AFSCME Highway to Health Care Tour (plus more union support, updated)

[ProSense]

AFSCME Highway to Health Care Tour

In stark contrast to reform opponents, new AFSCME video, website and blog ad buy rev up three week blitz to explain how Americans benefit from reform

Washington, D.C. — The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) today unveiled a new video, website and a significant five-figure blog ad buy for the union’s Highway to Health Care Reform campaign, a rock-themed RV that will tour key states to spark discussion over the benefits that reform offers middle class Americans.

“Even though opponents of reform spew venom and misinformation, the fact of the matter is that Americans are revved up and ready for real health care reform and eager to know what’s in it for them,” said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee. “We’re tired of the insurance industry putting their profits ahead of the health and well being of the middle class. This tour is a unique way of taking that message to battleground states across the country.”

The Highway to Health Care Reform tour officially kicks off Wednesday in Bismarck, ND. The tour then makes its way through Nebraska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, Delaware and Maine. Highway2HealthCare.org, the campaign website, allows visitors to get tour stop information and post a sign in support of reform on a Google map.

AFSCME released the tour kick off video today, which features a diverse array of Americans singing about the need for health care reform. The video concludes that health care reform is “music to our ears” and urges viewers to contact their members of Congress to demand real reform. The video, which serves as a stark contrast to the negative and divisive tone of reform opponents, can be viewed here.

More union support:

United Steelworkers

Communications Workers of America

American Federation of Teachers

Teamsters

Video: Nurses (30 sec.)

Working Families Network

Udated to add:

SEIU

Publisher Consumers Union

[IndianaGreen]

1. The reform unions such as AFSCME are supporting is not what Congress is considering

and Obama did not introduce his own bill in Congress, yet he travels across the country speaking of something that is not what Congress is considering.

Don't act surprised when Congress gives us the usual product of illusionary change.

[ProSense]

2. This is killing you isn't it? n/t

[IndianaGreen]

3. What is the health care reform bill that Obama has introduced in Congress?

Or barring that, which bill currently in Congress does Obama publicly support? The rest is just bullshit!

[babylonsister]

4. What is Congress considering? Better yet, I'll narrow that down for

you. What is the Senate considering? I'd love to know as I must have missed it. Thanks!

[IndianaGreen]

5. back to you

Obama did not introduce his own health reform bill in Congress. Obama does not support HR676, Medicare for all, or Bernie Sanders Senate version. Obama cannot come out for Pelosi's bill for that would offend the DLC Democrats in the Senate. So what does Obama support?

We know the GOP is against ANY change, but what change is Obama specifically supporting in Congress?

[babylonsister]

6. You didn't answer my question. But go ahead and freak out about

a bill that will be passed in the next couple of months, contents to be determined.

Seems kind of silly to me, but have at it.

[IndianaGreen]

7. The Senate will never agree to Pelosi's bill, HR3200

and it will be the DLC Senate Democrats, who are likely to support Baucus bill rather than the bill voted out of Chris Dodd's committee.

Bernie Sanders S703 Single Payer will get nowhere since Sanders, unlike many of his Senate Colleagues, does not get money from the health industry (as Evan Bayh does).

Has Obama endorsed HR3200? No! Doing so will make them blue dogs and other DLCers unhappy.

[ProSense]

8. Now you're making predictions?

:rofl:

[DrToast]

9. Not sure I feel comfortable relying so much on Unions.

I don't want the party to feel beholden to them. I think the current health care bill already caters to the unions at the expense of the rest of us by not breaking the employer-provided health insurance system.

[IndianaGreen]

11. You don't want 'the party beholden' (to unions), but the party is beholden to health industry

How many Democrats in Congress get money, perks, and favours from the health industry? Evan Bayh might as well tattoo Wellpoint and Anthem on his forehead.

[DrToast]

12. I didn't know there was only two choices. n/t

[Cha]

10. Good for them helping out across

the Nation..they have facts on their side and the screamers have glen beck and whatever other scourge is the driving force.