I had a most pleasant surprise as I picked up my newspaper this morning.
On the front page of The Oregonian is an article entitled "Health reform foes have vested interest". Its subtitle is: "Lobbyists: Critics backing opposition groups hold financial stakes in the debate". It includes a sidebar which says "$263.4 million: The amount spent by health care lobbyists in the first six months of 2009, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group".
I realize this is a short diary, but I thought this article might brighten your day.
Some quotes below.
Margaret Talev of McClatchy newspapers is the author of the article. The first two paragraphs nail it!
Much of the money and strategy behind the so-called grass-roots groups organizing opposition to the Democrats' heath care plans comes from conservative political consultants, professional organizers and millionaires, some of whom hold financial stakes in the outcome.
If President Barack Obama and Congress extend health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for it, and limit insurers' discretion on whom they cover and what they charge, that could pinch these opponents.
The article names names and points out the "catchy" and "populist" names of these opposition groups. Check it out.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/...
UPDATE: Rec. list; wow! Thanks everyone. I guess we all needed some good news today.
UPDATE 2: Per comments, this article is being run on the front page of several newspapers around the country today. Many of the elderly still subscribe to newspapers and, according to polls, they represent the largest anti-reform group because of the fears being generated. Hope this will help.