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Healthcare reform advocates get a boost from 'West Wing's' first couple in new ad

By Tony Romm - 11/06/09 12:13 PM ET

Now stumping for healthcare reform: two actors readers might instantly recognize as the stars of the Washington drama "West Wing" --President Jed Bartlett and first lady Abbey Bartlett.

In the advertisement, sponsored by Health Care for America Now, Martin Sheen and Stockard Channing (albeit not in character) ask voters to call their congressmen and urge them to support Democrats' healthcare bill, which is scheduled to come to a vote Saturday.

"Now we can finally fix healthcare once and for all," Sheen says, describing the plan's promise for reform.

"And you can make it happen. Take action today," adds Channing.

Politics aside, there's an interesting pop culture parallel here: Bartlett in the show supports some variation of a single-payer healthcare system, but he ultimately decides to shelve the idea once he reaches office. (Viewers learn this because a presidential candidate borrows heavily from an old speech he never delivered on his proposal for reform.)


Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/66731-healthcare-advocates-seek-west-wing-actors-help

Comments (18)

Hollywood hacks rushing to the aid of Chicago thugs, ex domestic terrorists, overt Marxists and fans of Hugo Chavez… What a match made in Heaven… All we need now is some foreign policy czar selected from the ranks of PETA and the handing the Chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs to someone like Al Sharpton.George Orwell himself would ot believe how quickly and steeply we have fallen over into the abyss. As long as Sheen and Channing are going to be in town, why not have them decide on the troop levels to be used in Afghanistan. it makes as much sense as their opinions on anything else -which in my opinion is pure, unadulterated bilge.BY 4Deuce on 11/06/2009 at 12:51
Honestly, if a commercial with Hollywood celebrities sways your vote or changes your mind on healthcare, the words shallow idiot don't even begin to describe you.BY DemsareDoneIn2010 on 11/06/2009 at 14:06
not sure if politico or the hill, but dems said if the bill dont get voted on till after xmas it will help the dems cuz people would be too interested in the holidays and family to worry about townhall meetings, i have a suggestion, call your rep who is against this bill and tell them to have a townhall meetings in 2 diff. districts a day from dec15-31. in each state, thats 100 townhall meetings a day in each state. show them that we will not forget aabout this bill or townhall meetings over the holidays, i am sure people from each district will come out just 1 day for a townhall.thats 1600 townhall meeting totle and i know there are atleast 16 districts in each state, if you really dont want this bill to pass, this is our best chance. call or email your reps today to suggest 2 meetings in 2 diff districts a day pleaseBY cargo65 on 11/06/2009 at 14:10
Why would ANYONE listen to a Hollywood celebrity?# They can't get their own lives together…they are the emitome of of a corrupt society, divorce, drugs, no values.BY Georgie Girl on 11/06/2009 at 14:49
what the [***] is actors and actress's doing . stay the [***] out of this health care. you do not know what the [***] your both doing. it would ruin our people and younger children. why not ask obama and his family if they are getting the same health plan . when he was interviewed by charlie gibson, and asked this question, he just smurked with a devious grin.. no reply ,, just the smurk.. so what does that tell you. HE IS NOT GETTING IT FOR HIMSELF OR HIS FAMILY . so people of america please for god sake's wake up and vote these people out of office next year. they are like an open sore with pus , it just gets worse..BY spuds on 11/06/2009 at 15:16
I can see these two douch bag actors didn't read the bill. In fact, the wicked witch of the west Nancy Lagosi would be happier if nobody read it. Any one that would believe these two blow hards would have to be out of their minds. Then again, there are alot of idiots in this country…and they all voted for that phoney BO. And he really does stink.BY You can not blame me on 11/06/2009 at 15:47
This will teach the gop that the DEMOCRATS can play as DIRTY as the GOP!!! THE SO CALLED MIRACLE THAT MICHELE BACHMANN EXPECTED WENT DOWN THE TIOLET, AS WILL THE REPUBLICANS. THE GOP HIGH ROLLER, THAT SUPPLIED THE BUS LOADS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE FIGHTING THE HEALTHCARE REFORM HAVE THE BEST HEALTH CARE, AND THE ONES PROTESTING ARE THE ONES WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEIR HEALTH CARE. WAKE UP PEOPLE!BY susan on 11/06/2009 at 15:56
Wow! Ugly Americans. Last I heard actors are citizens of this country—at these two are. And if Sarah and the rest of the wingnuts can voice their opinions, so can actors. Some of you don't deserve to live in this country.BY Laduende on 11/06/2009 at 16:45
People please, Get out of your pajamas and go outside and do something with your lives.BY carvednstonedem on 11/06/2009 at 17:07
Too bad you have to waste it on a bill not worth its weight in toilet paper.Tax dollars for health CARE not insurance policies. Single payer now.BY tropicgirl on 11/06/2009 at 19:10

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