American Morning
Hoyer: Health care threats are unacceptable
(CNN) – There was a small health care victory for Republicans overnight. The Senate, plowing through a mountain of GOP amendments, hit a procedural pothole.
Two flaws in the health care "fixes" will send the bill back to the House for another vote. It comes as the health care conversation turns ugly, with House Democrats becoming the targets of harassment, vandalism and even death threats.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is calling on both parties to condemn threats and harassment of House members. He joined us on Thursday's American Morning.
Small businesses weigh health care pros & cons
(CNN) – Small businesses are weighing the pros and cons of health care reform. President Obama will be in Iowa today to try and explain what the new law means for them.
As our Ted Rowlands shows us, for some, it could be the difference between keeping the doors open and boarding up the windows.
California to vote to legalize marijuana
(CNN) – Marijuana supporters are celebrating a big political step forward. California may become the very first state to legalize recreational pot use.
The measure will be on the ballot in November and, if passed, could bring in some much-needed tax money for the cash-strapped state. Our Dan Simon talked to people on both sides of the debate.
Did Bush wipe hand on Clinton?
(CNN) – A new viral video has people asking, did former President George W. Bush wipe his hand on former President Bill Clinton after shaking hands in Haiti?
We've tracked down a couple theories. Plenty of news reports imply, or flat out say: Yeah, that's exactly what happened. But other reports say it was probably an affectionate pat on the arm, or that former President Bush, who's known for being on time, could have been tugging on former President Clinton's sleeve trying to keep him on schedule.
You make the call.
House members report increased threats since vote
By Carol Costello, CNN
(CNN) – Some conservatives have made pro-life Congressman Bart Stupak a verb.
Stu-packed. Definition? Betrayed. And, for some, that sense of betrayal has become visceral. Ever since the health care reform bill passed the House of Representatives, angry, and sometimes threatening calls, have been coming into Stupak’s office.
A sample: “You are a cowardly punk, Stupak. That’s what you are. You and your family, scum.” Another caller left this message: “Go to hell, you piece of ***t!”
Stupak has also received thousands of letters and faxes. One fax shows a picture of a noose, with the words, “All baby killers come to unseemly ends, either by the hand of man or the hand of God.”
The calls and letters kept coming as Stupak and other pro-life Democratic lawmakers gathered Wednesday to witness President Obama sign an executive order. An order, pro-life Democrats insist, confirms the ban on federal funding for abortions in the new health care law.
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, a pro-life Democrat from Ohio, says the mood was “joyous,” with “everybody clapping.”
Kaptur has experienced some push-back for her support of the health care bill too, but not like Stupak. She finds it disturbing, and says it has little to do with the abortion issue. “There were a lot of individuals who didn’t want this bill at all, and I think that’s where the vitriol is coming from,” says Kaptur.
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