Summary: Featuring guests Ben Tribbett, Executive Director of Accountability Now! PAC, Dr. Reginald Coopwood, CEO of the Nashville Hospital Authority, and Karl Frisch of Media Matters for America.

Part 1 Mary prepares to unleash (ha!) the congressman Barney Frank on Halloween households all across America and if you think that’s scary, what until you hear what Republican State Senator Ron Ramsey wants to do to fair elections in Tennessee. Plus, Mary and Freddie try to understand just what, exactly, Ben Trippett and Accountability Now PAC have uncovered about Coop. [22.62MB download mp3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090928part1.mp3)

Part 2 Reginald Coopwood, M.D., CEO of the Nashville Hospital Authority tells us about their health facilities, the best-kept secret in Nashville, and Karl Frisch does his best Elbert Ventura impression in the next generation of the Media Matters for America Smackdown. Plus, President Obama’s foreign policy has all but isolated Iran from the world community. So why is the right-wing still calling him a surrender monkey? [22.62MB download mp3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090928part2.mp3)

Mayor Karl Dean on Liberadio(!), Monday, 5/18/09:
Download audio file (karl-dean-on-metro-general.mp3)

In March of this year, Reverend Henry Blaze of Progressive Baptist Church, Reverend Judi Hoffman of Edgehill United Methodist Church, Bishop Jerry Maynard of Cathedral of Praise, Rev. Jay Vorhees of Antioch United Methodist, and Councilman Rev. Jerry Maynard (along with the support of more than 50 other Nashville clergy) gathered at Watson Grove Baptist Church to address the looming financial crisis that threatens the hospital. Below are their remarks.

Bishop Jerry Maynard, pastor of Cathedral of Praise, on the moral implications of not supporting Metro General:
Download audio file (bishop-jerry-maynard-metro-general.mp3)

Councilman Rev. Jerry Maynard on the moral and spiritual obligation we have as a city to offer the services provided by Metro General:
Download audio file (councilman-jerry-maynard-metro-general.mp3)

Rev. Judi Hoffman, pastor of Edgehill United Methodist Church, on the importance of Metro General to Meharry Medical College:
Download audio file (rev-judi-hoffman-metro-general.mp3)

Rev. Jay Vorhees, pastor of the Antioch United Methodist Church, relates Metro General to the English Only fight and the hospitality of the city:
Download audio file (rev-jay-vorhees-metro-general.mp3)

Today’s rally for Metro General begins at 4:30 PM, immediately before the budget hearings begin, on the steps of the Metro Courthouse. The purpose is to show support for the hospital by speaking out against cuts to services, speaking for debt forgiveness, and to “help our lawmakers see that this is an issue of importance for all Nashvillians.”

Reverend Henry Blaze of Progressive Baptist Church, Reverend Judi Hoffman of Edgehill United Methodist Church, Freda Player of Change that Works Tennessee, along with the support of more than 50 Nashville clergy, will gather and address the looming financial crisis that faces the hospital and threatens the delivery of critical services to the uninsured, the education of more than 700 Meharry Medical College students, and more than 700 jobs. Their aim is to rally citizens and community, business, civic, and health care leaders to stand together in their support of the mission of the hospital – to provide an accredited, full service, public safety net hospital for all people regardless of their ability to pay.

WHEN: Press conference, Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at 5:00 p.m.; Community Rally will follow at 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Watson Grove Baptist Church, 1415 Horton Avenue, Nashville, 37203 (Parking next to church)

“Health care is a moral imperative, essential to preserving and protecting human dignity. As more Nashville residents become uninsured, General Hospital’s role as a safety-net hospital is increasingly important,” said Reverend Blaze. “This vital safety-net is threatened because of budget problems at both the local and state level. We need federal help to get through this crisis.”

He added, “The Metro General – Meharry Medical College partnership is a unique national health care resource that is deserving of federal financial support.”

In light of Mayor Dean’s request for 10% budget cuts across the board for government departments, Nashville General, which serves more than 30% of the uninsured patients in Nashville, may be in real trouble. Take the opportunity to come out tomorrow and find out why.