Activist Ady Barkan tells Sen. Ed Markey why he's backing him. (Image: Ed Markey for Senate/screenshot)
Aug 01, 2020
Ady Barkan, the healthcare activist dying of ALS who has spent years advocating for Medicare for All and other progressive policies, endorsed Sen. Ed Markey for reelection on Friday in his primary against Rep. Joe Kennedy.
"Progressives should look to Sen. Ed Markey as the benchmark for the kind of candidate we should strive to elect and re-elect," said Barkan.
Markey has attracted the support of a number of progressive activists and advocacy groups as he faces a challenge from Kennedy in Massachusetts' Democratic primary, scheduled for September 1. Supporters cite Markey's longtime backing for environmental causes and his support for Medicare for All as reasons to keep the incumbent in office.
"An original co-sponsor of Medicare for All, Ed has long been a progressive champion for universal health care as well as the environment, equity, and dozens of other issues," Barkan said. "What makes Ed different, however, is that he actually delivers and passes laws. And he can empathize with the issues he champions."
Watch the endorsement video:
Barkan's struggles with ALS, said Markey, are an inspiration for progressives as the activists has "channeled a grim diagnosis into a remarkable movement for Medicare for All."
"He challenges each one of us to be a hero," Markey said.
The cruelty of the American healthcare system, the senator continued, is apparent when you see stories like Barkan's.
"Ady deserves as much time as possible with his two young children and loving partner, Rachael," said Markey. "He shouldn't have to struggle to get treatment approved by insurance. He shouldn't have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for at-home care."
The senator added that a Medicare for All system would lessen the impact of the disease on Barkan and others in similar straits.
"Medicare for All will ensure that Ady and every other American can receive high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive health care," Markey said. "I'm grateful for Ady's support and will continue to fight with him for policies that recognize health care as a human right."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Ady Barkan, the healthcare activist dying of ALS who has spent years advocating for Medicare for All and other progressive policies, endorsed Sen. Ed Markey for reelection on Friday in his primary against Rep. Joe Kennedy.
"Progressives should look to Sen. Ed Markey as the benchmark for the kind of candidate we should strive to elect and re-elect," said Barkan.
Markey has attracted the support of a number of progressive activists and advocacy groups as he faces a challenge from Kennedy in Massachusetts' Democratic primary, scheduled for September 1. Supporters cite Markey's longtime backing for environmental causes and his support for Medicare for All as reasons to keep the incumbent in office.
"An original co-sponsor of Medicare for All, Ed has long been a progressive champion for universal health care as well as the environment, equity, and dozens of other issues," Barkan said. "What makes Ed different, however, is that he actually delivers and passes laws. And he can empathize with the issues he champions."
Watch the endorsement video:
Barkan's struggles with ALS, said Markey, are an inspiration for progressives as the activists has "channeled a grim diagnosis into a remarkable movement for Medicare for All."
"He challenges each one of us to be a hero," Markey said.
The cruelty of the American healthcare system, the senator continued, is apparent when you see stories like Barkan's.
"Ady deserves as much time as possible with his two young children and loving partner, Rachael," said Markey. "He shouldn't have to struggle to get treatment approved by insurance. He shouldn't have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for at-home care."
The senator added that a Medicare for All system would lessen the impact of the disease on Barkan and others in similar straits.
"Medicare for All will ensure that Ady and every other American can receive high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive health care," Markey said. "I'm grateful for Ady's support and will continue to fight with him for policies that recognize health care as a human right."
Ady Barkan, the healthcare activist dying of ALS who has spent years advocating for Medicare for All and other progressive policies, endorsed Sen. Ed Markey for reelection on Friday in his primary against Rep. Joe Kennedy.
"Progressives should look to Sen. Ed Markey as the benchmark for the kind of candidate we should strive to elect and re-elect," said Barkan.
Markey has attracted the support of a number of progressive activists and advocacy groups as he faces a challenge from Kennedy in Massachusetts' Democratic primary, scheduled for September 1. Supporters cite Markey's longtime backing for environmental causes and his support for Medicare for All as reasons to keep the incumbent in office.
"An original co-sponsor of Medicare for All, Ed has long been a progressive champion for universal health care as well as the environment, equity, and dozens of other issues," Barkan said. "What makes Ed different, however, is that he actually delivers and passes laws. And he can empathize with the issues he champions."
Watch the endorsement video:
Barkan's struggles with ALS, said Markey, are an inspiration for progressives as the activists has "channeled a grim diagnosis into a remarkable movement for Medicare for All."
"He challenges each one of us to be a hero," Markey said.
The cruelty of the American healthcare system, the senator continued, is apparent when you see stories like Barkan's.
"Ady deserves as much time as possible with his two young children and loving partner, Rachael," said Markey. "He shouldn't have to struggle to get treatment approved by insurance. He shouldn't have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for at-home care."
The senator added that a Medicare for All system would lessen the impact of the disease on Barkan and others in similar straits.
"Medicare for All will ensure that Ady and every other American can receive high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive health care," Markey said. "I'm grateful for Ady's support and will continue to fight with him for policies that recognize health care as a human right."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.