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Peninsula | Health, Housing, and Public ServicesRaging Granny Street Theater Boos Bush Healthcare Veto
Parent, Grandparents, Kids and Raging Grannies Protest Bush Veto Bush exercised the veto of legislation expanding children's health care on Oct 3, 2007 triggering rallies organized by MoveOn.org across the nation in protest.
In Palo Alto, CA the Raging Grannies staged street theater with strollers racing toward a "GOAL: health care for kids!" sign while a stealth BUSH VETO stroller attempted to block their path. Speaking in Pennsylvania, Bush said he vetoed the bill because it was a step toward "federalizing" medicine and inappropriately expanded the program beyond its focus on helping poor children, according to CNN.com. Members of the San Francisco Bay area's Raging Grannies Action League reacted swiftly: "In actuality this legislation was designed to take care of kids caught in a gap; their parents make too little to afford private health care but just enough to make them ineligible for Medicaid," said Raging Granny Ruth Robertson. "Bush shows with this veto how completely uncaring he really is." County Supervisor Liz Kniss (Santa Clara County District 15) added her voice to the outrage at the Bush veto in an address to the gathered demonstators in Palo Alto. Congress sent the legislation on the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, to the White House after the Senate voted 67-29 in late September to expand the program. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has said she will try to get the 15 Republican votes needed to overturn the veto. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo is also strongly committed to this effort. The Palo Alto demonstrators marched to Rep. Eshoo's office from Lytton Plaza and met with Senior Field Representative Rachel Arnow who reiterated the Congresswoman's commitment. Granny Gail Sredanovic thanked participants in the Palo Alto action saying, "Your presence here today helps us put the final nail in Bush's coffin; by publicizing this veto of children's health care we can be sure that an outraged public will not support Republicans in 2008."
Songs of Protest
photo by granny ruth
Strollers Lined Up for March
These empty strollers were ready to do battle with the evil Bush stroller....
photo by granny ruth
Twins
Because our strollers were involved in a mock battle with the Bush Veto Stroller, the Raging Grannies used dolls instead of real live babies. Granny Jane makes gourds and dolls, and gourd dolls fit the need nicely here. photo by granny ruth
Real babies came too!
MomsRising.org and local mom's groups came out to join our march! Cautious Grannies discouraged strollers with real babies from participating in the battle with Bush street theater, but welcomed them along on the march to the Congresswoman's office. photo by granny ruth
County Supervisor Liz Kniss
![]() indhvlizkniss.jpg photo by Granny Jane.
Liz was made an honorary Raging Granny with hat and official RG button after she adressed the crowd! Her she is filmed singing along with a Granny lyric sheet by Channel 2 KTVU and Pam Walton of Pam Walton Productions
Ready to Roll....
Marjorie Doll gets a pat on the head before the March starts. Marjorie is almost as old as her owner Granny Barbara B...a real antique! photo by granny ruth
All babies ready?
Every baby must be strapped in with a seat belt before the march...alive or not! photo by granny ruth
...and we're off!
Raging Grannies with banner lead the march...natch!
photo by Justin Miel
Bringing up the rear of the march
A demonstrator and the Evil Bush Veto Harbinger of Death!
photo by Justin Miel
Heading down Emerson Street
Grannies and supporters make their way to the Congresswoman's office
photo by granny ruth
Override the VETO!
I'm not sure who took this photo...me? (granny R)
Gathering at the Congresswoman's
photo by Justin Miel
That's Pam Walton shooting footage for her next major production, a documentary about the Raging Grannies Action League of the SF Bay area
Signs and Hats
photo by Justin Miel
Signing the letter
The fellow in the center was a big help to the Grannies...he made sure everyone signed the letter for the Congresswoman. Granny Elaine prepared the letter. She also contacted Stanford and invited medical professionals to rally with us. A doctor from El Camino hospital came in his doctor's coat and adressed us about the need for comprehensive medical care. Many people worked hard to make this action an all around success!
Senior Field Representative for the Congresswoman--Rachel Arnow
Rachel read from a statement by the Congresswoman. Everyone cheered for Anna Eshoo!
photo: Justin Miel
Boos for Evil Bush
The Evil Bush Veto Harbinger of Death followed us to the Congresswoman's office. After cheering the Congresswoman, we booed the Bush Veto!
Thanks for the photos, Justin! Far superior to those taken by us Grannies! |