Editor's Note: The continued debate surrounding health care town hall meetings and protests generated the most feedback on Friday’s American Morning. Evenly split between the two camps, those in favor of the protests did not believe they were part of an “organized” or “grassroots” effort on behalf of the Republicans. Those opposed to the disruptions adamantly argued that such activities were indeed planned by Republicans opposed to President Obama’s proposed health care plan.

For Protests

• Betty: I like my health care plan. Do not want the President’s plan of limiting senior care. Town hall meetings "organized & paid for". Show the proof.
• Judy: DNC call American Citizens an angry mobs at town hall meetings, they probably watched the game playing during the Energy and Commerce committee meeting last week. They want answers from their representatives, they want representation ( for which they were voted in to do) no voting on party lines and favoring only what their party wants.
• Sharon: I am a democrat. Have been all of my life. I am also against the President's plan for healthcare reform. In fact, I have made a homemade sign and participated in dialogue about it. I have written my congressmen. And yet I am one of many people that is being dismissed as a right-wing nut job, an unruly mob, part of an organized protest group set up by the RNC. Sorry but that just doesn't apply to me. Nor does it apply to most of the protestors that I have met. We are a mix of liberals, conservatives, independents and many others. We are not organized by the RNC. We have a right to free speech in this country and we are exercising it. It's funny how a group of liberals and left-wingers can come out in organized protest (and with pre-printed signs) and they are just "exercising their constitutional rights." But the everyday, average citizen comes out to have their say and we are dismissed as a "vast, right-wing conspiracy" or an "unruly mob." Really? Give me a break.

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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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Editor's Note: Thursday’s American Morning audience scolded those texing while driving, and praised CNN for the coverage, remarking “your report will help save lives.” However, most recognized the difficulty faced by police to enforce such laws and believed greater access to cell phone records would allow more convictions. Others suggested a complete ban on cell phones and texting.

• Anonymous in FL: I admit that I have texted while driving many times. NOW, after seeing your thorough reports on the subject, I have a new view on the sensibility of this dangerous practice. From now on, NO MORE TEXTING while driving. Thanks CNN...your report will save lives!

• Millie: Last week, my car was almost hit twice by persons driving while talking on a cell phone. Each time the driver came out of a side street and wasn't looking at oncoming traffic on the main street. Came within inches of a wreck each time. I favor a ban in cell phone usage and texting while driving.

• Orland: There are a lot of accidents caused by cell phone usage, but in some states the police can't access that info from companies to prove that was the cause. The laws need to be changed.

• Lorene: Sure, create national legislation to ban texting. Hands on cell phone use is illegal already here in NJ. Ask me how many times I see people doing it. And, ask me how many times I've had someone on a phone do something that makes it clear they are oblivious to my or any other driver's presence. These laws are not enforced. But, then, neither are the laws about stopping at stop signs – what I would bet is the single most cause of local automobile collisions. Moreover, there is a culture of aggressive driving all over this country that was once reserved for NYC hacks. We need to examine our behavior behind the wheel in general.

• Rick: Texting while driving. That's just idiotic and should not require taxpayer expense to make laws on it. Surely existing impaired or dangerous driving etc laws are sufficient! Only thing we can hope, is that the criminals who do it, only wipe themselves out before they procreate and protect the gene pool.

What do you think should be done about those found texting while driving? Have you ever done this? Does the CNN report change your thinking and understanding of the dangers of texting while driving? What do you think about the law enforcement issue? Are there better ways to solve this problem than simply adding news laws (that are already difficult to enforce) on the books?

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Editor's Note: With the release of the 911 tapes from Professor H.L. Gates, Jr., arrest, American Morning's Tuesday audience weighed heavily in favor of the professor over the police.  The majority believed that racial profiling was evidenced by the transcripts from the 911 call.

• Arlene:  It doesn't matter the caller didn't use the words "2 black men." The caller clearly stated it may be the homeowner entering his own home. The police should not have harassed Mr. Gates in light of this admission. Nor should they have entered his home without a search warrant and he should not have been arrested without committing a crime. Annoying a Police officer is not a crime. He was an American on his own property and is guaranteed a right to freedom of speech. We do not live in a police state yet.
• Jacque:  It's hard to say racial profiling did not play a part in the Gates arrest when even the dispatcher on the call first asked the caller if the suspects were black or Hispanic.  He did include white the first time around, but natural instinct in America that criminals are either black or Hispanic made him as the question just like he was thinking.  Gates overreacted but the cop gave a false account of what happened.  I have no reason to believe anything the cop is saying at this point.  Both of their actions were probably racially motivate.

With the release of the 911 transcripts, has your opinion changed about this situation?  What do you think about the revelation that “race” was brought up by the police rather than the neighbor who was reporting the incident?

Most felt the Cambridge policeman, Officer Crowley, should have diffused the situation and walked away, once Professor Gates’ identity was established.  Rather than racial profiling, many recognized that unprofessional attitudes for both the professor and the policeman played a part in the escalation of the incident.

• Larry:  I am a teacher, and in our profession, the person who has the most power in the situation should be the one to diffuse it. There should not have been an arrest of Robert Gates. The officer should have walked away
• Al:  The truth is positive.  The police man from NJ is wrong when he says there is no police culpability.  They did their job.  Ask anyone who is charged with similar jobs.  Investigate and deal with ruffled patrons.  ER staff, bouncers, firefighters, emt's.  We do it all the time w/o arresting anyone.  All you have to do is back up just a second,  act respectfully and people calm down.  The problem is the attachment to ego and authority. Granted that some situations are inherently dangerous and require immediate command action but this should not have been necessary.  This is about status, class, privilege, power and, race.

• Gloria:  Clearly, Prof. Gates took offense.  Perhaps it is understandable:  he was just back from a long trip and he couldn't get into his house.  Still, that doesn't change the fact that he took offense.  This was never about race.  This is about someone who let the situation get away from him and did not cooperate with the police.  Prof. Gates did not act very professorial, unfortunately.
• Marcia:  why was a drivers license and a harvard id not satisfying to officer crowley not enough he was still requesting harvard police to respond to verify the id. great threat from a man walking with a cane. police do have a difficult job which is undisputed. however, when not faced with a life and death situation they can exercise better judgment than that displayed in this situation. a person who does not walk in professor gate body or the one i walk in may have a different opinion because they view and experience  this part of life from a different angle. i work in healthcare and sad enough it has a color too. one would believe that healthcare would be exempt because we are aware of the fact that all human are  can fall prey to the same illness and diseases. gates probably think he was exempt based on his accomplishments. this has nothing to do with living amongst people .as a great nation i honestly believe  race relations will continue to improve as we strive to hold the status of being  one of the most  civilized nations on earth
• Tommy:  If it had been a black police officer, we wouldn't be hearing all of this. The easy way for blacks is to play the race card. I grew up in the '60's and it seems that we are going back to them. It is reverse discrimination today.

Was it the professional responsibility of the police to keep the situation from escalating into something dangerous?  Do you believe, as the last viewer remarks, that had the policeman been black, this situation would have never arisen?  How do we as a society move forward in race relations when such issues still exist?  What do you see as a solution?

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Editor's Note: The arrest last week of Harvard Professor H.L. Gates, Jr., remained at the forefront for American Morning’s Monday audience. Most debated the significance of the event; others asked for an end to the discussions. Still, some wanted more in-depth coverage of the dash cam tapes and any audio available from the arrest, suggesting that the full story has not yet been disclosed.

• Mr. John: Race is still definitely a problem in this country in a big way. If there was not still a problem the current discussion would not be taking place. Until we get RATIONAL instead EMOTIONAL about race this problem will remain with us.

• Doug: If you would check Prof. Gates' background and speeches he has given, you would see he is an angry racist. Please give blacks and Dumbocrats the same treatment you give Sarah. it is about the content of their character, not politics and or color of the skin. I know this will not be seen by your viewers, but I believe this is the way most Americans believe (not feel).

• Psdgwd: PLEASE let the Gates arrest issue drop.

• Linda R.: I turned on my TV, tuned to your show, as I do every day, and what do we see?? MORE of this junk about "Gatesgate"! With all our other problems (rogue Democrats undermining health care reform, N. Korea, 2 wars, A supreme court vote on the way, the economy, pending investigations of former Bush officials by Conyers, adventures of the "C street boys" and many, many, more things that REALLY matter), and you guys want to emulate the "fake" news channel FOX, by pounding this non-story to death!! Please stop this nonsense, or eventually you'll lose ALL your viewers to the internet.

• Dan: What possible reason would you have to ask what Lucia Whalen thinks of Obama's comments on the Gates/Crowley incident? Or, even worse, what her lawyer thinks? No reason, except to further fan the flames of this story. You people are the worst.

• Michael: Why can't you guys let the Henry Louis Gates-"Gate" go? Anybody that has taken the time to look beyond corporate news, already knows that Off. Crowley's arrest of Gates had no basis in Mass. law. But CNN is going to suck on this bone until it's burping marrow! Obama was right when he suggested that cable news is nothing but the WWF of punditry! You guys are as much the part of the problem within the body politic as anything else, where conflict has been reduced to a commodity.

• W72street: It really simple. Just invert Gates and the police officers race. Would Obama had called a black officer arresting a white professor stupid? If a white professor was insulting the black officer and was disturbing the peace, would Obama call the black officer doing his job a racist? Too many black people keep telling the rest of the country that we just don't understand being black. About the history etc. No, we do. We've heard it enough, we've seen it too. But maybe we expect too much from black people. There are many wealth black people. There are many famous black people. There are movie stars, rock stars, athletes, etc. There are CEO's and now a Black President. So when is enough. I'm jewfish. We were slaves too at one point. We were put to death by the millions in many wars. We move on, we just don't forget. Its time you do the same and stop hiding behind what was bad and focus on what is good

• Eric: Concerning the Gates arrest, what happened to the training from the much viewed dash cam tape of the irate motorist in a traffic stop swearing at the officer and tearing up the ticket in front of the officer? Is that tape still used for training and has the Cambridge police department viewed the tape?

What do you think of the continuing debate regarding the incident with Professor Gates? Is it time to move to another topic, or is this still relevant, as the first viewer states, remarking that “Until we get RATIONAL instead EMOTIONAL about race this problem will remain with us”? Is there more to this story than has been disclosed, as some viewers feel who are asking for release of the audio and video of the arrest? Is there a cover-up?

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The morning after President Obama’s speech about his health care reform plan, Thursday’s American Morning audience enthusiastically responded with mixed reviews. Many had additional questions about the plan and believed his explanation was too vague, while those who strongly supported reform offered alternate options.

For the plan

• Suzeq: I am 100% behind health care reform. I would prefer a single-payer system; however, I understand (but do not accept) that insurance companies and pharmaceuticals will not allow that to happen. I would like someone to explain to me how people with 100% fully paid coverage (Congress) can debate whether or not we need health insurance reform. I would also like to understand how Congress people can be bought off so easily by insurance and pharmaceuticals. Are they that insulated and desperate to be re-elected that they give up their souls?
• Sandy: The ones who are against the Pres.; what are they doing about health care. They are just criticizing him. At least he is trying to do something. I was denied ins. and I was doing a $8000. Deductible. I have to wait another 4 yrs. to go on Medicare and then it may not be there. My husband has be laid of work and can't get a job. He' 61 and they won't hire him. He is a veteran and gets his care through them, But I' m screwed. I need help now before I have to go to the hospital and then lose every thing we work so hard for.
• Susan: I wish people would quit playing politics. Obama is no fool. I go along with Obama health care plan. Most of these people are playing politics with other people's lives. I don't appreciate it. People keep lying about Obama's health care plan. We can spend millions and millions of dollars on other things, but when it comes to human beings we don't want to spend money on health care. I trust Obama. Most people don't read or even listen to what Obama is saying. it's pitiful. There shouldn't be anyone wanting to put this off. We need it done, NOW. Obama is right we have to have a dead line to get this done or it won't get done. People are suffering and no one cares but Obama. Obama really cares about people. You can tell this. Let Obama do his job and get things done.

Against the plan

• Stephanie: Obama is being dishonest with the American people...how are we going to keep our private insurance plans, when they will be driven out of business by the government plan...I have officially joined the ranks of Americans who regret voting for Obama...he is a such a disappointment to us all.
• Joe: Why can't Obama wait on a vote to implementing his government health care till all Democrat Congressman have a chance to read the whole Bill in Congress? Are the American People being served when Congress isn't allowed to represent the People?

What do you think of President Obama’s heath care plan? How do you think reform will affect your life? What alternative options would you prefer? What questions do you have about the plan that you want answered before any reform takes place?