I talked with David Hogberg of Investor’s Business Daily yesterday about the Senate healthcare vote and the reaction from the grassroots. I explained to him that folks were not happy with the vote, but that grassroots activists would definitely be communicating their outrage in the weeks to come.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

“Activists were a little bit frustrated by the procedural vote on Saturday,” said Brendan Steinhauser, director of federal and state campaigns at conservative FreedomWorks. “But they do realize that this battle has just begun in the Senate. I expect activists from around the country to communicate to the three or four senators on the fence how they feel.”

Landrieu, Nelson and Lincoln have all expressed concern with the public option, the bill’s cost and abortion language. (Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., caucusing with the Democrats, has said he will oppose any bill with a public option.)

FreedomWorks will be working with activists in Louisiana, Arkansas and Nebraska to keep the pressure on these senators in the coming weeks. We still believe that Sen. Harry Reid has a tough road ahead trying to move his monstrous 2.5 trillion dollar tax-hiking Obamacare bill through the full Senate.

The new Rasmussen poll about Obamacare is encouraging – only 38% of Americans support it. As people find out that the legislation would increase the cost of healthcare, raise taxes by $500 billion and cut Medicare for seniors, opposition grows.

Those of us trying to defeat this monstrosity of a big government scheme should continue to put pressure on legislators, and continue to publicly debate the bill to drive public opinion in our favor. Many activists were disheartened by Saturday night’s Senate vote, but we must remember that the odds are against the Senate passing anything this year. And we must make our voices heard more loudly, and with more specific focus on the costs of Obamacare.

Here are some tactics that some activists have forgotten to employ, in our effort to defeat Obamacare. Protesting is one tactic that is effective, but we can’t just protest. Here are some other ways to make an impact in your state.

1. District office visits. Find out where your Senators have local offices and pay their staff a visit. Bring your friends, family and doctor to the meeting. Bring copies of petitions signed by your neighbors, as well as hand-written letters from fellow activists. This will deliver a strong message.

2. Letters to the editor. Every Senate staffer is going to pay attention to the letters in the local newspapers. Influencing the debate in the local newspapers is crucial to affecting public opinion in your state. Try to submit concise letters to the editor of every newspaper in the state, and encourage your friends to do the same.

3. Old-fashioned pamphleteering. Grab your friends, print out some talking points and petitions, and head over to the local doctor’s office, hospital or clinic. Hand out information to doctors, nurses and patients about how Obamacare will harm healthcare in this country. Ask people to sign your petition, and have them call your Senators immediately to tell them to vote NO on Obamacare. Get your own doctor and nurses involved in this battle, and you will help turn the tide against Obamacare in your state.

These are three of the most important tactics you can use to wage the intellectual and political battle necessary to defeat Obamacare. We have to continue to make the arguments in private and public conversations. Keep up the fight, and check back here for more ideas on what to do.

Thanks for everything you do for freedom.

Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) has introduced a House Resolution (H. Res 870) thanking the hundreds of thousands of participants in the 9/12 March on Washington. Check out the video he recorded in the same spot where the massive protest occurred a few months ago.

Here is an excerpt from the text of the resolution:

Expressing gratitude and appreciation to the individuals and families who participated in the Taxpayer March on Washington on September 12, 2009.

Whereas, on September 12, 2009, hundreds of thousands of American patriots, who refuse to sit idly by as the Federal Government advances skyrocketing deficits, taxpayer-funded bailouts, pork-barrel projects, burdensome taxes, unaccountable policy czars, command-and-control energy policy, and a government takeover of health care, came to Washington, DC, to show their disapproval;

Whereas individuals also wanted to convey their displeasure with the future tax increases that will be required to pay for deficit-financed spending;

Whereas these individuals understand that the fundamental American principles of limited government and personal liberty are under direct assault;

Whereas this dedicated group of freedom-loving Americans believe in open, accountable, responsible, constitutionally based government;

Whereas hundreds of buses, multiple caravans of cars from across the country, and many individually chartered flights, as well as thousands of lone-traveling cars and trucks, brought these patriots to Washington, DC, solely for this event;

Whereas these individuals endured considerable personal expense to get to the march, including transportation and lodging expenses, as well as lost wages in many instances;

Whereas estimates of the number of people who peacefully marched from Freedom Plaza to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on September 12, 2009, range as high as 1,700,000 marchers;

Whereas all 50 States were represented in the march;

Whereas this event is considered to be the largest ever gathering of fiscal conservatives in Washington, DC;

Whereas special accolades are due to the grassroots citizens organizations across the country who helped individuals exercise their constitutionally protected First Amendment rights in the Nation’s capital; and

Whereas when the current trends of government expansion and freedom retrenchment are reversed, it will be due in large part to the efforts of the hundreds of thousands who marched on Washington, DC, on September 12, 2009: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the hundreds of thousands of people who marched on Washington, DC, on September 12, 2009, to show their love of liberty and their grievance with recent government actions.

FreedomWorks is excited to announce that we are hosting the Washington, DC premiere of “Tea Party: The Documentary” on December 2nd at the Ronald Reagan Building. The reception starts at 6:00pm outside The Amphitheater in the Ronald Reagan Building, and the film will begin around 7:15pm.

Tickets are only $10, which is a steal for a premiere. Special guests will include FreedomWorks chairman Dick Armey, president Matt Kibbe, film maker Luke Livingston and the protagonists of the movie. Please purchase your tickets today, and be sure to let us know that you are coming.

Below is the trailer for the film, which follows a handful of citizens who decided to get involved in the movement to fight back against big government in America. Enjoy the trailer, and we will see on on December 2nd!