Watching Obama's Health Care Watch Parties, Sept. 9

"President Obama is delivering a major address on health insurance reform to a special joint session of Congress," writes Jeremy Bird, Deputy Director of Organizing for America (OFA). 

We all knew that already, of course, but Jeremy does tell us something we didn't know: OFA is astroturfing big time to get a bigger television audience for Obama's speech on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7:00 p.m. (CDT). 

In a mass email, OFA said it has "organized special watch parties that night for all Organizing for America supporters, their friends, neighbors, and families -- and a local volunteer has decided to host one in your area." The email that I received has a time stamp of Sept. 8, 9:27 p.m. (CDT). 

OFA even provides a "Watch Party Host Guide," (available as PDF) which makes for some very funny reading. It could have been given the title "Basics of Hosting a Party for Idiots." 

OFA's Host Guide offers sophisticated advice such as "SET UP YOUR SPACE: Make sure you have enough places for people to sit. Refreshments are not required, but some snacks and drinks are a nice plus." If you haven't learned this aspect of throwing a party by the time you're finished with your freshmen year of college, then you have no business throwing a party. 

More great advice: "WATCH the President’s address. The speech is scheduled to begin at 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time, but check your local TV listings for time and channel." Uh huh. The whole purpose of these "watch parties" is to watch the frikking address, yet OFA somehow felt it was necessary to include that in its instructions. 

OFA's top dude is David Plouffe, formerly Obama's campaign manager and currently - in effect - still his campaign manager and perpetual propaganda perpetrator. Make no mistake about it: Obama's presidential campaign did not end when he won last November. Without skipping a beat, and with Plouffe's help, the campaign instantaneously switched its goal from winning in 2008 to a never ending, omnipresent campaign to win in 2012. Most politicians at least pretend to stop campaigning during the first half of a term in office. Not Obama, who won't be content with a full house in Congress listening to him. He wants ratings. He wants big ratings, in no small part because he is desperate to sway public opinion. So far, his only swaying has been negative. 

After Obama's speech, notes Jeremy Bird, "everyone at these parties will be able to take part in an important conference call with former Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe about the work we'll still need to do to help pass real reform this year." 

Translation: Stand by for marching orders. And who am I to stand in the way? Let's help OFA spread the word, shall we? You can find a watch party near you anywhere in the country by clicking over to the OFA web site at http://my.barackobama.com/WatchParties? Since I am Chicagocentric, here is a list of Watch Parties in the Chicago area (as of 10:00 p.m. CDT): 

health care forum in Urban Indian Community Wednesday, September 9 6:00 PM American Indian Center of Chicago (Chicago, IL) American Indian Center oldest urban Indian Center in the country will host the Health Care reform presentation by President OBama on Wednesday September 9, 2009 1630 W. Wilson Chicago,... 32nd Ward Democrats and Organizing for America Presidential Address Watch Party Wednesday, September 9 6:00 PM The Village Tap (Chicago, IL) Join State Representative and 32nd Ward Democratic Committeeman John Fritchey, together with Organizing for America, to watch President Obama's historic address to a joint session... Ivonne G Franklin Park event Wednesday, September 9 6:30 PM Franklin Park Residence (Franklin Park, IL) Join me to hear the latest in President Obama's push for Health Care Reform and then participate in the Post-Speech conference call. This issue affects us... Let's Watch together and Interpret! Wednesday, September 9 12:00 PM "Lily Pad" (Berwyn, IL) Watching with friends and family... Different minds, different opinions! Should be interesting... LET'S SUPPORT BARACK & THE KIDS - LET'S DISPELL THE HATER'S BELIEF SYSTEM Wednesday, September 9 6:00 PM ALSN (Chicago, IL) Just watching the address. We ask that you share your time with us and the President to speak to our children about the most important... 

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Notice the reference above to fellow Americans with differing beliefs as "haters." Also, do these geniuses know that Obama's school speech happened on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and that their watch party is for a health reform speech???] 

Brown Bag Health Care Address Watch Party Wednesday, September 9 11:30 AM Bill & Ann McCarthy's Home (Lombard, IL) Have your lunch and watch the President's address on Health Care to a joint session of Congress. Bring your own lunch. We will provide soft... Health Care Reform, NOW!!! Wednesday, September 9 6:00 PM Vanessa's Business Center (Chicago, IL) On Wednesday, President Obama will deliver a major address to spell out his vision for health insurance reform to a special joint session of Congress.... Watch the President's Address to Congress with Friends Wednesday, September 9 6:30 PM Durty Nellie's Pub (Palatine, IL) Join your fellow Obama supporters, progressives, Democrats, and health care activists to watch President Obama address an unusual joint session of Congress. Food and drinks... Downers Grove [Township] Democrats for Health Care Wednesday, September 9 7:00 PM Community High School District 99 Administration Bldg (Downers Grove, IL) This is our regular meeting night. We will watch the President's speech, followed by our meeting. After the meeting, we will go to Nonnie's Restaurant... Watch Party Wednesday, September 9 6:00 PM Jay's House (Naperville, IL) The time is now for health care reform! Please join me and other supporters as we watch President Obama's Health Care Speech. Steve and Bettina's Watch Party Wednesday, September 9 7:00 PM Our House (Homewood, IL) Watch party for President Obama's Health Care Address. HEALTH CARE WATCH PARTY Wednesday, September 9 6:00 PM Floosmoor Station Brewpub (Flossmoor, IL) We will meet at 6:00 pm, use our cell phones to call other HEALTH CARE REFORM supporters, and then watch the President's address at 8:00... Health care watch party Wednesday, September 9 6:45 PM Home of Renee and Bill Major (Naperville, IL) Come watch Obama's speech and listen to a conference call after in the comfort of my family room. Discuss your views with others.