5 YEARS AGO -- The GOP Healthcare Plan: Don’t Get Sick!

[Alan Grayson]

Here at Team Grayson, September 29th is a special day. [/br]
Today, September 29th, marks the fifth-year anniversary of when our Congressman with Guts, Alan Grayson, gave a landmark speech. [/br]

The Democrats had been on the defensive on healthcare reform for months, because of Sarah Palin’s “death panels” lie and relentless nonsensical attacks regarding “socialized medicine.” But the Republicans never offered any plan of their own to provide healthcare to the 40 million Americans without health insurance, and save the lives of the 45,000 Americans who die each year because they have no health coverage. When President Obama came to Congress and said to the Republicans, “Let’s hear your plan,” they waived their “plan” in the air at him. After the President’s speech, Grayson crossed the aisle on the House Floor, and discovered that the GOP “plan” was a blank piece of paper.[/br]

So five years ago today, armed with nothing but a few poster boards and a whole lot of courage, a freshman Democrat named Alan Grayson – the first Democrat to represent red downtown Orlando in 34 years -- walked onto the Floor of the House of Representatives, and spoke truth to power.[/br]

“The Republican health care plan: Don't get sick,” he explained.[/br]

But don’t worry, he added, because “The Republicans have a backup plan in case you do get sick. . . . If you get sick, America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly!”[/br]

For most of us, this was America’s introduction to Alan Grayson. [link: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/ag930deadline?refcode=09292014DU&amount=20.14&recurring=48 |The fiery Progressive Democrat from Orlando quickly became a national icon, because he dared to speak for those who don’t have a voice.][/br]

The sick who are too poor to see a doctor. Workers on minimum wage, who never get a day off. The victims of discrimination and bigotry. Good people facing foreclosure or bankruptcy. Workers struggling to organize. Consumers who are cheated. A+ students who can’t afford university tuition. Basically, everyone who deserves a break.[/br]

[link: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/ag930deadline?refcode=09292014DU&amount=20.14&recurring=48 |On Sept. 29, 2009, Congressman Alan Grayson said what we were all thinking.]And he was right.

That sublime send-up, that monumental mockery, that powerful pretense, that lively lampoon, put the GOP in its place. Alan Grayson gave Congress the push that it needed to pass the Affordable Care Act, and put America on the road to universal healthcare.[/br]

Five years have passed, and Republicans only have proven the truth of Alan’s words. They still don’t have a health plan.[br/]

Five years have passed, while Republicans remain steadfast in their opposition to helping poor people, sick people, and needy people. Five years have passed, and Republicans are still looking for opportunities to “defund Obamacare” and deny Americans the universal health care coverage that they deserve – the universal care that every other advanced nation in the world enjoys.[br/]

Five years have passed, and the Republican health care plan remains the same: Don’t Get Sick. And If You Do Get Sick, Die Quickly.[br/]
[br/]
The Republican plan for the unemployed: Live Off Your Trust Fund.
The Republican plan for sick leave: Find Another Job.
The Republican plan for poverty: Decide to Be Rich.
The Republican plan for marriage equality: Pray the Gay Away.
The Republican plan for poor students: Get Your Rich Uncle to Pay Tuition.
The Republican plan for traffic jams: Fly Your Personal Helicopter.
The Republican plan for life-threatening illness: You Are in Our Prayers.
The Republican plan for immigration reform: Voluntary Deportation.
[br/]
(That last one is for real; just ask Mitt Romney.)
[br/]
If you want Alan Grayson to remain in Congress – to continue calling out the Republicans and their callous disregard for the human condition – then chip in $20.14 or more today.[br/]

Show your support for a Congressman with guts, courage, a head and a heart. Because somebody – somebody -- needs to tell the truth.
[br/]
Sincerely,
[br/]
Team Grayson
[br/]
The dots were all connected.
The lines were barely drawn.
The secrets that night kept hidden,
Were left out in the dawn . . . .
[br/]
I sat down on the curbstone.
I rubbed my eyes and coughed.
I rubbed my wrists and ankles,
And I thanked the Lord above.
[br/]
Somebody, Somebody told,
They told the truth to somebody.
Somebody told the truth.
[br/]
- Peter Case, “Somebody Told The Truth” (2010).

[Dawson Leery]

1. Congressman, without the ACA I would not have health insurance.

I am independently employed (and have a pre-existing condition).

The GOP since Reagan came along offers nothing for the working people.

[BlueDemKev]

2. I hear you!

The Affordable Care Act must NEVER be repealed!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. The most damning thing is that

5 years later the Republicans STILL HAVE NO PLAN!!!!