At Town Halls, Blue Dogs Face Skeptics

(CBS)

President Obama is holding a town hall meeting in Montana this afternoon, and last night two Democratic lawmakers got a taste of the sort of questions he might face.

In rural east-central Iowa, Democratic Representative Leonard Boswell was surprised that more than 100 "animated" people showed up at his town hall Thursday evening, according to the Des Moines Register.

The 75-year-old Boswell, one of the fiscally conservative so-called "Blue Dogs" in the House, reportedly relied on his "courtly manner and folksy style" to deal with those angry about the Democrats' health care reform efforts. Supporters of the reform event were also present at the event, though they were outnumbered.

"How will you protect, or how will this bill protect against abuse of power by this Congress?" one woman asked.

Boswell repeatedly noted that there is not yet a bill, and said he thus can't yet know how he will vote. He also encouraged attendees to "be respectful" after some laughed at the notion of life being cut short during discussion of the end of life counseling proposal that has been labeled a "death panel" by critics (a claim media outlets have repeatedly noted is a myth).

In Kokomo, Indiana, meanwhile, another blue dog, Representative Joe Donnelly, got an earful from those skeptical that the government, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid, should be playing a greater role in health care, the Wall Street Journal reports. The newspaper notes that 500 people showed up for an event at which only 72 chairs had been set up.

(CBS)

"Given the government's track record on running various corporations like Amtrak and the Post Office, how can you guys in good conscience decide to run one-seventh of the national economy?" asked one man.

"I just want to know, when do these entitlements stop?" another asked. "I'm responsible for myself and I'm not responsible for other people. I should get the fruits of my labor and I shouldn't have to divvy it up with other people."

A third compared the government to "an individual that maxes out one credit card then goes out and gets another."

The Journal reports that most of the attendees were older, fitting the profile of most of the town hall attendees around the country. Donnelly told the crowd that he has not come out for or against reform efforts.

In Brooklyn, New York, meanwhile, Democratic Representative Anthony Weiner might have expected a more sympathetic reception at his town hall meeting yesterday. But the crowd at the Council Center for Senior Citizens was skeptical – and hungry, according to the New York Daily News.

"Are we going to have a say in this or are we becoming a Communist country?" one man said. "I've never heard of a government program that doesn't explode in costs. This is a joke." Another reportedly earned applause by yelling, "it's a socialist country!"

"I know a lot of people like to get all worked up when the cameras are all around, but the truth is we have a republic form of government and in this system you get to vote for the people you like," Weiner said, urging everyone to calm down after being characterized as one of the "crooks" who is "bankrupting the country."

The Daily News notes that not everyone was so passionate about health care reform.

"Usually our lunch starts at noon," one woman said. "I think he is going to cause us to delay our lunch. That's no good."

[earlysaid]

The Blue Dog Dems have to get behind our President Obama and support him or they will not get a good reception in the next election. I am sick and tired of scared and weeny Democrats who will not do what will help Americans. If they are not scared then they are just corporate-owned wealthy false Democrats who do not care about Americans. We need honesty and we need truthfulness from our legislators who are supposed to be doing what is best for us, not what is best for big business.

[drsuz]

Again your wrong. The Blue Dogs wil be the ones who get a good reception in the next election for they are proving to those they represent they are not just going to fall into step with others because they are a Democrat. The Blue Dog Coalition is often involved in finding a compromise between liberal and conservative positions. They are frequently sought after to broker compromises between the Democratic and Republican leadership, generally lending a more centrist character to US politics.

Did you also know the biggest single source of finance for the Blue Dog Political Action Committee is the health care industry. They donated $1.2 million dollars in the 2009-10 election cycle.

In 2007, 15 Blue Dog Coalition Members in safe seats refused to contribute party dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The stated reason for the party dues boycott are remarks made by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) encouraging leaders of anti-war groups to field primary challenges to any Democrat who does not vote to end the war in Iraq.

So it is those who ARE NOT Blue Dogs that better be shaking in their booties.

[steeepe]

Skepticism is fine and debate is good, but the GOP slings BS like mud. Gingrich, Palin, Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, and Plain have deliberately lied or are devastatingly ignorant about provisions in some of the draft bills under consideration. They play on fears and ignorance of the uniformed. They have succeeded in showing that there are a lot of stupid people in America who follow the GOP like dumb little lambs. Aspects of health care reform may be wrong, but that is no excuse for the rampant lying by senators and the media. The senators should be censured for lying to their constituents (think GrASSley).

[speakinup22]

Hey steeepe, Obama is the one that said he's cover this on CSPAN. If he fails to get his message out there, it is his own damn lie and problem.

The legalese of a bill changes with each pass back and forth between Senate and House. There is no chance most of us can follow it, and a LOT of the wording is open to intrepretation. So can the BS ok lib.

[earlysaid]

Amen steeepe. The republicans have been the meanest, most hateful bunch of liars for a long time. There are way too many republican liars trying to derail health care reform. They dont mind if they scare people with horrid lies that would never come from Christians or someone who is honest. People need to use their common sense and face facts that are not very pretty. You have a republican party that lies to you and hopes you will keep voting for them so they can take advantage for all their rich cronies. Or you can support the Democrats who are not perfect, but do try to be honest in all their efforts. They also want to improve things for all. Republicans never do that. They are just in it for themselves and their few big shots.

[speakinup22]

According to Rasmussen polls, "Regardless of the motives behind the protests, however, voters overwhelmingly agree that the average congressman listens most to party leaders rather than the voters they represent ? by a 73% to 14% margin."

This will cost the Democratic Party come 2010.

"Seventy percent (70%) of Republicans and 58% of unaffiliated voters say the protesters reflect the concerns of their neighbors. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Democrats say the protests are phony. - Rasmussen polls.

Our Representation had better pay heed. The President campaigned on putting the Healthcare 'reform' on CSPAN. He hasn't kept that promise.

There doesn't seem to be a venue for non-lawyers to easily read the intended changes to Healthcare, let alone careful planning to eliminate UNINTENDED changes to our current insurance due to government meddling.

The BEST way to proceed with what MAY be good ideas, is slowly and in a controlled fashion. We don't want another debacle like the CEOs getting huge bonuses due to our government rushing the process. I suspect Obama would see more cooperation this way, but he seems more intent on rushing the process.

I have to wonder why ?

I do agree that Healthcare needs to change. We should be compassionate enough to supply Healthcare to at least the preventative medicine level for all. Be we also need to make individuals responsible for keeping costs down, not insurance companies.

If the individual isn't in the equation, they will pay whatever price is charged for the service, and no competition is involved from the service provider.

[speakinup22]

Yeah - well, if Obama wasn't lying during his campaign, AGAIN, then he'd better reach across the isle, putz.

[drsuz]

by chonder2 August 14, 2009 5:05 PM EDT
I say anyone who tries to hold the elderly hostage with terror tactics should not be delt with.When Congress goes back in session tell the Repubs, "WE DON'T NEGOCIATE WITH TERRORISTS"!!

I take it you are from another planet and have no parent or grandparent. Either that or they refuse to admit you exist.

Your statements: "WE DON'T NEGOCIATE WITH TERRORISTS"!! is a laugh. The Obama Administration is full of them..

[ABM_21]

Any electected official is either stupid or dishonest if they support taking benefits from a U.S. citizen and giving benefits to an illegal alien. Why do the people that work hard and make wise decisions have to pay for those that can't show up to work?

Vote against the Obaminal Nation Killer on everything that he supports. If he supports something, you know that someone is getting cheated and someone is getting something that they didn't earn.
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Now, this is the type of bigotry and misinformation that the right is spewing out in order to confuse the public. For one thing, one way or another, illegal aliens will get their hands on tax dollars. Since so many of them are using emergency rooms as primary health care facilities, that is money that has to be paid by someone. When it all comes down to it, the American taxpayer will have to foot that bill. Also, why should we the people give subsidies to big oil and big business? It's clear they can afford it, but they won't pay as long as the government is giving them taxpayer money they don't need.
Then too, when Bush was illegally occupying the White House, the middle class and the working class got screwed royally. In fact, it was his take care of the top policies that got us into this financial fiasco in the first place. Vote against Obama? With the hole Bush left this country in at the time of his blessed departure, anything obama and the Democrats want to do is worth a try. This is the kind of divisiveness and lack of ideas the Republican party bring to the table. I say reject this divisiveness, and give the president's policies a chance...

[earlysaid]

Right on ABM-21. We should all be fed up with republican liars and their mean hateful disregard for facts. If you can bring yourselves to do it, look on some of the fact check sites so you will not keep barfing these lies that are hateful and evil.

[drsuz]

by ABM_21 August 14, 2009 4:02 PM EDT
Then too, when Bush was illegally occupying the White House,

Oh-Oh..Believe me, you don't want to go there..They just got the 'birthers calmed down'.