Anger Keeps Coming at Latest Town Halls

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Health Care

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

There were another batch of town hall forums Wednesday, and that meant another batch of protests from people on both sides of health care reform debate. Here's a roundup of what happened:

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter "was greeted with skepticism and jeers" – though there were no tense confrontations like the ones Specter has faced at other town halls, according to the Philadelphia Enquirer. The Democratic senator, who until recently was a Republican, was occasionally drowned out by protesters at his latest meeting, the newspaper reported. He told the skeptical audience that a public option would not lead to "socialism," despite their concerns, and vowed not to support a final bill that would increase the deficit.

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Specter stressed Wednesday on CBS News' "The Early Show" and elsewhere that the most vocal town hall critics don't "represent all of America," though he said they deserve to be heard. "I don't criticize anybody who comes to these meetings, even if they give me hell," he said today. A CBS News/New York Times poll taken at the end of last month found that most Americans believe the nation's health care system needs major change support a government-sponsored health care option.

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In Maryland, the Hill reports, Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin's "75-minute town hall, held in a conservative stronghold in the state, was peppered with boos, jeers and catcalls, though a minority of attendees who support health reform efforts made it a bit calmer than past events in Laurel and Towson."

"Cardin remained nonplussed throughout the forum, even as constituents sometimes yelled and screamed at him, drowning out his explanations," according to the Hill. Yelled one woman: "This government has lost faith and trust. You all are not getting it." Outside the forum, protesters held signs with slogans like "No Socialized Medicine," while inside Cardin said he was open to torn reform and said he disagreed with the protesters over the responsibility of government when it comes to health care.

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In North Dakota, meanwhile, comments at a town hall meeting by Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan at a town hall "prompted yelling and screaming in the crowd," according to the Grand Forks Herald. A woman who said a health care overhaul was necessary was booed in the packed hall, according to the Associated Press, while some speakers held up copies of the proposal now being considered in the House.

In Texas, Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee angered town hall attendees while speaking on the phone as a cancer survivor asked a question about health care, the Washington Post reports. As Jackson Lee kept the phone to her ear and mouth, one attendee called out, "She's not even listening," while another said, "Seriously? Really, I mean, come on. Dude."

Republicans quickly passed around the video of Jackson Lee staying on the phone during the question. The representative, who answered the woman's question after hanging up, said later that she had been on the phone with the House health care hotline to get answers to constituents' health care related questions.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the "rowdy" meeting included a moment in which someone yelled, "Who is against the public option of socialized medicine?" prompting many in the audience to raise their hands.

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In Iowa, Republican Sen. Charles Grassley faced few disruptions at a town hall meeting where he said he opposed health insurance for illegal immigrants, the Associated Press reports. Town hall attendees have expressed concern about such a possibility, though it is not being proposed.

Grassley also said there should not be a government run plan "to decide when to pull the plug on grandma," echoing misrepresentations of an end of life counseling provision being pushed by those who oppose the current health care reform proposals.

In Oregon, KVAL reports, "So many people showed up for a town hall meeting on health care reform here Wednesday morning, Rep. Peter DeFazio took the meeting outside."

Most of the participants were reportedly respectful, with concerns being expressed about the speed with which the legislation was being drafted and what it will mean for government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. DeFazio, a Democrat, refused to take a position on any potential legislation since there was not yet a final version of a bill.

(CBS)

In Washington, meanwhile, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said "there's a tremendous amount of disinformation that's out there" that is prompting some of the town hall anger. He was asked if that "disinformation" imperiled the administration's health care reform efforts.

"Well, look, if the debate is dominated by something that's not true, of course," he said. "I don't think the president believes, though, that when all is said and done, that most people will make their decisions on something that is false and something that's been said is false."

Gibbs also castigated the media for focusing on the more raucous moments at the town hall meetings.

"Do I think some of you were disappointed yesterday that the president didn't get yelled at [at his New Hampshire town hall]? Sure," he said, responding to observations from reporters that many lawmakers have faced a more difficult reception at their town halls than the president did. "I don't think there's any doubt about that."

To read more:
Health Care Battle Pits Fact vs. Fiction

Who's Behind the Angry Town Halls?

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by billmoro August 18, 2009 2:45 AM EDT: i'm not going to bother reading all these posts.
the liberal attack machine is in full swing!
open your mouth, get attacked, what alinsky rule is that? rule 12, i forgot but its one of them.
katy abram is a true patriot, katy couric is a useless liberal propagandist. the "media" are in bed with these "social engineering" artists.
the government taking over american health care is just one more step in the socialization of the american dream into yet one more failing socialist state.
the parasite class wants to live off the middle working class.
i paid my premiums, i paid my taxes and i'm NOT going to pay for the slackers.
the founders of this nation warned against welfare. welfare only breeds more welfare.; Reply to this comment


by zonkzilla August 13, 2009 11:16 AM EDT: I sure hope Limbaugh's plan to make Obama fail comes true.
Think of how much fun it will be when our country fails and we have total anarchy and the wealthy who control almost everything take total control.
Limbaugh is a truly great and patriotic American.
Now if you want to see some screaming and a fight, just put me in the same room with Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, or even all three and watch me take out the garbage.
I just have this crazy hatred for traitors.; Reply to this comment


by ihave_leishmaniasis August 13, 2009 11:13 AM EDT: President Obama wants Reform, I want President Obama and all of his followers to start making AIG to do that health care thing. Why is this President doing this, when he has a Insurance Carrier, that put the USA in the poor house, not following the Law. These Laws are the LHWCA, Defence base Act, War Hazard Act!
President Obama Start Enforcing These LAWS!!!; Reply to this comment


by johndevinejr August 13, 2009 10:51 AM EDT: I saw the interview with the very inarticulate Craig Miller who was screaming at Arlen Specter. He didn't seem to have a clue as to why he was supposed to be against health care reform.
Like most of these protesters he was only able to scream nonsense.

He did ramble about 31 csars, but his objections were not clear. Incidently the first "czar" was William Simon, appointed by Richard Nixon.

Mr Miller is typical of repulbicans. He has been told health reform is bad and to stop it. He accepts this because he is a republican and that means you do as your are told. You don't think, you don't fact check, you don't read for yourself the information that is readily available.
You accept what your Party Bosses tell you to think and say without question. Perfect fodder for these very dishonest republican who are on the take from the Health Care Industry.
Senator Grassley would push his own mother in front of the bus for a few thousand, and he is getting millions from the Industry.

What a gang of criminals and morons.; Reply to this comment


by babooph August 13, 2009 10:41 AM EDT: Ever wonder how many republicans do not apply for medicare??What a delusional party they have become-no wonder they drove the brains out & left only crooks ,idiots & wackos in.; Reply to this comment


by zonkzilla August 13, 2009 10:24 AM EDT: All this action and tough talk and not one big fight except when 5 right wingers caught some old man alone in an alley.
Cluck cluck cluck, here come the tough talking right wing fascists.
The right wing fascists are not so tough when they are not hiding on a roof with a rifle and scope or hiding behind a "gold" microphone with paid bodyguards to do their fighting for them.
Do chickens become fascists, or do people who become fascists turn chicken?; Reply to this comment


by zonkzilla August 13, 2009 10:18 AM EDT: As the right wing fascist threatens and screams he jumps into the arms of a police officer and says "hold me back, hold me back"
LOL; Reply to this comment


by zonkzilla August 13, 2009 10:17 AM EDT: Both sides are acting tough because the police are there to protect them from each other and they see cameras.
I say put the screamers outside and let them fight for real or shut up.
Just a bunch of tough acting anarchist chickens.; Reply to this comment

by DaBroiler August 13, 2009 9:52 AM EDT

Obama lies, Grandma dies.

Reply to this comment


by hungry1968-16 August 13, 2009 10:01 AM EDT: Why would "Grandma die"?


by hungry1968-16 August 13, 2009 9:48 AM EDT: by trapbreaking August 13, 2009 9:19 AM EDT
If you think health care is expensive in America now, wait until you see what it cost when it is free.

You sound surprised that it will cost more to insure EVERY AMERICAN, instead of the lucky few.

But then again, ANY information would be surprising to you.; Reply to this comment