Terry McAuliffe: Now Is the Time to Insist on the Public Option!

Over the last few days, we have been working with blogs all over the country through the Blue America PAC to raise money for members of Congress who have pledged to vote against any bill that doesn't include a public option for health care reform.  No Virginians have yet insisted on a public option in this bill.

It's time to bring out the carrots!

Terry McAuliffe thinks it is time to "insist" on the public option.  We couldn't agree more.  Terry's agreed to host a fundraiser with Virginia and national bloggers who are insisting on a public option for the first Virginia Congressman who will take our pledge!  This will be an awesome event to highlight and honor any Virginia Congressman who shows leadership on this issue.  If you would like to be a part of the host committee for this event, shoot me an email at notlarrysabato@hotmail.com.  Lowell and I are already on board, and I'm sure there will be many others!

Will the fundraiser be for Bobby Scott?  Jim Moran?  Gerry Connolly?  Tom Perriello?  Any of them can get a night with national and local bloggers honoring them featuring T-Mac... but first they have to do the right thing. 

A HUGE Thank You to T-Mac for taking the leadership on this issue right when needed even more firepower.  So far in just over two days the pledge has raised $175,000 for Democrats willing to take a stand!   As Terry says, now is the time to "insist" on a public option.

UPDATE:  CHECK THIS OUT!

Comments

[Adrian]

Just wanted to introduce myself--I'm Adrian Arroyo, deputy communications director for ActBlue. That push is already happening on ActBlue here:

http://www.actblue.com/page/theytookthepledge

[Not Larry Sabato]

Adrian- that is already linked in the post. This is the "in person" part of that effort, once we get our first Virginia Congressman on board!

[Bob Brigham]

Good for Terry McAuliffe.

Let's pick up some votes!

If you live in any Dem district in Virginia, call your member today.

[DCCyclone]

That's it? That's the major announcement? The promise of a fundraiser for a single Congressman?

I like McAuliffe even though I didn't want him as our nominee (although I'm starting to revisit whether he might have performed less bad than Deeds), and this blog is really great at times.

But often times there is melodramatic build up here followed by a letdown. This is one of those times.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Cyclone- this would be the first time in Virginia netroots history where we teamed up with someone to do a major event for one of our projects. That's why it is big news- not because its a "single fundraiser".

[kelley in virginia]

i double dog dare tom perriello to do this.

but, i must say that he had lobbyist for big Pharm at our townhall last night so i guess he's ready to commit to this.

he was in kenbridge va last night.

we were polite. perriello used alot of big words 'cuz, you know, he went to yale, & we are just stupid rednecks.

[kelley in virginia]

the better post might be: which will jump on this fundraiser 1st:

bobby scott, gerald connolly or jim moran?

[Not Tucker Watkins]

Kelley in Virginia,

Your hate for Tom Perriello is truly impressive. He is holding 21 townhalls in a month, talking to people who want everything from single payer to no change in the current system whatsoever, but you're upset because he talks to you like adults? You've made it clear on so many posts throughout the VA blogosphere (including many unrelated to VA-05) that you'll go door to door despite your medical conditions to defeat him. That's great. But you seem truly blind in your rage.

[mike]

Does the offer also include a new job in January, 2011?

[Adrian]

True, true--and now I feel quite sheepish.

[Mr. GOP]

Calling Creigh Deeds…calling Creigh Deeds…will you publically agree with your former opponent in the Democrat primary that Virginia needs a public option that, well, most Virginians DON’T WANT?!

Way to go T-Mac and NLS for calling out Deeds on Obama-care! Deeds is as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs over how the healthcare backlash will impact his candidacy, and you guys are “helping” him a lot! Love it!

[Medical fact]

It really doesn't matter, no government health plan is going to cure you left wingers of being moonbats.

[Bigvinu]

Wait, hold on!

You're saying that any Democrat that signs on to this pledge will drag their heels the entire way through the health care reform process even if we get a semi-reasonable bill if it doesn't have the Public Option?

[kelley in virginia]

i don't hate Tom Perriello. i don't think his votes are representative of his constituents. and anyone who has attended his townhalls (& we appreciate his having them) or read reports on his townhalls realizes that he might be a tad bit too liberal for the 5th.

and yes, i will work against him. is there anything wrong with any of what i've just posted? anything un-American?

[Spock]

a fundraiser? all that for a fundraiser?

screw it, Ben, do a call to action.

the other side shows up outside TH meetings with friggin assault rifles.

during Bush years "our people" got thrown out for anti-Bush tees and bumber stickers.

you don't need a dinner, you need a story about mass turnout at TH meetings in support of healthcare who can be just as passionate as the other side.

We all need to go "Barney Frank" on the them!

[Spock]

and BTW-

http://ladylibertyslamp.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/state-of-the-left-we-rot-while-town-hall-bullies-multiply/

[DanielK]

Well ain't that just special....Did Terry say he was gonna help raise money for Virginia candidates running this year even if he didn't win the nomination? Haven't heard anything from that so I figure I'd throw that out there!

[southern observer]

Tom Perrijello will eventually vote for the public option but he does not have the guts to say so. He says he presently does not support it but wants to be convinced to do so. If the meetings like last night in Lunenburg are an example, the people don't want it. But tiny Tom will bend to Pelosi and do as he is told.

NLS, you are such a strong advocate of his so call and see what you can get out of him. BTW, where is your running partner Joe "the blob" Stanley these days ?

[Not Larry Sabato]

DanielK, I believe that Terry just sent out a fundraising email for House Dems just last week?

[Gnarly]

Great news!! T-Mac will do for the Virginia Congressional Democrats what he did for himself.....take them down the electoral drain. I think four of these guys didn't want everyone to know about their leftist stripes and Terry is outing them.

[kelley in virginia]

gosh, southern observer, you were in Kenbridge last night?

[Clairese Lippincott]

Spock says he wants to go, "Barney Frank" on them...

Is that the same as going Broke-Back?

Eeeeew!

Not worth it.

[Not Barack Obama]

Awww...poor Kelley...she's just too overcome by all those BIG words of Tom Periello...they scare her...like change....how sad. Good on T-Mac, this is a great idea, I just wish more people in more states decided to reward their good guys like this. How fortuitous an occurrence for this generous offer of beneficence from Mister McCauliffe. I hope it yields a great dividend. Heh

[Ben's Mom]

Out with the truth Ben, you just want the Feds to pay for your hallucinogens and sex toys...err therapeutic devices.

[kelley in virginia]

actually, not barack:

my law degree is just as good as Perriello's, but I got mine in Virginia.

but i was proud of our citizens of Lunenburg--they were pretty damn well-informed about what is going on in Congress.