Health care reform supporters rallying in Atlanta

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Supporters of health care reform will rally in a parking lot at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site and then they will watch the president's televised pitch to Congress to pass a bill that will extend coverage to everyone, especially those who are not insured.

Organizing for America, an offshoot of President Obama's 2008 campaign organization, is starting the "second leg" of its bus tour to rouse enough public support to counter the protests that have confronted many members of Congress at district meetings.

Organizers say at "hundreds" have signed up to attend the Wednesday evening rally but they declined to be specific about how many. The Web site where people are registering — my.barackobama.com — showed more than 1,485 had signed up early Wednesday afternoon. But Joanne Peters, the regional spokeswoman for Organizing for America.  said that tally may not be accurate.

Since notice is not required, Organizing for America expects many more people than the number who have registered because notice is not required to attend the rally Wednesday evening.

Seven speakers will follow a Decatur fifth-grader, who will lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. at 6:45 p.m. The 8 p.m. speech will be broadcast on huge screens set up in a parking lot off John Wesley Dobbs Drive.

"The purpose is to demonstrate the support there is for health insurance reform,” Peters said.

She said the group was trying to counter media images of angry citizens protesting the reform that is still being crafted.

The bus tour hit its 10th city last week and Atlanta is the first stop for the next 10, Peters said.

Georgia members of the Tea Party Patriots don't have any plans for a counter rally Wednesday evening but they are planning events for later in the week.