Collective Action

Last week, a great group of St. Louis area activists decided it might be fun to attend a health care "hearing" put on by Ed Martin's Senate campaign. Joined by fellow luminaries Peter Kinder, Phyllis Schafly and Bill Hennessy, Ed was expecting a platform to distribute the same tired lies, bad information and bad ideas about the federal Affordable Care Act.  

But equipped with facts and an actual interest in policies that expand access to affordable health care, the progressive activists effectively out-hustled and embarrassed Martin at his own event.  

Crazy Eddie was clearly caught off guard by the progressive activists' attendance and questions.  Immediately after the "hearing," he attempted a lame ACORN smear, but then abandoned that line of attack the next day when he praised the crowd for their civil discussion. 

Show-Me Progress and St. Louis Activist Hub have exhaustive coverage of the "hearing" that you really should check out. Here are a few links to get your started: 

• In which I explain who showed up for Ed Martin's dance
• Ms. Schlafly takes on "Obamacare"
• I Don't Care What You Say, It Was A Great Night for Health Care Reform
• Ed Martin and Bill Hennessy Hide in the Back of Their Own Forum: Schlafly Bolts!
• Pregnancy As a Preexisting Condition? Not Under the Affordable Care Act!
• Ed Martin Forgets His Supporters, Claims People "Know How To Be Civil"
• Women's Voices Members speak out at Health Care Forum
  

This might explain why there isn't much enthusiasm for tea parties outside of Fox News and talk radio:

(h/t to Matthew Yglesias)

Next Saturday (March 28th) from 8:30-9:30pm, thousands of communities and millions of people from around the globe will join together to send leaders a powerful message about global warming.  It's a pretty simple concept -- by simply turning off your lights for an hour, you can participate in a "global election between Earth and global warming."