And they say kids don't care about health care.

A bunch of social activist types staged a pro-health care reform rally on the University of Connecticut campus Wednesday afternoon, hoping toexplain to Joe Lieberman and others why they care about this issue.

Jon Mohrbacher, amember of the Idealists United group at UConn, said the intent was to put together a "photo petition" showing students in favor of health care reform and send it to Lieberman via the Internet in hopes of convincing him not to block a U.S. Senate vote on a public option bill.

"We're a social justice group," saidMohrbacher,aUConn senior who grew upright there in Storrs. "This is really our first big action." The UConn group is taking part in a larger health care push organized by Y.I. Want Change.

Connecticut's junior U.S. Senator has infuriated a lot of liberals in his home state (and around the nation)by threatening to join Republicans to filibuster a reform bill that includes a public health insurance option. Although Democrats like U.S.Sen. Chris Dodd insist a public option would provide some real competition for private health insurers, Lieberman argues it would cost far too much money at a time when the federal debt is becoming unmanageable.

"I feel like he [Lieberman] is turning his back on his constituents," Mohrbacher said, adding he believes the health care industry has Lieberman "in their pocket."

Lieberman has shrugged off such accusations, maintaining he's doing what's right for America, regardless of polls showing a substantial majority of Connecticut voters want a public option included in health care reform.