American Morning
Health care hecklers: Can we talk – civilly?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/05/dogget.art.jpg caption="Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett says he was a victim of a health care heckler."]
This August, lawmakers on summer break are holding town hall meetings so voters can ask questions and get answers about health care reform. Except, as some describe it, in some districts those town hall meeting have turned into a kind of town-hell – with lawmakers being met by groups of angry hecklers.
In Texas over the weekend, Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett tried to talk to a constituent about health care reform. He says it was nearly impossible.
"The crowd certainly was angry, I suppose some might have been concerned to see a beautiful full color photo of a marble tombstone with my name on it, or might have had a negative reaction to the poster that said 'Lloyd Doggett, traitor to Texas, devil to all people,'" he says.
"But I found it more amusing than I did something to be fearful of." Doggett adds: "This is not a grass roots, pitchfork operation. If anything, it’s pure Astro turf." He claims local Republicans organized the protests; a Texas GOP spokesman denies that. Max Pappas, of the conservative group Freedomworks, says they encourage members to attend the town halls, "to sit down and talk with the congressmen."
But, some Democrats say Freedomworks doesn't want that at all. Some claim it urges its thousands of members to participate, not in a discussion about health care reform, but a shout down. "You get some instances where people get so passionate," Pappas says. "When they get into discussion they start yelling or chanting. But it's not fake outrage."
Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, was shouted down himself in a town hall meeting Sunday. But he appeared to take it in stride. "My preference would be to have it more sedate, but listen, a democracy is robust, it can be rough and tumble. Nothing really surprises me anymore."
What do you think? Is it possible to talk about health care reform and come to some sort of compromise? Or are passions too inflamed for a reasoned debate? Can we talk – civilly?
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Sucks when your playbook gets used against you doesnt it?
That is what you get for your heckling over the last decade or so...Suck it up liberal pantywastes.
All this chatter about what health care reform is going to cost us kills me. Lets talk about what health care for non-insured people cost us already. The fact is we spend millions on health care for those who don't have insurance, and yet I hear nothing about this. With that in mind shouldn't we do some sort of comparison as too what is already being spent on non-insured health care and health care reform?
What we see going on at these town meetings isn’t about healthcare reform, or the Federal deficit – it’s an attempt to re-run the last election. There’s no dialog. The protesters, like conservative media, the insurance companies and the Republicans egging them on with Death-panel talk, have no plans to stop runaway healthcare costs. Stop headlining these naysayers. You’re driving me to BBC-TV, where the news is about real news, not the racist-driven rants of frustrated people who know only what right-wing wingnuts tell them.
As usual, the privileged Republican minority is prepared to allow the poor and disadvantaged to rot rather than allow anyone near their pocketbook.
Why can nobody take an objective viewpoint any more? If Primary healthcare for the needy is improved, many of the expensive treatments for advanced conditions can be avoided. This has to be a good investment for a capitalist nation.
Unfortunately the public is being distracted from this simple truth by the concerted efforts of a small group of anti-reform bullys, who are disrupting the honest efforts of some politicians to discuss with the more polite sections of the American public. It's another case of those who shout the loudest trampling on the democratic rights of the majority.
The selfish whining of the Republican middle-class is un-christian, and indecent by any civilized standard.
Republicans have fought against Health Care for less fortunate Americans for over 40 years! They fought it in the prosperous 90's, and will use anything to take down the new democratic president.
Where were all the fiscally concerned Republicans during the costly war burdened/ big business supportive Bush administration? Bush did NOTHING last Fall to help our economy. At least our new president does SOMETHING and actually COMMUNICATES with us!
Republicans started blaming President Obama even before he was sworn in! They have no ideas – just complaints. Is this really PATRIOTIC? Big Business is funding the busses of chanters once again. Why do you think they are against Health Care Reform?
Thank you for posting the links to HR 3200. I hope people will go and actually read what it says instead of listening to the screamers on talk radio and tv. And remember that the bill that will come out of the entire process once the Senate works on it will be a lot different in many ways from what has come out of the House. All the screamers are trying to make people believe that everything has already been decided when there is a long way to go. All this ignorance and misinformation being poured into the public airwaves is incredibly damaging.
What is most ironic is that many of the proposals these people are railing against are things that would help them in the long run and most certainly help their children and grandchildren in years to come. I just wish they weren't so caught up in the screaming, the lies and vicious rumors, the hatred and namecalling and the media sideshow that they are failing to go out and do the work to actually find out the TRUTH.
If you have health care and you are happy with it, that's great....and you will be able to keep your healthcare. But MILLIONS of hard working people do not have healthcare. If we are truly a caring and decent country, we will not leave them in that state. Remember...there but for the grace of God go I. Any of us could lose our jobs and our health insurance in the blink of an eye....unless, of course, we are old enough to have government provided Medicare. Another irony...so many of the Medicare crowd who are getting great healthcare are now out there screaming and demonstrating and disrupting meetings trying to deny any healthcare coverage to other people who aren't as fortunate. I know people who are working 3 jobs and still can't afford health care insurance for their families. It is a real problem and it is a huge problem if you are one of them. Where is our compassion?
Well Brenda we are so glad you are so lucky but millions do not have the same status you do because thats how we treat health care in this country like a commodity instead of a human right.
The final bill for health care is yet to be written and thats what these town halls were supposed to be about, getting feedback and answering questions as to the direction the legislation was taking. But because the republicans want to make this issue President Obama's downfall they have refused to allow rational discussion and instead we have a militia mentality arising with the racial threats and name calling coming from the republicans at every Democratic Congressman's or Senators town halls.
All that will happen to you Brenda is that you will pay less for your policy and, I know this upsets the upperclasses, less fortunate people will be able to access reasonable cost health care. Now we all pay for the poor and uninsured to go to Emergency Rooms for a cough or flu costing hundreds of times more than if we paid for a poilicy for them and made it impossible for the Insurance companies to ration care as they do now. Brenda I cant imagine a woman like you would not know that we have rationing right now thru profit seeking CEO's of insurance companies. The horror stories are all over the media so I cant believe you would think the status quo was just fine.
We will get reform and when is all said and done I think allot of republicans will be seen for what they really are, Darwinian economists if you got your good if you dont then go to hell, or as others have put it ...I'm in the row boat...you can just swim.
Thats not the America my ancestors help to build and yes they are and would be VERY proud of their offspring fighting for what is true.
Excuse me, but they are not health care hecklers. They are voters, tax payers. Hey Congress!!!!! listen to the people who VOTED you into office and represent them.
Fred – Doesn't seem like you can comment without name calling. Don't feel like I am "raving" and your opinion of me really doesn't matter. You have that right just as I do. I am sure I have read more of HR3200 than you have. It is filled with very vague and confusing language. The company I retired from required employees to be very analytical and use their brains, so I don't rely on websites, news, talk radio, etc. to form my opinions. In the past 6 years my husband has had a knee replacement & open heart surgery and I have had breast cancer surgey/with radiation and a hip replacement. Our insurance covered every occurence, did not even hint at dropping us, and did not leave us bankrupt. They even call us once a month to see how we are and tell us all the services available to us. There are millions with the same coverage we have, which again I worked to insure we had. You seem to be more consumed with race than you are what is happening, so I choose not to read any future insulting comments from you. I am sure you make your ancestors proud!
Tiff here you go:
http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:HR3200:
that's your healthcare HR 3200 make sure the colon shows up at the end of the link, or you may get a blank page.
http://www.thomas.gov/ try this too
http://www.cbo.gov/ Congressional Budget Office link.
I too have questions, but how can I get answers if the Rep. can't hear the questions, and give an answer. The people need to know what is going to be in the bill. The groups like Freedomworks don't what any changes there fore they disrupt the process.
If you know your world history, this is the way the Brown Shirts worked in Germany in the 30's. Tell lies, disrupt the process of the gov. trying to inform the public. Cause panic with lies and the underlining fear people have of others that don't look like them. Yes racism. It lies just beneath the surface.
Death counseling , for Pete sake, If your getting older,as I am, sigh a "Living Will" and a form giving someone in your family the right to make medical decisions if you can't. Talk to your family and tell them what you want. This is only fare, to your family and you.
Know one is going to tell you , your old therefore you have to die.
Grow Up America. I'm not picking on old people, I'm 68 yrs old. At least I don't , won't, listen to lies.
Earlier this month, Frank stated that the protestors are those who pay taxes and stand to lose the most. Ummm.... no. I have worked for over 35 years and following a cancer diagnosis, find myself trapped in a job that I am no longer physically able to perform at the same level as pre-surgery. Yet, despite the fact that the job may well be the end of any quality of life for me, I need the insurance it provides. So, Frank... you stand corrected on one point. I pay taxes too. And yes, I do stand to lose the "most" if health care is NOT passed.
Actually Tiff some congressmen already have the bill posted on the web. the problem is some out there with agendas would rather read the whackjob websites and not be confused with the facts.
Tiff, this is the most sensible comment I have read concerning this mess about healthcare. Good idea, thanks for offering this very intelligent suggestion.
God bless you.
Well Brenda I'm glad to know that...However your wingnut attitudes do not suggest that you know ANYTHING about what you are raving about, NO ONE is going to lose everything they worked for unless of course you have health insurance and have a major health issue and your unsurance wont pay or wont pay most of the cost and then you go bankrupt and lose everything you worked for. THAT is the reality under the Corpocracy we have created in this country where money rules and the Constitution is abandoned because of wingnuts like you. And my apology for spelling BIGOT wrong the first time but the name still sticks. Just call a spade a spade Brenda and be honest about why you are infuriated by misinformation and refuse to hear the truth.
If the media is going to do their due diligance then why not put the location of the House Bill for Health Care on their websites so that the public can review it themselves? Everyone talks about it being 1000 pages but it has 2 inch margins and is double spaced with large font. It takes about 30 seconds a page and is far more important then the latest Harry Potter book or Twilight novel. We as Americans need to get our priorities straight and learn how to debate, it starts with reading the facts.
First of all Fred, I am not an Italian-American. I am American. I am married to an Irish Catholic American and his name is the Irish version, not Italian. I am not a "bogot" as you put it. But if you think that, its OK, especially since you seem to think if anyone opposes Obama it has to be racial. Whatever! He could be purple, I don't care. I oppose Obama's policies especially when they are being crammed down my throat. Is it so hard to understand that seniors are frightened they could lose everything they have worked for?
Dear Rebecca – I have read parts of the bill that refer to keeping your own health care and it is not clear at all. Under some topics there is a sentence that states "it will be determined by the, can't remember the title right now, so I will just call him/her the director. I did not find anything in the bill regarding euthanasia and didn't expect to. Did find a section on "end of life" which was disturbing to me. Also, it does not state that illegals will have to pay for their care, but they will be included. I do not want to pay for free health care for illegals! I do not want to pay for abortions! Everyone in this country had the same opportunity I had to work and insure their future health care. I was divorced, a single mother with no help from anyone and managed to find a good job with benefits. I did not sit back and let the gov. take care of me. Now I have to worry about losing my care and I have good reason to worry. Do you think companies are going to continue what they are doing if the gov. will do it for them? Yesterday we received 4 statements from Medicare and what a mess. Everytime these come in the mail I have to make at least 3 different phone calls to get them correct. Is the gov. even capable of managing our health care? From my experience, I doubt it.
CNN - no more pulling punches on this! Stand up to these people whom are striving to end civil discourse on the subject of health care. They are trying to circumvent the democratic process. STAND UP. CALL THEM WHAT THEY TRULY ARE. STOP THE INSANITY THAT FOX NEWS IS PERPETRATING AND MEGA CORPORATIONS SO AFRAID OF LOSING EVEN A TINY PERCENTAGE OF PROFITS HAVE INCITED. CNN - COME THROUGH FOR AMERICA BY NAMING NAMES AND EXPOSING THESE PROTESTS FOR WHAT THEY TRULY ARE.
How dare that racist White Dr. ask a question about health care of the Black congressman on tv like he did. The man is an obvious racist. Hopefully Obama will get the three of them together and enjoy a bottle of Ripple. Ok now that that's out I wonder how long before the congressman accouses the Dr. of some sort of racism ?
I have to wonder- all the screaming and yelling at the politians that 'we' as a whole, elected.
The very nature of politics is to bend and manipulate and distort- be it Democrat or Republican or Independent. Violence never is the solution to any given issue- it's part of the problem.
The town hall meetings in this area have not gone as their planners had hoped. The majority of meetings were scheduled and hosted by local Republican groups. That's all well and good- save for two of the officers of said groups used computer assisted dialing to leave threatening messages on answering machines, or live to the person who happened to answer their phone.
I was among many who saved the message, and forwarded it on to local law enforcement. Not because I'm against town hall meetings, or to those who oppose the current Administration and Congress.
I'm opposed to being browbeaten to support views that are not my own. I'm opposed to joining in acts governed by mob mentality and carefully choreographed and orchestrated acts- by either party.
Those folk who engaged in such egregious behavior used their 'fifteen minutes of fame' not to express their opposition, or solutions to -the proposed health care plan- but instead chose to decry the process of having measured, calm and realistic discussion of the topic as 'not interesting enough'. Gee, I thought mature, responsible dialogue had only to be constructive and progressive to be considered of interest.
Thank you, Nathaniel. If the ignoramices don't get it now, we all should just leave them alone, don't waste our time.
Thanks also to Harvey. This I can relate to since I am a Medicare recipient. Thank God, someone is talking like they have at least an ounce of brains.
Lastly, I am praying for compassion, wisdom, knowledge and love to rule in our country; will you join me, please?
Diane...I know exactly what you are dealing with. My father had to go back to work after retiring at 63 because he couldn't afford the insurance premiums he would have to pay because he has high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Only one provider would even insure him and at a rate that was through the roof....and he was quoted a higher price when they found out he was taking meds to help control both. He was actually being punished for trying to prevent more expensive health care problems like heart disease. The health insurance companies are making a ton of money and denying people procedures and coverage, even after they have paid big bucks for years and years to these companines. Hearing these protesers screaming that the government is control of their health care is just laughable. It is the money grubbing INSURANCE COMPANIES who are in control of our health care and getting rich taking our money. I cannot believe the false information being fed to these so called "protesters" and their complete and total gullibility. The ignorance is just shocking.
And to those who are claiming to have "read the bill".... Interesting that you were able to do that since at this point there is not yet a bill to read....just a bunch of proposals and the program framework working their way through committees. Just because a bill is assigned a number does NOT mean the bill has been written in its final form. Take a civics course, people, to learn how your government works.
And attacking Medicare? Nothing like shooting yourselves in the foot. The only health care system that actually works in this country is Medicare. Medicare has never once denied my parents or in-laws any treatment or failed to pay what it should pay for their care. Try looking at the facts for a change instead of listening to these rabble rousers and talk show freaks who are completely dishonest.
H.R. 3200 health care bill will create over 3 million jobs in first two years of its existence. By my study, it will provide over 500, 000 nurse assistants, 1.5 million nurses, 50, 000, interns and 1,000,000 other medical related jobs. 1/5 of our GDP is related to the health care industry, If you are looking for work, this bill will help you or someone in your family or community. This is the Republicans Waterloo!
Most of these protesters don't even know that the medicare is administered by US Govt. Most of them like Medicare and don't want Govt to interfere in it. Isn't it laughable. They need to get themselves educated before attending these meetings.
Moreover the plans so far proposed by democratic congress are not even tiny bit closer to socialized medicine because in case of SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM every one from a nurses assistant, nurse, doctors and hospitals and even insurance are owned and operated by Govt. Are congress talking about that. NO, they are not . I am not for a complete take over of Health care by govt but there need to be a public option competing with private insurance to bring the cost down . Thanks.
I think the behavior at the town hall meetings where attendees are shouting and not letting the speaker be heard is disgraceful. It violates the rights of others to hear and be heard. The anger in large part is based on misinformation and misunderstanding. They ought to give everyone a chance to be heard. If I were present I would like to make it known that I don't feel that I should have to pay $836 a month for a health insurance policy with a $5000 deductible because I have hypertension controlled by medication when I customarily don't spend $1000 a year on MD visits. Maybe if they would shut up and listen they could hear what others are suffering from the current health care system. They don't want to hear the truth and don't want anyone else to hear it either.
The republican lackeys yelling at town hall meetings to prevent reform of a costly broken health care system that leaves millions uninsured, forces others into bankruptcy, and is on a path to bankrupt America, are the same breed of people who are recruited in Iraq to affix explosives to themselves, walk into a meeting, and prevent any kind of change there.
This is not a partisan issue the is democrat and republican alike side by side are shouting down corrupt politicians republican and democrats ~~MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS IS NOT PARTISAN OR RACIAL these politicians who don't care for the true welfare of the people but an agenda created by the Bankers. Its not a left right dummy fight as the media for the most part would make it but its "We the people"sick and tired of the lies from leaders who are being bought out by elite bankers. The democrats and republicans at the top are all on the same team the Banker team not "We the People" team. I urge all people not to make this partisan or racism but make it about Tyranny vs Free Humanity ~~~~ look past the left and the right and really think about Liberty ,freedom, and the constitution and bill of rights all on the choppingblock right now. Our fight is with Banker Fascism AKA TYRANNY the choice is not partisan, the choice is FREE HUMANITY its a global fight not just a town hall fight . The Sleeping giant has finally awakened all of us together against tyranny and the media is spinning it as partisan but the public is smarter than that its everyone against an all to powerfull government run at the top by a bunch of extreme Bankers.
I've tried watching the news to glean some basic information on the healthcare ideas. I've learned a few basic things;
1. Fox news is telling us that the dems want to give us low quality healthcare and kill anyone they can.
2. Msnbc is telling us that Fox news is full of religious zealotry and dems should all whine about the whining republicans.
3. CNN is telling me that they watch Fox news and Msnbc and refuse to take sides.
Unfortunately I still know next to nothing about the healthcare ideas.
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I highly doubt the info put forth by Fox, but if Senators/public figures/news commentators are lying to the public why aren't they facing any scrutiny for fraud? If they have real details, I'd like to hear them instead of the idealistic/outraged dogma.
If the information from MSNBC is accurate, I'd like to hear someone stand up with force and give their side of the information. Instead, all I hear is their biased rebutting of Fox news talking points.
CNN's wishy-washy coverage makes me feel like they are watching and commenting on the Fox-Msnbc drama without investigating. I'd like to ask the reporters on this more objective news channel to find out what is really going on.
– Could you highlight some of the main objectives proposed for healthcare, including a taste of some specific wording in the said proposals?
– Could you find out who is misleading the public, why they are doing it, and debate whether they will continue to have a career after blatanty trying to mislead the public? If anyone is doing it on purpose – I'd get popcorn to watch thier career-ending mistake.
– Could you take a third party side that is against lies and debunk the enless spin drama on healthcare? There are folks putting out uninformed opinions without malicious intent, but it is getting in the way of learning worthwhile facts.
– I posit there is no debate on healthcare currently – only debate on drama about people wanting to NOT debate healthcare. (Horrible sentence to match the horrible news). I'd only trust CNN with the hefty duty of trying provide news coverage on healthcare instead of the tabloid coverage we've been watching. Could you do a poll asking if people think we are truly debating healthcare?
Thanks for reading, sorry I didn't take the time to make it more clear.
G
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oh – and make them change the friggin Pledge of Allegiance already. god/allah/adonnai/reincarnation/santa/none – either add every diety or remove every diety from our government, how did we stop talking about this?
Bill,Bill, Bill, are you serious when you doubt that Bush audiences were handpicked and vetted? It is well documented or do you not believe reports that don`t agree with your opinion. The Tampa incident was a matter of removing those who were a disruption.
Insurance companies love using people like you. They don`t want an alternative taking money from their coffers. You can keep your health care if you like it. You might not like it so much if you had to pay for it without the benefit of being part of a group as we do. You might not like it so much if they decide not to pay for an order from your doctor. How exactly does keeping your insurance, as is you choice under this plan, take away your "freedoms?"
Hey Fred T. and DLP. Reality speaking here, pay attention: You are once again trying to put this on race. 1) Stop watching TV, it's affected your little brain. 2) Before bringing up you are Italian American, try actually living in Italy. I have and there is plenty of racism there, just ask the Gypsies and the (oh my God) BLACK African prostitutes that line the highways there and are treated worse than dirt!!! They are considered sub-human and aren't even protected by Italian law. At least in America our prostitutes are considered human and have protection under the law. 3) People like me aren't concerned about race, we are concerned about the FACT that idiots that are supposed to represent us on an intelligent level AREN'T reading the bills they are passing!!! Take DLP for instance, like a true Dumocrat, he CLAIMS he has read a Bill THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST!!! Thanks DLP, I could not have made a better case for voting these Dumocrats out of office no matter how much I tried. You are a true asset to the Dems and actually represent the current congress better than they represent us.
2010, REAL CHANGE IS COMING!
Unfortunately, for GOP operatves this is not about reasonable debate. Which is why they have once again chosen to just shout down anyone who wants to change the status quo. When you are so desperate that you put forth such obvious lies, I guess you have few choices. As to the ignorant, easily swayed people who choose to support them, either they are angry about the color of the new president or just not very bright.. just try reading many of the absurd idiotic posts they make where they attempt to parrott the GOP talking points.
Dear Brenda,
I'm afraid you've been listening to the wrong sources because your message is filled with errors about President Obama's health plan. It's the lobbyists and conservative media that want you to think you'll no longer have a choice about your health care. They've also spread lies about euthanasia for the elderly. One of the points the President has emphasized over and over is that if you're happy with your own health care arrangement, you will have the choice to keep it. The optional end-of-life consultation was actually put in there by physicians who want the option of being paid for that service. Either you haven't listened to the President or don't believe him.
It sounds like you've worked for a great company. Unfortunately, millions of Americans don't have the benefits you have. They don't have any benefits: either they cannot afford them or can't get them because of a previous medical condition.
Further, If we don't get the cost of Medicare under control, the system will bankrupt the economy. A government option would be run very much like Medicare! It's only a choice, especially for those people who don't have the care you do. I hope you'll listen to your congressional representative with an open mind and heart. Respectfully, Becky
Brenda: you and I both know that this is not about PRESIDENT Obama's Health care plan. This is about the fact that PRESIDENT Obama is BLACK, and you can't handle that. You and the other bogots out there. I am Italian-American too Brenda so I KNOW and you know that I KNOW.
Thank God my parents did not leave me a legacy of hatred towards others nor the spinlessness not to be honest about it if I were.
If it wasn't so scary, this would be fascinating to watch.
Apparently when irrational fear is your primary motivator, there is no lie so outrageous that those the least among us won't believe it.
One would think that a station that purports to report actual news would have someone actually read the health care bill and report to the American people what it actually says. I have read it, have you?
Nothing in the bill prohibits or phases out private health insurance.
Nothing in the bill says old people will be denied coverage.
Nothing in the bill puts a government employee between you and your doctor.
Nothing in the bill says your use to society will be a determining factor in your health care.
The Republican party is inciting a riot and you are helping them. Why do you people keep reading their press releases of lies as if they are true? Remember the term "investigative reporter"? What happened to those people?
I will be attending a town hall meeting soon and I represent no one but myself. No one is paying me to disagree with Obama's health care plan, (if you can call it a health plan!). I call it a plan to take away what I worked for years to have in my retirement. The company I retired from(a self insured company) provides my supplement to medicare and includes prescription drug coverage. I am so afraid we are going to lose our coverage, which we pay for every month, because of what Obama is doing. He is not interested in someone like me who worked to make sure they had coverage. He is only interested in reparations for minorities, providing free health care for illegals and paying for abortions with my money. He definitely does not care about seniors. To him we are a burden. Another thing this is about is eliminating medicare. We also pay for medicare every month out of our social security and we contributed to this for years. If people think the "mobs" are angry, they have a reason to be angry. I am angry and disappointed that someone like him could be elected to lead this country and systematically destroy it. I have had enough change and I plan to voice my opinion. If you think I am angry, so be it.
I will not shut up because those who worship Obama are blinded by his empty promises (which they will pay for, if they get anything!) think I am part of an anry mob. I am an individual who is frightened by this man and his plans to control our lives.
I am stunned when reading the above comments by the "name calling". This isn't about George Bush. It isn't about Al Queda and believe it or not, it isn't about us. It's about politics. Wake up America. Find out what and who you are supporting. Read, Read, READ! Learn and stop following our current President, a past President or a future President ust because we like or dislike their personality.. Think for yourself and make an informed decision. Learn more about Canada and Great Britian. And please, please stop the name calling and finger pointing. Stop believing everything you hear on the news. You may be very surprised how a story can be told to influence you one way or another.
Let's all get a life and watch "Bulworth,"It's a good laugh and it helped me to connects the dots as to why our country has had such a difficult time achieving health insurance reform. It stars Warren Beatty and Halle Berry. All I could say was YES, THAT'S RIGHT when it ended. To say any more would spoil a movie well worth seeing.
Poor Hillary. What she went through in the nineties.
I am so tired of hearing about how disrespectful, vicious, etc these 'hecklers' are....WAKE UP FOLKS – this is what happens when you PISS PEOPLE OFF!! – even normal everyday folks who would typically talk things out have their limits when you ignore them long enough. We elect these representatives to do exacly that – REPRESENT US....not to resent us!....Americans have been trying to 'talk this out' and the democratic leadership WILL NOT LISTEN, so naturally they gotta take it to the next level to get their attention....duh!
Those saying this is racist are just plain crazy or deliberately playing a race card thinking it somehow makes their case stronger (it doesn't).
Tell me, if these were war rallies, and people were screaming over their congressman's attempts to explain why we should be there, would that be ok?
Just because people are upset doesn't mean they don't understand what the government is trying to do. Fact is, they don't want the current plan proposed. They don't even like the driection it is heading. Yes they want reform, but not THIS!
Representatives would do well to listen instead of writing off their constituents' anger!
I don't think that the anti- health care people were kept out of the meeting in Tampa. I just watched two different videos and there were lots of screaming, shouting, out of control people in that room screaming in that poor Congresswoman's face. Seems to me the truth of the matter is that the people who wanted to protest got ugly when they realized they were not going to be allowed to completely pack the room without anyone on the other side being in the room. They are the ones who started the pushing and shoving to get in the door when the room was full. Hard to lie about it when it is right there on video for the world to see.
When my preschoolers have a hissy fit about not getting something they want, they usually get a time out....not a reward. If you want to come and talk to the people in Congress about health care at a meeting and to let other people listen and speak, do it like an adult instead of a screaming childish spoiled brat. Remember when war protesters were hauled off to jail for their misbehavior in public? This should be no different. And you should also remember that shouting at or pushing and shoving a policeman will get you the "Gates treatment". Off to the slammer.
Yes, Linda, I am basically happy with my health care and the plan I use. Do I think there should be reform? Yes. Do I think there should be a complete overhaul of the system? No!. Do I think any of the plans currently being considered by the Congress is good? No!
We need to fix the problems, not the symptoms. Our government should not be everything for everybody. There have been/are systems that do that; and for the most part, they have failed. Opportunity and free choice are what made this country great. These bills among other being proposed by Congress and the Administration are designed to denegrate and eliminate personal freedoms, while piling on debt that can never be repaid.
Charlotte, keeping those who disagree with Obamascare out of the meetings is exactly what just happened in Tampa, not at any former Bush Administration meetings. You and those like you don't want to discuss and develop the best plan for all, you want everything handed to you and blind obedience, no matter what it costs the indvidual and the country as a whole.
LOL, people like ole Fred T. there are still using the only argument they have against COMMON SENSE, 'the people against yet another UNREAD bill are racist'. Hey deaf, dumb, and blind followers of "the Head Idiot in Charge", Government run health care has been here for a very long time, it's called medicare and it is in worse shape than social security. Why don't you brain dead idiots take a look at all the government run health care around the world, IT DOESN'T WORK, IT IS INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE AND YES VIRGINIA, IT MOST DEFINITELY DOES MEAN RATIONING OF SERVICES! I have lived in six countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia and have spent significant time in over thirty, you have no functional gray matter if you believe the government can run a program as massive as this better than private companies. Hey guess what, the government continuously hires PRIVATE CONTRACTORS to perform services when they need to CUT COST, you know, the whole PREMISE behind a Government run health care system. What more information do you really need????
Those who disagreed with the Bush administration would never have even been allowed inside a town meeting. While covering this story, I think the media should mention how the Bush people stacked audiences.
Additionally, getting these "rioters" to do Republican planner`s bidding has been easy as these people can`t believe they lost the election. I saw one woman scream, "I want my country back." In many cases they are demonstrating against their own needs.
Reagan showed the way. Give lip service to conservative values and they`ll follow you anywhere.
I am a licensed insurance agent that is not active. Insurance reform is what this is all about and I can tell you from experience that most people's eyes glaze over when you have repeated the options and benefits, deductibles,etc. to them about 4 times and their only reaction is fear and confusion. Then after you repeat everything another 4 times, they act like they understand and make a decsion on a budget amount, only to have them question everything at delivery as if they never heard of what they chose. All this to say that insurance is not easy to understand even with a personal tutor.
I do not have to worry about my insurance because I am a 100% disabilty rated veteran. The VA has gone through rapid improvements over the last few years from constant vigilence from veterans across the nation, so much so that it is in the lead as effective and cost efficient health care. The VA is now ready to be an implementation specialist in areas of electronic medical records, medical team review of best treatment practices, prescription cost savings, etc..
The VA has problems in other areas such as inadequate pay for disability rates since they are using a system that has not been seriously adjusted since the 1950's except for miniscule cost of living adjustment. Ancillary benefits that are again miniscule, but there are various studies that have pointed these issues out and they are being evaluated by Sec. Shinseki, who is in a great position to integrate DOD-VA joint policy to remedy most of these issues. The President held an interview with service representatives on his birthday to address the fact that the 2010 budget increase for VA are about implementation of the best ideas, and thanked all patriots for serving their country.
One of the primary problems that I see with the opinions of most of the purely reactionary inflammatory comments are based off of 2 principle issues. The first issue is that people do not understand how a bill is passed through Congress. I have heard many people say that the President should explain what it is that the program is so they can understand it. Well, he has explained some critical issues in a town hall with AARP. By the way, the same operatives that attack any reform issues in this health care debate are doing the same to AARP with trying to tell people to drop their membership, etc. simply because they are working on reducing seniors health care costs.
When a bill is finished getting rebuffed by both chambers of congress it goes to the President for his approval or veto.(grade school civics class) This is always an indirect process as it evolves and politics are injected from the ruling party and the opposition, until a COMPROMISE is reached. That is the democratic process in this republic. A COMPROMISE!
Now, the President had a choice to either give Congress a bill designed by the White House or let the Congress do it's due process. He chose the latter. There is joint Senate Committee working on just that compromise. When it is about to be submitted to a vote, then anyone has a better chance of finding out what the preliminary bill will look like. If you cannot understand insurance, how are you going to interpret law in it's most infantile stage and draw a final conclusion from it?
The next issue is simply racist fear. The my country BS is simply that.
Oh! What happened to my country. I see the same BS on the military blogs that since the attacks on the President started there before they hit the main stream. I wrote that , "ALL your racists comments indicate your intent thereby reducing the focus of your argument." People are speaking up and not allowing disrespectful BS stand on these sites. If you have a comment about policy it better be about a pertinent issue rather than mud slinging, since moderators have picked up on the baseless attack the President themes.
No matter how they veil the my America cry, it is simply subconsciously saying that I cannot believe that we have one of them in the White House. I live in Sen. Cornyn's district in Texas so I know what I am talking about here! The problem with this line of thought is that it isolates those who focus on the racial issue of the Presidency further and further from reality to the point of a delusional rage which is what is happening around the country. The Republican party is self destructing into a mumbling mass of cry babies. Look, with 85% of the Hispanic voters against the Republican party, where is their future,
at KKK meetings or as some have mentioned with old white voters who live to 212 years old?
It is past time for people to grow. It reminds me of the old lady saying that POTUS Obama was a muslim. You have Pat Buch. expousing racial ignorance about minorities fighting in WWII. My father is buried in Arlington National Cemetary and was with the 52nd Defense Battalion in the USMC. I can tell you about how they had to fight for the right to fight in WWII, but that is going to be in my book. The USMC history dept. was so kind to give me their research. Pat Buch. and others like him are dead DNA! So for those of you who think that you can make other Americans afraid of the future, you better check your heritage, maybe as others have mentioned ,you were a Tory in another life. We are going to get a better health care system whether you wither like the wiched witch in the Wizard of OZ or not! So, scream away, I will just watch you melt!
Robin and Bill, do you like you health care plan? My health care premiums have jumped 65% in 6 years - how about yours? I now spend over 25% of my income on healthcare. I recently got charged $25 for a pair of scissors to clip one stitch on an incision, and $150.00 for a piece of plastic to test my breathing that you could have found at Walmart for $5. Is that the kind of healthcare you want, because that's what most Americans have now?
Robin, like most of your fellow "patriots", you don't even make sense - no one can even understand the last part of that hysterical rant
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Hecklers? I think NOT !!! Decent hard-working people (who didn't go to the most expensive, dirty inaugaration in history because THEY WERE WORKING)just want THE TRUTH ! Yes, I understand...it's hard for liberals, democrats and other narcissists to understand the concept. There are idiots out there who actually think Lincoln was a democrat-NOT! Last 'town hall' being shown-why don't you show the truth of who went into the room, locked the doors and assaulted people when they tried to get in? I hope the guy with the ripped shirt sues!!! The 'people' inside,indoctrinated, well-funded, organized agitaters-not from the 'brownshirts' of Hitler-let's remember WHO JUST SAID TO SPY ON YOUR NEIGHBORS-yes-this adminstration-despicable
I don't agree with violent outbursts at the Health Care meetings, but everyone should have a voice. I know many people around the country who are attending these meeting of their own volition and concern. In response to honest, personal concerns of citizens from every Party and Independents, the Administration and Dem’s are misrepresenting them, calling them names, demeaning their intentions, and now sending bus loads of union members and other activists to the meetings. For what? To peacefully discuss their point of view or to intimidate and bust heads as necessary? Will they be wearing their “Brown Shirts”?
I have just finished listening to Rachel Maddow and the piece in which she exposed the people behind all of these Town Hall disasters.
I am surprised that CNN and none of the journalists have bother to do any investigative reports regarding any of this.
Just by putting out the news and not really doing any investigating. is surely not taught in Journalism 101.
Do your jobs, investigate and unmask who are the real culprits in all the Town Hall disruptions.
Do you really think the American people are to stupid that they can not voice there freedom to opposite some bad policy that the government is trying to crame down our throats. Great real and wake up. I am a registered voter for the reason to vote for or against policy that is good or bad. I don't need the Republican party telling me how or what I need to say. There have been protest for centuries and who did you blame it on then??????? WAKE UP PEOPLE BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. We are slowly loosing our freedoms here.
Of course the GOP has organized these disruptions. It's not like this is the first time they've done something like this. I mean they've rounded up all of their staffers, had them dress down and passed out hardhats so it looked like there were blue collar workers that supported Bush(43)'s tax cuts.
I don't think Democrats can really appreciate the level of organization within the GOP's "grassroots" movements. Democrats are usually satisfied to rest on the facts of their plans knowing that they're based on ideals that the vast majority of people agree with. What the Dems don't anticipate is the sentiment in the GOP that eliciting fear, feigning outrage, criticizing details, and screaming "No" at the top of their lungs are more politically expedient than having a reasonable discussion with their colleagues and the American people about alternatives.
Reasonable people wouldn't disrupt a Town Hall meeting in the way we've been seeing regardless of how disgruntled or afraid they are because it makes a dialogue impossible. We need a passionate Dialogue in order to tease out the details of this plan; not a shouting match.
There are still so many facets of the health care debate that are being ignored while others are being rehashed excessively.
There seems to be a ubiquitous ignorance about what, exactly, causes our health care costs to be so high. There are a lot of reasons, but one thing that I've not heard addressed is the payer mix. Anyone who works in a hospital can tell you that the reason their services are billed at the price they are is because such a large percentage of the people who are billed never pay. A majority of insurance companies sic their lawyers on negotiating lower bills so the insured aren't paying those high bills. People on Medicaid and Medicare have the government pay for them but of course they don't pay those high bills either. This leaves the uninsured as the only ones actually getting charged the face value on their bill and most of the time they can't pay it, so they don't.
Hospitals barely, if at all, break even because they can't count on bills being paid. If we insured the uninsured a larger percentage of people would pay SOMETHING and the hospitals wouldn't have to over-charge as much just to make ends meet. I wish more people were focusing on the savings involved in changing the payer mix. All it would do is redistribute the money being paid so everyone is equal.
Creating a system where everyone pays their hospital bills doesn't cost money it keeps the uninsured from getting gouged and makes everyone's bill reflect the actual cost of their treatment.
We need people to be able to seek treatment. We need to give people a way to pay their medical bills. We need to force insurance companies to compete for your money. We need an option other than whatever your employer (if you have one) supports.
We need a public option.
What is amazing to me, is that many of the people that are disrupting these town hall meetings are so terribly ignorant as to what any bill that will eventually pass is all about.
They just scream no, without telling their Congressmen, to do their jobs and make sure that a Health Care Reform is what all of us in this country needs.
Yelling no, is not the way to go, We all realize that reform needs to take place. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, Why can everyone understand that it is an American issue.
I heard an elderly lady state that she didn't want more government intervention that by passing Health Care Reform we were becoming a Socialist country. I asked her Do you know what a socialist country is all about, and aren't you a Medicare Recipient?
She could not answer me. I guess, that she never realized that Medicare has always been a government run program, that she has been taking advantage for many years.
I don't ever remember George Bush being shouted down by an angry mob. His appearances were totally controlled and they made sure that almost no one got in who wasn't a supporter. When a protester or two did get in and make a scene, they were immediately "escorted" out. If people protested in other places, they were kept behind ropes and in "protest zones" so the almighty George didn't have to be bothered with them. Remember the people who weren't allowed into a campaign event because they got out of a car with a Democratic bumper sticker on it? This is just more Republican whining and BS and "Brooks Brothers" tactics. They need to grow up and learn how democracy is supposed to work....and that includes being able to have open meetings for discussion without all this childish uproar and disruption.
The Democrats are working hard to stay in complete denial and they ignore what is going on in these Town Hall Meetings at their peril. In this age of digital technology that never goes away, there is overwhelming historical evidence that the President strongly favors a single payer system and the American people see through the fact that the plan is to get their incrementally. The liberal Democratic leadership and President may pull off the impossible yet, if they continue to try to ignore the will of the people, the Republicans will retake control of the House in 2010.
Yes, everyone should be civil....but our elected officials are not listening to the voice of their constituents. My father-in-law and I are on opposite sides of the aisle but we both agree this healthcare plan is scary! I didn't get my info. from CNN or FOX, I read the draft myself. Ask these questions and see if you can get answers....how much cost will it me and my family? How will it be paid for? Yes, you are required to have the ins...what if you can't afford the govt. plan? Will we be fined for not having insurance? You will not get those answers. They need to halt this thing until they can answer the questions directly.
The hecklers are using the same tactics they used in the 2000 elections in Florida during the recounts, and I wonder who's behind it this time? They are doing the same exact things, same staged tactics in front of the cameras. The protests are are fake and why are the hecklers going after just the Democrats in their angry turnouts? Republicans are also voting in favor of this bill. They are trying to show the same fake frustration in front of the cameras as they did in Florida, the only thing missing is John Bolton bursting into a library and screaming at elderly women to intimidate them. The same tactics and the same narrow mentality are behind the fake protests. I am not saying everyone is faking the anger but they have key people in front of the cameras.
And another point, on government choosing people's healthcare: don't you think they do it already? What tests/procedures insurance covers is currently mandated by state insurance departments. So, if you live in say CA, a test/procedure could be mandated to be covered there, but not in AZ.
These people are bullies. They were bullies when they were in power they bullied the world and listened to no one, When I listen to what they are saying it is obvious they are too frightened to actually take the time to learn the facts – they mostly sound like childhood bullies who make up reasons to justify being mad at someone. Town hall meetings are for everyone. These bullies make it impossible for people to communicate. And the same tactics used to shove George Bush into office in 2000 are being used here. And oh that went so well didn't it? Bush and his cronies who were oh so much smarter than the Clinton people that they didn't listen to their warnings about Al Qaeda and were surprised by 9/11. And then their entire anti AlQaeda policy based on fear instead of being smarter. I'm just oh so tired of these angry make up the facts people. Do they even know that the way things stand now they can be dropped by their healthcare company at any time? Do they even know healthcare expenses are hurting and even killing businesses here? No, they are just scared and can't listen and so are vulnerable to being manipulated by very powerful interests and are too blinded by their fears to see it. I hope our congressmen are not swayed by this arrogance. I swear that if we do not pass healthcare and I get sick and am dropped by my insurance company or get laid off and have no insurance after cobra runs out, I am sitting on the doorstep of one of these people and haunting them until they pay for me. I know someone who is rabid about this and goes to all the tea party stuff. She's had multiple plastic surgeries – and spends thousands on that – but somehow can't find it in her heart to make sure everyone is covered. And, no, she hasn't worked for years and earned that money. Her husband did. She spends thousands on clothes, makeup, etc. I've worked hard for many many years and certainly care about people being covered. I frankly think the people who are against this are ignorant, selfish, spoiled brats.
Shame on you Jesse for your comments about Michael Steele. How is this a black/white issue? Let it go.... Michael Steele has a job just like the rest of the politicians. If Michael Steele were a Dem. there would be no question about his color. Why is it that whites and republicans are accused of racism yet people like you get a pass when you say something so offensive. Shame on you! Get over your own racism and you may find this country IS a wonderful place.
As a 7 year breast cancer survivor this health care plan and the lack of understanding of it by our politicians scares me as much as the thought of my cancer returning. When our elected officials fail to listen, people get louder. The polls tell us this morning that most people are pleased with their own coverage, yet no one is listening. Just as speaking to someone with a hearing problem... if you can't hear us we will get louder. Why does this have to be done so quickly? Why do the rest of us have to give up the security of our coverage to help those who aren't covered? Why can't we do this in a way that is good for everyone? Most of the people showing up to these town meetings are there because they are afraid. Fear leads to protests....LISTEN to us. Stop blaming all of this on the GOP and begin listening to the concerns of the average man. This isn't organized it's the average man and woman reacting out of fear. There is a reason why this is being pushed in a hurry. Ask questions. Read the proposed bill. Listen to the history of the new people appointed to the government and what they have said in the past. We are going down a road never before traveled. Let's go with some headlights instead of just charging ahead with an unearned trust for the men and women taking us there. These politicans are average men and women with above average jobs. They no more deserve our trust than the man on the corner. Our history tells us that most politicans are not worthy of our trust. Slow down... listen to what people want. Above all, what ever bill is passed, it must be passed for everyone, including politicans. No more special coverage for politicians and their families. No special loop holes to opt out. Our coverage=their coverage... including the president's family. He may have a Dr. "following" him around but they don't.
In this nation of "I got mine" people with insurance paid by employers, those people who are mostly satisfied have no concern the rest of us pay thousands of dollars a year for catastrophic coverage with $10,000 deductibles subsidize their comfy ride. We never see a doctor and haven't for years. Let's switch and for the next ten years you take our insurance and please enjoy mine. Otherwise, understand, once we are bankrupt, your cheap selfish ride ends.
We get why you are happy with 'yours' and of course, your personal satisfaction is all that matters, and then blame smokers and overweight people for your reality. Boneheads.
What Bush hecklers? I my neck of the woods, if you carried an anti-Bush sign to one of his events, you weren't allowed in.
I have been watching and tracking the debate on health care for a couple of months now. What has become clear is the organized protestors are funded by the republicans and are using race as a building block for this debate.
Michael Steele is nothing more than a white republican man in a black mans costume.
These manufactured "protests" show the radical right for what they are – hypocrites. For all their talk about "democracy" and "freedom," it's clear that what they want to do is stifle democracy by stopping the discussion. Remember Florida in 2000? Same thing – and it worked. Oh yeah, and do you remember the Bush campaign in 2004? Citizens were bodily removed from Bush campaign appearances for silently wearing T-shirts critical of the administration. Republicans support free speech – just as long as it's their message getting through and everyone else just shuts up.
Those disrupting the attempts by members of congress to address health care in town hall meetings are paid shills and followers believing the spewed lies of the corporations backing the shills,. From KOCH Industries in Wichita to Enron to the tobacco industry, AFP and FreedomWorks has always been the political Renfields for their vampirism. The fight against tobacco taxes and the laws to cut back smoking was funded by pPhillip Morris; the Hot Air Tour by Koch (an oil giant with millions in fines for oil spills and safety issues in their pipelines) and now we have the anti-healthcare. AGAIN Koch Industries front and center....Neither of these groups will show their financing and though they claim 90% private donations, "private donations" does not mean individuals or mom and pop, it simply means they are not public like grants or government. MILLIONS spent to bus hundreds around states. Colorado has had every larger town hit for the past month by these bussed tours conveniently showing up to cause mayhem when a public figure comes to town or just to whip up the base.
Before Rachel Maddow did her show on AFP and FreedomWorks, I did the research myself...easily done with the internet. In 1/2 hour I linked both groups through the Abramoff scandal, Koch Industries (with multiple directors, founders, chairmen, etc all having major involvement or are KOCH Industries – David and Charles do end up on every board and fund raising memo and governing panel) as well as Enron and the healthcare industry.
These people have taken advantage of the Republican set up of the laws and government created during the 80's and 90's under Reagan, Newt and the Republican Congress that destroyed oversights and deregulated everything, now they are churning like a cancer through our nation and no one will stop them from destroying us.
You want CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN?
Re-enact the laws that had controls on this type of propaganda action....This is the Segretti/Rove Playbook at it's worst!
It has always been the policy of the right wing neocons to disrupt and ultimately destabilize foreign regimes that have policies they don't like. Why is anyone surprised that they are now extending that to domestic politics? These are the same people who shredded the Constitution while they were in power of the last 8 years. Do you really expect them to behave better now that they are not in power?
Why is CNN and the other Foxified news organizations asking us our opinion about this? Why are you not out the investigating what the neo-fascists are doing and then reporting that back to us?
Organized groups of rich people demonstrating? Ha! They are covering their butt!
Notice that these people are all dressed up? Driving good cars? They are the Well-to do upper middle class (who want to get richer) and have about everything they want. They write off their expenses and only pay taxes on their investments and get a lot of tax write offs for that. They dont need any better health Insurance because they have the excellent health Insurance we all wish we had.
These are not the Americans who elected Obama and kicked George Bush's Brand of Politics out of the White House.
Dont worry about the people who have. Worry about the people who dont have. Dont have Computers; Dont have an Education; Dont have a Job; Dont have Money; Dont have Place to live; Dont have Health Care; Dont have a future.
These mobs shouting down congressmen at public meetings want to keep our broken health care roller coaster but they aren't gonna be there to help us pay the bill when my daughter gets dropped from her insurance or when my husband and I can't afford our medications when we get sick. Thing is, we'll all be down at the bottom together, broken by years and years of being yanked around by the insurance companies. The mobs have been purchased to take all of us down with them. How much were these people paid to do this damage? How many pieces of silver to turn all of us over to the insurance authorities? This is a case of big insurance money showing its yellowed, sharp teeth with the help of far right wing politicians.
To answer your question: WE can talk civilly. THEY can't. Their anger and hatred (yes, hatred) has been inflamed by all the lies they have been hearing from the Republicans and Fox. But what is even scarier is what has become evident in the past few days – these people are not passionate about health care issues. They HATE President Obama. Is it because all the talking points from the right have been anti-Obama since he was elected? Or are they angry and afraid because their President is a black man? When you hear them crying, "We want our country back!" you KNOW it is NOT about health care.
Another piece of the issue that is very upsetting: most of the people screaming at the meetings will tell you that they don't want health care reform because they are quite happy with their insurance. They don't seem to care about the 20% of Americans who have none. Their mindset and message seems to be, "I've got mine. Screw you." Makes them look mighty selfish and ugly. Makes the whole country look bad, especially if they get their way.
it is sad that some Americans are acting like idiots. instead of engaging in a serious discussion on such a vital issue of health care, they allow themselves, and the future of their health care be used as puppets. while I believe that health care reform is necessary, but at no added deficit to the national cost, i do not belive that the politics of fear and intimidation is the best way to go. I am a republican and I am asshamed to be one right now. my mother died of leukemia when I was 14 years old, and my father died of heart failure 8 months earlier. for poeple like me, health care reform is real. those who are preventing a healthy discussion should ask themselves: what if they got sick and found themselves unable to handle the heavy cost of health care? I am very sad. just sad.
I'm sure if you researched the hecklers you would probably find a connection to the insurance companies who are against health care reform. this reminds me of Florida in the first election of G.W. It's probably the same people causing the trouble.
yes, I think that the right wing is organizing the shouting matches & mob behavior. They so want the president to fail that they don't care what happens to the country. They are afraid of Obama & i believe that they are coming close to inciting violent.
Unfortunat;y, some people can't stand that our president is black. I am a 62 year old white woman who voted for Obama & think he is doing a good job, especially considering the state we were in when he took office.
The tactics employed by the right wing are deplorable & the media just eggs them on. Funny how I don't remember seeing many protests about our previous president played up in the media.
I as an individual, not part of a "mob" or any other figment of imagination constructed by the DNC, want changes to the health care system. But when Congress is lead by men who have sweetheart deals, never read the stimulus or bailout packages (Dodd, Franks, Rangel) and approves 2 MORE Gulf Streams over what the Pentagon wanted.... then I am angry, all by myself!!! I don't need a group to be upset.
We need an changes to address tort reform, fraud reduction, etc (Congress canNOT show me one social program that is successful – VA, Medicare, Medicaid, Post Office... I am to believe that this one is going to be different?)
I am not a frustrated Republican, I am an independent, voted for Obama and I will be yelling if these Congressmen and Senators want to pull the same BS over my eyes that they have done before.
As usual, right wing goof balls are trying to stand in the way of real reform. I believe the Republicans and the insurance companies are behind the hecklers. The Republicans want Obama to fail regardless of the cost to the American people, and the insurance companies want to continue to reap huge profits.
Clearly this is a concerted effort by the right to discredit any for of health care reform. You have focused on town hall meetings, however, over the course of the past several months, I have encountered what looks like planted "interest groups" which hand out information disparaging reform, yet are unable to answer specific questions about their group or where it originated as well as individuals in sports bars and other gathering places who try to sell the same message yet respond with obscenities when you question their motives or sources of information. It is deplorable that things have sunk to this level, but it more than highlights the fact that these groups are clearly afraid of reform and the effect it will have on their ability to continue using health care as a cash cow. See it for what it is and ensure reform happens despite these tactics.
I have no problem with people expressing their opinions outside, but disrupting meetings so that constituents can't hear or talk to their representatives is just rude and counterproductive. What are these people afraid of? That someone might hear about the health care plan and like it? If the plan is so terrible, let the reps explain it to their constituents so that they can figure that out for themselves.
This is just another way to show the rest of the world, that the Republicans can't stand that their greed, lost them control!!!
Talk about screaming. I think some of this amounts to emotional terrorism! It's a pity our country is so divided right now, but on the 200th day of the Obama administration, I'm going to say something that will really make some people scream. I think President Obama is an extraordinary president who picked up an incredible mess of an economy, 2 wars, a country in desperate need of Health Care and Energy reform, among other major problems.
Other countries of the world hated the U.S. I was never so proud as I was the day I saw him stand on the beach of Normandy and knock it out of the park with an incredible speech that it brought tears to my eyes. Someone above talked about Glenn Beck. Well Glen may have a pleasant countenance, but he too has an agenda, and as far as I can see, his philosophy dictates that we shouldn't give a hoot about our neighbors. We have hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people in this country who are SUFFERING! I'll just end it here and suggest the bible readers study the New Testament and think about our problems from that point of view, if people insist on bringing religion into the mix. Our Founding Fathers had the presence of mind to write separation of church and state into the Constitution.
IMO President Obama is the best person for a very difficult job. I cannot imagine why he'd want it, but I certainly hope he runs for a second term. I agree with the previous writer: THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!
To Bernice: It looks like you are trying to give me advice that you yourself should be following. As for studying the Bible, I would not waste time debating the Bible with you since you obviously have not studied or read the one that I studied in Bible College from which I hold a Diploma. Nevertheless, I do not blame you, I do feel sorry for you since you are obviously an atheist – you remember, the people who sued to outlaw prayer in our schools and are still working vigorously to get the name of God removed from everything in this country. This type of thing is the reason we are where we are today; we put everything before God – until trouble comes like 9/11, or this stupid mess with the hecklers; then it's people like you who are the first to cry, "Why did God let this happen?"
Bernice, I am sad for you, Sweeetie. Rest assured, you will always be in my prayers. May God bless you even in your ignorance.
It seems to me the only way for Americans to have their questions answered is to go on the internet and research for your selves what national health care is and how countries that have it run it, and the benefits it has, and how its paid, then compare it to what u now have and see which is better. instead of listening to people who have no knowledge of what their talking about..
Republicans are clearly antidemocratic, anti-Constitution, and ultimately anti-American...I'm sure that their is a 3rd world country available for them for the taking...GO!
I find it quite revealing that the Republican party can be so contemptuous of our democratic system that they try to prevent dissemination of information through filibustering tactics...when are they going to accept that they lost because they do not represent the vast majority of the American working class. We have a right to be informed. They can have their own turn by having their own town meetings.
Let us see who put them up to this? How about the self serving politicans who are raping the tax payers? I am mad , I am going to scream, I am going to disrupt meetings? No I have some tar and feathers and a rail reserved for our self serving politicans and guess what it works on republicans as well as democrats.
Amazing....as I read these entries I can't help think of the yesterday when I was out protesting Obamacare (my right to express myself) by quietly holding a homemade sign. I am paid by no one, I represent myself and my family, I am not a member of the Republican party or any party at this time.
Across the road was a large throng of loud, angry people shouting at us. They had been bussed in from the Chicago area and were wearing SEIU and ACORN shirts. When we would come within a couple feet of them...they would shout "you want to kill my son" or "you've never lived in England...or you'd want socialized health care!".
Who really is supporting the angry mobs? Who bussed people to the homes of AIG execs? ACORN. Who intimidated voters outside a polling place in PA? The Black Panthers. Who is SEIU and why do they have so much influence in the White House?
C'mon...be honest. Just look at the signs at these protests. Our side had signs made of posterboard and markers. Their side had mass produced signs. Just THAT says a LOT.
Bernice: If you really believe what that whack job Beck says then You really need to go back to kindergarten and start over again. Glen Beck is the biggest liar on the air.
Larry, something is telling quite a few of us here that you sound like you may be a huge part of the demo party. Curious. U getting paid by this administration for these misleading blogs? Watch Glen Beck show...see the truth that has been hidden from us! DO NOT take anyones word! LOOK FOR YOURSELF! You just may be SHOCKED to see what this administration is trying to pull off against the PEOPLE! Congress....VOTE NO! Change it and fix the problem the right way, with NO additional papers slipped in to take away our constitutional rights or to put race, color, and minorities before anyone else. That is so UN-AMERICAN! Talk about RACISM! Read it! You will not like these things for your loved ones. Let them use this plan, let us enjoy thiers. They would quickly change thier minds! Flo, you should really take the time and study the Bible that you wish everyone else to read! It warns you in the book of Revelation of man...who comes in towards the end...and wants you to turn in all of your loved ones!......The Bible said that this was not a good man and to not go in his direction...it will lead you somewhere that you do not wish to go. Be careful on which God you choose. You may just be decieved. If they lie to you, they are of the Devil. There were MANY lies told. Be ever so careful on the God in which you choose to follow. Your Bible also warned you of this. I studied it for years. Do not belive anyone. Educate yourself and you may just change your mind!
I totally agree with Ryan. When I see this kind of stupidity in America, it causes me to become very depressed. I thought this kind of evil died at the end of the civil rights movement. Evidently, the snakes simply hid under the rocks or in their holes, waiting and watching for the right time. Notice, they vigorously attack something that the people need and want! Certainly, people need and want jobs but they need to be healthy in order to work! All this yelling and poster waving is there for one reason only: to subvert the work of the Obama democrats to do something for us that we really, really need. The mobs could care less whether WE have health insurance, they're getting paid by the greedy-cats who are rich and able to pay for theirs and to hell with everybody else. We profess to be a Christian Nation, we believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ; however, apparently, since all they do is carry their bible to church on Sunday, they do not open it and read it; otherwise, they would know and understand that the way they are carrying on is not the way Jesus tells us to live. They are "disobedient children" whose Parent, God, has a chastisement in store for them. I suggest they open a Bible and read what God did for Israel in the Old Testament when they disobeyed. Take heed USA!!!
The health care lobbyists have already thrown over $200 million just this year to stop health care reform.
It is known that many Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats are being heavily financed by the health care and insurance industries.
Go to opensecrets.org to check out who pays your congressmen.
These Hecklers are in fact committing a terroristic attack on there own country and are to ignorate realize it!!! By trying to stop health care they are in fact keeping enoroumus amount of pressure on the economy "that could crumble" and also we will never know how many people will loose their life's due to not having a public health care option in this country!!! So these hecklers are working for evil and in fact are leading to deaths of american citziens.The people that understand this and know that we need healthcare in this country need to band together riseup and take this fight to these people ignorate point of view to just say no. By doing nothing we are in fact helping there cause!!! I thought we were fighting them there,so we dont have to fight them here!!! Make difference people say YES to health care reform.
I can understand that it would be highly impossible to be civil ...or even try to be, when the American People are figuring out ..WE ARE BEING LIED TO! They do not listen, VOTE THEM ALL OUT! They get "the best", WE the People, get "the garbage". Best yet, we have to pay for it! What a deal!!! Vote evry single one of them out. All of the names who signed onto this bill are NOT helping the PEOPLE! They made deals to "help themselves". The Glen Beck show will be putting ALL of the names on his site, so you know who did this to you, and who to VOTE OUT OF OFFICE!
I agree with the people at the town hall meeting's.our leaders should read the bill.Obama took 3 months to pick a dog and wants to redo the whole health care system in a few week's -good grief.tell your leaders to vote NO on this bill or you will vote them OUT-NO to socialize medicine.
Money isn't speech, no matter who's spending it.
Just because someone else has done/is doing it doesn't make it right.
Shouting down others that don't agree with you and accusing them of sponsoring things like government sanctioned euthanasia in order to sink healthcare reform is the lazy mind's way to hide the fact that you (the GOP) don't have any good ideas of your own.
If the GOP wants to regain it's political strength, (or at least its dignity), all it has to do is stop being petulant and start thinking of viable alternatives to the opposition's ideas. Looks like they'd rather stick to theatrics...
Dissent is great! Just stop screaming and offer an idea instead of simply saying the other guy is wrong. If the Republicans don't have a better idea, they should shut up and listen to the people who do.
Isn't that why Kerry lost in '04? You can't just shoot holes in the other guy's platform, you have to offer intelligent alternatives!
If only we could have an honest-to-God intelligent debate, think of the country we could build...
This isn't about desperate Republicans not understanding the health care debate and issues. Its about their desperation and having a black president who knows how to take the country in the right direction.
I belive those so called hecklers, have hidden agendas. We the people want change.
Unlike what the mainstream media is reporting, these people are simply proud Americans that are disappointed with the way our government is being run. I believe that it is vital to our nation to have all Americans voice their opinions and have their views represented by their elected officials. These people are angry because they feel they are not being heard. It is time for all Americans to stand up and make your opinions heard. More importantly it is time for our elected officials to represent the feelings of the, until now, silent majority. Unlike many of the organized protests prior to the election, this is truely a grass roots movement in which angry Americans are demanding to be heard. If these representives want calmer town meetings, they should listen more closely to their constituents. It is a shame that the Whitehouse is negatively commenting (or commenting at all) on these protests, since it is every Americans duty to voice their opinions to their elected officials.
If 80% are happy with their health care ,what about the 35 million people with no health care??? Our Dr's don't work for the gov, Why is the US rated 57th world wide in health care?? Sometimes you have to step outside the box in order to fix things.
The health care proposals have been discussed ad nauseum and that is why constituents have shown up to voice their opposition No matter what is said the current plan will result in a single payor system which anyone with common sense (regardless of political persuasion) should oppose. Since most data shows at least 80% of people are happy with their health care, why does the government want to transform the whole system? Oh- because it's not about "reform" it is about a takeover of almost 20% of the entire economy!
This effort will destroy the future of medical education in our country and result in a need to "import" doctors. In many urban areas there are already serious shortages of primary care docs. This will certainly accelerate those shortages. No one wants to go into the medical field to work for the government!
I think passions are running high about health care reform because there are so many lies and half truths being circulated by the insurance and health care industries.
People are frustrated. They're not sure what to believe.
One of the reporters just commented on the fact that Germany has had national health care since the mid 1800's and the cost per person is just over $3,000 . Our costs per person are over $7,000. This seems like a "no brainer" to me. The far right have stated that their main goal is to destroy Pres. Obama, so that he will be a one term President only and obviously feel that this is the best and most direct way to achieve those ends. (I am a registered Republican , but in the old Goldwater style ) If their main goal is so obviously centered on the welfare of the Republican Party and not centered on the welfare of ALL U.S. citizens, I wonder why anyone is sticking with our current Republican Party.