Oregon Public Broadcasting

This summer thousands of people have packed gatherings from Seaside to Madras, to tell their congressional representatives what they think of proposed health care changes.

April Baer reports both major political parties are thinking about how to harness this activism.

The town halls have made waves in grass-roots organizing in several ways. In some cases, they’ve become a jumping off point for new voices.

Camas resident David Hedrick became a conservative media celebrity after telling Congressman Brian Baird he doesn’t think the federal government should fund home visits to educate new parents. Here he is at an August 18th town hall in Vancouver.

David Hedrick “Stay away from my kids!” 

Since then, Hedrick’s been making the rounds on the national talk show circuit, speaking out against health care reform bills that may be enacted this fall. He popped up last week on Fox News.

David Hedrick  “Anyone who’s gone to the DMV before knows what it ‘s like to take a ticket, and sit there for four hours. Do you really want to do this at your doctor’s office?”

The issues that prompted Hedrick’s public statements have had a galvanizing effect on the conservative base. But  Democrats and other supporters of health care refom, have, in turn, been spurred to action.  

Portlander John Nicol is all for health care reform.   He was taken aback at the sight of  people shouting at representatives.

John Nicol:  “I saw just brief snippets on the news of what was happening. That was enough.”

Nicol decided to volunteer with the campaign to move health care proposals forward.

John Nicol   “I think it’s very much on peoples’ minds. I want them to have courage to get out there and contact their senators.”

Nicol was one of about fifty people walking the streets of Portland and Clackamas County  this month, in support of Barack Obama – and his health care agenda.

Treasure Mackley  “Hi! How are you! Are you Troy? I’m Treasure!”

Treasure Mackley is state director – and the only paid employee – for the  Democratic group Organizing for America in Oregon.

The basic phone list for this group was a holdover from the Obama campaign, but Mackley says she’s seeing a lot of new volunteers.

Treasure Mackley talking to homeowner:  “We’re out talking to folks about health insurance reform, and seeing if we can talk to people about signing on and declaring support for the President’s three principles.”

While both major political parties have a lot invested in the fight over health care, some of the agitation this summer is coming from activists who are new to politics, or who don’t necessarily subscribe to the party line.

Geoff Ludt   “Fiscally conservative is probably too narrow, I guess libertarian-ish,  would be the best way to describe me if you want to plug me into a hole.”

Geoff Ludt says he's he's been part of several political groups over the years. This year, he helped start the Oregon Tea Party, a group critical of government spending.  

He’s a 35-year-old  accountant , husband, and father who lives in the Portland Metro area. He says his main concern is fighting what he calls  over-reach from the public sector into the private sector.

Ludt knows some people think the Oregon Tea Party is essentially Republican in character, but says that’s not necessarily the case.

Geoff Ludt    “I think most folks at the grass roots, if you said, let’s align ourselves with the Republican Party, they’d be, like, ‘Are you serious?’”

Be that as it may, there are some issues of common interest. The Tea Party has helped  gather signatures to refer new state taxes to the ballot.

The state GOP is also pouring money and resources into the same effort, along a different track.

But Ludt says the Tea Party’s members are still trying to decide how to flex their new-found political muscle. The Tea Party says it has $600 in the bank toward a summetime fundraising goal of $2700.

It remains to be seen whether the summer burst of interest will give mainstream political parties any financial bump.

As the health care debate has played out, from July 3rd  through late August, Oregon’s Republican Party outraised Democrats by more than two-to-one. 

State records show the state Democratic party raised only about $17,000, to the GOP's $41,000.

Democratic party leaders say they’re not concerned, because this time of year is traditionally a tough time for fundraising.