Filmmaker Michael Moore gave an impassioned plea for single-payer health coverage at a press conference today at our offices in Washington, D.C. His message for President Obama and members of Congress was rather simple: Give us single-payer, universal health coverage now, or feel the wrath of the voters come election time.
If President Obama would support a single-payer plan, tens of millions of Americans would flood the streets to support him, Moore said. “We will be there with you, every step of the way,” Moore said. “We have got your back.” It’s time to start over with a plan that includes single-payer, Medicare-for-All, he said. “Just hit the reset button and go back to the drawing board.” (Moore outlined what is missing from current health care proposals in a Huffington Post article.)
Public Citizen President Robert Weissman, who introduced Moore, said it’s time to end the current, broken system:
It is appropriate that filmmaker Michael Moore returns us to first principles, because the big picture of health care reform has been so badly obscured during the political theater of the past many months. Those first principles are: Health care is a right, and the private health insurance industry must be replaced. It is too cruel, too inhumane, too arbitrary, too bureaucratic and too inefficient.
Moore delivered some of his harshest criticism, not for Republicans, but for the so-called blue dog Democrats. From Jared Allen’s article in The Hill:
Moore, who aligns himself with the most liberal elements of the Democratic Party, told reporters and activists gathered at the liberal nonprofit Public Citizen that his threat to campaign actively against Democrats should not be considered idle.
“We will organize. And we will remove you from office. Make no mistake about it,” Moore said at an event designed to put pressure on congressional Democrats and President Barack Obama to back a healthcare reform plan with a public option.
The ardent Democrat from Flint, Mich., said that if he can’t find more liberal Democrats to defeat the centrist congressional Democrats in primary elections, he will actively campaign for Republicans in the 2010 general elections.
“You think we’re behind you just because you’re Democrats?” Moore said to cheers from the few dozen supporters packed into the second floor of Public Citizen’s downtown Washington office. “We’ll find Republicans who are smart enough to realize that the majority of Americans want universal healthcare.”
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[...] still recovering from yesterday’s visit from filmmaker Michael Moore. As we wrote earlier, Moore stopped by our offices to deliver a message to President Obama that it was time to hit the [...]
Yes we can, yes we will unite for common sence now Not later gater! where is our courage? where is our voice? have we become like domesicated sheep? and are we now going gentley to the slauter? vb
No matter what one thinks of Michael Moore personally, he is dead on in singling out Blue Dog Democrats for electoral distinction. We don’t need their Boston style politics “if Timmy can’t have it, neither can Jimmy”, Blue Dogs are destroying all the gains Democrats made with the election of Obama against a conservative fat cat, knuckledragger created public mind. On this issue, I’m with Moore.
Dear Michael Moore,
Thank you so much for stating what so many of us want to happen in healthcare reform.
It seems as if the debate keeps going on and on and on, and the essential parts of REAL reform are removed from bills. I agree with you that it is time to wipe the slate clean and begin again. President Obama needs to stand strong and lead the nation in reform that will make a difference.
We Need More of Moore; (mom)
Like MOM it is the best for all of us.
THANK YOU.
Being a transplant to Australia from my native California I am enjoying perfect health and constant medical care any time I want it in our “socialized” approach to compassionate care for the populace. I am amazed at the fear and loathing in the uneducated parts of my beloved America these days. All about control, all about fear of change, all about less profit for the top 5 % on the economical scale.
Wake up!! Enjoy perfect health!!! Rebel against stuck politics!!
The Catalysis of Medicare system needs Moore’s Mighty Engine for Efficient and cost effective performance without parasites of current insurance and Pharm industry.
Let us be well-informed and never forget the outcome of dog-fight and remember who particiated.
Amen
Thank you Michael Moore. and single payer will come sometime, hopefully before the country and/or its citizens goes bankrupt from trying all those other plans.
Patients not profits! stop those insurance companies from practicing medicine without a license.