Why don't we ever show up? Pro-reform rallies today in D.C. is sparce!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

So, I took a long walk down to our nation's Capitol this afternoon in hopes of seeing large crowds of pro-health care reform advocates lining the National Mall and the surrounding streets. When I got downtown and to the Capitol, there was a good number of people there, but no massive crowd. There many have been, at the most, 500 people. At the most!

There were other events on the Mall today. The Black Family Reunion. There's always a good number of tourists. And the Redskins' opening is being televised, along with the Washington Nationals game.

I just wish we liberals would plan our demonstrations better. We were overshadowed and greatly outnumbered by yesterday's wingnut "protest".

We are indeed allowing a very small minority of disgruntled people drown out the thinking majority in this country.

We must do better. :(

[aquart]

1. Because some genius scheduled it after a 3-day weekend?

And frankly, people don't see the threat unless they are already sick and in trouble and then they have more to worry about than showing up for a demonstration.

The healthy people aren't seeing the point. THAT's the problem.

[Hannah Bell]

6. no, they're not being mobilized. on purpose. the dems can generate

big crowds when they wish to. they don't wish to.

[aquart]

20. "They"? What party do you belong to?

[Hannah Bell]

21. "they" = the dem leadership.

[bkkyosemite]

2. the mad as hell doctors were there today I think

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. I saw the Mad as Hell doctors and they were great. But it was just poorly planned!

We need to get out there, not on a Sunday. We've got to do better on the left.

[debbierlus]

16. Oh man. They had a great idea, but really terrible public relations

That's a shame.

[csziggy]

9. The Mad As Hell Doctors will be there September 30th

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6538678&mesg_id=6538678

Imagine a meeting in Lafayette Park on September 30th...
Thousands of cars pulling into Washington D.C., with Winnie in the lead, headed for a single payer rally in front of the White House. The sidewalks are filled with supporters carrying signs in support of the Mad As Hell Doctors who have captured the imagination and the ignited the passion of their fellow citizens. We wave and honk at the camera crews, as do the endless line of cars behind us, as we wend our way toward the White House. On every antenna, on the backside of every car, and flapping like flags from sidewalk supporters, is the symbol of this new movement: the White Ribbon.



When we arrive, we go directly to a conference table with chair for all the doctors - plus one for President Obama. From our place in front of the White House lawn we place a call to President Obama, requesting again that he meet with to discuss the social, moral and fiscal imperative of instituting a true single payer system at this moment in our history. Meanwhile, the throngs of single-payer true believers are passing out ribbons to the press, to pedestrians and to the multitude of people waiting for the President to Arrive. Politicians, celebrities, entertainers and hand selected citizens stand at the microphone one after the other, offering testimonials and expressing outrage at a corrupted health care system that puts profit before people. Our message to the President and Congress is clear:

Single Payer is the Solution. We Demand it Now.

We know it's going to take a miracle to make this happen. It's going to take boldness, courage, commitment, a busload of faith and a lot of resources to rally the American people to the cause of Single Payer. But with hundreds of thousands of voices, all singing in unison, in the same place, at the same, we will not be denied.

Donate now: https://madashelldoctorstour.com/Donate.html

[Epiphany4z]

4. I only heard about it yesterday

whoever was organizing did not do a very good job...astroturfers know how to get the organizing done

[lapfog_1]

5. Who organized it? Who advertised it?

I listen to liberal talk radio for about 6 to 7 hours a day, and read more than a few liberal blogs... and I didn't even know this was taking place until yesterday.

Were their buses I could catch? Did anyone set up a buddy travel system for out of state visitor? some sort of sign up web site? Who were the speakers? I live in Arizona right now, and going to DC to hear someone talk... well, President Obama better be on the platform at some point for me to consider going.

[Hannah Bell]

7. yep. people weren't mobilized, that's why no crowds.

[Occulus]

10. See, that's the problem I have with the way we "organize"

I've lost count of the number of times I've seen, on DU and elsewhere "HUEG MARCH IN 3 DAYS!!11!" without any least littlest effort to make people aware, oh, three MONTHS in advance.

Nobody can organize a march of tens or hundreds of thousand in less than a week. People have to know about it, arrange to have their work schedules changed, arrange to take care of the kids, etc.

These things take a lot of advance publicity to be a success, and time and time again our protest actions come off as a spur-of-the-moment thing.

[elleng]

8. I this the one Chaka Fatah (sp?) proposed, and 'cancelled?'

BAD news.

[OHdem10]

11. It is not as important to us. The Party knows this. The Passion

and numbers are growing on the right.

Only when an issue becomes important enough to physically
move people will it have impact.

[GoCubsGo]

12. Maybe because most Democrats are not retired?

Did you notice that a large proportion of the "teabaggers" were the "keep the government's hands off my Medicare" types? In other words, they could afford to travel to DC, because they don't have to go to work the next day, as they're retired. They (Democrats) also didn't have Rupert Murdock and the insurance company lobby paying to bus them in.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. Noticed that. But it's also just the case that their side is much more loud and passionate. n/t

[bkkyosemite]

18. I'm on Medicare (disabled and 63). There is a lot of us out here. Just the other day there were 200

in front of the Super of schools letting him have it. I ended up on TV......we are here loud and clear.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. There were 700,000 of us in Jan of 07

protesting against the war.

We do just fine. Our media is where the problem is.

[debbierlus]

15. The current legislation will not draw rallies - it a corporate handout

Now, single payer, there's a movement.

[ddeclue]

22. +1

[TiredOldMan]

17. Very disappointing. And that small showing makes the ...

Tea Party crowds look more impressive because they were much bigger.

[Blue_In_AK]

19. I would be there

but it's a bit far for me to drive.