeeded in forcing us to kick the can down the road yet again on fixing what's ailing our state). We can't just sit back, mope around, and wail in despair. We need to learn to not just fight back, but to actually win that fight.

At DFA Campaign Academy, there will be trainers there to show you the ropes on everything from precinct data to fundraising to media and much more. Oh, and all the cool kids will be there, too!

And after a day of plentiful learning opportunities, you can hang out with fellow "DFA alumni" at The Gin Mill (which just happens to be up the block from my house!) afterward!

So what are you waiting for? If you haven't signed up already, do so now before admission is raised $10. Trust me. What you learn this weekend is worth far more than the cost of admission. You will learn how to move America (and Nevada) forward.

Health Care: Call Harry Reid and Tell Him "No Option, No Mandate!"

I just called Harry Reid's office on health care again, and I'm hoping you will, too.

So here's how it went. I tried calling Senator Reid's DC office, and no one answered. I then tried the Las Vegas office, and fortunately a staffer answered when I tried the local office for the second time.

The staffer wouldn't make any commitments as he told me that nothing has been finalized yet. I asked him to ask Senator Reid to either fight his hardest to keep a public option in the health care bill, or at least drop the individual mandate to buy private insurance if a public option agreement can't be reached.

The staffer promised to give Reid my message.

Now I know my lone voice only counts so much, so I'm counting on you to do the same thing. Please join me and my DFA friends in calling our Senator and demanding he either fight harder for the public option, or at least drop the individual mandate to prevent criminalizing good people who can't afford crappy HMOs.

And if someone from Reid's office gets frustrated at you, remind him/her that we are doing this to HELP Reid and other Democrats.

Without the choice of a public option, forcing Americans to buy health insurance isn't just bad policy, it's political disaster for Democrats -- a ticking time-bomb for years to come.

Does anyone think Republicans won't use this against Democrats in 2010?

What about in 2014 after the mandate goes into effect and the press reports all the horror stories of Americans forced to choose between paying their monthly health insurance bill to Aetna or paying rent?

The mandate is toxic and Democrats will own it. By the 2016 presidential election, is there any wonder how this will play out for Democrats?

Hell, I'll say this may cost Obama his reelection in 2012 if he pursues the "forced HMO LeiberCare mandate"! And if someone from The White House or the Congressional "leadership" reminds you that "there are still good things in the bill", remind them that Sarah Palin has already promised to repeal the entire bill if she becomes President. And again, this individual mandate is so toxic that this may even give her a real opening in 2012.

Oh, and by the way, did I mention this is just plain BAD POLICY?

Here's the deal, Senate leaders are all over Washington claiming they finally have a healthcare reform bill they can pass, as long as they remove the public option. After all, they say, even without a public option, the bill still "covers 30 million more Americans." The problem is that's not really true.

What they are actually talking about is something called the "individual mandate." That's a section of the law that requires every single American buy health insurance or break the law and face penalties and fines. So, the bill doesn't actually "cover" 30 million more Americans -- instead it makes them criminals if they don't buy insurance from the same companies that got us into this mess.

A public option would have provided the competition needed to drive down costs and improve coverage. It would have kept insurance companies honest by providing an affordable alternative Americans can trust. That's why, without a public option, this bill is almost a trillion dollar taxpayer giveaway to insurance companies.

Again, this is a craptastic deal that "Holy Joe" Loserman is trying to force upon Democrats. We need to urge Harry Reid to reject this bogus "deal" and move forward with a real bill that will really help us. Please call Harry Reid's DC office at (202) 224-3542, his Las Vegas office at (702) 388-5020, his Reno office at (775) 686-5750, and/or his Carson City office at (775) 882-7343, and ask him to either fight like hell for a real public option or at least drop the individual mandate from the bill!

Don't Let the Right-Wing Scream Machine Win

UPDATE: Here's a great response video from the DNC.



This just in from Democracy for America. Remember when I first warned about the radical right's plan to disrupt and hijack Democratic town hall meetings on health care? Well, I wasn't wrong! It's happening even more, so we need to prepare to fight back.

Need we adopt the same tactics they're using? No, but we do need to show up, share our stories, and take action! Please read the below message and take the pledge to speak up for real health care reform.

Nevada Progressive Reader -

You may have seen it: An angry mob in Texas carrying fake tombstones with Rep. Lloyd Doggett's name on it. Signs with an "SS" symbol on it calling Obama a Nazi. A cardboard version of Rep. Frank Kratovil hanged in effigy outside his district office by "Teabaggers" in Maryland.

The Right-Wing Scream Machine is back.

Who are they? So-called "Birthers" who think President Obama's birth certificate is a fake. "Teabaggers" who don't want to pay taxes for schools, police, or roads. And they're backed up by insurance industry and right-wing funded front groups who are encouraging Republicans to disrupt healthcare townhalls anyway they can throughout August.

Their goal isn't to debate or get their voices heard. Their goal is to stop any kind of civil dialogue.

That's not how we enact thoughtful reform. It's important that we aren't drawn into their divisive tactics and discredit our broad-based bipartisan support for real reform. And it's up to us to make sure they don't drown out America's support for the choice of a public healthcare option.

Will you join me in taking the high road and sign the Public Option Action Pledge?

ADD YOUR NAME AND SPREAD THE WORD NOW!

As reported by TalkingPointsMemo, here's an outline of their tactics from a recently circulated right-wing plan:
"pack the hall... spread out" to make their numbers seem more significant, and to "rock-the-boat early in the Rep's presentation...to yell out and challenge the Rep's statements early... to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda...stand up and shout and sit right back down."
In response, I've signed the Public Option Action Pledge.

Will you join me?

SIGN THE PUBLIC OPTION ACTION PLEDGE RIGHT NOW!

It's going to be a long, hot August. But we're going to keep our cool and represent the 76% of Americans who support one of President Obama's top priorities -- a public health insurance option.

Working together, we'll beat the Right-Wing Scream Machine and pass healthcare reform that gives America a choice.

Thank you for everything you do.

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America