Check how your Rep. voted on the Health Care bill
Dear Members,
After 100 years of debate, 7 different presidents, Obama managed to pass a Bill for health care reform. At this link you can check to see how your rep voted – and thank or spank them with a single
click:
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5831/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=367&track=seiu
House passes health care bill on 219-212 vote
Washington (CNN) — President Obama won a historic victory in the struggle for health care reform Sunday as the House of Representatives passed a sweeping bill overhauling the American medical system.
The bill passed in a 219-212 vote after more than a year of bitter partisan debate. All 178 Republicans opposed it, along with 34 Democrats.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/21/health.care.main/index.html?hpt=T1
Democrats Abroad Norway (DAN) Appoints New Press Secretary
(Oslo, 19 March 2010) Democrats Abroad Norway (DAN) today appointed Brad Larson as its new Press Secretary to replace Carolyn Haneberg. In this capacity he will be supporting DAN Chair Lisa Cooper and the Democrats Abroad Board in development of a communications strategy, increasing contacts with the media and liaison with the Press Office of Democrats Abroad in Washington.
Brad Larson
“We’d like to welcome Brad to the Democrats Abroad team. This position is critical for DAN in many aspects as the media coverage and attention to initiatives from President Obama has been extremely high,” Lisa Cooper says. “That focus will only increase as we move toward the mid-term US Congressional elections.”
Brad is uniquely qualified to support the Board in this demanding position. He followed the political process closely while working in Washington for 12 years, serving in the Washington Office of a International Paper Company. He handled both communications and Government relations for the firm, following a range of emerging issues including environment, energy, taxes, corporate governance and international relations.
He is able to build a bridge to the Norwegian culture following 26 years in Norway – handling corporate communications for such firms as Elopak, SysScan (Kongsberg), Elkem and Dyno Nobel. Since 2005 he has been running his own communications consultancy WordFlow and serving as a partner in the Interaction Consulting Group. He also teaches courses in PR and Communications at the Norwegian School of Management (BI).
Carolyn Haneberg
“In Carolyn Haneberg we have a tough act to follow,” says Brad Larson. “She handled relations with the media with extreme skill during the election of Barack Obama and also the heavy media pressure generated by his Nobel Peace Prize award and the following trip to Oslo.”
“These are challenging times ahead with the upcoming mid-term elections and a large number Democratic open seats. This makes it all the more important for Democrats worldwide to get out the vote,” he says. “We have a job to do. Issues like Health Care, Afghanistan, the current Financial situation and the polarization of political debate in the US make our involvement critical.”
Brad sees three areas requiring communications focus in the coming months. These include increasing coverage and understanding of issues such as the ones above and also support of DAN events aimed at increasing membership and facilitating contact between members. By far the most important focus, however, will be support of activities to increase voter registration and promote political activity for all Democrats in Norway.
“Live Video Broadcast” of the People’s Peace Prize Buffet from Oslo, Norway
The People’s Peace Prize Buffet is “sold out” but we welcome you to the Rica Hotel after the parade for a free reception in the hotel’s lobby where we will be serving Gløgg and Peppercake.
We are doing our best to make available additional spaces for the buffet but we can not promise this will be possible! Please do not make the long trip to the Buffet just to be disappointed that no additional “last minute” spaces are available though you are still welcome to the free reception in the lobby.
LIVE VIDEO
For everyone all over the world who aren’t able to attend, we shall provide a “Live Video Stream” of the Buffet from the Rica Hotel at http://www.livestream.com/WiHood beginning at 18:30 – 22:30 (GMT+1), Thursday- December 10th. Please share the link with your friends and family so they too may share in this wonderful experience and day!
Thank you,
Democrats Abroad Norway
Torchlight Parade and People’s Peace Prize Buffet – December 10th, 2009
You are cordially invited to march in the Torchlight Parade and enjoy the People’s Peace Prize Buffet on December 10th, 2009
American Coordinating Council of Norway (ACCN) and Democrats Abroad Norway (DAN) are celebrating President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize with two special events:
Torchlight Parade
Meeting place:
Youngstorget, Oslo (located between Storgata and Møllergata)
Plan and timing:
5:30 pm: Marchers gather at Youngstorget at a meeting place marked by American flags. (Torches may be purchased at Youngstorget, Kr. 20 per piece)
6:15 pm: Parade leaves and proceeds past the Grand Hotel.
6:55 pm: President Obama plans to greet parade-goers from a balcony at the Grand Hotel.
7:15 – 7:45 pm: Gløgg and gingerbread cookies served at the Rica Victoria Hotel for members.
People’s Peace Prize Buffet
A delicious finger food buffet will be served, giving diners a chance to eat and mingle. Be prepared for surprises throughout the evening!
Location:
Rica Victoria Hotel, Rosenkrantzg 13, Oslo, tel: (+47) 24 14 70 00
Map: (click here)
Time:
Buffet is from 7:45 pm – 10:00 pm.
Cost:
Kr. 225 per adult, Kr.100 for children 6 to 12.
Prepayment is required!
How to Register
Step 1: Go to: www.democratsabroad.no/events to register and get payment information.
Step 2: Prepayment is required! Kr. 225 per adult, Kr. 100 children 6 – 12.
- Include your name and “People’s Peace Prize Buffet” when paying.
- NO REFUND!
Step 3: Bring a copy of your confirmation email to the People’s Peace Prize Buffet
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM LEGISLATION
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. I just want to say a few words about two milestones that have passed in the last few hours that represent encouraging progress for our country.
The first was the historic vote the House took last night on health insurance reform. For years we’ve been told that this couldn’t be done. After all, neither chamber of Congress has been able to pass a comprehensive health insurance reform bill for generations. But last night the House proved differently.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality, affordable options for those who don’t; and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses, and our government, while strengthening the financial health of Medicare. It is legislation that is fully paid for and it will reduce our long-term federal deficit.
Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric surrounding this legislation I know that this was a courageous vote for many members of Congress, and I’m grateful to them and for the rest of their colleagues for taking us this far. But more importantly, so are the millions of Americans whose lives will change when we achieve insurance reform — families with preexisting conditions who will finally have insurance coverage; parents who will be protected from annual and lifetime limits that can force them to pay exorbitant out-of-pocket costs for a child’s illness; small businesses that will finally be able to cover their employees; and working folks who will finally be able to afford health insurance for the very first time.
Americans like Katie Gibson, a cancer survivor from Bozeman, Montana, who shared her story with me this summer. Because of a medical condition Katie’s insurance policy was suddenly revoked when she needed it most, even though she was paying her premiums. I called Katie this morning and I told her that when the bill that passed last night becomes law we’ll be able to protect Americans just like her from the kinds of insurance company abuses she had to endure. And I told her that it was because of her willingness to share her story and the extraordinary activism that she and people like her all across the country displayed — not just this year, but over the last several years — that we are finally this close to getting reform done.
Their lives are what’s at stake in this debate, and moments like this are why they sent us here — to finally meet the challenges that Washington has put off for decades; to make their lives better and this nation stronger; to move America forward. That’s what the House did last night when it brought us closer than we have ever been to comprehensive health insurance reform in America.
Now it falls on the United States Senate to take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people. And I’m absolutely confident that they will. I’m equally convinced that on the day that we gather here at the White House and I sign comprehensive health insurance reform legislation into law, they’ll be able to join their House colleagues and say that this was their finest moment in public service — the moment we delivered change we promised to the American people and did something to leave this country stronger than we found it.
The second development I want to mention is a significant breakthrough in Iraq, where Iraq’s parliament has approved a new election law that paves the way for national elections early next year. This is an important milestone as the Iraqi people continue to take responsibility for their future.
I want to congratulate Iraq’s leaders for reaching this agreement. Their flexibility and commitment to their country sends an important signal to the world about Iraq’s democracy and national unity. And I look forward to prompt approval of this law by Iraq’s Presidency Council.
Iraq has known many challenges, and in the past several weeks we’ve seen that there are still those who would kill innocent men, women and children to deny the Iraqi people the future they deserve. Today’s step forward is another reminder that these enemies of the Iraqi people will fail.
The United States will continue to stand with Iraq as a strong partner and as a friend. Tough challenges remain and I’m sure that there will be difficult days to come. But this agreement advances the political progress that can bring lasting peace and unity to Iraq, and allow for the orderly and responsible transition of American combat troops out of Iraq by next September.
So I want to congratulate our troops and civilians who are serving so capably in Iraq, and I want to congratulate the Iraqi people who have taken an important step forward in pursuit of a better future.
There’s much more work to be done, but with today’s news we’re continuing to move in the right direction as we continue to look forward to Iraqi elections early next year.
Thank you very much.
What’s going on in Oslo in connection with the Nobel Peace prize?
On behalf of Democrats Abroad in Norway, we are especially pleased and honored to have the 44th President of the United States; Barack Obama awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.
Note: due to the extra security precautions, all plans may change:
1. The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony (Oslo City Hall, 10 December, 1pm)
This is the event with the least number of tickets available and ticket requests can be made directly in writing to the Nobel Institute.
2. CNN interview with the laureate (Oslo City Hall, 10 December, 5pm)
Each year CNN interviews the Nobel Peace Prize laureate live from city hall, ticket requests can be made directly in writing to the Nobel Institute.
3. “Fakkeltog” or parade with the Nobel winner immediately following the CNN interview that ends at the Grand Hotel.
It is, however, uncertain if this will take place for security reasons.
4. The Nobel Banquet (10 December, evening)
No tickets are made available to the public for this event.
5. The Nobel Peace Prize Concert (Oslo Spektrum, 11 December)
Tickets may be purchased for this event at www.billettservice.no
Tickets for the concert will go on sale on Thursday, Oct. 29th at 9:00 a.m., according to Oslo Spektrum’s latest newsletter
Receive email or RSS updates for all Nobel Peace Prize events. Subscribe to our website email notification service, located on the top right portion of the DAN website or click on our RSS feed button below.
Celebration of the 45th anniversary of Democrats Abroad at the Nobel Center
On October 6th, 2009, Democrats Abroad Norway (DAN) celebrated the opening of the Nobel Center’s special exhibit, “From King to Obama” and the 45th anniversary of the Democrats Abroad . More than 150 Democrats and their guests attended the event.
- Nobel Center; Oslo, Norway
The program for the evening consisted of Democrats Abroad Norway business; a thought-provoking speech from John Riley; and an update on current issues from Lisa Cooper, DAN chairman.
John Riley’s speech was titled, “What Norway can learn from American ideas of nationhood, a personal angle”. John started his speech with witty anecdotes about his personal experiences with the concept of Norwegian national identity and concluded with a message about how national identity needs to be adjusted to reflect shifts in society. Diversity does not reflect equality unless the nation is willing to accept change as a norm and redefine itself as necessary.
John Riley, speaker
Lisa Cooper followed with background information about the role of the Democrats Abroad organization within the Democratic National Party and updates about the hottest issues in Washington including Obama’s policies on health care and the economy. DAN also took care of business issues such as voting on the new set of By-Laws which passed by a wide margin.
Lisa Cooper, Chairman, DAN
Guests spent the remainder of the fabulous evening socializing and viewing the exhibit. Many thanks to all the members of Democrats Abroad including Barbara Ødegaard, Thomas Anglero, Christine Årdal, Carolyn Haneberg, Caroline Lorgen, Thom Hansen, Christiina Skovsgaard and Martha Kjølseth.
- Board members: Carolyn Haneberg, Caroline Lorgen, Christina Skovsgaard, Christine Årdal
US President Barack Obama wins the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize!
Congratulations to US President Barack Obama for being the 4th US President to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace!
Watch the event from the Nobel Peace Center, October 6th, 2009
The Democrats Abroad Norway event held at the Nobel Peace Center (Oslo, Norway) “From King to Obama” exhibit hall, was an exciting and packed-to-capacity event with great speeches and a powerful energy coming from the nobility of this incredible venue.
Click on the above image to watch the “live video”.
We look forward to seeing you at our next event!