Why We Fight
Progressives have spent decades fighting to make affordable health care accessible to all Americans — as a right, not a privilege. And after spending two years fighting to pass Obamacare, we’ve spent the last two years fighting off partisan political attacks in Congress and the courts while implementing benefits that are already making a difference in the lives of tens of millions of Americans. Tens of millions more will benefit by the time the law is fully implemented in two years.
All that hard work could be for nothing if Mitt Romney and Republicans win this election. Republicans in Congress have already tried to repeal Obamacare more than 30 times and Mitt Romney has promised to start repealing it on “day one” if he wins.
We know what’s at stake, but sometimes all it takes is one story to remind us why we fight so hard. Here’s one family’s story about how Obamacare is saving their daughter’s life and why they worry “every day” about what a Romney presidency would mean for them.
Other speakers last evening also highlighted one of President Obama’s signature accomplishments:
HHS SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS: “For us Democrats, Obamacare is a badge of honor. Because no matter who you are, what stage of life you’re in, this law is a good thing.” [Transcript]
MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL (D-Chicago): “President Obama took office knowing full well that for the last century, presidents had tried to reform our health care system…Because of the president’s leadership, every American will have access to affordable, quality health care. That was the change we believed in. That was the change we fought for. That was the change President Obama delivered.” [Transcript]
GOV. DEVAL PATRICK (D-MA): “This is the president who delivered the security of affordable health care to every single American after 90 years of trying.” [Transcript]
MAYOR JULIAN CASTRO (D-San Antonio): “Seven presidents before him — Democrats and Republicans — tried to expand health care to all Americans. President Obama got it done.” [Transcript]
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA: “When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president. He didn’t care whether it was the easy thing to do politically — that’s not how he was raised — he cared that it was the right thing to do. He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine, our kids should be able to see a doctor when they’re sick, and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or illness.” [Transcript]
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