As noted in "Maddow Blockbuster: "This is Cracking Heads Time," last night Rachel Maddow announced:
"Two major powerbrokers on the left...are encouraging a Senate strategy in which the leadership would revoke chairmanships and other leadership positions from any Democrat who sides with a Republican filibuster to block a vote on health reform."
Since then, thousands of progressives have signed the Progressive Change Campaign Committee's new petition to Senate Leader Harry Reid saying:
"Any Democratic senators who support a Republican attempt to block a vote on health care reform should be stripped of their leadership titles. Americans deserve a clean up-or-down vote on health care." Sign here.
Over 18,000 20,000 34,900 folks signed the petition since Rachel's show -- can we beat 50,000 before we deliver the signatures to Harry Reid on Monday? Click here.
Thousands of people have joined purely through word of mouth, so please send this post to your friends and recommend it on Kos, so others see. (HUNDREDS of folks have also shared it on Facebook and Twitter!)
What does this proposal mean? In general, it means Democrats need to be Democrats!
Republicans are planning to use the Senate "filibuster" procedure to block a vote on health care reform. But if all Senate Democrats stick together, a clean up-or-down vote will take place.
This means 51 votes -- not "60 votes" -- would be needed to pass reform. And winning a public health insurance option would be very likely.
Together, we can make that happen.
Which senators would feel pressure from this proposal? All the senators who are siding with the insurance companies and opposing the public option: Max Baucus (D-MT), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) are some examples.
Let's send a clear message: It's not OK for Democratic senators to join with Republicans to block a vote on health care. Period.
Please sign the petition to Harry Reid today. Then, rec this diary and tell your friends to join the cause at this important moment...