Liberal Netroots "Rewarding" Public Option Supporters

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

(AP)

Internet-based liberal grassroots groups are taking a page from traditional lobbying playbooks in order to influence the health care debate, by "rewarding" members of Congress who have committed to including a government-sponsored health insurance plan, or "public option," into health care reform legislation.

The liberal blog FireDogLake sent an e-mail to its subscribers Monday, asking them to "reward good behavior."

Yesterday, a number of congressmen sent a letter to the Obama administration saying they would only vote for a health care reform bill that includes a public option.

"For two months, we've been working hard to get members of Congress to draw a line in the sand: no public option, no health care reform," says the e-mail from FireDogLake's Jane Hamsher. "Yesterday, they did it. This is exactly the kind of spine we need to see from Congress... These 65 Democrats need to be commended for doing the right thing."

The group has set up a fundraising page for supporters to make a donation to any of the 65 members "who drew the line in the sand" with respect to the public option. So far, they have raised more than $31,000.

The e-mail and fundraising page put into action a strategy liberal Netroots leaders discussed at Netroots Nation, the annual convention that took place last weekend. Darcy Burner, executive director of ProgressiveCongress.org, said that grassroots activists could learn a few things about influencing legislation from corporate lobbyists.

"There's a positive reinforcement loop that (lobbyists) have mastered in terms of praise and endorsements and checks that encourages the behavior they want," Burner said in a panel at the conference (watch a video of it here), "and the members, some of the members, tend to get addicted to it."

While online activists give millions of dollars to politicians, Burner said, "one of the things we have not been as good at as we could be is directly tying it to positive things they're doing -- 'Scooby snacks.'"

"Even little things like praise on local blogs," she said, "and a flurry of small contributions can have an enormous impact on how they think about their relationship to the movement and their understanding of whether we're actually there for them."

The fact that so many congressmen have said they will only support legislation with a public option is the result of the Netroots' strategy, Hamsher said during the panel discussion with Burner.

Liberal grassroots groups decided early on in the health care debate, she said, to ask Democrats in Congress not only to support the public plan, but to commit to only supporting a health care reform bill that included a strong public option.

"We suspected... that there would be deals being made with insurance companies and the hospitals... that might lead to a situation that, despite all the public support (for a public option), it might not be there," Hamsher said. "We decided to go out and start asking members of Congress, 'Will you please make this commitment?'"

The final outcome of the health care debate, she said, is "still very much in a state of flux, but I think we did win the framing war."

More coverage of Health Care Reform

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by woeisme1 August 18, 2009 5:43 PM EDT: The only reason anyone needs to carry around a gun is if they are hunting, target shooting, or they are gonna shoot someone.

At a town hall meeting, they are not hunting, they are not target shooting, so what does that say? Maybe the sign they carry will answer: The tree of liberty must be watered with the blood....

Think about it. These republican extremists are not going to meetings armed because of their 2d Amendment rights or because of healthcare. They are going because this is our future guys. This is what Obama appointee Napolitano warned us all about guys.

Is it any wonder why the republicans are stuck in an 67% dis-approval rating.; Reply to this comment


by woeisme1 August 18, 2009 5:35 PM EDT: Like I've been saying....we WILL have a public option in one form or another and it won't be in a co-op either.; Reply to this comment


by woeisme1 August 18, 2009 5:34 PM EDT: In fact, over 51% of people believe the town hall meetings are productive.

This should have read NON-PRODUCTIVE; Reply to this comment


by woeisme1 August 18, 2009 5:32 PM EDT: Well the new polls are out. They will be on NBC later tonight.

Republicans, if they choose to really read the poll, are not doing well.

While support for Obama has remained steady at 47 (from last month) the republican support has not increased a bit!

Republicans have a 67% disapproval rating. All their rants aren't helping them in the least.

In fact, over 51% of people believe the town hall meetings are productive. Out of those 92% of Americans blame it on the republicans!
I love it!

Seniors are more inclined to be against the public option provision. But when those same seniors actually had explained to them in clear language, what the provision says, they were all overwhemingly FOR the public option.

There are so many more interesting facts in this latest NON-PARTISAN poll you will all see shortly. I'll save the rest for you guys.; Reply to this comment

by hungry1968-16 August 18, 2009 5:00 PM EDT

by the_majesty August 18, 2009 4:13 PM EDT
hungry ... What are you on ???
The majotity of the American people are against ObamaCare.
ObamaCare is driving Obama's approval rating down.
Thousand of people have ended their memberships with AARP
because they kinda sided with ObamaCare. People are running
Obama like he has the plague.

20% is not a "majority" by ANYONE'S standards.

Obama's approval rating is down because he's not shoving the desperately needed health care reform down the republicans throats like he should be.

Keep hoping that America fails, conservatism wins, and America WILL end up as a baren wasteland like Sudan is.

That's what conservatism will bring to America.

Reply to this comment


by the_majesty August 18, 2009 5:08 PM EDT: hungry ... Are you using scare tactics ?


by hungry1968-16 August 18, 2009 5:19 PM EDT: No.

History books.


by antoniof123 August 18, 2009 4:31 PM EDT: This is getting better by the minute I guess the liberals are taking from the conservative hand book and want to bet the conservatives do the same.

LOL.........

I can hardly wait to see how it ends up.; Reply to this comment


by conversefive August 18, 2009 4:27 PM EDT: That's okay, because I have decided to reward the opponents of Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer by donating largely to their elections if and when they are up for election.; Reply to this comment

by hungry1968-16 August 18, 2009 3:49 PM EDT

Whoever votes against a public option, is committing political suicide.

Reply to this comment


by the_majesty August 18, 2009 4:13 PM EDT: hungry ... What are you on ???
The majotity of the American people are against ObamaCare.
ObamaCare is driving Obama's approval rating down.
Thousand of people have ended their memberships with AARP
because they kinda sided with ObamaCare. People are running
Obama like he has the plague.


by mattcat25 August 18, 2009 4:59 PM EDT: No, the (rational) majority is in favor of Governmental Reform Legislation. The Republicans are posing complete oppositional tactics with misleading information and boisterous teabag disruptors. I'm sure if you were to ask anyone if they wanted lower HealthCare Insurance Costs they were say "Socialism!" "Acorn!" "Liberal Media Bias!" "DRILL BABY DRILL!" ???

HealthCare Reform is about setting the US Economy and Businesses in a better position to compete in the Global Market. This legislation affects everyone.