Health Care Opponents Outnumbered at Philadelpha Town Meeting

August 12 -- On a humid evening, in a non-air-conditioned church sanctuary, beneath mobiles of origami birds on which prayers are written, Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA) held a town meeting, answering questions on health care reform with few interruptions. More than 500 people gathered in the sanctuary and overflow room of the Broad Street Ministry, in the heart of Philadelphia's cultural district, to pose questions and listen to the congressman. Participants formed a long line in front of the church and around the corner and waited without incident before the event began, many of them carrying red, white and blue signs that said, "Health Care Reform Now."

In preparation for the town meeting, MoveOn and various local groups that support health care reform contacted their network of members and encouraged them to turn-out for the event and outnumber tea-baggers and others who might try to prevent citizens from asking questions. The result was so successful it could serve as a model for town meetings across the country.

Sestak, who is challenging Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) in Pennsylvania's Democratic Primary, has been holding health care "summits" across the state for more than a year and demonstrated both his understanding of the public's concerns and his mastery of the details in the House health care proposal. He responded to numerous questions from supporters and opponents of health care reform calmly and with command of the facts. Those who even attempted to disrupt the town meeting were met with Sestak's unflappable patience and knowledge, and the audience's disapproval.

In the audience, were people like Norman Fehr, 63, of West Chester, PA who said, "I am positively, definitely for the public option," and explained that because he has a pre-existing condition, he is one year away from losing his current health insurance. "When you have pre-existing conditions, you have more claims and insurance costs keep going up," he said, "We need to temper that." A public option would offer an affordable alternative to for-profit insurance.

A 34-year-old woman who identified herself only as Paige was also in the audience and told me she is skeptical of reform. Paige works as a speech therapist at Temple University Health Sciences Center in North Philadelphia, the inner city, where many people in the surrounding neighborhood are poor and rely on Temple's ER for their care. "I work hard," she said, "And I'm tired of all these people who don't work and I'm getting squeezed to pay for them."

Elizabeth Parziale, 67, of Montgomery County, one of the suburbs that turned from red to blue in the presidential election was in the audience to support health care reform. She told me, "I am on the wonderful government program called Medicare."

Before Parziale was eligible for Medicare, she said, her monthly bill under Cobra rapidly went from 350 to 750 dollars a month. Because health care insurance in Pennsylvania is really a monopoly, she had no other option except to pay. "Medicare has saved my life," she said, "and my husband's life."

One participant asked a question about "purging" which happens when insurers "purge" policyholders from their rolls because they have had costly treatments; and purge small business by raising their rates after an employee has had an expensive hospitalization -- even though policyholders and small businesses have been paying premiums to the insurers for years.

Sestak pointed out that under the proposed legislation, "No one can be denied coverage and insurers must take people with pre-existing conditions." He explained, "We have created a new insurance exchange from which people can choose. Also, we will cover fifty percent of small businesses' coverage."

Jean Bishop, a primary care physician from Philadelphia who stopped practicing in order to fight for health care reform asked, "How can we get insurance companies to stop rationing care?" Sestak's answer included the fact that under reform, physicians and hospitals will not be paid for quantity of procedures but rather for the quality of care they provide.

One man asked how he would be able to keep his current insurance if his employer decided to take the Public Option. To this Sestak explained, "The bill mandates that employers must continue their current plan, except for small business that can choose the public option."

When the subject of the public option came up, many in the audience applauded and cheered their approval. In outlining the importance of the Public Option and how it would work, Sestak first explained that in Pennsylvania private health insurance plans are controlled by only two companies, a virtual monopoly. "Therefore," he said, "Hospitals have no bargaining power."

A public option, offered by the government, would be subsidized by co-pay and premiums of those who join, offer an affordable choice, won't pay millions to CEOs, and would save 150 billion dollars over ten years.

Sestak explained, "We [Americans] are good at competition -- and competition will make it fair. With the public option, we will beget the kind of competition that we've lost."

Sestak pointed out that the public option is that -- an option, a choice -- among other choices. No one will be forced to take it.

When a participant asked, "Why not single-payer," the congressman explained that the House bill covers ninety-seven percent of all Americans, and the three percent who are not covered are those who choose not to be covered.

The questions continued for more than two hours and Sestak answered each one thoughtfully. There were a few people who sought to stir up a ruckus, but they found little if any support and were soon silent. Although one well-dressed woman held a sign outside that depicted President Obama in a derogatory way (which I prefer not to describe) this time, the would-be belligerents were outnumbered and democracy prevailed.

Comments

[den1953]

That is good to know about the sensationalism on TV so next time America wants its coverage of a radical town hall meeting we will be sacrifice a small goat and let the nit wits run around naked!

[Emerald1943]

This is truly good news and I hope that this will become a trend to drown out those who would derail this process. Paybacks are a b*tch!

What amazes me is how fear can completely corrupt the democratic process. We saw it happen when GWB and his cronies lied us into a war...base­d on fear propaganda that Saddam had WMD's and was ready to do us in. And we can see how well that worked out for us.

People need to wake up in this country and quit succumbing to this fear mongering. There will always be a percentage who, in their ignorance, will believe the propaganda put out by those who are making huge sums of money with the status quo. But the rest of us need to use our "noodles".

Kudos to Moveon.org for getting behind this issue! We need more help to pass reasonable health care reform for everyone!

[carolr51]

Thank you, Denise, it's so good to have some good news on the town hall meetings. I was beginning to be pretty worried, and still am, that the bad guys were winning.

[S1m0n]

"One man asked how he would be able to keep his current insurance if his employer decided to take the Public Option."

Nothing prevents his employer from changing suppliers right now, leaving him in the same position.

[roald]

Excellent point. Today, his employer could also discontinue offering any insurance.

[Schvenzlerman]

"Senator" Sestak (actually only a Congressman) has no constituents in the City of Philadelphia. Not a single one. His district lies in Delaware County. Ms. Dennis, the author, omitted that wee fact.

[binarystar]

"Sestak, who is challenging Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) in Pennsylvania's Democratic Primary...­"

[texanna]

In Austin our MoveOn Council has been on call all month supporting Rep Doggett, the only one of the three members of Congress that represent the area that has publicly stated his support of a public option. Since the debacle early in the month, we have disallowed our local Tea Baggers to derail his attempts to have a dialogue with as many in the area as will come to the various public events on his schedule. In our efforts we have been joined by many other local progressiv­e/activist organizations -- there is definitely power in numbers. Everyone that wants reform in our health care system MUST be willing to personally show that desire by showing up - showing up wherever there is a public event regarding this important issue.

[themeeg]

Great Article. Great writing. I love Denise Dennis.

[Mij13]

Me too. And I hope this is the beginning of a wonderful trend.

[ReaganSucked]

Hey Denise....

Good article!

Oddly, I'm now very attracted to you...

Signed,

Some guy fan on the internets

[talkingwolfwoman]

And why was this not on all news media!! Silly Me Doesn't sell !! Glad to hear people were able to listen and discuss this with out all of the Crap going on,,,,,, Too bad the MSM failed to show it!

[PunKinPai]

People don't tune in to watch peaceful, informative news any more. They want to see a political cage fight. We seem to be in a race to the bottom of the intellectual barrel.

[sedwat]

Only the Jerry Springer style town halls get any air time on the tee vee. Thoughtful, intelligent, informative discussion? Not so much.

[DesertRat09]

If Republicans organize and show up at town hall meetings, they are "plants", "angry mobs", "un-American", etc. However, if Democrats organize and show up at town hall meetings, it is a great idea and should serve as a model.

I must concur with you, femalevet: HYPOCRISY

[brahdog]

when you scream and shout and seek to shut down conversation then you are indeed acting like un-american angry mobs. not that hard to grasp

[radley]

Yes, DesertRat09, when Republicans show up at meetings with the sole intent to shout over other people, talk and shout out purposefully to disrupt the meeting, and prevent a reasonable discussion with questions and answers to take place, they are acting like a mob.
Democrats and others interested in health care reform organized and showed up at this meeting and in a civilized and adult manner asked questions and received answers and were able to gather information.
If you can't tell the difference in the two scenarios, you are being deliberately obtuse. But I think you do know the difference and you are simpy trying to defend the indefensible.
The people of our country should be able to ask questions when they meet with their senators and congressmen so they can make informed decisions.

[WebForce1]

If you don't see the difference then you are truly lost.
These people protesting at the town hall meetings are in most cases being mis-led and frightened into doing so by big business and the Republican Corporate Complex.

To suggest that doctor reimbursement for end of life counseling, somehow amounts to death panels for seniors is perhaps one of the most outrageous and cruel political tactics ever employed in the history of this nation.
And before you assert that these people have legitimate concerns keep in mind that we have seen repeated clips of seniors referring to having to take a "pain pill" and then it's over. These seniors and others may have legitimate concerns, in fact I would gaurantee that many did even before this death panel nonsense. But what big business and the Republicans have done to these people is horrendous. They took those concerns and turned them into full blown nightmare scenarios that have frightened and terrorized many of our seniors.
So liberals, who are in possesion of the facts, and are well informed as to this particular clause, decide to organize and go to the town halls so that some semblance of order and decency can be maintained, is in your mind the same thing?
If you honostly beleive that the two are no different then you are as hapless and lost as most of the people who without cause or reason vote for Republicans in spite of all your best interests.

[themeeg]

The difference is that the right wingnuts act like animals. They are incapable of behaving like adults.

[sedwat]

Because Republicans come in and say things like "Keep your government hands off my medicare", showing that they do not have a clue as to what's really going on and do not care. Protesting to maintain the status quo when you do not even understand what the status quo is, is absurd.

[RoseColoredGlasses]

Perhaps if you got off this post, you'd see the videos that are being unearthed just to show you how insane your comments are. The best ones:Nancy Liar Pelosi's 2006 giving her instructions on how to yell and shout down others and how proud she is of them doing it and Hillary, Queen of the outraged on protestors. You guys need to get your story straight.

[citizensrus]

This was journalism at its finest.

[themeeg]

I concur.

[freddiefreeloader]

I can't figure out why Republicans hate the goverment, I don't know of any private contractors out there that would'nt bend over backwards in order to get a goverment run contract, and if the goverment had a goverment run healthcare system, the hospitals and doctors would be lining up to try and get those new patients. And theres the problem, Goverment would set the prices for products and procedures which in turn will lower healthcare costs forcing private insurance to cut premiums and lose money, but not run them out of business.

[WebForce1]

To understand the Republican party you have to understand the role they play in the corporate hierarchy.
Corporations while enjoying tax payer money do not like government strings that are sometimes attached. It's a love hate relationship.
In order to set things to their liking they attack and weaken our government in two ways.

1. Lobbyists. Their role is to dole out money to election campaigns in an attempt to buy all the representation. Many times the same corporation will donate to both Democrat and Republican coffers to hedge their bets. When you have enough money it's worth it to spend in both directions.

2. Republicans. The role of the Republican and their related conservative commentators is to provide a direct inside man. Why bother bribing a cop when you can get a man on the force so-to-speak. The problem is that there are not enough people at the top to ensure election success. Therefore the role of the Republican, Conservative Commentator, and Lobbyist is to sew enough lies and mis-information to convince many people who stand to benefit nothing from their money or power to vote for them and support their causes.

I hope this clarifies your question to some extent. The Republicans hate the government only so much as it sometimes obstructs their ability to amass obscene amounts of wealth. If on the other hand tax dollars paid by the government can be diverted into their coffers, then fine.

[DesertDogAlpha]

Corporations cannot give corporate money to candidates (sorry to burst your little bubble). Corporate Political Action Committees, funded by employees can and do donate to campaigns. But all corporate PACs are dwarfed by PACs (yes, there are many PACs that are not corporate in orientation) such as EMILY's List, Sierra Club, etc. I know it is nice to look for the boogey men under your bed but get real.

[DesertDogAlpha]

Everyone is in general agreement that we want to help insure the truly needy among us who cannot get health insurance on their own due to severe personal limitations or simple bad luck. And, many of us agree that all Americans over 21 should be mandated to have health insurance (so the young and healthy can help pay for the older and sicker in terms of balancing the risk pool). But we don't talk about how to insure the maybe 15 million who are truly needy or unlucky.

Everyone who goes on the dole for healthcare should be in a mandatory program re obesity, smoking cessation, alcohol use monitoring and mandatory birth control (can't afford health insurance, can't afford a child). Hunt fathers of children by unwed mothers like dogs to pay for healthcare for the children they created. No harder than the Marine Corps, so Americans can do it.

The real question each American needs to answer is how much THEY personally are ready to pay for health insurance for others. I'm in for $5,000 /year (it'll come off my charitable giving) - how about the others?

Create health insurance cooperatives so small businesses and individuals can approximate insurance deals that WalMart and Exxon can negotiate. Then people can pay for themselves rather than creating another unsustainable government program.

[Imago]

The problem with your discomfort about paying for other people is that right at the moment you already are.

And the biggest beneficiaries? The insurance companies. Top five companies in the country each earned an average of $1.56 BILLION last year in profits. Profits!

[MedicareISstillSocialism]

The shameful part is that it looks as though the country is on the side of the people that oppose health care reform because those are the only town halls that the media covers.

If you're peaceful and law abiding, you get no coverage.

I watch CNN video everyday at work, they only show the contentious ones. Arlen Specter had a pretty good townhall hall today, CNN did not show it, it was streamed on MSNBC.

The media needs to stop this and be the watchdog for the entire country, not just some.

[femalevet1977]

Um...what'­s the difference in M.o.v.e.on.org funded by S.o.r.os mobilizing liberals and Tea Party Organizations funded by Freedom Works mobilizing conservatives? Does anyone else see the hypocrisy here?

[citizensrus]

The insurance industry.

[phoenixdoglover]

It's pretty simple. We don't like it when supposedly independent groups, funded entirely by corporate interests, spread lies, rumors and misinformation. The fact that private citizens are taken in by these phony movements and repeat the lies is another outrage. We folks in favor of health care reform and orderly Town Meetings, actually have a pretty strong love affair with the facts, in opposition to lies. Try it sometime. You might like it.

[trisha08]

Hypocricy? How?

move on org isn't gathering people to disrupt meeting with faux outrage that is spoon fed to these people by insurance companies.