President Obama Speaks at College Park

Today, I was lucky enough to see President Obama speak at the University of Maryland. I was not attending this event as a Sum of Change reporter by any means, I merely went to hear the President speak. I did, however, catch a few pictures with my blackberry storm. Like many other progressives, I have been somewhat frustrated throughout this fight. Frankly, I just will not settle for less than the public option. Ideally, I support single payer, but I am willing to compromise if, and only if, there is a robust public option to compete with private insurance. And I absolutely will not stand for a mandate without a strong public option.

So I came into today hopeful, yet frustrated at what the debate has become. Frustrated with just over a dozen Senators holding the public

option hostage. As usual, however, I am coming out of today fired up, and ready to go. I will be making calls with OFA 2.0 later tonight. It is time, once again to lay it all on the table. As David Hart, the founder of Grow the Hope, would say, "Electing a smart and moral man as our President was an important first step, but it is not enough."

This is Just Too Good

UPDATE: It appears that this was no joke. The American Thinker Blog has removed the link. Where is says "Dan Bana, is quoted as saying" the word "quoted" used to link to this story. As you can see, this article, dated January 22nd 2009, is clearly about the inauguration. As you can see, they both use the exact same wording for the quote.

I believe they must have gotten the original story from someone else, reposted without checking the facts. After commenters pointed it out they must have realized the mistake. Rather than deleting the story, they just got rid of the quote. Which actually puts them in violation of plagiarism.

Here is how the moderator responded to someone's comment about the link:

Moderator's note: Please see my other note below. Someone copied the wrong quote with the wrong link. We're working to get it fixed as quickly as possible. Thank you for your concern. --Anton

Rather than admit their wrongdoing, they are out searching for evidence to back up their bogus claim. This is called a celebration of ignorance. A complete and utter disregard for reality.

We'll keep up with this one. Back to our original blog on the story...

I have to hand to the people at the American Thinker Blog. They played what is possibly one of the funniest jokes I have seen in a while.

Here's what they did. The wrote up a blog, claiming that the 9/12 teabagger protest was the largest event ever held in DC. In it, they even quoted the National Park Service:

The truth will out. Despite mainstream media attempts to characterize turnout as in the thousands, a spokesman for the National Park Service, Dan Bana, is quoted as saying "It is a record.... We believe it is the largest event held in Washington, D.C., ever."

They linked to the sources of the quotes, like any halfway decent blogger would. All they had to do was sit back and watch, as countless teabaggers ready to believe anything would neglect to check those links. What ensued was hilarity.

Teabaggers loved the notion that they had set a record, even if it flew in the face of all logic ever known to man. I mean, half a moron would immediately guess that the Inauguration was larger than this right? Yes. In fact, the quotes used in the American Thinker Blog were all from the inauguration.

It was truly fun. I mean, check out this conversation between myself and a #tcot'er:

Starts out...

"9/12 demonstration a record DC turnout: National Park Service http://ff.im/-84d9e"
By @freedom4USA

To which, I respond...

"Record? Hahahahaha! RT @Furrystoat: RT @freedom4USA 9/12 demo a record DC turnout..."
By @SumofChange

And she replies with...

"Record? Hahahahaha! RT @freedom4USA 9/12 demo a record DC turnout... (@SumOfChange ◄Apparently you can't read or didn't comprehend?#tcot #p2"
By @freedom4USA

You'll notice the attack on my ability to read!

At this point, I had yet to check the sources, just assuming the claim was garbage based on, what was it I referenced before? Oh right, based on logic. But I decided to take a quick glance, and then responded...

"@freedom4USA Can you read? The quote from the National Park Service is about the Inauguration. Someone is playing a joke on you."
By @SumofChange

20 Years of Defending Clinics and Keeping the Doors Open

Last night, I attended an inspiring and important event. It was the celebration of the 20th year anniversary for the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force (WACDTF). I got introduced to WACDTF as myself, and the other Managing Partner at Sum of Change, Mitch Malasky, began planning a documentary on clinic escorting. As part of our research, we got involved with WACDTF, volunteering at clinics in the DC/MD/VA area.

I would like to take a moment to tell you a little about WACDTF. To start with, it is a completely volunteer run operation. They provide escorts to clinics in the area that request them. When they first started, 20 years ago, escorting was a very different beast. Anti's, their word for anti-choice protesters, would physically block off entrances or literally close doors and refuse entrance to people. Escorts in those days had to lock arms and form walls to keep anti's at bay. It was literally a fight to keep the clinic open. I doubt I need to explain how this could become ugly.

In 1994, President Clinton signed into law, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE). For the first time, blocking a clinic entrance became a Federal offense. The impact of FACE was immediate and lasting.

Since its enactment, though anti-abortion violence continues, clinic blockades have dwindled to their lowest levels since they were first used to prevent women from accessing reproductive health care.

WACDTF took a moment last night to recognize the sponsor of the FACE Act, Senator Ted Kennedy. Yet again, I was reminded of what type of champion the late Senator was. I realized, when I got home, that the sentence, "We would not be where we are on (insert issue here) without Ted Kennedy," is always true.

Since 1994, Anti's have altered their tactics. It is less physical. They protest outside the clinics, approaching people immediately to attempt at convincing would be patients to walk away. They hand out literature and hold up signs, with doctored or fake pictures of late term abortions. They will say many things to arriving patients and companions. What they say ranges drastically. There is the common, "We can help you," "Your baby can feel pain," "Please don't kill your baby," "Your baby has a heart beat," etc. Then, there is the crazy, "We aborted the person who would have cured aids," "Mary was raped, she could have aborted Jesus," "We had a Preacher come to this clinic and he found spiritual evidence that these deathscorts (what they call escorts) have sacrificed babies on an altar here," etc. (Every one of those are real examples)

This is where we find ourselves today, and where our documentary picks up. Patients can enter a clinic, after being harassed and insulted first. The anti's are very aware of the restrictions on them. They will use every tactic that is legally available to them.

WACDTF has continued to survive throughout all this history. For 20 years now, they have provided escorts for clinics across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, at the request of the clinic. For 20 years, they have managed to organize and coordinate efforts at multiple clinics without a single person on staff. They operate to achieve one goal, and one goal only, assist patients in entering the clinic in the safest manner, with as little harassment as possible. They use, solely, nonviolent conflict resolution tactics. They do not tolerate counter protesting from WACDTF volunteers. They operate with high level of professionalism and dedication.

It was truly an honor to sit with the crowd of escorts, clinic workers, and WACDTF supporters last night. Being someone that comes from a community organizing background, I am continuously intrigued, inspired, and impressed with the organizers that make WACDTF work.

And you can get involved too. If you are in the DC/MD/VA area, please contact WACDTF. If you are not in that area, you should start by contacting your local clinic, planned parenthood, and local pro-choice organizations like NARAL.

Lastly, our documentary is still in the early stages. We have begun filming recently. We will, shortly, release a lot more information about the film. For now, I will say that we are producing a short piece on WACDTF, and then we will travel the country to document this work all over. If you are interested in hearing more, please sign up to receive Sum of Change email alerts. We will use this list to alert people when the website for the documentary is ready.

What Happens When Workers Organize

Yesterday, we attended the Employee Free Choice Day of Action in DC. There, we met Cheri Seise, a student at the College of William & Mary, who told us about the cafeteria workers' fight to form a union.



As she said, they had simple, logical complaints, complaints that have yet to be rectified. So they started what is a grueling process to form a union. Management immediately held meetings to discuss the issue. They threatened to hold paychecks. They scared and intimidated the workers. And the fight to form a union quickly halted.

What is worse, is that under our current laws, there is no retribution for this type of management. Even when a manager is caught firing an employee for union organizing, the only retribution is that the employee is rehired and given back pay, minus what that person could have made at another job. What kind of punishment is that. This is one of the most important aspects of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). If EFCA passes as is, employers could be fined $20,000 for unfair labor practices, such as threatening to hold paychecks.

What is probably more important than all the other parts of the bill put together is this ability to actually find retribution for unfair labor practices. Without that, management will deem it less costly to threaten workers, or fire them, for union organizing.

Anthem Arrests Customer For Daring to Question Them

On July 24th, Joe Szakos, the Executive Director of the Virginia Organizing Project (VOP), was arrested at Anthem's headquarters.

Szakos was charged with trespassing on Anthem’s property in Richmond, VA on July 24, 2009 when he and three VOP board members attempted to meet with Anthem officials. Szakos went to Anthem as a customer to discuss VOP’s concerns about a recent insurance premium increase and the company's lobbying against health care reform. Szakos’s trial is set for September 22, 2009, 11 a.m. at Henrico General District Court in Richmond, Virginia.

And this story only gets better...

The nonprofit VOP has 36 employees that receive benefits through Anthem. In a news release, the group said that its premium has increased 14.1 percent this year and that it pays more than $25,000 dollars a month.

“We received an e-mail from Anthem recently imploring its customers to call their members of Congress and ask them to oppose the public health insurance option. Not only was this letter ironic given our organization’s support of the public health insurance option, but it was really disturbing because our premiums are going towards paying corporate lobbyists,” said Szakos in a statement.

So let's recap real quick. The VOP, as an employer, purchased health care from Anthem. Anthem raises premiums for customers, including the VOP. Anthem, contacts its customers, including the VOP, asking them to contact congress and lobby against health care reform. Rather than contact congress, the VOP wants to contact Anthem, which is apparently offensive and/or threatening enough for Anthem to call the police on the VOP.

In other words, when Anthem needed to increase profits, they raised premiums on their customers while continuing to pay for political lobbying efforts to kill any reform. Those are the priorities of the health care industry. Do not let anyone ever tell you that insurance agencies care about their customers. These are the priorities of the bureaucrats that are coming between us and our doctors.

If you feel inclined to contact Anthem, here is their information. Please remember to show them more respect then they will show us.

Individual and Family
Health Plan Inquiries:

Customer Care Center
11919 Foundation Pl
Gold River, CA 95670
800/ 977-8860
Mon - Fri, 5AM - 9PM PST.
Sat - Sun, 7AM - 4PM PST.
info@ehealthinsurance.com

Small Business and
Small Group Insurance Inquiries:

Customer Care Center
11919 Foundation Pl
Gold River, CA 95670
877/ 456-6670
Mon - Fri, 6AM - 5PM PST.
info@ehealthinsurance.com

Company Business Inquiries:

Mountain View, Calif. Headquarters
440 E. Middlefield Road
Mountain View, CA 94043
877/ 456-7180
headquarters@ehealth.com

Employee Free Choice Day of Action

Hundreds of people, representing states all across the country, gathered on Capitol Hill in DC on Thursday morning to lobby their members of Congress in support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). What made this group unique, is that it was a specifically non-labor coalition. Activists, students, faith leaders, members of all walks of life, united in their vision of a more just, fair America.

Without further ado, we present our coverage:

As you can see, we tagged along with the Virginia delegation as they lobbied Senator Warner, Senator Webb and several Representatives. There was a common theme for sure: plenty of support, but a lack of leadership and a lacking sense of priority. Frankly, this issue seems to be getting brushed aside, in the midst of a vigorous health care fight, and a dramatic struggle to shore up our economy. Yet with those challenges, there is still a strong and growing coalition that is fighting, tooth and nail, to pass this critical piece of legislation and give workers a stronger voice.

We also have Senator Harkin's entire speech, which gets more and more moving as it goes on:

The day of action is over, but, as I find myself saying more and more, this next session has to be our session of action. On many fronts, EFCA included, we have no time to let up, to take a break. We face many challenges. To find out more about what you can do to take part in the fight for workers rights, please visit the American Rights at Work.

If you still need a little inspiration, we present Stewart Acuff:

Coming Soon: Employee Free Choice Day of Action

On September 10th, a "non-labor coalition" is descending upon Washignton, DC to urge their members of congress to support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). To get a quick explanation of what EFCA is, please watch this video of Stewart Acuff explaining the legislation:



In coordination with the lobbying in Washington, DC, supporters across the nation will be sending in letters and emails, and making calls. You can participate too, and you can start by signing this petition.

Next, you can check out this email that's been making the rounds(if you haven't already seen it in your mailbox):

Soaring health care costs. Foreclosures on the rise. An uncertain future. And now, a so-called "jobless recovery."

How did this happen? For years, we tried trickle-down economics. And it was a miserable failure.

That's why hundreds of state leaders are in Washington DC TODAY, fighting for the Employee Free Choice Act – so workers can fix our economy from the bottom up.

When more folks can negotiate for better wages, health care, and working conditions by joining a union, things get better for all of us. That’s what this bill is all about.

Over 300 state leaders who support the Employee Free Choice Act are on-the-ground today, meeting with their members of Congress in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. Will you back up their on-the-ground efforts by making quick calls to your senators, right now? It takes about 1 minute per call and makes a huge difference!

Please, make a toll-free call to 1-888-650-9715 and ask to be connected to your senator's office. Tell the staff member who answers the city and state you're calling from, and that you strongly urge your senator to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act.

We need your help to win. Many of the same lobbyists and front groups who are spending $1.5 million a day to defeat health care reform are also spending millions to defeat the Employee Free Choice Act, engaging in the same kind of smear campaigns that are being used to try to kill health care reform.

We're fighting back by sending people to lobby in DC. We need to back them up by OVERWHELMING the Senate switchboard today.

Will you do your part and make a quick call to your senator, right now? Calling takes 1 minute!

1. Dial 1-888-650-9715 to be connected to the Senate switchboard. Once you're connected to your senator's office, the staff member who answers the city and state you're calling from, and that you strongly urge your senator to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act.

2. Most calls end right there, but if you like you might mention:
• The Employee Free Choice Act is a critical piece of our economic recovery.
• If we really want to restore our middle class, workers must be able to bargain, not borrow their way to a better life.
• By making it easier for workers to form unions, the Employee Free Choice Act will level the playing field and help ensure that the economy works for everyone again.

Right now, workers who want a union often face intimidation, delays, stalling tactics, and even are even fired illegally.

Without workers’ freedom to bargain, the economy can’t be rebuilt in a way that guarantees the middle class will be rebuilt with it. The Employee Free Choice Act would put real money into the hands of working families without costing the government a dime.

Thank you for making our Day of Action an undeniable force to pass the Employee Free Choice Act!

We are close on this fight, but if we are going to win, we need to mobilize every last person that we can! This fight is too important.

If you need some inspiration, try this video, another clip of Stewart Acuff: