It's safe to say that Barack Obama's outside political team is taking a slightly less brusque approach to swaying members of Congress than are health care reform opponents, who appear given to shout downs and intimidation.

An email, which went out today, urges the President's supporters to call their representatives and urge them to support health care reform--and then to register that call with OFA. The explicit goal is to prove to members that there's more support out there for health care reform than rowdy town hall attendees would like you to think.

"The goal of these disruptions is for a few people to get a lot a media attention and hijack the entire public discourse," the letter reads.

If they succeed, all Americans -- Democrats, Republicans, and Independents -- will continue to struggle under the broken status quo.

It's up to us to show Congress that those loudly opposing reform are a tiny minority being stirred up by special interests, and that a huge majority strongly support enacting real health insurance reform in 2009.

You can read a sample letter below the fold. The new strategy is part of larger Democratic strategy to characterize the town hall protesters as part of a right wing fringe, supported by conservative interest groups. And demonstrating that public support for reform swamps the opposition is crucial to that strategy.

Friend --

Members of Congress have been home for just a few days, and they're already facing increased pressure from insurance companies, special interests, and partisan attack organizations that are spending millions to block health insurance reform.

These groups are using scare tactics and spreading smears about the President's plan for reform, trying to incite constituents into lashing out at their representatives and disrupting their events.

The goal of these disruptions is for a few people to get a lot a media attention and hijack the entire public discourse. If they succeed, all Americans -- Democrats, Republicans, and Independents -- will continue to struggle under the broken status quo.

It's up to us to show Congress that those loudly opposing reform are a tiny minority being stirred up by special interests, and that a huge majority strongly support enacting real health insurance reform in 2009.

Your representative, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, needs to hear that voters are demanding health insurance reform this year. Can you call their local office in Miami? Let them know that you're a constituent. Then tell them: "Please fight for real health insurance reform in 2009. Americans are suffering under the current system and need change."

According to our records, you live in Florida's 18th congressional district. Please call:

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen at 305-668-2285.

Once you've made your call, click here to report it.

(Not your representative? Click here to look yours up.)

Calling should only take a few minutes, but it's a huge help. These local offices serve as the main connection between a member of Congress and voters in the district. And with representatives home on recess, the staff there are in daily contact with your member, keeping them updated on how many calls they receive that are for or against reform.

Once you've called, please tell us. Knowing how many calls are coming in from all around the country will help us better plan our campaign -- and help us show that the American people overwhelmingly want health insurance reform this year. Let us know you called:

http://my.barackobama.com/districtcall3?district=FL18&postal_code=33155

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America