300 rally in Seattle in support of Obama's health care proposals

They gathered, 300 strong, in Seattle's Occidental Park to rally for President Obama's health care reform today.

"The most humane way is to give everyone the same set of benefits and pay for it together," said Congressman Jim McDermott, speaking to the crowd. "Obama is creating a house of health. We're going to get a bill."

The Seattle rally was one of nine statewide put on by Organizing for America, a group formed by Obama and working to support his proposals, as health care reform.

The group is a project of the Democratic National Committee committed to supporting Obama's agenda.

McDermott, one of the state's leaders in health care reform, predicted that a health care bill will go to a conference committee in early January and there will be a final bill passed in early February.

He said he plans to run for re-election next year, in part to make sure a health care proposal is fair, particularly that people aren't excluded from health care because of pre-existing conditions.

"This is the biggest social change in the country in 75 years," McDermott said. He said there hasn't been such a change since the introduction of welfare and social security in 1935. Clapping his hands together in the chill, McDermott said, "The people in Washington need to know you've come out in 20 degrees."

Those at the rally waved their signs, "health care can't wait," and volunteers collected Christmas cards addressed to Washington Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, urging them to support health care reform.

Those at the rally acknowledged that if Congress passes a health care bill, it might not be perfect.

"If we have to compromise now, we'll compromise," said Kathy Cummings, with the Washington State Labor Council. "But we haven't stopped fighting."

"It's taking us too long to address it," said Seattle mayor-elect Mike McGinn. "But now it's within reach."

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com