Freshman Congressman = Single Payer Advocate in Rural New York

[botchan]

Got this message from Eric Massa in my inbox today - Congressman for the 29th District in NY. Got a love a freshman congressman with some backbone!!! I have left in the donation section so the message could be posted in its entirety. Realize that Mr. Massa barely won this seat in '08 as this is a heavily Republican area and this stance will certainly make him a target (as he states).

Dear Friends,

If you've seen the news lately, you may have noticed that the national debate over health care has become quite heated in recent weeks. With emotions at an all-time high, the great debate over the future of our country's health care system is being drowned out by inflammatory rhetoric and the intentional disruption public events across the country. It has become so heated, that some of my colleagues have even been forced to cancel or postpone public events. Last week, we held a town hall meeting in Honeoye Falls, and in front of an overflow crowd, we took this debate head-on.

"More than 500 people questioned Massa for two hours outside the Mendon Community Center last Thursday night. The meeting felt Lincoln-esque in its nature, with citizens gathered in a circle around Massa. Most behaved with respect, although a few people shouted now and then.

But that was nothing compared to what happened in Tampa last week. A meeting ended abruptly when organized protesters shouted down their congresswoman, refusing to allow her to speak."
(Click here for the full article)

Today I urge you, as I urged those 500+ people in Honeoye Falls- we must come together and unite around a single payer, universal health care system. No longer can we stand to live in a country, where your economic status is the determining factor in the quality of health care that you receive. No longer can we stand to live in a country where innocent children are shut out of the system and prevented from receiving the care they need to live long and healthy lives. This is not the America that we envision for ourselves. We deserve better! Even in this heated political climate, my support for a single payer system remains steadfast:

"Massa is different than the average vulnerable Democrat in his unabashed support for a single-payer universal health care system. He campaigned on the issue, and one of the reasons he says he cannot support the current House health bill is that the public option is too weak after House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman struck a deal with several Blue Dogs to get the bill out of his committee."
(Click here for the full article)

Without a doubt, my support of this issue will make me the #1 target of the Republican party, and it is absolutely necessary that we have the resources to move this debate forward. Would you consider helping out with a $10 or $25 contribution today? I can't fight this fight alone, and if you feel as strongly as I do, I need your help today!

Please help with a $10 or $25 contribution. (Click here)

Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Eric Massa

[mascarax]

1. Mr. Massa was also in today's Down with Tyranny blog

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2009/08/standing-up-to-big-insurance.html

It's nice to see some people make a stand - we don't have enough Congresspeople with backbones.

To quote another DUer: if they don't have our backs on this, what do they have our backs on?

The money I used to give to DNC, DSCC & DCCC is now going to individuals like him!

[botchan]

2. Mine too

I suggest we all start donating to individuals that are representing the people!!!

[Deb]

3. kick