MoveOn Urges Members to Take the Debt Ceiling Battle to the Streets and to Congressional Offices

MoveOn.org is calling on us-- all of us-- to visit our Congressional representatives' offices today, July 26, at noon and tell them to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Don't let extremist Teapublicans destroy our economy and our country's social safety net-- as they play chicken with President Obama and the world financial markets over raising the debt ceiling. (If you know anyone who lives in John Boehner's Ohio district, forward it to him.)

From Move On...

This weekend, it became 100% clear that Republicans would rather see America default, Social Security checks stop going out, the stock market plummet, and unemployment soar than give one inch on their position: that the very richest people and most profitable corporations shouldn't pay one penny more in taxes.

Even after the president offered Republicans a debt-ceiling deal most MoveOn members probably consider unconscionable—with trillions in cuts, even to Medicare and Social Security—speaker Boehner still walked away from the table.

Republicans hope the threat of default will be enough to force Democrats to sacrifice and compromise even more.

But Democrats like Raul Grijalva are standing strong. Rep. Grijalva is one of 80 Democrats who have joined Leader Pelosi in saying that cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits are off the table. Over the next few days, Rep. Grijalva will face extreme pressure to cave into every Republican demand and let irresponsible threats drive terrible decisions in Washington.

That's why, with other leaders of the American Dream movement, we're putting out an urgent call for every patriotic American to show up outside progressive congressional offices on Tuesday at noon to deliver a crucial message of support: "Thank you for protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Keep standing strong."

Can you deliver the message to Rep. Grijalva at his office on Tuesday at noon?

Yes, I can drop by on Tuesday!

We'll follow up with all the details and a link to print your own "Keep standing strong" signs to bring to Rep. Grijalva.

Then you just have to show up on Tuesday here:

738 North 5th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705

We need to show as much public support as possible, so please pass this along to anyone else you know who could join in on Tuesday. This is a moment when we need to bring the progressive movement together to show our strength and show our boldest leaders that we're with them. 

Let's get out there on Tuesday and let leaders like Rep. Grijalva know how important it is to keep standing up to Republican threats. We can't let Republicans crash the American economy to protect tax giveaways for the rich.

As someone who lives in CD8-- Gabrielle Giffords' district-- I received a different version of this MoveOn letter urging CD8 residents to go to her office (3945 E. Fort Lowell Road, Suite 211) to encourage her to support the position that Pelosi and Grijalva have taken. I don't know how many people will show up at Giffords' office, but I think it's a good idea because it emphasizes that CD8 residents need to have a dog in this fight.

Raising the debit ceiling and reducing the deficit by cutting corporate subsidies and tax loopholes for the rich-- while protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid-- are crucial issues. If you can't go to your Congressional representative's office today in person, contact them. Here is their contact information: Raul and Gabby.