Reform Supporters Outnumber Critics At Town Halls

While television cameras have focused on vocal opponents to health care reform, in many cases they have been outnumbered by supporters of the legislation in general and a public option in particular.

In Phoenix, Arizona, "Pro-Obama demonstrators appeared to outnumber the anti-Obama ones, with Phoenix police estimating the crowd at 1,200 to 2,000 at locations around the convention center."

In Boulder, Colorado, "a few hundred residents of one of the nation's more liberal congressional districts turned out Monday night to tell their congressman, Democratic Rep. Jared Polis, to keep that public option, however controversial politically, in the final bill."

"It's the most essential part of the bill," said Leigh Kirkland, in direct response to Sunday's statement from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that the public option "wasn't the most essential" part of the reform package.

In Fork Union, Virginia, Rep. Tom Perriello faced a more divided crowd, "with roughly half the crowd apparently in favor of reform and the other half opposed.

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) "held a spirited but civil town-hall meeting Monday night inside a union hall where his supporters outnumbered critics."

And when Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) held a forum on health care reform he drew an overflow crowd, with a majority on the Democratic lawmaker's side. "A large majority of those present at the first discussion applauded Lujan when he stressed several times that he was in favor of a public option and when Lujan and other panelists criticized insurance companies."

 

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Comments

[David Wooldridge]

12:26 AM on 08/20/2009

As a first comment, I'd just like to know why everybody thinks that handing over freedoms, in the name of government control thinks that this is a good thing. Can you really tell me that having the POTUS firing the CEO of a large corp. is a good thing? With people who know nothing about running a company, let alone the automotive industry calling the shots. And now a 'pay czar' is going to tell you how much money you can make, if you're in certain jobs. Just looking at all the of the power trying to come out of the White House, and you're okay with it? Hows' that Hope and Change workin' for ya?
And now, your health-care decisions will be made in the way Medicare and Medicaid operates. (They're going broke , too!) And all of this is okay with you?
What kind of drugs are you on, and why you holdin' out on us?

[denicci1977]

08:45 PM on 08/19/2009

Why haven't the media been focusing on these stories ? They are giving so much attention to these idiots who are outnumbered. We had our first town hall here in Georgia and it went very well. People who had a variety of opinions, more cheers for the public option were given. This is what needs to be headlined. My Congressman was very informed and explained everything thoroughly before taking questions.He laid out the rules, no long speeches, no yelling and cutting people off (simple elementary stuff) and it worked. I also have to give good credit to our local police and sheriff's department who helped make it work. Get with it MSM, show what real concerned Americans are saying, not the looney tunes with the Hitler signs and guns.

[angrymob09]

03:11 PM on 08/20/2009

becuase the people are the TRUE "astroturf"

[Toxictort]

01:53 PM on 08/19/2009

As I thought earlier, even MSNBC did not cover this last nigt, let alone any of the other MSM outlets. They would rather feature the woman calling the POTUS a Nazi at a Barney Frank event.

[aablinko]

11:56 AM on 08/19/2009

Reform sounds all good and everything on paper but the problem is it will never happen. Too much "profit" at stake in the private sector.

RT
http://www.web-anonymity.us.tc

[Eldienne]

11:13 AM on 08/19/2009

The right wingers heads are exploding over this article. Kapow! there goes another one.

[Eldienne]

10:57 AM on 08/19/2009

I thank God that I'm on Medicaid and Medicare because I receive disability; and there was a lot of controversy over these two government health programs before they were enacted in 1965. So maybe we can still get health care reform in 2009 despite all the controversy over that as well. If there was no Medicaid or Medicare, and Obama wanted to enact them, then the right-wingers would just try to kill them both. Many if not most of them are on the latter, and don't realize that it is run by the government!

[blackjack19]

09:53 AM on 08/19/2009

The problem I have with the critics getting so much attention is that often their incorrect accusations are not corrected once the video is over. Naturally, FOX News isn't going to set the record straight, but others are just as guilty. Either don't give these people any airtime, or do your job and point-out the blatant falsehoods so others watching aren't influenced by desperate lies.

[babyboomerorig]

09:41 AM on 08/19/2009

I love it!

For weeks, I've been saying that this is a strategy.....planned to let the naysayers have their moment of glory.

Now, let the bills be voted on, then introduce the right bill so we can all have the opportunity to be insured without the insurance companies deciding who's getting care and who isn't.

Simple majority. "Git 'er done!"

[dennisrs]

09:50 AM on 08/19/2009

That is part of the problem, is the Bills. Everybody want this passed but there is no real Bill to read they are still amending it how can you support the vote for something when it isn't finished. Who knows what those sneaky Devils will put in there at the last minute. That's why they need to present something that is whole (finished) and then we can start debating. Do we really sign off on contracts before they are complete? So do that with laws. That is how we end up with Patriot Acts and Cap & Trade and the surprises they both contained.

[bannorhill]

11:32 AM on 08/19/2009

There is no bill, however, as we saw with the stimulus plan Congess can go from no bill at 10:30 PM one day to voting on one the next day.

[Haitiana4Obama]

09:39 AM on 08/19/2009

Good for us progressives, it's time we stand up for what's right and drown out the loons who's only true gripe is having Barack Hussein Obama in the White House as our 44th President.

[gino618]

09:42 AM on 08/19/2009

Lemme guess - you think it's a r@cial thing, right?

[nubret2008]

09:56 AM on 08/19/2009

No it's a Republican thing but that makes no big difference...

[jnah]

09:34 AM on 08/19/2009

this is what democracy is about. we can't silence their views (no matter how idiotic) but we can speak ours in greater number

[Arrecho]

09:32 AM on 08/19/2009

Check this out:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/18/woman-shouts-heil-hitler_n_262554.html

Pamela Pilger

702 433 6674

Las Vegas, Nevada

[gino618]

09:25 AM on 08/19/2009

Once again, another misleading headline & story from H.P.

The Phoenix event story states “A crowd of several thousand, organized by the Arizona Democratic Party….” even though such organizing by conservatives or the GOP is considered astroturfing and mocked here on this site…

Then we go to Boulder, CO, which that article admits is a liberal stronghold (no surprise they’re for the legislation.

Fork Union, VA? Evenly divided crowd.

Grayson’s townhall in Florida was held inside a union hall (and directly AFTER a union meeting – guess there’s no surprise who were the first ones in the hall taking up space, right?)

And finally the New Mexico story which clearly states that the Congressman LIED to the audience about cost savings (for which the story cites a non-partisan political fact-checking group).

Democratic organizing, townhall in a liberally-biased location, townhall in a pro-Dem union hall, and a Congressman openly lying to his audience….

And HP uses the headline, “Reform Supporters Outnumber Critics At Town Halls” ????

Your desperation is showing.

[nubret2008]

09:35 AM on 08/19/2009

It's rather that your desperation is showing...

[gino618]

09:38 AM on 08/19/2009

Yet you cannot dispute one point I've made, only smirk and make a snarky comment..... how telling.

[bannorhill]

11:40 AM on 08/19/2009

Correction...Grayson's meeting was in a 120 seat hall directly after a meeting of the "just after a regular meeting of local Democrats, some of whom stayed behind for the town hall in the scarce seats."

After the ORANGE CO FLORIDA DEMOCRAT MEETING. Seats were scarce. Duh......

No wonder the supporters outnumbered opponents. Also no wonder hundreds of angry people were screaming and protesting outside.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-aseca1-health-care-081809081809aug18,0,4616127.story

[Purveyor]

08:58 AM on 08/19/2009

Why does the MSM hate America?

[dennisrs]

09:09 AM on 08/19/2009

Does MSM hate America? You think ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FoX, Clear Channel, AP all hate America?

[Arrecho]

09:31 AM on 08/19/2009

Corporation's lapdogs.

[blueken]

08:56 AM on 08/19/2009

The TV coverage of the "Town Hall Meetings" reminds me of the Gerry Springer show. The sad news is that those angry shouting people are getting a lot of attention and putting fear into the hearts of a lot of people I talk to.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

09:11 AM on 08/19/2009

"Murkans" are addicted to SPECTACLE and are generally spineless intellectually. What could these people fear from the shouts and lies of people neither you nor they would associate with? Kindly remind people that just because some TWIT says something, it doesn't make it fact--including, presumably, this statement!?!?!?

[Gracie1]

09:26 AM on 08/19/2009

True--After going to a local congressional meeting and witnessing the lack of drama, I wrote to the General Manager at one station complaining about the sensationalism in their reporting--it was so unbalanced--I did get a note back saying they should do a better job in providing the balance of their stories--we'll see-- I wrote to our local paper too- never heard from them though. Our voices are not getting out there unless we put them there- and there are productive and powerful ways to do that without negatively engaging the ignorant any more than they are--

[Anne Johnson]

08:54 AM on 08/19/2009

Medicare and social security are socialist programs that nobody wants to give up. We love our socialism in this country. When people find themselves eligible for any kind of government help they jump on it right away. The VA is socialized medicine. What are we to do support the troops and abolish the VA?

[dennisrs]

09:14 AM on 08/19/2009

Anne J-- Yes for many people that seems to be the case.
I do think Medicare is a little bit different. The VA is military medicine I'm not sure how accurate it is to call it Socialized since it only applies to the Vets and not the general public at large. It's set up so the former soldier have med care for mostly old war wounds but I guess they treat them for all their needs if they need the care.