September 10, 2009 6:13 PM

Dems Benefit from Momentum after Obama's Health Speech

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Democrats
5150235Both the Democratic party and an individual Democratic candidate have pulled significant financial contributions in the wake of President Obama's address to Congress about health care.

Since the president's speech last night, the Democratic National Committee has raised $1,087,000 in online donations, the DNC told CBS News. About 381,000 people signed a letter the DNC sent out, asking members of Congress to support Mr. Obama's health care agenda.

"We expect both numbers to continue to grow," the DNC told CBS News.

Meanwhile, Democrats have leveraged Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst interrupting the president last night to raise money for his Democratic challenger.

Since last night, former-Marine Rob Miller has received 14,000 individual grassroots contributions raising more than $500,000, according to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"As a former Marine, I believe we should respect our Commander-in-Chief and our men and women in uniform," Miller said of the incident in a statement released today. "As a South Carolinian, I believe that Representative Wilson's shameful outburst has no place in the public debate. We need a Representative in Congress who will be part of the solution, not part of the problem."

Meanwhile, the labor-backed group Americans United for Change launched a new ad today targeting insurance companies, which the Democrats have depicted as villains in the debate.



CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

Full CBSNews.com coverage of the president's speech on health care:

Obama Tells Congress to Stop Bickering

Full Video Full Transcript Speech Highlights

GOP Response: "It's Time to Start Over"

Marc Ambinder: Will Obama's Sales Job Work?

Mark Knoller: Obama Willing to Compromise — Up to a Point

Was Obama Clear on the Public Option?

Ted Kennedy's Letter to Obama

Rep. Wilson Swipes the Spotlight

Analysis: The Road Ahead for Health Care

Add a Comment
by babooph September 11, 2009 1:13 AM EDT
Only a million donated-hundreds of ins lobbyists have many times that in their bribe accounts-Losing effort.
Reply to this comment
by babooph September 11, 2009 1:10 AM EDT
Had to give up being republican -was very light on hypocracy,had enough greed & low morality to suck up the lobby $$$,could lecture others on family values & still see my side thing-but could not build up all the fear & hate required.
Reply to this comment
by knipprs September 11, 2009 12:00 AM EDT
Katie, I thought your coverage of the pros and cons of the public option was quite balanced, and I appreciate it. Frankly, I have zero faith that the government can really run anything economically, and I hope that some compromise can be made whereby private enterprise can handle the issue.
Reply to this comment
by velma179 September 10, 2009 11:57 PM EDT
The actual "game changer" here is quite interesting and something I can't remember happening at another time in American history (please correct me if you find historical reference, I love to learn... )--

In Congress, historically the "battle" over legislation being enacted is between TWO groups, between two different political parties. Not today. Those two "battling" groups are both in the SAME political party... the Democrats.

The conservative and liberal wings of this ONE party must work out their differences in order to pass this important legislation.

Meanwhile, the other nominal political party -- the Republicans -- slip further and further into cheap tactic politics that can ONLY win the hearts, minds and VOTES of narrow minds and/or extremists (what we call "fringe elements"). They see the American people's fear and anger as a political opportunity, they have stubbornly decided to refuse to offer ANY good faith effort... if they don't get to lead.
They choose to ignore the fact they were not given the JOB OF LEADING by the voters.

We do have elections and free choice, those who voted fulfilled their responsibility under our Constitution -- respecting that choice and working FOR something seems to be a focus the Republicans have abandoned.


So..... the Democrats are left to the debate. We like honest political debate, sorting of differences to find the best common goal in America. We like checks and balances, we like coming together after an honest fight, we don't want ANY one ideology to "rule" us.

The inclusive Democrat party has forsaken the idea of "political purity" that the Republicans have advocated... making them a big ol' mess of ideas, to be dang sure. Just like America, just like you and I when we disagree ... but still want the best result going forward.

I hope the debate concludes with consensus. Anything else gives the concept of working together a loss against the concept of NO way if not my way.
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown September 10, 2009 10:21 PM EDT
by robham777 September 10, 2009 9:32 PM EDT
"I did not hear anything new. If you already have an opinion on the subject, I would be surprised if this was a game changer for you."
________________________________

Not sure if I agree with you - even if you believe nothing new was said and you have an opinion on the subject - you probably were not listening very carefully. The game changer is that, unlike 1993, this is not going away.... and even if you believe it will go away, it's going to make a lot of people, in Congress and out, very uncomfortable until it does go away..........
Reply to this comment
by robham777 September 10, 2009 9:32 PM EDT
I did not hear anything new. If you already have an opinion on the subject, I would be surprised if this was a game changer for you.
Reply to this comment
by sanity4u September 10, 2009 8:47 PM EDT
WAY TO GO MR. PRESIDENT!!

You knocked it out of the park! I knew you would. God bless you, keep working for the people.

Finally, we have a president who actually cares about 'we the people'.
Reply to this comment
by pjk12354 September 10, 2009 8:30 PM EDT
Dems need to be careful.........the political climate the way it is in this country..........all somebody has to do is pass gas at the right time at the right place.........yeah, politics has become that stupid.........
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