Fifty people gathered outside the downtown federal building today during the lunching hour, shouting up to the fifth floor, “Wake up Wyden! Why are you hidin’?!” U.S. Senator Ron Wyden is not here in Portland today—right now he’s back in Washington, defending his health care plan to a finance committee that will be making major decisions this week about whether his and other healthcare plans up for debate are actually viable.
Wyden’s plan has roused the ire of health care reform groups for not including any public option, but he refuses to drop the idea and sign onto Obama’s plan. “Lobbyists out! Americans in!” shouted the crowd, referencing the view that Wyden’s plan is shaped more by the desires of big pharma lobbyists than his constituents (a timely discussion given our “Rate the Lobbyists” feature this week). A MoveOn.org representative delivered Wyden’s secretary a 7,000-signature petition demanding a public option.
Except for the few minutes of chanting, the crowd was pretty quiet for a protest. They had to lean in to hear the sordid stories of insurance companies told over a crackly megaphone. “House payment or health care?” asked Portland resident Marcia Spencer, after she says the cost of her two-person family health plan with Kaiser jumped from $724 to $1000 a month with no notice. “I felt like they were holding us hostage. Senators need to draw a line in the sand and represent the people who voted for them.”
‘Yeah man … back in the 60s we protested and were able to, umm, yeah … never mind’
yeah man… ummm…why would anyone want health care anyway…i mean… its so dumb for people to give a shit and try to do at last something… i ummm…mean…i can’t believe how they’re dressed! its so not cool… i mean…yeah…ummm
It’s not about health -care- it’s about health -insurance-
Now show me the results of their labors.
so because there are no tangible results (yet) people should just sit back and let the insurance companies continue to rip off the american people? at least they are trying to do something where as you sit on your ass and deride people for exercising their right to free speech. and it is about health care…which is a right for all people.
No, I’m dissing people for the washed up notion of the ‘protest’ which is not actually ‘doing something’ and they richly deserve it.
tell that to the people of iran.
Compare this to the people of Iran. Not quite the same as in open and democratic society.
So… what would it take to recall Ron Wyden also?
When is the next protest. Ron Wyden’s plan is not good for Oregon or the American people. It appears Ron has sold his
soul to the devil.
Maybe we should vote him out, After we pass Health Care
Reform. Yes We Can! and we will pass Reform with-out Wyden’s help.
One would think there would be at least a handful of petitions out there to recall this guy. Searching the web I saw not even one, which is amazing considering that Wyden doesn’t give a hoot about the plight of Oregonians, much less the country. He is a disgrace to this state.