This is the year! This is the year that doctors stand up and say “NO.” This is the year that ObamaCare loses in the public and political debate. This is the year that brings the patient-physician relationship back to the forefront of what is important, that puts patient care in front of control, and that puts patient choice ahead of rationing.
There is just one catch: we need you to make this happen. AAPS will do everything as an organization that we can, but we need members to stand up and participate. By participating in the process you can help steer the health care debate. Whether in discussions with the candidates, questions submitted to the debates, at a phone bank answering questions, or just talking to the campaign worker sitting next to you while stuffing envelopes, we need to insert ourselves into the conversation.
What to do:
Volunteer for & Educate Candidates: While the outcome of the Republican primary is still uncertain, the eventual winner will be on the national stage as the most visible advocate against ObamaCare. AAPS will work to make sure that candidate is prepared with the information he needs to properly defend against government-run medical care and explain why free-market solutions are necessary. Governor Romney appears to be leading the Republican primary, but with his support of a health care bill that is almost as bad as ObamaCare, he needs to hear from more doctors about what the real problems and real solutions are. AAPS lifetime member Ron Paul, MD is a challenger for the Republican nomination. Once a candidate is selected make sure he hears from you about why doctors oppose ObamaCare!
However, Presidential candidates aren't the only ones that you can volunteer for or educate. Many of the Senators that voted for ObamaCare are up for re-election this year, and every House member is on the chopping block. You can call your state party and ask for volunteer opportunities and they will point you in the right directions.
AAPS members Paul Broun, MD*; Andy Harris, MD*; Joe Heck, DO*; Wayne Iverson, MD; Dan Eichenbaum, MD; & Michael Pryce, MD are running for Congress. Click on a name to learn more about the candidate and lend your support. (* = incumbents)
Attend Townhalls: Politicians are going to be out in force this year. Take every opportunity that you can to attend the events and get a question asked. We suggest asking, “As a Doctor, I believe in a strong patient-physician relationship that Obamacare doesn’t support. What will you do to repeal ObamaCare and get the government out of my exam room?”
Write a Check: We understand that our members are busy, so if you can’t make it to any events or volunteer on a campaign we have a answer for that. Our PAC is very active and very selective, and we choose to only support candidates that understand our profession and support the mission of AAPS. Eight of the candidates the PAC supported in 2010 were physicians running for office for the first time or against an incumbent. Five of these doctors won and went to D.C. - in part because of your help! (Andy Harris, M.D. of Maryland, Scott DesJarlais, M.D. of Tennessee, Rand Paul, M.D. of Kentucky, Joe Heck, D.O. of Nevada, and Dan Benishek, M.D. of Michigan.) Learn how you can support the PAC at http://eepurl.com/h6ie6.
| January 21, 2012 | South Carolina (primary) |
| January 31, 2012 | Florida (primary) |
| February 4, 2012 | Nevada (caucus) |
| February 4–11, 2012 | Maine (caucus) |
| February 7, 2012 | Colorado (caucus), Minnesota (caucus), Missouri (primary) |
| February 28, 2012 |
Arizona (primary) Michigan (primary) |
State Level Elections: Do not underestimate the importance of the 2012 elections at your state level. Proponents of government-run healthcare are developing their strategies for taking these offices. (See http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1114858.) Governors are being elected in 13 states, as are nearly 6000 legislators in 44 states.
