Health reform rally on the Boston Common

[float=right][/float]Health Care For All, HFCA, organized a Labor Day rally and march in support of health care reform, which started with speeches at the gazebo on the Boston Common and ended after a march and more live music at Copley Square.

To set a festive tone at the gazebo, a funk band followed by a rag time band played as the crowd of thousands gathered. Speakers on the gazebo included Rep. Michael Capuano, AG Martha Coakley, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Mayor Thomas Menino, Rep. Ed Markey, Rep. John Tierney, Betty McGuire from SEIU, a representative from Doctors for America, and a woman who told her story about needing surgery and being uninsured.

The woman, who now works as a janitor at airport and who is an SEIU member, told her story about her struggle with health care. She needed surgery but didn't have health insurance. So she delayed surgery until she could raise $12,000 to pay for it and did so through the help of others. Now she has insurance through her job.

Betty McGuire, an members of SEIU Local spoke next and observed that unlike a standard health insurance policy, Jesus healed people with pre-existing conditions.

Martha Coakley noted that we will miss Ted Kennedy in the debate over health care reform and that she is a supporter of a public health insurance option.

Rep. Stephen Lynch spoke as well. It was hard to hear him about the heckling about his indecision to support the bull or the public option.

Mayor Thomas Menino spoke in support of quality, affordable health care for all and offered a tribute to Senator Kennedy.

Rep. Ed Markey fired up the crowd with a rousing speech exclaiming that our health care system needs CPR. He led the crowd cheering, "Do it for TED!"

Rep. John Tierney said the single payer was the right what to do health care reform.

As a point of reference, none of the health care reform bills including the three in the house and two in the senate have single payer - also known as medicare for all. But four of those bills including Ted Kennedy's HELP bill does have a public option. Only one of the bills does not have a public option and that bill is from the bipartisan Senate Finance subcommittee headed by Max Baucus. More here:

Roll Call reported today that Senate Democrats are “increasingly frustrated by the secrecy and duration of Finance Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-MT) bipartisan talks on health care reform.” One unnamed Senator appeared irritated that Baucus ” is unlikely to run any deal by his caucus before he shakes hands on an agreement with Republicans.” ThinkProgress, July 23, 2009 LINK

During the march thousands chanted slogans "tomorrow is too late, people die while we wait!" and "50 million uninsured, gotta get the system cured!" Marching down Bolyston Street, you couldn't see one end of the parade from the other.

Please comment on your impression of the rally, especially the speeches, and you opinion about health care reform, the public option and single payer AKA medicare for all.

(crossposted at FireDogLake)