Single payer groups accuse Dean of having them arrested in Portland.

[madfloridian]

Run time: 09:19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNBXvzDKmfk   Posted on YouTube: June 08, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: June 08, 2009 By DU Member: madfloridian Views on DU: 2368

 
The website of the group is really furious with Howard Dean and Earl Blumenauer for not speaking up for single payer. I don't know about Blumenauer, but I do know that Dean is speaking out for a public option which he believes will lead to single payer.

It is pretty obvious he was not welcomed there in Portland that day, even though he is one who is speaking out strongly for a very viable option.

Here is the post from their website:

Arrest, Uprising in Oregon for Single Payer

Howard Dean and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) thought they could get away with it.

They thought they could hold a health care town hall meeting.

And exclude single payer advocates from the event.

And in fact they tried.

Things got heated.

Protesters surrounded the building an hour before the 3:30 start time hoping to confront Blumenauer and Dean as they entered the
building.

As Blumenauer’s entourage approached the auditorium, a handful of activists made it around police and sat down in the path of the
Congressman.

Blumenauer and his entourage stepped over the protesters.

Other protesters called on Blumenauer to open the “town hall” meeting to single payer advocates.

Dean received the same treatment as he approached the entrance and shrugged his head when asked why the Democrats won’t put single payer on the table.

Dean was welcomed at the Clark County Jefferson Jackson dinner the next day where I believe he spoke to about 600. More from the Clark County Politics blog.

What a coup landing Howard Dean as the featured speaker for the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner!

I had a chance to speak with Dean directly (thank you, Dena Horton), and check in on what he's doing now after wrapping up such a successful turn as the DNC chair. And yes, he does feel vindicated about the 50-State Strategy, which turned out pretty well during his tenure that saw Democrats taking back Congress and the White House.

What Dean is up to now is focusing on the public option for health care, having just spent the day earlier in Portland with Congressman Earl Blumenauer. He's definitely sympathetic to those who support single-payer, since it pulls the health care debate into a more progressive direction, but it's definitely a situation of not letting "the perfect be the enemy of the good". Advocates for single-payer are in many ways their own worst enemy, and protesting his visit in Portland will do little to help their cause.

Dean has been traveling the country fighting for the public option choice alongside private options. It is a practical sensible view. There is no reason to attack him for his view that this is how we will get to single payer.

SEIU video of Dean's anger and caring about health care

I think they should provide proof of their insistence that Dean was responsible for keeping them out and arresting them. I think they should. I don't believe that he would do such a thing being there as guest.

[DJ13]

1. The exclusion of single payer from the public debate should trouble most Dems

I dont care which Democratic politician is doing the excluding, its wrong that the people arent being given single payer as an alternative.

[madfloridian]

2. Dean has publicly out loud said they should not be excluded.

He has said they should be at the table.

They will not cut him a break and give respect for what he is trying to do.

Respect works both ways.

He would never have them arrested. Bull hockey.

[DJ13]

3. If thats how Dean really feels, why werent there any single payer advocates

in his town hall from the start then?

The entire political establishment is trying their damnedest to keep single payer out of any meaningful public consideration, and if Dr. Dean really believes it should be at least one of the alternatives he has the opportunity to bring it forward into the public discussion.

So where is it?

[madfloridian]

4. I have no idea who did it. But it's good everyone is keeping an eye on the bad guy

While people like Baucus and Zeke just take over the health care dean is trying to help us reform. :sarcasm:

Dean was there in Portland as a guest. I doubt he did any of it.

[wroberts189]

20. Certainly you do not doubt Dean is on our side?

I want single payer as well... I will compromise with a real public option ...knowing it will either kill off the big leeches (ins corps) or neutralize them.

Leading to single payer...

[democracy1st]

6. ur dayum right there's more to this story

[kevsters]

5. Jesus Possesses Pat Robertson And Makes Him Tell The Truth

Check out this clip of Uber-Christian, Pat Robertson slipping and saying that private health care systems couldn't compete with a government run system. Does he even realize what he said?

http://progressnotcongress.org/blog/?p=1666

[avaistheone1]

7. The problem is that it is becoming difficult to discern who of our leaders is for

single payer having a seat at table and who isn't.

That doesn't speak well for the courage and fairness of our leadership.

[madfloridian]

8. Dean has been very public about it.

So that is just not fair.

But that is how it is...

[booley]

9. This was just dumb

What, there aren't enough opponents so we need to attack our allies?!

GAWDS progressives need better coordination.

[slipslidingaway]

10. Exactly where do they say that Dean had them arrested, I missed

that in the video and blog post.

[Wednesdays]

11. K&R

:kick:

[slipslidingaway]

12. I still do not hear where they accused Dean of having them arrested

also this is one small group, not all SP groups.

Anybody?

[wroberts189]

15. Hmm..good point. Cannot always trust what you hear/read . nt

[slipslidingaway]

22. Where exactly in the video did you hear them accuse Dean? nt

[wroberts189]

25. I did not ..like I said ..good point. nt

[slipslidingaway]

27. Thanks, just making sure I did not miss the title of the OP...

they never did accuse Dean of having them arrested, it was just a bogus headline.

There is no reason to try and divide those who want HC for everyone and it is a shame it has come to this point.

Just wait until all the various groups try and compete for HC dollars and primary care physicians.

:(

[slipslidingaway]

13. I hope that people read past the headline of the video posted here

at DU, single-payer advocates are not the enemy, they are trying to be allowed into the discussion.

[madfloridian]

16. I read the title of the article at the single payer site.

I saw how those two men were forced to weave their way in to a meeting at which Dean was a guest....and I saw the utter disrespect in the article and the video.

They are most definitely implying and even more than that insinuating that the two locked them out of the meeting and had them arrested.

I am for single payer, but I am damn sick and tired of the put downs from those who are unwillingly to even consider the most viable option..the public/private one.

I am getting bad vibes over this whole thing. I have been accused here of several things since this fight over the plans started. It is quite clear what they were trying to do. It was very obvious they were ridiculing and accusing of Dean and Blumenauer and making fun of the people who attended the meeting.

[slipslidingaway]

24. It was pretty clear that they felt the system was trying to exclude

their voices.

Your take is implying and insinuating that they accused Dean...everyone might not be in agreement.

No need to change the title of the article to a definitive statement and try to make SP advocates the enemy.

:(

[madfloridian]

18. No, at DU Dean and public option supporters are the enemy..

And what that group was doing was obvious.

I think people have every right to try to get arrested by getting in people's faces and screaming out so loudly that meetings can't be held. But I think they should at least target the right people.

You are getting so upset with me over every damn thing I post that I think I will fix it so I don't see it.

Bye for now.

[slipslidingaway]

23. If you cannot point to the accusation then your title is misleading

there is no reason to accuse SP advocates of something they did not do, neither one of us was at the event or have knowledge of the raffle system for tickets or the $1000. tickets for the pre discussion luncheon.

I'm sorry that you want to bury your head instead of having a discussion, we generally agree on most issues, most notably the FISA legislation last year, but please do not try and drive a wedge between people who both want health care coverage for all people in the US.

[wroberts189]

14. Jesus no one has fought harder than Dean... do they not realize we are on the same side? nt

[wroberts189]

17. It would be nice to see all those protesters at Sen Baucus's meetings.

And they are welcome to go to the House's Kennedy's meetings.

Hell that's where the action is.

Hope to see them there if they can do it..

But please ..Leave the good doctor Dean alone.

[madfloridian]

19. That is my point. They have made him their target, and it is not a wise move.

He is not the one holding us back. Some here have as much as said he is collaborating with the private sector. Like he is the enemy. I am getting tired of it, it is counterproductive.

I support both options.

[wroberts189]

21. Those here that say that should be reminded if it were not for Dean..

the republicans would be in charge and health care "reform" would not even be in the news or on the agenda.

Lurking and posting here for 9 years I believe anyone here against Dean or his efforts is in a tiny minority.

Even outside of DU people are fed up .. I believe it will be a battle but we will win in the end.

[slipslidingaway]

26. Doctors, nurses and others have been arrested for protesting at

the Baucus hearings and these particular people are across the country.

Supposedly Dr. Margaret Flowers has been invited to testify at the Kennedy hearing on Thursday, but as we know legislation has mostly been drafted at this point.

:(

[wroberts189]

28. I know.. I was just liking the image of them on the steps getting media coverage. nt

[slipslidingaway]

29. Scant coverage and made to seem like the fringe....

but I admire the professionals who have put their careers on hold or on the line to try and advance HC coverage for everyone.

[slipslidingaway]

30. Stiil see no evidence that SPHC advocates accused Dean of having

them arrested.

:(