yes we can fill out online petitions

August 16, 2009 9:32 PM

We've all heard that Obama is going to give up on a public option. Many have argued that it's what Congress thinks that matters, not Obama. To that extent, sens. Schumer, Leahy, and Durbin are circulating a petition of support for a public option.
posted by tylerfulltilt (20 comments total)

Couldn't you have put this in the other post?
posted by awfurby at 9:34 PM on August 16, 2009

I knew someone would say that. And the answer is yes. But it would have been something retarded like 300 comments down where no one would have seen it. And I really think this link hasn't gotten the attention it deserves.
posted by tylerfulltilt at 9:36 PM on August 16, 2009 [1 favorite]

I'm in love with the goals of the petition, but not with the privacy policy of the site:

"When you sign our petition, your name and email address will be provided to the sponsoring campaign committees. You may opt out at any time. These organizations may share some basic contact information with allied organizations and campaigns, in accordance with their privacy policies. If you have any specific questions or comments regarding this policy, please contact [e-mail]."

I don't like to have to sign up for political spam to voice my political opinion.
posted by ericost at 9:40 PM on August 16, 2009

Kos twitterer linked to the Atlantic that saying whitehouse official says Sebelius "misspoke" about the public option. http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/08/administration_official_sebelius_misspoke.php

So there's that.
posted by emjaybee at 9:43 PM on August 16, 2009

I signed it, but the campaign admins come off as newbies, you can tell that they haven't done this before. If they did, they would've at least asked for my zipcode. Name and email is fairly worthless otherwise.
posted by amuseDetachment at 9:43 PM on August 16, 2009

I knew someone would say that. And the answer is yes. But it.... something something special snowflake.

Yeah, ta for that. Flagged.
posted by pompomtom at 9:44 PM on August 16, 2009

I'm going to be calling all three of my representatives tomorrow and voicing my support for a public plan, too.
posted by ShawnStruck at 9:48 PM on August 16, 2009

I knew someone would say that. And the answer is yes. But it would have been something retarded like 300 comments down where no one would have seen it. And I really think this link hasn't gotten the attention it deserves.

There are plenty of people in the existing health care thread who'd love to sink into this. It belongs there.

Also, your first sentence is apparently inaccurate.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 9:52 PM on August 16, 2009

Oh, man. On the one hand, I think this is important, and on the other I think it's an unambiguous misuse of the front page. Flagged.
posted by gsteff at 9:53 PM on August 16, 2009

Less internet whining, more to the streets whining. Being loud and on-message gets media focus. Actual controlled marches and less carnival of the issues would get eyeballs, and that is, apparently, what matters., who can scream the loudest. Let out scream be the best, or at least in the room.
posted by The Whelk at 9:53 PM on August 16, 2009

from emaybee's link:

The official said that the White House did not intend to change its messaging and that Sebelius simply meant to echo the president, who has acknowledged that the public option is a tough sell in the Senate and is, at the same time, a must-pass for House Democrats, and is not, in the president's view, the most important element of the reform package.

...

A third White House official, via e-mail, said that Sebelius didn't misspeak. "The media misplayed it," the third official said.
posted by ericost at 9:55 PM on August 16, 2009

But it would have been something retarded like 300 comments down

Wow - way to sell this post.
posted by chinston at 10:00 PM on August 16, 2009

Actual controlled marches and less carnival of the issues would get eyeballs, and that is, apparently, what matters.

I marched among almost half a million against the Iraq war (in San Francisco) before it began, to no avail, the corporate spew cameras weren't even there.
posted by telstar at 10:01 PM on August 16, 2009

Guess we better hang it up then!

Seriously, Whelk is right. The Teabaggers are getting their message out being professional attention whores and camera hogs, and it's having an impact. Progressives need to do the same about health care.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 10:03 PM on August 16, 2009

But it would have been something retarded like 300 comments down where no one would have seen it.

First, anyone who uses a word like "retarded" obviously either does not possess critical thinking skills, or does not employ those skills on a routine basis.

Second, who cares if your own comment is 300 comments in? While the rest of us dearly hope you guys get public health care, be reminded that MetaFilter is international in scope, and not just for Americans, and your health care posts are starting to look a lot like spam.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:06 PM on August 16, 2009 [3 favorites]

Well, I for one am happy it was posted outside of the mess of comments, because not everyone will follow threads that lengthy (myself, for example).

However I don't think a dinky web petition will reach those who probably need/want public health care the most, since the poorest probably don't have regular access to the internet, or don't have the time or luck to encounter this on the internet.
posted by The Biggest Dreamer at 10:07 PM on August 16, 2009

public option is a tough sell

Why yes it is. Hillary Clinton is famous for being a tough politician and if I had it to do over again right this second I would vote for her. If you can't handle something "tough" you have no business being President.
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:10 PM on August 16, 2009 [2 favorites]

[!]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:10 PM on August 16, 2009

First, anyone who uses a word like "retarded" obviously either does not possess critical thinking skills, or does not employ those skills on a routine basis.

Why would that be true?
posted by delmoi at 10:10 PM on August 16, 2009 [1 favorite]

But it would have been something retarded like 300 comments down

Classy.
posted by EatTheWeek at 10:18 PM on August 16, 2009