Campbell in Absentia at Health Care Rally

Supporters of health care reform marched outside the local Newport Beach office of Rep. John Campbell, who represents south county in Congress. More than 300 Orange County residents withstood summer heat to attend a rally Monday outside the Newport Beach offices of Rep. John Campbell in an effort to ask him to hold a townhall meeting about health reform.

Residents young and old held signs, collected petitions, wrote personal letters and sang hymns such as "We Shall Overcome."

Organizers delivered more than 150 handwritten letters and 4,000 signatures on petitions to Campbell's office. Office assistant Gussie Fields told organizers that Campbell was away "meeting with the public."

"It is always a challenge to accommodate all of the requests our office receives," said spokesman Brent Hall.

The march was supported by: Free Enterprise Advocates; Organizing for America; Yes We Can!; Insure the Uninsured; SEIU, Local 721; Laguna Beach Democratic Club; Canyon Democratic Club; Newport Beach Women's Democratic Club; Laguna Woods Democratic Club; Progressive Democrats of America; Health Care Access Network (HCAN); Latino Coalition for a Healthy California; Orange County Federation of Labor; The Liberal OC; Women For: Orange County; Orange County Equality Coalition (OCEC); Teamsters, Local 952; and IUCC Advocates for Peace and Justice.

Video of the Townhall March may be viewed on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Q2V4TKhYusE