N.C. Dem's Death Threat Over Health Care

A North Carolina congressman who supports an overhaul of the health care system had his life threatened, as increasingly raucous protests are greeting pro-reform lawmakers at town hall meetings across the country.

Democratic Rep. Brad Miller received the death threat in a phone call Monday, one of hundreds the congressman's office has fielded demanding town-hall meetings on the health care proposal, said his spokeswoman, LuAnn Canipe.

She said the callers were "trying to instigate town halls so they can show up and disrupt."

Democratic lawmakers expected protests and demonstrations as they headed back to their states and districts over the August recess to sell health care reform legislation.

Earlier this week, White House officials counseled Democratic senators on coping with disruptions at public events this summer.

In the week since the House began its break, several town-hall meetings have already been disrupted by noisy demonstrators (including this Tampa town hall which devolved into shoving matches and catcalls).

On Friday, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin chimed in, calling President Barack Obama's health plan "downright evil" in her first online comments since leaving office.

She said in a Facebook posting that he would create a "death panel" that would deny care to the neediest Americans.

"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care," the former Republican vice-presidential candidate wrote.

Obama, a Democrat, campaigned on a promise of offering affordable health care to all Americans, as the United States is the only developed nation that does not have a comprehensive national health care plan for all its citizens.

He has proposed a system that would include government and private insurers. Republicans say that private insurers would be unable to compete, leaving the country with only a government-run health program. They warn that could leave Americans with little control over their health care.

The protests have drawn widespread media attention, and Republicans have seized on them as well as polls showing a decline in support for Obama and his agenda as evidence that public support is lacking for his signature legislation.

Pushing back, Democrats have accused Republicans of sanctioning mob tactics, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accused protesters earlier this week of trying to sabotage the democratic process.

[endurorob]

So according to Reid protests are and attempt to sabotage the democratic process? I don't know what America helives in but in the America I live in protests are an important part of the democratic process.

[midlclass]

Alot of republican't ranting and raving about a socialized health care. i believe that if they would stop there fear monering and look at whats being put together. they would have a better understanding. I've heard Obama say time and time again that if you like your ins you can keep it. You don't have to have a goverment plan. that would be an option for people who don't have any ins. you know the self employed guy who has diabetis, and no ins company will touch him because of a pre exsisting condition. or the people who work for a company that decides it can't nafford to pay for it's employee health ins. but can dish out thousands and millions for Executve salaries and bonuses, and then have people going out to fight for these ignorant's. let the republican't have mores have more and screw the rest. keep it up another reason so we can't do something and then sit there and whine about congress not doing anything. come up with a better plan. I feel that when my employer has to pay 1/2 a million a year for 45 employee's that the ins. issue is out of control and if it takes a single payer option to straighten out these guys go for it

[bradkt1]

So this bunch of nuts is what the GOP has come to. Wow...that's really sad...and what's worse is that GOP leaders are encouraging this.

This is why the GOP will be soundly trounced in 2010 and in 2012. No bunch of shrill, lying yahoos is going to get anywhere in the political process in this country...especially those who think that they can just shout down anyone that they disagree with. That's not how it works in the United States of America.

[velma179]

Health care reform will pass this year.

[thusspokezara]

All this talk about Democrats trying to push for euthanasia in order to cut down on health care cost is a big lie. Just because Democrats are not willing to protect life at its BEGINNING does not mean that they are not willing to protect life at its END.

[democracy1]

Yeah, the "euthanasia" lie.

The part of the bill that deals with your right to establish a "Living Will" (which has already been in existence in this country for over 2 decades) that was inserted by 2 Republicans.

And Sister Sarah fell for the lie, hook, line and sinker--what an idiot! No one can stand up for her now without truly looking like a fool and she did it to herself!

[alanrobisch]

ithink you miss a basic fact that in most cxountries with single payer systems end of life treatment is limited because it is deemed no to be cost effective. At present about 25% of the money spent is spent on end of life treatment. It may not represent euthanansia but it is limiting the options of people at the end of life to chose.

The pro-choice party seems to have decided that if it costs too much money choices shouldn't be given.

[nottellin1]

Statistics state that healthcare for 46% is already publicly paid via Medicare, Medicaid and other programs, so we already have a public option. So if there is something so wrong with our current government run public programs, why would anyone agree to the new expanded government run public program? The real solution is to open free clinic's for those without insurance and mandate that they use them. They could even be attached to hospital emergency rooms so folks without insurance could be immediately referred there. Drs could be required to perform pro bono work there, staff paid by the gov. I don't understand why a possibly lazy person that doesn't work should be treated the same as someone that has worked diligently and achieved a level of professional development with an employer sponsored insurance plan.

My favorite line is ___% of Americans support some form of healthcare reform". Sure some form just not the form they are currently trying to foist on us. The only way the can come up with a double digit % is to use the phrase "some form", never "this health care reform". Are we spinning yet?

[robham777]

Clearly, the favorite tactic of conservatives. (It's easier than answering the truth with more BS and spin.)

Have you ever seen the Keith Olbermann show?

[robham777]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/05/cash-strapped-alabama-county-feels-crush-recession/

I could not find a reference to the stimulus plan in this story. There may be an implication that recovery is still a long way off, but I don't think that even qualifies as news.

[hungry1968-16]

It was one of the "Talking Heads" shows - not actual news, just BS opinions.

The one "guest" asked what the mismanagement by county officials has to do with the stimulus plan, and they quickly ridiculed him and shouted him down.

Clearly, the favorite tactic of conservatives. (It's easier than answering the truth with more BS and spin.)

[robham777]

Sorry, I don't get the fox news channel and can only view their online content. I would argue that the best thing that has come from the stimulus plan is that it has enabled some state and local governments to forstall impending disaster, however this was not the advertised purpose of the bill.

[hungry1968-16]

Breaking news!!

According to the Fox News talking heads just now, Jefferson County Alabama has to raise taxes and cut services, due to fiscal mismanagement by the county's officials.

This is "proof" that the stimulus isn't working.

(??????)


(Don't ask me, it's their bizarre claim!)

[r9119111]

by fcs25 August 9, 2009 12:41 PM EDT
The outburst of average American citizens in these meetings show very clearly that the democrats have shot themselves in the foot ------

fcs25: These were not average Ammerican citizens. If you would like to find out who is behind this disruptive hooliganism, check the following site online:


Birthers, Teabaggers, and other assorted wachos

http://www.dakotapolitics.com/getForumPost.asp?ArticleId=416254

Posted on: Aug 5 2009 - by 37rye

This whole thing is orchestrated outrage designed to disrupt the democratic process and should be met with action on the part of the administration at once. It is pure hooliganism and should not be tolerated.

I used to be a party line voting Republican. What they are doing now is not my idea of patriotism and I shall never vote for them again as long as they are not willing to do what is best for America rather than their own selfish and very fraudulently deceptive agendas.