Political Pundit Place: Meet Bethany

We're just a few votes short of overriding President Bush's veto and allowing millions of kids to see a doctor when they're sick. The vote is tomorrow.¹ It's time to pull out all the stops.

We need to remind Republicans there will be dramatic consequences if they stand with Bush on this one. The consequences aren't just political: this means real health problems for millions of real kids.

One of those kids is Bethany, a 2-year-old girl born with a heart defect who's only healthy today because of the SCHIP children's health program. Our friends at USAction put together an ad with her story, and we want to raise money to tell that story in the districts of representatives who vote wrong.

Our goal is to raise at least $200,000 today to run the ad. Can you chip in $10? Our ad will be a slightly shorter version of the video you can see by clicking here—you should check it out:

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/childrensad.html?id=11416-7018451-_ipk1F&t=2

The more we raise today, the more members of Congress will think twice about our ad campaign before they vote.

Bethany Wilkerson was born with several holes in her heart. Her family lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, on an annual income of $34,000—not poor, but unable to afford private health insurance. Even if they could, Bethany's "pre-existing condition" makes it impossible to qualify. Only because of SCHIP is Bethany healthy today.

With children's lives hanging in the balance, this is a politically risky vote for Republicans, and they're watching public reaction closely to decide what to do. We're announcing our ad to the local press in the districts of our top targets. No member of Congress will be able to vote against our kids without knowing they will be held accountable by voters.

But this isn't just about scaring Congress into voting the right way. Some people will vote wrong, and it's critically important to let their constituents know they abandoned our kids.

At last night's vigils, we lit candles for the millions of children who are one vote away from having health insurance. Here are a few of your highlights:

Chanting, connecting with others, and responding to MANY supportive honks from passing drivers.—Margaret N., East Lansing, MI

Having children deliver hand written message to the congressman's office.—Jim G., Chico, CA

We started the action in the wind and rain with candles blowing out immediately. Mid-way through a magnificent rainbow appeared and grew brighter. At the end the sun was shining. —Judy T., Lopez Island, WA

President Bush vetoed SCHIP because it's such a successful public program—and the right-wing's ideology is about running the government into the ground to keep it from serving the common good. But children's health care has so much popular support that Bush's supporters are paying a heavy political price for defending this failed ideology.

Together—with phone calls, rallies, vigils, letters, and TV ads—we can make the political price too high for opponents of children's health care to stomach.

Can you contribute $10 to pressure House members to override Bush's veto of children's health care? Click here:

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/childrensad.html?id=11416-7018451-_ipk1F&t=3

Thank you for all you do.

–Noah, Adam G., Jennifer, Carrie, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

Source:
1. "Poll Reflects Republican Divisions on SCHIP," NPR, October 17, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3060&id=11416-7018451-_ipk1F&t=4

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

We're down to the wire on kids' health care—a few votes away from victory. USAction is highlighting one of the best reasons to override Bush's veto—Bethany, a 2-year-old girl who might not be here today without SCHIP. Click below to see the ad—it's powerful—and donate $10 to get a 30-second version on the air.