Make History: Tweet the White House

Update: The Tweets Continue

Yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee indefinitely postponed voting on health care reform legislation thanks to seven “Blue Dog” Democrats on the committee who have serious concerns about the legislation.

We want to thank them for having the courage to stand up against President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and other liberal Democratic leaders in Washington who are trying to force through their health care reform experiment too fast and too soon. So here’s the plan:

1. There are three “Blue Dog” Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee who are active on Twitter.
2. Tweet your thanks to these “Blue Dog” Democrats for standing against the House health care legislation. We’ll continue to use the #handsoff hashtag to track the tweets.
3. Click here to load a draft Tweet and click "Update." See below for more examples and please feel free to amend as you like.
4. Visit TweetTheWhiteHouse.com to see your efforts in real-time.

We just broke 5,000 tweets urging the federal government to keep their #handsoff our health care - but there is still work to be done. These "Blue Dog" Democrats realize that the House health care reform legislation would only make our health care worse, so let's reinforce that Americans are concerned about government running the health care system.

DRAFT TWEETS (copy/paste/update):

Thanks Blue Dog Dems for standing against govt run Health care! #handsoff

thanks @repjohnbarrow for standing against a massive government takeover of health care #handsoff http://tr.im/ttwh (plz RT)

thanks @repbartgordon for standing against a massive government takeover of health care #handsoff http://tr.im/ttwh (plz RT)

thanks @repmikeross for standing against a massive government takeover of health care #handsoff http://tr.im/ttwh (plz RT)

(Source: "Key House Panel Cancels Health Care Session as Moderate Democrats Voice Concerns," FoxNews.com, 7/21)

If you haven't already seen it, read below to learn how it all started...

UPDATE: Check out Tweet tracking and mobilization web site: TweetTheWhiteHouse.com.

As you may know, President Barack Obama has been doing some extraordinary things online to better communicate his message. And, yes, I say that as a proud Republican.

Along with 126 Members of Congress and U.S. Senators, President Obama has started Tweeting (@WhiteHouse). In fact, with a mere 247 updates, the account has already grown rapidly to 550,253 Followers.

One of the issues the @WhiteHouse is Tweeting about is health care reform so we thought we'd have a little bit of fun with it and propose an experiment in online activism for an upcoming release of the next Twitter @101Guide.

So here's the plan:

1. It is clear that a White House communications staffer is serving as a SpokesTwitterer and will read and perhaps even reply to our Tweets.

2. We are going to track and record all uses of the hashtag #handsoff for this experiment and report back our findings to you.

3. As long as you're logged in to Twitter and using a web browser, just click here to load a draft Tweet and click "Update." See below for more examples -- please feel free to amend as you like.

4. This is the first time I've ever heard of anyone orchestrating a coordinated Twitter advocacy strategy. You're going to be a part of history and help redefine activism.

Thanks for helping us make a difference.

Revolution,

@DavidAll

DRAFT TWEETS (copy/paste/update):

@whitehouse public plan will force people out of good private coverage and into a govt-run system #handsoff plz RT http://tr.im/qw8r

(Source: "The Stealth Single-Payer Agenda," George Will, 6/21)

@whitehouse public plan will lead to rationing because of fewer doctors and other health care workers #handsoff plz RT http://tr.im/qw8r

(Source: "The Pitfalls of the Public Option," New York Times, 6/27)

@whitehouse govt-run health care would lead to denied care and long waiting lists #handsoff plz RT http://tr.im/qw8r

(Source: "Canadian Health Care: The End of Innovation?," John Stossel, 6/26)

@whitehouse govt-run one-size-fits-all coverage is too expensive & has little to do w/ health & wellness #handsoff plz RT http://tr.im/qw8r

(Source: "'Public Plan' Eliminates Choice, Endangers Health" Dr. Robert Goldberg 6/25)

@whitehouse a "public plan" would lead to a government takeover of health care #handsoff plz RT

(Source: "The 'Public Plan' Would Be the Only Plan", Wall Street Journal, 6/15/2009)

@whitehouse a "public plan" would force millions of Americans to lose their good private health coverage #handsoff plz RT

(Source: "The Beginning of the End of Private Health Insurance," Reason Magazine, 6/9/2009)

@whitehouse a government-run health care plan would mean long, even deadly waiting time for patients #handsoff plz RT

(Source: "Canadians seeking health care have a 'wait problem,'"Washington Examiner, 6/3 /2009)

@whitehouse a "public option" would lead to government rationing and lower quality of care for all Americans #handsoff plz RT

(Source: "The Real Price of a Public Health Plan: Less Innovation and Lower Quality," Heritage Foundation, 4/24/2009)

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Disclosure: DAG is working with quite a few organizations in the health care space who do not support a government take-over of the industry.