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Issue: : health care
Thoughts: : just do it it works over here in the uk so why not do it in the us?
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Visitor Ip: 81.159.4.62
Friday, July 31, 2009
Facebook Supporter: Joseph Targett
Issue: : health care
Thoughts: : just do it it works over here in the uk so why not do it in the us?
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Visitor Ip: 81.159.4.62
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Facebook Supporter: john bushman
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Issue: : health care
Thoughts: : why not drop the minimum for using medical expenses as an itemzed deduction
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Visitor Ip: 64.53.163.203
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
It's Time
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We asked our supporters if they thought we should put the experiences of real American families on the air to show why we need health care reform. The overwhelming answer? Yes.
Thanks to your support, we were able to produce a powerful ad featuring real people telling their true stories of lost coverage, watching loved ones go without care, and making the case for why we need reform. And we were able to put their stories on the air in key states across the country, at a time when congressional representatives need to hear them most.
Our representatives must understand how strongly we feel about the need for real reform -- and that we need it now.
Donate today: help keep this ad on the air.
Find a Health Care Reform Week of Action Event Near You
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It's how we won a historic election -- and it's how we'll make real, comprehensive health care reform a reality in 2009.
Congress is moving rapidly toward finalizing health care reform legislation, with crucial votes expected in both the House and the Senate within days. With so much at stake -- and the D.C. lobbyists going into overdrive -- we have to take our grassroots campaign to the next level.
All this week, OFA volunteers like you will be knocking on doors, making calls to neighbors, and attending public events to build the local support for health care reform we need to pass a strong final bill. If you can spare an hour or two for health care reform, this is the week to do it.
FIND AN EVENT
NEAR YOU:
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Sunday, July 19, 2009
Facebook Supporter: Kai
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Issue: : Nießen
Thoughts: : Sie sind ein guter Mensch Mr. Präsident
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Visitor Ip: 195.93.60.5
Good Bye America.
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wave from Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base before departing for Moscow, Russia, July 5, 2009.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
This official White House photograph is being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
Friday, July 17, 2009
"Why I walk and call"
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Earlier today, OFA had a chance to send out a unique message from a special guest sender:
I'm Patricia, from Hallandale Beach, Florida (just a little north of Miami). Like you, I support President Obama, and I want to help his agenda become a reality.
Two years ago, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I'm luckier than many -- I have insurance. But when I had to stop working because of the chemo, I could no longer afford my rapidly increasing health care insurance premiums. I went through my entire retirement savings, then had to start taking out loans from my bank to keep up. Now, with my credit drying up, I'm scared that I'll lose my home and my insurance.
This shouldn't happen in America. A bad diagnosis shouldn't have to mean that everything you've worked so hard to save, and all the plans you've made, are suddenly gone.
So that's why I'm working for real health care reform. Because no one should have to feel the anguish and fear I've felt constantly these last two years. Because this crisis needs to end -- and because I know that will only happen if each of us does our part.
Today, I'm asking you to join me and volunteer with Organizing for America. OFA volunteers are out there every day, talking to our neighbors, organizing community events, and doing everything we can to build the public awareness and support we'll need to pass reform this year.
Will you sign up to join a Health Care Canvass or Phonebank in your area this week?
As the President said on election night last November, "This victory alone is not the change we seek -- it is only the chance to make that change."
We all did a lot to get to this point, but now the real work truly begins. Just yesterday, a key Senate committee passed a strong health care bill, and earlier this week the House released legislation that reflects President Obama's principles for reform. We can't let up now.
So this week, I'll be contacting my neighbors, asking them to declare their support for the President's core principles of reform and then contact their representatives in Congress.
If you join me, and others all around the country do the same, our voices will be louder than the special interests and lobbyists who have preserved this awful system for so many years.
Please join me, and sign up today for a Health Care Canvass or Phonebank in your area.Thank you for reading my story and considering my request,
Patricia
Patricia L.
Organizing for America Volunteer
Hallandale Beach, FL
P.S. -- If you can't make it to any events in your area, don't worry. You can still use Organizing for America's Neighbor to Neighbor tool to call folks near you.
"Small Businesses Need Health Care Reform"
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I’ve operated a small family business in Fargo, North Dakota, for over 30 years. We help people work more effectively by providing quality office environments to businesses throughout eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. For years, I’ve taken pride in being able to provide my employees with good, substantial health insurance.
Lots of people think health care is a just a question of dollars and cents for a business owner like me. But they’re wrong; it’s so much more than that. Health care is the foundation of the employee/employer relationship – it’s a way for me to demonstrate my commitment to my staff and the value they provide. I want to be able to ensure that the people who work for me, and their families, are taken care of and have what they need.
We’re blessed with great health care providers who are highly skilled and caring. Their quality is top notch. But the ways in which we insure affordable access to these systems of care is fractured. Promises to control costs keep coming up short. In the last five years, our health insurance costs have gone up 50 percent! My employees are paying higher premiums for fewer services, and coupled with the economic recession our firm can't bear any more rate increases in the employer share of our pact.
President Obama’s commitment to health care reform is one of the reasons why I supported his candidacy, and it’s the reason I’m working with Organizing for America now. My business and my employees literally can’t afford to wait another year for health care reform.
On Thursday, Dan participated in a press conference call about the importance of health care reform to small businesses (listen to an audio recording of the call).
Statement by the President on the bombings in Indonesia
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The American people stand by the Indonesian people in this difficult time, and the U.S. government stands ready to help the Indonesian government respond to and recover from these outrageous attacks as a friend and partner.
Indonesia has been steadfast in combating violent extremism, and has successfully curbed terrorist activity within its borders. However, these attacks make it clear that extremists remain committed to murdering innocent men, women and children of any faith in all countries. We will continue to partner with Indonesia to eliminate the threat from these violent extremists, and we will be unwavering in supporting a future of security and opportunity for the Indonesian people
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REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT NEW JERSEY RALLY FOR GOVERNOR JON CORZINE
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A couple of quick acknowledgments: First of all, I want to acknowledge a few of the elected officials who have just done great work for New Jersey -- Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy. (Applause.) Newark Mayor Cory Booker. (Applause.) Governor Cody* is in the house. (Applause.) I want to thank the Abundant Light Church Choir for being here. (Applause.)
I also just want to take a moment -- I know many of you heard that five officers in Jersey City were shot in the line of duty this morning. I've been in contact with Mayor Healy about this issue, and obviously all the families are in our thoughts and prayers. It's a reminder of what our law enforcement officials do each and every day to protect us and to protect our families. And we need to keep them in mind as we go forward. (Applause.)
It's a little warm here. I think we're going to have to take off my jacket. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you!
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.)
I want you to know I'm proud to stand with a man who wakes up every day thinking about your future and the future of Jersey –- and that's your governor, Jon Corzine. (Applause.)
Like many of us in public life today, Jon is a leader who's been called to govern in some extraordinary times. He's been tested by the worst recession in half a century –- a recession that was caused by years of recklessness and irresponsibility and a do-nothing attitude. It was caused by the same small thinking that has plagued our politics for decades –- the kind of thinking that says we can afford to just tinker around with our problems, we can put off the tough decisions, defer the big challenges. We can just tell people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.
Well that's not the kind of leader that Jon Corzine is. (Applause.) Jon Corzine didn't run for this office on the promise that change would be easy. He hasn't avoided doing what's hard. This isn't somebody who's here because of some special interest or political machine –- this is a man who is here because he cares about what is right in New Jersey and for New Jersey. (Applause.)
Let's take a look at the record. This is a man who has provided more property tax relief than any other governor in New Jersey history. (Applause.) This is the first governor in 60 years who has reduced the size of government, not just talked about it. This is a leader who has stood up against those who wanted to cut what really matters, like education. Jon Corzine has not only protected funding for New Jersey's schools, he reformed them with tougher standards. And now students in New Jersey rank at the top of the country in reading and math, because of Jon Corzine. (Applause.)
Since Jon Corzine became governor, the Children's Health Insurance Program has been expanded by 80,000 more kids -- 80,000 more children have health insurance who didn’t have it before. (Applause.) New Jersey has become a leader in clean energy. Jon Corzine wasn't just the first governor to pass an economic recovery plan for his state; he was an ally with the Obama administration in helping us develop a national recovery plan. (Applause.)
And because of these plans, jobs have been saved and created in the state of New Jersey –- jobs of cops and teachers; jobs in small businesses and clean energy companies. Un-insurance -- unemployment insurance and health insurance have been extended to those who've felt the brunt of this recession and lost their jobs. Tax relief has been delivered to families and small businesses all across the state. And I can promise you this, that more help is on the way in the weeks and months to come. (Applause.)
Now, I realize this is little comfort to those of you who've lost jobs in this recession, or know somebody who has. I realize that there are a lot of folks who are worrying about losing their home, worried about paying the bills, putting food on the table. And I'll be honest with you –- even though jobs have always been one of the last things that come back in a recession, some of the jobs that have been lost may not come back.
Because the fact is, even before this crisis hit we had an economy that was creating a great deal for the folks at the very top, but not a lot of good-paying jobs for the rest of America. We didn’t have an economy that was built to compete in the 21st century –- one where we -- I mean, think about the economy before the recession. We had an economy where we spend more on health care than any other nation on Earth but we aren't any healthier; where we've been slow to invest in the clean energy technologies that will create new jobs and industries right here in America. We had an economy where we watched our graduation rates lag behind the rest of the world. We used to be number one in college graduation rates; now we’re in the middle of the pack -- at a time when knowledge has never been more important for economic success.
We inherited an economy where Washington didn’t pay for anything, made a lot of promises, so we ended up inheriting a $1.3 trillion deficit. Financial regulation, nobody even thought of. And as a consequence, people could take enormous risks and have Main Street end up paying the cost.
But you know what, that was the America of yesterday. We're now looking at the America of tomorrow. We're going forward. (Applause.) That's not the America our children are going to inherit. (Applause.) We're going forward, New Jersey. Because what we're facing right now is more than just a passing crisis. It is a transformative moment that has led this nation to an unmistakable crossroads.
There are some in Washington and probably some in Trenton who want us to just go down the path we've already traveled for most of the last decade -- to do the same-old, same-old; the path where we just throw up our hands at the challenges we face. You hear those voices now -- "Oh, health care is too hard, we can't do health care reform." "Oh, energy, that's too hard, we can't free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil." "Oh, we can't regulate Wall Street; no, that's too hard." The only thing they're offering is more tax breaks to the wealthiest few that make the rich richer and the deficit larger, and leave you holding the bag. That's their idea of America.
It's a path where our health care costs keep rising; where our oil dependency keeps on growing; where our financial markets remain an unregulated crapshoot; where our workers lose out on the jobs of tomorrow.
Jersey, I want you to know that's not a future that I accept. That's not a future that Jon Corzine accepts. That's not a future that you accept. We are moving in a new direction. (Applause.) That's what we believe in. (Applause.)
We did not come this far as a country because we've looked backwards or stood still in the face of great challenges. We didn't arrive to this place by lowering our sights or diminishing our dreams. We are a forward-looking people –- we face the future without fear, but with determination; not with doubt, but with hope. We've always been willing to take great chances, and reach for new horizons, and remake the world around us. And that's what we must do again.
I am absolutely confident that we will weather this particular economic storm. (Applause.) But once we clear away the wreckage, the real question is: What will we build in its place? Even as we rescue this economy from the crisis, we've got to rebuild it so that it is better than it was before. We've got to lay a new foundation that will allow the United States of America to thrive and compete in the global economy -- and give every young person -- black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American -- a chance at a better life. (Applause.)
That means investing in the clean energy jobs of the future. That means educating and training those workers for those jobs. That means finally controlling health care costs that are driving our nation into debt.
I want to just talk about health care for a minute. I hope you don't mind. I know it's warm, but just fan yourself a little bit. (Applause.) Because the health care debate is starting to heat up, so I just want to talk to you just for a brief moment about this. It's an issue that your governor has been fighting for here in New Jersey. The reason we have to fight is not just because we're one of the only advanced nations on Earth that leaves millions with no health insurance. It's not just the fact that we spend 50 percent more than any other country, and yet we don't have better outcomes. The fact is that health care affects the financial well-being and security of every single American, even those who have health insurance. (Applause.) It affects the health and well-being and security of every single family. It affects the stability of our entire economy.
Health reform is about every one of you who's ever faced premiums and co-payments that are rising faster than your salary or your wages. It's about every one of you who has ever worried that you might lose your health insurance if you lose your job, or change your job. It's about anyone who's ever worried that you may not be able to get health insurance or change insurance companies if you or someone that you love has a preexisting medical condition.
Health insurance reform is about the man from Baltimore who sent us his story. Some of you know I read 10 letters from ordinary Americans every day so that I keep in touch. I don't want to go "Washington" too quick on anybody. (Applause.) So this man from Baltimore, he's a middle-class college graduate, but when he changed jobs, his health insurance expired. And during that time he needed emergency surgery, and he woke up $10,000 in debt –- debt that has left him unable to save, or buy a home, or make a career change. That's who we have to reform health care for.
Reform is about the woman in Colorado who told us that when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her insurance company –- the one that she had paid over $700 a month for –- refused to pay for anything connected to her disease. She felt like she had been given a second death sentence, she said. She had to pay her own treatment with her retirement funds. That woman in Colorado, that's who we're fighting for when we talk about health care reform. (Applause.)
Health care reform is about that small business owner from right here in Jackson, New Jersey, who told us he employs eight people; he provides health insurance for all of them. But his policies are going up 20 percent every year. It's his highest business expense beside the wages he pays his employees. He's already had to let two of them go. He may be forced to eliminate health insurance altogether. That man and his employees, that's who health care reform is all about.
I've heard these stories in town halls; I've read letters; I've seen them on our Web site more times than I can remember. And so has Jon Corzine. We have talked and talked and talked about fixing health care for decades. And we have finally reached a point where inaction is no longer an option -- where the choice to defer reform is nothing more than a decision to defend the status quo. And I will not defend the status quo. We are going to change health care reform. (Applause.)
I will not stand for a future where health care premiums rise three times faster than people's wages. I will not stand for a future where 14,000 Americans lose their health insurance every day. This nation cannot afford a future where our government eventually is going to be spending more on Medicare and Medicaid than what we spend on anything else today combined.
That's what 's driving our deficit. That's what's driving our debt. That's what's forcing families into debt. That's what's forcing businesses into debt. The price of doing nothing about health care is a price that every taxpayer and every business and every family will have to pay. That's unacceptable, it is unsustainable, and we are going to change it in 2009. (Applause.)
Now, I got to warn you, though, it's not going to be easy. There's a reason why it hasn’t happened for 50 years. Harry Truman wanted to do it; couldn't get it done. Every President since that time has talked about it; hasn’t gotten it done. So it's not going to be easy. And you're going to hear the same scare tactics from special interest groups that have been used to kill health care reform for decades. So let me just be clear here, New Jersey, because you're going to hear a lot of nonsense. I know that a lot of Americans are satisfied with their health care right now; they're wondering what they get out of health care reform. So let me be absolutely clear about what reform means for you.
First of all, if you've got health insurance, you like your doctor, you like your plan -- you can keep your doctor, you can keep your plan. Nobody is talking about taking that away from you. (Applause.)
But here's what reform will mean for you: It will mean lower costs and more choices and coverage you can count on. (Applause.) Health insurance reform will save you and your family money. If you lose your job, you change your job, you start a new business, you'll still be able to get quality health insurance you can afford. You'll have confidence that it's there for you.
Now, if you don't have health insurance, you're finally going to be able to get it at affordable prices. (Applause.) If you have a preexisting medical condition, no insurance company will be able to deny you coverage. (Applause.) You won't be worrying about being priced out of the market. You won't have to worry about one illness leading your family into financial ruin. Americans who have coverage will finally have stability and security, and Americans who don't will finally have quality, affordable options. That's what reform means.
Reform means that for the first time, we'll have a health insurance exchange -- it's a fancy word for a simple concept: We're going to create a marketplace where you and your family and small businesses can go to shop for their health insurance, and compare side by side prices and services and quality so that you can choose the plan that best suits your needs. And that's going to mean that insurance companies are going to have to compete for your business. (Applause.) And one of those choices would be a public health insurance option –- (applause) -- an affordable plan that would finally keep the insurance companies honest, because they would be increasing competition and promoting the best practices.
So you'd have insurance companies having to look over their shoulders. They can't just price-gouge, and they can't just eliminate people who are sicker or older. They'd have to cover everybody.
Most of all, I have promised that reform will not add to our federal deficit. You're going to hear all kinds of stories about this. It will be paid for. And a big part of how we're going to do that is by cutting out the waste and unnecessary subsidies we give to insurance companies that drive up costs for everybody. (Applause.)
So let me be clear: When you hear that health care reform will cost $1 trillion over 10 years, you need to know that at least half of that will be paid for by money already in the system that's being badly spent. I mean, we're spending $177 billion to give to insurance companies instead of making sure that money is going to patients for decent care. (Applause.)
We'll also change incentives so that our doctors and our nurses can finally start providing patients with the best care and not just the most expensive care. (Applause.) And if we do that, then reform will bring down the cost of Medicare and Medicaid, and that will lower our deficits in the long run. So make no mistake about it: Health care reform is deficit reform.
This is what reform would mean for all of us. Right now we are closer to making it a reality than we have ever been. We now have the support of the hospitals. We've got the support of the doctors. We've got the support of the nurses who represent the best of our health care system and know what's broken about it. (Applause.) We have supporters -- we have the support of governors like Jon Corzine -- (applause) -- who know what reform would mean to the people of this state. (Applause.) We've made unprecedented progress in Congress –- especially this week.
But now is when it gets really hard. Now is when we've got to get over the finish line. This is when you start hearing the same criticism, the same scare tactics that have held us back in the past. And if you do hear these critics, I want you to ask them a question I always ask: What's your plan? What's your alternative? (Applause.) What do you plan to do for all those families whose medical bills are driving them into bankruptcy? What will you do for the businesses that are choosing between closing their doors or letting go of their workers or eliminating health care for their employees? What do you have to say to every taxpayer in America whose dollars are propping up a health system that's driving us further and further into debt?
When it comes to health care, or energy, or education, the cynics, the naysayers, the Washington crowd, they seem to think we can somehow just keep on doing what we're doing and expect a different result. But everywhere I go, I meet Americans who know we can't do that. They know we've got to change how we're doing business. They know change isn't easy. They know that there will be setbacks and false starts. But they also know this: We are at a moment when we've been given the extraordinary opportunity to remake our world; a chance to seize our future; a chance to shape our destiny. (Applause.) As difficult as it sometimes is, there's something about the American spirit that says that we can -- we don't have to cling to the past. We're going to look forward to the future. (Applause.) We're creating a movement for change, and that doesn't begin in Washington. That begins here in New Jersey. (Applause.)
The American people have decided it's time to move forward. You've decided it's time for change. You're willing to face the future unafraid. If you do that, if you stand with us, if you talk to your neighbors and your friends and your coworkers, you call your members of Congress and your senators, if you reelect Jon Corzine -- (applause) -- if you work hard to believe in a future that is good for our children and our grandchildren, there is nothing that's going to stop us, New Jersey. (Applause.)
We're going to get health care reform done. We're going to get energy reform done. We're going to get education reform done. We're going to get financial regulation reform done. We're going to set our sights forward, and we are going to create the kind of America that our children deserve. (Applause.)
Thank you. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
NAACP: 100 Years, One Historic Night
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I had that moment on Thursday, July 16th, 2009 as did so many others when President Barack Obama went to the 100th anniversary convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
(President Barack Obama speaks at the NAACP 100th anniversary convention in New York City July 16, 2009.
Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson.)
Everyone had a feeling of excitement beyond description. Many dignitaries were present. NAACP leaders from across the country embarked to New York - a city filled with historical civil rights moments, which oftentimes are forgotten about because they weren't occurring in the historic South. But, the first moment that captured my attention was watching the line of people form slowly throughout the afternoon as they waited patiently despite their palpable excitement. The look of pride and accomplishment amongst a people who many times didn't feel such positive feelings was evident. Later, as the president met several leaders of NAACP, it was the genuine appreciation that humbled me and made me even more proud to work for him as he shook the hands of the staff despite the large number of them being present. There were a lot of people there whose names many times go unmentioned and unnoticed for work they do to fight for greater equality, never caring that their name is in lights. To have their work recognized by the President of the United States added a special dimension to the night that the media didn't capture, but it was equally important. I was fortunate to see it. I was there.
And then, there was the speech.
And then, there was the speech.
(President Barack Obama makes remarks at the 100th anniversary of the founding of the NAACP in
New York, Thursday, July 16, 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
New York, Thursday, July 16, 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, who received the Spingarn medal during the banquet - NAACP's highest recognition - simply but eloquently introduced President Obama by saying, "When he came to our convention in 2007, he was one of eight Democratic presidential primary candidates. When he came last year, he was the one - his party's nominee. Now I am honored to give the best introduction of all - please welcome the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama."
The president gave an inspirational speech where his physical presence and empowering words provided a visual reality to so many African-Americans that despite the tests of time AND the adversities of life OUR hopes and dreams can be and ARE being fulfilled.
The feeling in the room was electric. There were African-Americans who lived through the civil rights era and fought to have an equal voice at the table - including the right to vote - there to see an African-American President of the United States during the 100th anniversary of this pillar of the Civil Rights community who were led to many joyful tears, amens, shouts of celebration and reflective statements of how far we have come.
There were older women who were saying "amen" and "tell it" as the president shared that there are no excuses to us achieving more. There was an African-American sailor near me who took photos of every moment of every person he could see. People who couldn't get into the room of 4,200 attendees watched and videotaped from TV screens throughout the Hilton Hotel who didn't complain about not getting in but rather rejoiced in just being in the building for such a historic moment.
His remarks embodied an understanding that we've made progress but we have more mountains to climb. They also reminded us that we have to dream higher and obtain more, which he so beautifully stated by saying, "our kids can't all aspire to be LeBron or Lil Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers -- doctors and teachers -- not just ballers and rappers. I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court Justice. I want them aspiring to be the President of the United States of America."
So for more than 4,000 people at the New York Hilton hotel who were there supporting this hallmark organization, which for 100 years has had many "I was there" moments including the marching, protesting, sitting in and standing tall; from W.E.B. Dubois to Julian Bond, we all shared in this once in a lifetime moment - the first African-American president closing out the 100th anniversary convention of the oldest African-American civil rights group in the country. So for generations to come, I will tell my children, and they will tell their children I was there.
Michael Blake is the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement & Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Pres. Obama's NAACP Speech.
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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Monday, July 13, 2009
Facebook Supporter: Howard Jay
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Issue: : Healthcare
Thoughts: : I think it will happen in our time if those silly dim wit Republicans will not sabotage the effort President Obama is making to reform the healthcare system foe all Americans. America prides itself to be the leading civilization but lack far behind in providing healthcare for her citizens.
Most Republicans are affiliated with most private healthcare insurance companies, and they would do anything to protect their interest and therefore fight to prevent Obam\'s healthcare reforms.
They truly make me sick with their unbecoming attitude. 8 years under Bush got us nowhere. It\'s only 4 or 6 months that Obama took office and they are already shouting about the stimulus package not working the miracles themselves fail to perform in 8 years in office.
Have they forgotten their economic management was the biggest shamble in history. Good Republicans should purge the bad ones or let them hang themselves cos they are no good to anyone not even to themselves.
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Visitor Ip: 88.9.149.35
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Kids represent for President Obama at Caribbean carnival!
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Kids seen portraying costumes of President Barack Obama at recent carnival festivities held on mainland St. Vincent of St. Vincent and the Grenadines during the past week.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Facebook Supporter: Sandy Coplien
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Issue: : Insurane
Thoughts: : I am one of many Americans without insurance. I have chronic conditions which are not life threatening when properly treated. I am alos at an age where it is necessary to have certain tests to detect certain forms of cancer. Since I have no insurance treating teh chronic conditions is difficult and having teh necessary tests to dect cancer is impossible. If I get sick, I will not seek treatment because my family would have nothing left. I am also currently unemployed. So the people who are against chaning teh system must hav enever been in this position.
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Visitor Ip: 98.227.174.245
Saturday, July 4, 2009
A July 4th Message from the President
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Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal.
Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty -- a bold, evolving quest to achieve a more perfect union. And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day.
Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course. America's greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom -- and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.
As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph -- that pride -- belongs to all of us.
So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm's way to preserve and protect it.
It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become.
With very best wishes,
President Barack Obama
July 4th, 2009
Facebook Supporter: Margaret T.D. Ieng
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Issue: : We need a reasonable healthcare premium, and a good healthcare program.
Thoughts: : For people in the Inland Empire.
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Visitor Ip: 68.126.125.60
Friday, July 3, 2009
Message from David Plouffe: "It's a go"
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Earlier in the week, we asked if you thought we should put the experiences of real American families on the air and online to show why we need heath care reform. The overwhelming answer? Yes.
Thanks to your support, we were able to spring into action and share with America the very personal reasons why we cannot afford to miss this one chance to finally reform our health care system.
I want you to be the first to see this powerful ad. It features real people telling their true stories of lost coverage, watching loved ones go without care, and making the case for why we need reform.
Once you watch this, you'll see what we mean about how powerful these personal stories can be -- and why we need to get them on the air right away.
Will you watch the video now, and then donate $25 or more to put it on the air?
As we speak, Congress is rapidly hammering out the details of the health care bill, and getting this message out now is crucial. Our representatives must understand how strongly we feel about the need for real reform -- and that we need it now.
In the next few days, we must decide how many of these ads we can make, where we can air them, and how many views we can guarantee. The more resources we have, the greater the impact we'll be able to make.
So watch this first video, and then please dig deep with a donation of $25 or more so we can get this ad and others like it on the air and online in key areas across the country.
https://donate.barackobama.com/healthcaread
Thanks for making it happen,
David Plouffe
P.S. -- Over 99,000 people have already donated to power our campaign for health care reform. This is the perfect time to join them, and help us hit our big goal of 100,000 donors for health care.
Full Video: A National Discussion on Health Care Reform
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For a taste, here's the transcript of the first question:
MS. JARRETT: I'm going to be in charge. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
So in my opening remarks, Mr. President, I mentioned that when you released your YouTube video over the weekend, we received literally hundreds of video questions from all across the country. Your staff looked through all those questions and have selected a cross-section that represents a broad cross-section of the kinds of questions that came up.
I want to emphasize that the President has not seen the questions ahead of time. (Laughter.) Absolutely not.
And so we're going to begin with a video question, Mr. President, if you look at the screen.
THE PRESIDENT: All right.
VIDEO Q Hi, my name is Steve White. I'm in Spring Valley, New York. And my question for the President is: Why are we considering a health care plan which maintains the private insurance companies with their high overhead costs, instead of a single-payer plan, which would eliminate the high overhead costs, saving the American taxpayer hundreds of billions of dollars, while covering everyone in our country? Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Sure. Well, it's a terrific question. I'm not sure if everybody could hear it, but the gist of the question is, why have we not been looking at a single-payer plan as the way to go?
As many of you know, in many countries, most industrialized advanced countries, they have some version of what's called a single-payer plan. And what that means is essentially that the government is the insurer. The government may not necessarily hire the doctors or the hospitals -- a lot of those may still be privately operated -- but the government is the insurer for everybody. And Medicare is actually a single-payer plan that we have in place, but we only have it in place for our older Americans.
Now, in a lot of those countries, a single-payer plan works pretty well and you eliminate, as Scott, I think it was, said, you eliminate private insurers, you don't have the administrative costs and the bureaucracy and so forth.
Here's the problem, is that the way our health care system evolved in the United States, it evolved based on employers providing health insurance to their employees through private insurers. And so that's still the way that the vast majority of you get your insurance. And for us to transition completely from an employer-based system of private insurance to a single-payer system could be hugely disruptive. And my attitude has been that we should be able to find a way to create a uniquely American solution to this problem that controls costs but preserves the innovation that is introduced in part with a free market system.
I think that we can regulate the insurance companies effectively; make sure that they're not playing games with people because of preexisting conditions; that they're not charging wildly different rates to people based on where they live or what their age is; that they're not dropping people for coverage unnecessarily; that we have a public option that's available to provide competition and choice to the American people, and to keep the insurers honest; and that we can provide a system in which we are, over the long term, driving down administrative costs, and making sure that people are getting the best possible care at a lower price.
But I recognize that there are lot of people who are passionate -- they look at France or some of these other systems and they say, well, why can't we just do that? Well, the answer is, is that this is one-sixth of our economy, and we're not suddenly just going to completely upend the system. We want to build on what works about the system and fix what's broken about the system. And that's what I think Congress is committed to doing, and I'm committed to working with them to make it happen. Okay?
Lady Liberty's Crown Opens on 4th of July
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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will officially reopen the crown of the Statue of Liberty to the public on July 4, 2009. About 20 lucky visitors will be among the first to climb the 354 steps to the crown on Saturday morning, but thanks to the power of technology, everyone can join in the celebration. The public can view photos of the day’s events on Flickr and follow Lady Liberty on Twitter.
July 4th marks the first time visitors can tour the crown since it was closed following the 9/11 attacks. About 240 visitors per day will be able to tour the crown, but you can visit the Statue of Liberty anytime from home by taking the new Statue of Liberty National Monument virtual tour
Katelyn Sabochik is the Director of New Media for the U.S. Department of the Interior
Jobs and Energy Innovation
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The President met with a group of innovative energy leaders today to discuss job creation and long-term plans for strengthening the industry which will play a key role in America’s economic future. CEOs from both small and large energy companies shared their own ideas about how to increase productivity through innovation and technology. Finding new ways of producing, saving, and distributing energy is not only good for our energy independence, but also presents opportunities to create millions of jobs for Americans.
In his remarks, the President explained that energy is one of the main pillars in our new economic foundation, which is why the administration has put it at the forefront of the recovery effort:
I'm pleased to say that we've achieved more in the past few months to create a new clean energy economy than we had achieved in many decades before. The recovery plan will double our country's supply of renewable energy, and is already creating new clean energy jobs. Thanks to a remarkable partnership between automakers, autoworkers, environmental advocates, and states, we also set in motion a new national policy to increase gas mileage and decrease carbon pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in this country, which is going to save us 1.8 billion barrels of oil.
And last Friday, the House of Representatives passed an extraordinary piece of legislation that would make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy in America. It will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It will prevent the worst consequences of climate change. And above all, it holds the promise of millions of new jobs -- jobs, by the way, that can't be outsourced.
The CEOs standing behind me know a lot about these kinds of companies. These are folks whose companies are helping to lead the transformation towards a clean energy future. Even as we face tough economic times, even as we continue to lose jobs, the CEOs here told me that they're looking to hire new people, in some cases to double or even triple in size over the next few years. They are making money and they are helping their customers save money on the energy front.
So these companies are vivid examples of the kind of future we can create, but it's now up to the Senate to continue the work that was begun in the House to forge this more prosperous future. We're going to need to set aside the posturing and the politics -- and when we put aside the old ideological debates, then our choice is clear. It's a choice between slow decline and renewed prosperity. It's a choice between the past and the future.
The American people I believe want us to make the right choice, and I'm confident that the Senate will. For at every juncture in our history, we've chosen to seize big opportunities -- rather than fear big challenges. We've chosen to take responsibility. We've chosen to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us -- and fulfill our obligations to generations to come. That's what we're going to do this time, as well.
The President went on to praise the innovation that is now taking place, from LED lighting to waterproof, long-lasting concrete. He added that although the economy continues to struggle, these are advances that will help us succeed both now and well into the future. "We always meet the challenges by moving forward," he said.
(President Barack Obama shakes hands with Energy Secretary Steven Chu following remarks about innovation
in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2009, following his meeting with business leaders. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is second from left. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
A Surprise Visit to Iraq
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Vice President Joe Biden arrives at Camp Victory, Iraq, on an unannounced visit to the country,
Thursday, July 2, 2009. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann
Vice President Joe Biden greets Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari at Camp Victory, Iraq, on an
unannounced visit to the country, Thursday, July 2, 2009. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann
Vice President Joe Biden greets U.S. General Ray Odierno, at Camp Victory, Iraq, on an unannounced visit to
the country, Thursday, July 2, 2009. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Facebook Supporter: Adam
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Issue: : Social Security
Thoughts: : Social Security is going to be broken by the time I\'m of retirement age.. We need SS reform today.. Everything needs to be on the table.. partial privatization... Raising the retirement age.. It\'s time for real change.
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Facebook Supporter: hazel filoxsian
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Issue: : single income
Thoughts: : help for the disabled with single income
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Visitor Ip: 76.26.172.16
Facebook Supporter: Ronald Hussein Murray
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Issue: : Ad $ to R&D?
Thoughts: : Pharmacopeia Health-Industrial complex should invest money in prophylactic and curative research and development; not on TV ads to \"Ask your Health Care Provider about the benefits of ***** for you.\"
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Visitor Ip: 207.200.116.69
Facebook Supporter: Jacqueline
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Issue: : Health Care
Thoughts: : Your Health Care reform does not coincide with the views of the American people. You were elected to represent our thoughts and views, Health care will continue the out of control spending and encroaching government control.
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Visitor Ip: 24.14.180.129
Facebook Supporter: Cass
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Issue: : Medicaid
Thoughts: : I wouldn\'t have ANY healthcare if it wasn\'t for Medicaid but it is such a DISASTER! Its SO disorganized in Essex County New Jersey! SAD
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