Just don't do it, Terry. Don't appear at the AHIP convention on June 19. Don't accept a speaking fee.
Sign the letter to Terry McAuliffe asking him not to appear with former Bush spokesperson Dan Bartlett
We were quite surprised when we learned that Terry McAuliffe was going to appear -- with former Bush spokesperson Dan Bartlett -- at a major convention of health insurance corporations in San Francisco on June 19.
After all, how could the former Chair of the Democratic National Committee show up as a guest of health insurance executives -- much less accept any money for his appearance at the AHIP (America's Health Insurance Plans) convention? This appearance seems inappropriate at best, especially after Barack Obama and Howard Dean courageously directed the Democratic National Committee last week to reject contributions from lobbyists, including the health insurance industry.
If you agree, please join me, the Courage Campaign and the California Nurses Association in asking Terry McAuliffe not to appear at -- or take a speaking fee from -- the AHIP convention on June 19 (click here for protest info from CNA). We need you, your friends and your family to sign this letter now so that we can deliver thousands of signatures to him on Tuesday:
Dear Terry,
Just don't do it.
In the name of over 100 million uninsured and underinsured Americans frozen out of our profit-driven health care system, please don't lend your legitimacy as a leader in the Democratic Party to these corporations at their annual AHIP (America's Health Insurance Plans) convention in San Francisco on June 19.
We know these health insurance executives are some of the most powerful lobbyists in America, wielding significant influence inside Washington. But, as you know, Barack Obama and Howard Dean have courageously directed the Democratic National Committee to no longer accept contributions from lobbyists, including the health insurance industry.
You can take a stand as well by refusing to appear -- and refusing to take a speaking fee --- from the health insurance industry at the AHIP convention.
Did you know that Assurant Health -- listed as the sole sponsor of your joint AHIP speaking appearance with former Bush spokesperson Dan Bartlett -- was just fined $3 million by the state of Connecticut for illegally denying care to hundreds of patients? That is just one example of how the health insurance racket in America has a death grip on our health care system. Using nearly unlimited resources from our monthly premium payments, it has single-handedly blocked every health care reform proposal in recent years, including "Medicare for All" or single-payer health care.
No Democrat, least of all the former Chair of the Democratic National Committee, should support these corporations by appearing on their stage, and no progressive should allow himself to be paid in blood money "earned" by withholding treatment from sick patients.
Hundreds of highly-compensated health insurance executives will be inside the Moscone Center on June 19, working to perfect business practices that reward employees for denying health care coverage to millions of Americans. Outside, the real faces of the American health care system -- nurses, doctors, patients and their friends and families -- will be protesting.
Come join us, Terry. Boycott the AHIP Convention and prove that you care more about patients and health care than you do about lobbyists and speaking fees.
Signed,
Rick Jacobs, Chair of the Courage Campaign, and the undersigned