Obama College Rally for Health Reform Draws CWAers, Thousands of Students

September 17, 2009

Members of CWA locals in Maryland and Washington, D.C., were among thousands of people who turned out for President Obama's health care rally at the University of Maryland in College Park.

"Our members got there at 6:30 this morning but still couldn't get in," said Local 2336 President Michael Harris. Wearing CWA red were members of Locals 2106, 2107, 2108 and 2336. After waiting many hours, about 17,000 people finally got inside the university's basketball arena to hear the President.

Obama stressed that far from a "government takeover," a public option for health care is simply a way to give people a choice of insurers and spur competition. He compared it to a public university, like the one his audience attends. "Nobody says we are taking over private colleges. What we're doing is giving students a choice," Obama said. "You should have the choice the same way in your health care."