Hundreds Rally For Comprehensive Health Care Reform

An emergency rally for health care reform was held yesterday at noon outside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The rally staged by SEIU, the NAACP, USAction, Campaign for Community Change, the Campaign for America’s Future, Americans for Democratic Action, United States Student Association, Capital Area ADAPT, Democracy for America, and Health Care for America Now had a very clear message – health care for all Americans now!

As one speaker said, it is time that President Obama and Congress step up to the plate. They have been given an opportunity to change a broken health care system, and this opportunity cannot be wasted.

Another speaker echoed the crowd’s sentiment, health care reform is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue – it is a human issue. And what Americans need is comprehensive health care reform, not diluted legislation filled with compromises from fearful poll-conscious politicians.

Roger Hickey, co-director of the Campaign for America's Future, is pictured standing behind Leslie Boyd with a picture of her son whose story she brought to DC.

Leslie's son Mike died at the age of 33 because he didn't have health insurance. When Mike went to the doctor’s office they would simply write in his records, “patient needs a colonoscopy but can’t afford it." When Mike was finally admitted to the hospital, he had Stage 3 cancer. Mike’s life was cut short by a health care system that did not provide him the medical care he needed, because he couldn't afford health insurance.

Mike's story is one of many told by the courageous supporters that attended yesterday. In turn, each participant bore witness to the devastation caused by an out-of-control corporate bureaucracy and insurance company greed.

Insurance companies were recently revealed to have "laundered" millions of dollars through the Chamber of Commerce to kill reform, while at the same time professing to support reform. In 2009 alone, the group spent almost $145 million on lobbying against legislation that would help working people in America.

After the rally, protesters blocked the entrance to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which stands directly across from the White House. The crowd had a clear message - it is time for President Obama to stand up for the people and against the lobbyists.

Finish health care reform now, if we don't, the corporate lobbyists win.

Views expressed on this page are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Campaign for America's Future or Institute for America's Future