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?
Dr. Gupta: Send in your health care reform questions
Do the health care reform headlines leave you with more questions than answers? Dr. Gupta is your AM insider – and he wants to hear from you!
Post your questions for Dr. Gupta in the comments below or tweet him @SanjayGuptaCNN.
Programming note: Tune in this week to hear Dr. Gupta answer your health care reform questions LIVE on American Morning – weekdays 6-9 a.m. ET on CNN.
What’s on Tap – Wednesday August 5, 2009
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- Laura Ling and Euna Lee are on their way home right now and could touch down any time. You will see their emotional reunion right here. The two journalists left North Korea with Former President Bill Clinton late last night. The White House is calling Clinton’s trip a private matter, adding that there were no discussions about North Korea's nuclear program, but North Korea’s “supreme leader” sure got quite a photo-op. We'll also talk about where relations go from here, with our experts worldwide.
- It's being called a massacre inside a Pittsburgh area gym. This morning police are trying to find out why a gunman walked into an exercise class and started unloading two guns, killing at least three people before he reportedly shot and killed himself. Witnesses say people were flying off treadmills, and taking cover.
- The Boston officer, who referred to Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Junior as a "banana-eating jungle monkey," in an e-mail. is now suing, claiming his civil rights were violated. Officer Justin Barrett's lawyer tells CNN his client was denied his right to free speech and denied the right to a hearing over his job, claiming Boston’s mayor effectively fired him on TV. Our Joe Johns is taking a look at both sides.
- Paying by the pound. A new study funded by the Centers for Disease Control says obese Americans spend 42% more on health care than "normal-weight" Americans. And in the past decade, Americans have collectively gained more than a billion pounds. We take a look at one woman’s amazing journey from a size 24, to a size four, and see how she’s saving her own life and maybe, your money.
We Listen – Your comments 8/4/2009
Editor's Note: Most of Monday’s American Morning audience was unconcerned about increased middle class taxes to pay for universal health care.
- Michael: I spend between $7,000 and $8,000 per year for family health insurance. I would rather give that money to the Federal Government via higher taxes than a private company whose only interest is making money for their stock holders. My guess is that my tax increase will be a lot less than what I pay for my private insurance...... it's a no brainer!!
- Linda R.: Let's stop scaring the public with the "tax bogeyman". If you took a truly honest poll, most Americans would not mind paying a few cents more in taxes if it meant access to health care, and a better life in general. Also, let's not forget, that it was the Republican party, not president Obama, that got us into this mess in the first place. Unfortunately, we have a "corporate mentality" which translates into the power of terrifying the public into voting against their own interests in order to serve the powerful. The MSM is guilty of aiding these crooks by advancing their agenda. If we had a single-payer health care plan, all that lovely money doled out to greedy politicians by the private health care providers would dry up. At the minimum, a public option would help enormously, but the rich and powerful could care less about ordinary Americans. If McCain had managed to eke out a victory last November, (heaven forbid), we would already have bread lines, runs on the banks, and people selling apples in the street. Oh yes, and Iran would already be a pile of rubble (think "shock and awe II"). Give our new president a chance to turn this mess around. He's not "Merlin the Magician". We are in a much better place than we were under Bush/Cheney, and you know it.
How do you feel about paying higher taxes for universal health care? Would you, as the first viewer noted, prefer to pay the government over a for-profit institution?
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