
The Tea Party Patriots just issued an urgent plea to followers across the country in advance of tomorrow's procedural vote on a health care reform package in the Senate. The group is calling on Tea Partiers across the country to "Converge on the Capitol" tomorrow at 1 p.m. for yet another protest rally opposing reform.
"It's not too late to kill the bill," the Tea Party Patriots "National Coordinator Team" wrote in an email sent to supporters this afternoon.
The group claims that the schedule for tomorrow's vote -- which allows future debate on the bill on the Senate floor -- proves that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is running scared from health care reform opponents.
"Harry Reid knows Americans don't want this bill, which is why he has scheduled the cloture vote for 8 PM on Saturday," they write. "If the cloture vote passes, debate will begin on the health care bill, and it will be more difficult than ever to stop the bill from passing. That's why you must take a stand on Saturday!"
The tea partiers plan to target moderate Democratic senators as debate on the cloture motion continues tomorrow. In today's email, the National Coordinators call on tea partiers who can't make it to D.C. to call and fax Senate offices during the day of the vote.
But they hope many in the movement will see the vote as important enough to call for an impromptu road trip.
"if you can make it to Washington, DC tomorrow," they write, "please, come and join your fellow Americans to stop this dangerous takeover of the health care system."
Tea Partiers have had mixed success with similar rallying cries during the health care debate in Congress. A "flash mob" called to protest the announcement of the House reform bill on Oct. 29 brought around a dozen or so tea partiers to the Capitol lawn. But a tea party rally called on Nov. 5 by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) to coincide with the final vote on the bill in the House drew thousands.
The group did not return a call from TPMDC this afternoon seeking more information on tomorrow's event.
The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
November 20, 2009 4:11 PM
Amazingly, Fox already has footage of the event.
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WaitWut?
November 20, 2009 4:32 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
You beat me to it.
I think they should just start holding sock-hops. It's obvious they need to be surrounded by their own kind to feel better about themselves. A nice dance social, possibly a square dance, would cheer them right up.
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JEP07
November 21, 2009 9:20 AM in reply to WaitWut?
YOU GUYS ARE FUNNY!
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bjorn t
November 21, 2009 11:18 AM in reply to WaitWut?
and all those socks to make puppets out of...
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NuttyProf
November 20, 2009 4:25 PM
I wish progressives were organizing an event too.
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ericf
November 20, 2009 4:40 PM in reply to NuttyProf
Good news:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/obamas-campaign-arm-plans-rally-for-senate-bill.php
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Viva!America!
November 20, 2009 5:18 PM in reply to ericf
No, no, that's a "fake" and watered down grassroots.
snark.
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FlownOver
November 20, 2009 4:42 PM
No surprise here. These are the "patriots" who want to preclude voting. Figures.
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Walter Mitty
November 20, 2009 4:51 PM
I wonder who is supplying the free buses...
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calbearinillinois
November 20, 2009 6:06 PM
These folks refuse to get anything about organizing. You don't have a grand rally then a bunch of weak little actions - you have to build to it, like a marathon or a long hike. I assume its safe to say this here because none of the participants can deal with the factual content of TPM without being blinded by the contrast with the pap they've been fed by Fox.
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neesy08
November 20, 2009 8:32 PM
don't these people have a life?
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condew
November 21, 2009 9:08 AM
I guess they figured out that there is just no way to make opposition to care for the sick sound virtuous.
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Hidden Oak
November 21, 2009 11:13 AM
Converge! (both of you)
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